In justifying the name change, NASA Acting Associate Administrator for Earth Science William Townsend said that its new title "more clearly conveys to the American people the goals of our program, and more directly focuses on our research." But the more likely fact is that with the project facing an increasingly hostile Congress, NASA administrator, the politically savvy Daniel S. Goldin, is moving to trim the project for rough sailing in the FY99 budget hearings now coming up.

Only two of an originally proposed seven satellites, one of which is slated for launch this spring, have survived fierce Congressional attacks on the project thus far, as Republicans in Congress flatly deny the reality of global warming data. Republicans are also increasingly urging the Clinton administration to use commercial space resources to gather the type of climatic data the MTPE platforms are to obtain. Goldin barely survived the project's budget last year. Look at the name change as only the first part of an opening salvo by the administration to keep the survey project intact into the new budget cycle. Better focus, or political correctness? If the project goes forward, does it really matter?

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Satellite Launch To Boost DTH In India
Calcutta, India (SPX) Dec 28, 2005
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