In response to the President’s proposed cuts to the FY2014 planetary science budget, and specifically to the absence of funding for the Europa Clipper Mission, we need to band together.
Here is how we can all help:
1) Write Congress NOW!
Congress still has time to affect the fiscal reality for NASA in FY2014.
We need to:
–Thank Congress for supporting Planetary Science, and specifically Europa!
–Ask Congress to again restore Planetary Science funding with continued Europa development, working towards a New Start
– Ask Congress to keep watch on the $75M Europa line item in NASA’s 2013 operations plan.
More voices means more action!
Specifically, we need to contact and thank the members of the House and Senate Science and Appropriations Committees who continue to support planetary science. Please see HERE for a list of members to target and guidance on how to communicate with Congressional representation.
2) Make Broad Contact with the White House and NASA Administration!
So far, the President and NASA have not taken notice of the public and industry-wide support for a new Europa mission. We need to make compelling arguments, based on science and societal impact for Europa to become a priority for NASA. While the President sets NASA’s direction, he relies on advisors and staff that includes the NASA Administration and President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST).
Here is a list of people to target in FY 2014:
The President:
Write a letter on 8.5 x 11 paper, in ink, and mail it with your return address on both the letter and the envelope to:
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
Email is ok as well, but possibly less likely to make an impact. However, some contact is better than no contact.
President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST):
There are two ways we hope you will make contact–with the committee as a whole and with individual members of the committee. When you write, please make a personal or scientific case for a mission to Europa, and support planetary science!
Contact the Council: Please use the form for submitting comments and uploading documents, FOUND HERE.
Contact Council Members: The people below are high-ranking PCAST members and those with related interests. Please contact as many of these folks with emails or letters as you can!
John Holdren, Co-Chair
JOHN HOLDREN, DIRECTOR
OFFICE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY POLICY
EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
NEW EXECUTIVE OFFICE BUILDING
725 17TH STREET, NW, ROOM 5230
WASHINGTON, DC 20502
William Press, Vice-Chair
Dr William Press
Department of Computer Science
The University of Texas at Austin
2317 Speedway, Stop D9500
Austin, TX 78712
Christopher Chyba
Dr Christopher Chyba
Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs
Princeton University
Robertson Hall
Princeton, NJ 08544-1013
Daniel Schrag
Prof. Daniel Schrag
Harvard University Center for the Environment
24 Oxford Street – 3rd floor
Cambridge, MA 02138
NASA Administration
Charles Bolden
Charles F. Bolden, Administrator
Office of the Administrator
NASA Headquarters
Washington DC 20546-0001
John Grunsfeld
John Grunsfeld, Associate Administrator
Science Mission Directorate
NASA Headquarters
Washington DC 20546-0001
