YOU Can Have a Say in NASA's Future Yourself

Not that we aren’t just as curious as everyone else, but SpacePolicyOnline.com is exhausted by all the media stories speculating on NASA’s FY2011 budget. We will actually know what is in NASA’s budget on Monday. That is soon enough. We will be delighted to report any publicly-releasable news that comes out between now and Monday, but will leave the rumors to others.

The KEY POINT is that whatever comes out on Monday is just the opening shot. NASA’s budget and its future have a long way to go after the President sends his budget request to Congress. As we have noted before, it is only a request. Congress must decide what to do with it. Readers who have strong points of view about what NASA’s future should be — whatever that viewpoint is — are well advised to write to their elected representatives to let them know. Congress is where the action will be after Monday.

Members of Congress really do listen to the people who elected them and, for those running for reelection this fall, hopefully will do so again. If you don’t know who your Congressperson and Senators are, well, shame on you, but you can find out by going to the websites of the House and Senate where you need only type in your zip code (for the House) or state (for the Senate) to find out. Don’t bother writing to anyone else’s Congressperson or Senator, just your three (two Senators, one Congressperson).