Sorry, you need to enable JavaScript to visit this website.
Aura SMAP Suomi NPP Aqua

Recent Imagery

You will be directed to the NASA Visible Earth webpage when you select Images by Mission below, or click on the images at right that are randomly generated to represent four out of all possible topics.

The Earth Observer has a new look! Visit the NEW Earth Observer website.

The Earth Observer: Mar - Apr, 2006

Volume 18, Issue 2

In This Issue

Click title below to view page

  • Editor’s Corner Front Cover
  • Feature Articles
  • Switch Maneuver of GRACE Satellites4
  • Firsthand Accounts of the JASON Argonaut Experience12
  • Meeting/Workshop Summaries
  • January 2006 MODIS Science Team Meeting Overview12
  • International EOS/NPP Direct Readout Meeting 200516
  • ESIP Federation Winter Conference18
  • In The News
  • NASA Finds Stronger Storms Change Heat and Rainfall Worldwide20
  • NASA Scientists Study Pollution’s Origins and Air Quality Impact21
  • Mapping Surface Water for Flood Control22
  • TOPEX/Poseidon Sails off into the Sunset23
  • NASA Helps Weed Our National Garden24
  • Scientists in Dogged Pursuit of Amount of Snow on Earth Embark on Arctic Trek26
  • Regular Features
  • Scientists in the News27
  • NASA Science Mission Directorate—Science Education Update29
  • EOS Science Calendars31

Editor’s Corner

Michael King, EOS Senior Project Scientist

On February 16, NASA Administrator, Michael Griffin, appeared before the House of Representative’s Science Committee to discuss the FY 2007 NASA budget. The proposed budget differs significantly from what was originally projected as the 2007 NASA budget when the FY 2006 budget was released. There are two reasons for the shortfall: 1) NASA received $170 M dollars less than it was originally projected to receive in its 2006 budget, and 2) projected costs for the Space Shuttle program were some $3-5 M dollars less than the program has actually cost. NASA has decided to fully fund the Shuttle Program in pursuit of fulfilling The Vision for Space Exploration and, as a result, must make cuts to other areas to make up for the cost overruns.

The proposed FY 2007 budget will, therefore, shift funds from Science and, to a lesser extent, Exploration to fully fund the Shuttle Program through 2010. Griffin stated that, “My decision to curtail the rate of growth for NASA’s Science missions is not intended in any way to demonstrate a lack of respect for the work done by the NASA Science team.” In fact...

Read more...