AGU defends space-based Earth science

The American Geophysical Union has issued a formal statement decrying the new direction of NASA, which is cutting well-considered, useful science programs to fund the usual set of boondoggles: the Space Station, the space shuttle, and Moon-Mars Initiative. The loss of programs that have already been delayed or canceled "will degrade our weather forecasting, search and rescue, and life and property protection capabilities. They affect our ability to understand natural hazards, map changes in Earth's surface, forecast space weather, understand Earth-Sun connections, and explore the solar system."