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Science & Technology
Cassini vs. Curiosity: Who Will Suffer the Space Budget Axe?
2013-12-06
That would be a shame. Cassini has already been an incredible mission, and scientists estimate it has at least four more years of life left in it. Cassini's operating budget is about $60 million per year while Curiosity's runs to roughly $50 million. That's about what the Department of Defense has budgeted for 3-D printer research and is less than half of what it's estimated to spend maintaining its golf courses. The Cassini mission has already cost $3.26 billion to launch and operate.
60 million against a 17 billion yearly NASA budget. Well, I guess they have to conserve to fund the next Solyndra or Muslim outreach.

They have a chance to go into orbit inside the ring system, weigh the rings, and descend into Saturn's atmosphere while collecting data. Can't do it, have to protect the bureaucracy.
Posted by:KBK

#6  See also DRUDGEREPORT > EXPERTS SAY NASA MAKING A MISTAKE BY IGNORING THE MOON.

versus

* DEFENCE.PK/FORUMS > CHINA PLANS "DEATH STAR" MOON BASE TO LAUNCH NUCLEAR WEAPONS | CHINA DAILY MAIL.

As linked to earlier WANT CHINA TIMES Artic in Forum describing China-desired/led lunar militarization claim by Pert.

* FYI BIGNEWSNETWORK > EARTH'S GRAVITY ALTERED BY 2011 JAPAN QUAKE ACCORDING TO ESA'S GOCE DATA + JAPAN QUAKE IN 2011 CAUSED SMALL GRAVITY CHANGES.

Yuuuppp, but not good or strong enuff to escape detection by a Madonna fan on Guam, as per EM "distortions/aberrations" in normal background reality.

D *** NGED "FUZZY-WUZZIES"!

["STAR WARS" SITH LORD DARTH VADER BREATHING here].
Posted by: JosephMendiola   2013-12-06 20:10  

#5  Bin both and bin NASA while you're there, it's just too inefficient.
Posted by: Bright Pebbles   2013-12-06 12:20  

#4  China and India sending probes into space. US cutting existing projects to fund more OFA idiots going door to door to sell ObamaCare. Our priorities could not be out of whack.
Posted by: Iblis   2013-12-06 11:11  

#3  ...last time I was around, golf courses were non-appropriated fund operations

They still are. But when you're a journalist with an overabundance of agenda and a shortage of knowledge, this is what you get.
Posted by: Pappy   2013-12-06 11:11  

#2  Have to make sure the Sandra Fluke's of the world can Fluke 2.7 times a day, every single day they are in college. That's a load of dough!
Posted by: CrazyFool   2013-12-06 00:17  

#1  ...and is less than half of what it's estimated to spend maintaining its golf courses.

...last time I was around, golf courses were non-appropriated fund operations. Which means that the funding didn't come from Congress. Its was a combination of self sustaining fees and what passes for 'profit' from the exchange system. Correct me if I'm wrong.
Posted by: Procopius2k   2013-12-06 00:06  

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