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| Friday / 31 March 2006 | ||
Moon a Platform
for Debate Between Human Exploration, Astrobiology. At
the 'Astrobiology
Science Conference (AbSciCon) 2006,' which ended
yesterday in Washington DC, panelists of Session 25: 'Astrobiology
and the Moon' discussed
the impact of the Vision for Space Exploration (VSE) and lunar
exploration on astrobiology and science, while some scientists
voiced their discontent with NASA's VSE priorities and decisions.
Stanford Geophysics Professor Norm Sleep (Moon as Biological
Tape Recorder), University of Hawai‘i HIGP Professor Paul Lucey
(The Science of the Lunar Polar Volatile Deposits), NASA Chief
Scientist Jim Garvin (The Moon as a Natural Laboratory for Cosmic
Collisions in Astrobiology), Ames Lead Co-Investigator Lynn Rothschild
(The Role of the Moon in Shaping Life on Earth), Ames ex-Director
Scott
Hubbard (Exploration Science at the Moon: Links to Understanding
Life in the Universe), and SMART-1 Project Scientist Bernard Foing
(International Lunar Missions: Results and Implications for Astrobiology)
discussed the Moon's role in shaping life on Earth, as well as
future lunar missions. Meanwhile, Deputy
CEO of the SETI Institute Edna
DeVore says NASA is crippling its Science Mission
Directorate. "Astrobiology
is the core science of space exploration, and it's proposed for
a 50% cut," says DeVore.
"The decision ... is shortsighted.... These missions and research
projects are the training ground for the future scientific and
technical workforce." DeVore acknowledges NASA Administrator
Griffin is in a tight spot, "being asked to achieve a poorly funded
Vision." She says, "Together,
NASA and Congress need to develop a balanced program of space exploration
that has adequate funding to achieve the VSE."
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