AAS Steps In

The American Astronomical Society is engaging in the debate over the emerging shape of NASA's space exploration effort under President Obama's 2013 budget. While noting the budget problems of the U. S. federal government, AAS is arguing for a balance among large, medium, and small science missions, as well as among various fields of science. AAS also notes NASA must be a reliable international partner. That comes in the wake of NASA's withdrawal from the ExoMars project with the Europeans.

The public debate now shifts to Congress, where special interest groups like AAS often have significant influence over specific aspects of federal spending. Whether that will hold true this election year when federal spending will be a huge campaign issue is open to question.