What's Really Wrong With NASA (Hint: It Isn't Drunk Astronauts)

With the almost gleeful round-the-clock coverage of DrunkAstroGate unfolding last weekend, the casual viewer could be forgiven for missing the NASA stories that actually matter. Here's how I distinguish them from what's passing for news: these angles are fundamental to the functioning of the agency, and even the health of the planet, which is more than I can say for a vodka or two too many on the Soyuz.

Not that astronauts should be flying drunk, but I'd like to see more reporters focus on these three NASA angles instead:

1. Malfunction The nation's earth-observing satellites, which are critical to an increasingly important array of environmental initiatives, are in "crisis." That's the assessment of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Within five years, we could lose 40% of the sensors aboard these satellites, according to National Research Council. We're talking hurricane research, climate studies. You know, the future of the planet stuff.
2. Misdirection While President Bush is pushing for goals like a new moon landing and mission to Mars, NASA quietly last year erased part of its mission: "To understand and protect our home planet." Consistent with that view, its earth science budget was slashed by almost one third.
3. Muffling It's a wonder that any quality earth science research has been done, given those conditions. But it has. Director of the Goddard Institute For Space Studies, James Hansen has emerged as a rockstar in the environmental community for speaking clearly and authoritatively about global warming. Despite the best efforts of his handlers. Lately, Hansen has been among those pointing out that many of the dire warnings outlined in the latest United Nations report on climate change are proving a tad conservative. In other words, the world is moving faster than thought toward a frightening future.

Not that NASA is focusing on that. Or cable news. Kind of makes you want to take a drink and hitch a flight off this rock.

Before we do either, consider this oddity in the coverage of the drunken astronaut fiasco: Several reports talked about how NASA has only been in the news for scandalous behavior, since that other astronaut went an on ill-fated mission to track down a romantic rival earlier this year.

What ever happened to the Mars rovers, a phenomenal success that succeeded all expectations? Those little robots exemplify what is absolutely right about NASA: Ingenious engineering that extends our reach to the far ends of the solar system in pursuit of knowledge. In this case, the data about a watery past on Mars provides new insights into the possibilities of life on planets other than our own. The names of these two rovers neatly summarize NASA at its best: Spirit and Opportunity.

We should be using those words to describe NASA's earth science program as well.