An earlier post discussed efforts to restore funding for the Chandra X-ray telescope, noting that the Save Chandra was established to push Congress to restore funding. Well, it appears some in Congress are listening.
On June 6, nine members of Congress wrote to NASA opposing proposed budget cuts to the Chandra X-ray Observatory mission. In the letter, the members write:
As the last remaining flagships of NASA’s original fleet of “Great Observatories” satellites, Chandra and Hubble have safeguarded U.S. leadership in cosmic exploration for decades. Chandra’s enduring functionality after 25 years in space, without the need for servicing, and its unparalleled ability to synergize with other telescopes, underscore American ingenuity and a capability we must not prematurely relinquish.
Of course, the fact that the Chandra Operations Control Center is in Burlington, Massachusetts, may account for the high count of members representing Massachusetts. Even so, the campaign to restore funding has to start somewhere, and this is a logical place to start.
Our Awesome Universe 