[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 137 (Monday, December 6, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2157]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    THE AMERICAN PHYSICAL SOCIETY'S REPORT ON THE MOON-MARS PROGRAM

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                         HON. CHRISTOPHER SHAYS

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, December 6, 2004

  Mr. SHAYS. Mr. Speaker, in November 2004, the American Physical 
Society (APS) released a report on the Moonars program. The report 
reached many important conclusions and I encourage my colleagues to 
review APS's findings.
  Currently, NASA's agenda is set by the National Academy of Sciences 
(NAS) Decadal Surveys. The panel is comprised of outstanding scientists 
who represent the full range of research within astronomy.
  According to the report, the scope of the Moon-Mars initiative has 
not been well defined, its long-term cost has not been adequately 
addressed, and no budgetary mechanisms have been established to avoid 
causing damage to NASA's scientific program.
  To accommodate the Moon-Mars initiative, NASA has already begun to 
reprogram its existing budget, resulting in indefinite postponement or 
delay of scientific programs that were assigned high priority by the 
NAS decadal studies.
  The consensus achieved by the committee is that the recent success of 
the Mars Rovers demonstrate that we can use robotic means to address 
many scientific questions. The panel also found that human exploration 
has a role in NASA, but it must be within a balanced program in which 
funding is distributed to other initiatives as well.
  APS makes 3 recommendations, which I encourage Members of Congress to 
take into consideration as we continue the debate on the President's 
Moon-Mars proposal.
  First, NASA should continue to be guided by the recommendations of 
the NAS decadal studies in formulating its science programs.
  Second, before the United States commits to the Moon-Mars proposal, a 
review of the initiative's science impact should be carried out by the 
NAS.
  Finally, before the United States commits to the Moon-Mars proposal, 
the GAO should estimate the likely budgetary impact.
  Given our country's fiscal challenges, I do not think we can afford 
manned flights to other planets at this time. I am willing to support 
more unmanned space flights, provided their mission goals are well-
defined.
  It seems to me NASA's activities should be driven by science, not 
destinations. This report provides important information on NASA's 
future and I strongly encourage my colleagues to read it and take the 
findings into consideration as we continue the debate on Moon-Mars.

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