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NASA has lasting record
Nancy Holmes (Letters, Aug. 29) asks why NASA is still in operation, referring to mankind’s greatest achievement (the Apollo lunar landing) as “stupidity.”
NASA has dropped from 5.5 percent of the federal budget in the 1960s to 0.55 percent today. Despite these substantial cutbacks, NASA continues to deliver significant scientific findings and discoveries. The International Space Station is a joint venture among the world’s leading nations, promoting research opportunities in a microgravity environment. For times you can watch the ISS drift overhead, consult www.tinyurl.com/ISS-Spokane.
On March 5, a NASA project engineer will discuss the latest developments in the Kepler Mission with the Spokane Astronomical Society, whose meetings are always free and open to the public. Perhaps Nancy might satisfy her natural curiosity there. Although the Apollo program ended decades ago, all mankind continues to benefit through NASA research of our environment, the solar system and the vast universe beyond.
Paul Yost
Spokane