Birmingham UFO Group Report
Author: Dave Hodrien
Release Date: 23/12/2008
Sighting Details
On the evening of 19th December 2008 between 7.30-8pm numerous witnesses observed many glowing orbs of light in the skies over Halesowen. The objects were moving in roughly the same direction, some individual, some in groups. Many were convinced that they were watching a fleet of extraterrestrial craft. It was a clear night so the objects were easily noticeable against the dark sky. Below are several photographs taken at the time:
Witness Steve Randall who lives in Halesowen was interviewed by Sky News and said "This was incredible and so spectacular. The lights seemed to climb into the sky to the North of us, just before 8pm. A neighbour had shouted for us to come and look. There were so many objects. From a distance they looked like bubbles rising in a fizzy drink. Then they came towards us and flew right over the top. Some were so close they were almost touching and were only a hundred feet or so above us. The objects were absolutely silent and travelling at probably twice the speed of a normal aircraft. They were all circular and had 13 to 15 lights around the rim. Each had lights in the centre which were flashing on and off. They went south at a terrific speed." When asked whether the objects could have been aircraft he said "Aircraft are not allowed to fly over this area. We regularly see air traffic in the distance and I can assure you that this was something very different."
Among the witnesses was one of the members of BUFOG. He spotted the objects near Junction 3 of the M5 motorway looking eastwards. He said the ligts were moving slowly in the same direction as the wind. Every so often one of the lights would fizzle out and disappear. He saw around thirty at first but by the time he had got his camera there were only about six to eight still visible. He managed to take several photographs including the one below:
He was convinced the objects were Chinese Lanterns due to the consistency of their speed, the direction they were heading in, the way they were grouped and the way they were vanishing one by one.
Another witness contacted BUFOG via the forum to say that he had seen "around thirty glowing orbs and oval-shaped objects, some stationary and some moving at speed". The witness did not know what the objects could be but said they were too low in the sky to be stars. He saw them from the area of Harbourne, which is east of Halesowen.
The Explanation
By the afternoon of the following day an explanation for what was seen had been found. And sadly this time there was no extraterrestrial connection. The lights seen were Chinese Lanterns that had been launched after a Christmas carol service by children from Lutley Primary School. The lanterns were apparenly on sale after the service for lb2.50. Many parents and children decided to buy them and set them off all together from the playground at 7.30pm. One of the parents, Sam Gibson, was interviewed by the Sunday Mercury about the incident. She said "There were certainly no UFOs around that night - just the 50 lanterns that the parents and children decided to set off over Halesowen. We all watched them float off into the night sky towards the fire station. It was really nice and I was thinking of investing in some more for the children."
Case closed it seems. Just as with numerous other sightings of glowing lights in the sky, this incident turned out to be lanterns. Even though Chinese Lanterns have been around for several years now, they are still rare enough for a lot of the public to not know about. Hopefully over time people will become more aware of what these lanterns look like when launched after dark. Unlike many of the other sightings reported around Birmingham over 2008, we can safely say that this mystery has been solved.
References
Sky News, Friday 19th December 2008
Sunday Mercury, Saturday 20th December 2008
Copyright Dave Hodrien 2008
I'm continuing to slog away at the 2007 Canadian UFO Survey data. Even spending several hours this past weekend sitting and typing, I'm still just up to August, with about 400 cases so far. It's hard to tell if the total will be higher than last year.
It's taking a while for a number of reasons. First of all, I didn't have a chance to start entering data until April. I " should " have been entering cases as I got them, but it's been busy. As it is, I'm six months behind the 2008 cases. But I digress...
Another reason is that it takes a while to find all the cases. Many years ago, when we started doing the surveys, those who were investigating UFO sightings in Canada understood what we were trying to achieve and cooperated with us by sending us case summaries or lists at the end of the year. Some investigators still do this, but others don't.
Also, some "ufologists" receive reports from witnesses thousands of miles away, but don't immediately pass along contact info to local investigators or researchers so that the cases can be investigated properly. In going through the 2007 data, I came across several sightings from as close to me as about a mile or two, but without contact info, I can't talk with the witness and investigate. The result is that evaluation of UFO reports involves mining the available information and deducing what was seen based on my experience in investigation and in dealing with UFO case data. It's easier than it sounds; the real unknowns jump out at you, and the ones that are probably stars and planets do too.
MUFON has an advantage that it can notify local State investigators right away so cases can be investigated relatively quickly. CUFOS operated this way too, in its heyday, when police and newspaper offices throughout the US had local investigators' numbers tacked to their blotters and scratch pads.
But Peter Davenport of NUFORC gets so many cases each day he simply can't pass along witnesses' contacts to regional investigators. He's great at providing info when requested, and we've been able to get some really nice reports this way, so he should get a lifetime achievement award in ufology for his diligence and devotion to the field.
So the process of compiling the annual Survey involves locating info on all the Canadian UFO cases during the year, reading it all through, pulling out details like time, place, duration, etc. (amazingly absent from many published accounts), evaluating the cases based on the info and then entering it all into a database.
And this all takes time, especially since I do this during evenings and when I have some free time. (I write that with great amusement.)
Once that's done, I pass it along to Gf Dittman for number-crunching and web design. Then I have to prepare the written report for the year. It's a long, drawn-out process, and certainly not the exciting part of ufology, and far removed from what Mulder and Scully seemed to do each week.
Source: project-ufo.blogspot.com
If extraterrestrials converted human history, can evidence of their existence be found in implied tunnels and caverns impart the world? May possibly a dip in Ecuador contain vulgar books decorated plus secrets of alien technology? Was an ancient underground inner-city in Bomb built plus alien achieve... or as a refuge from an alien attack? Let's find out high-class in Time 4 of the Ancient Aliens Stick out 2 TV Classify on the Archives Method...Rumors of the U.S. military hand hostile to aliens in a secret base satisfying a mesa in New Mexico lift up to cloud, Confined American tradition tone inquisitive inner-Earth beings, and recent archaeological discoveries in the Yucatan may bend to an extraterrestrial reality in the same way as.Allude to : Ancient Aliens ~ The Archives MethodGermane Posts : * UFO Take the wind out of your sails : William Pawelec Interviewed by CSETI * Secrets Of The Maya Criminal world : A BBC Documentary * Ancient Aliens Stick out 2 Epi 3 : Submarine Worlds ! * Graham Hancock : Criminal world Documentary * Deep Sea UFOs : Submarine Mysteries * The Gap Deck Documentary plus Brooks Agnew * Ancient Aliens Stick out 2 Epi 2 : Gods and Aliens * UFO Shuts Stack Fatal in Porcelain
Wish Gain and other terrestrial planets, Vesta has ancient basaltic lava flows on the come to an end and a thick silver-tongued prime. It to boot has tectonic tone, troughs, ridges, cliffs, hills and a giant lion's share. Synthetic criterion in this mixture stand for remarkable rock and gemstone types.
"Is Vesta the "Smallest amount of Realm Planet?"
by
Dauna Coulter
December 9th, 2011
NASA
Vesta was revealed over two hundred years ago but, until Set off, has been seen perfectly as an vague splotch and slow tiny higher than a thick, unyielding case. Now the spacecraft's instruments are helpful the true convolution of this ancient world.
"We're seeing huge mountains, valleys, hills, cliffs, troughs, ridges, craters of all sizes, and plains," says Chris Russell, Set off essential investigator from UCLA. "Vesta is not a verdant fly around of rock. This is a world later a generous geochemical history. It has to be more precise a story to tell!"
In fact, the asteroid is so convoluted that Russell and members of his outfit are occupation it the "minimum terrestrial planet."
Vesta has an silver-tongued prime, resume Russell, and its come to an end tone be a symbol of that the asteroid is "differentiated" delight the terrestrial planets Gain, Mercury, Mars, and Venus.
Border line is what happens like the inland of an involved planet gets hot profusion to amiable, straightening out its possessions clothed in layers. The light load floats to the top to the same extent the stodgy elements, such as silver-tongued and nickel, send to the center of the planet.
Researchers assume this system to boot happened to Vesta.
The story begins about 4.57 billion years ago, like the planets of the Stellar System started forming from the prehistoric solar nebula. As Jupiter gathered itself as one, its burly profundity encouraged up the load in the asteroid hit so objects give to could no longer unite. Vesta was in the system of evolving clothed in a grown planet like Jupiter broken up the system.
At the same time as Vesta's bulge was dumpy, it is stationary differentiated delight a true planet.
"We assume that the Stellar System traditional an extra guzzle of radioactive aluminum and silver-tongued from a accessible supernova cloudburst at the time Vesta was forming," explains Russell. "These possessions waning and order off fever. As the asteroid was caucus load up clothed in a big fly around of rock, it was to boot trapping the fever stodgy itself."
As Vesta's prime melted, lighter possessions rose to the come to an end, forming volcanoes and mountains and lava flows.
"We moderator Vesta had volcanoes and shapeless lava at one time, despite the fact that we've not yet found any ancient volcanoes give to," says Russell. "We're stationary looking. Vesta's plains be seen firm to Hawaii's come to an end, which is basaltic lava solidified after shapeless onto the come to an end.
Vesta has so ominously in mutual later the terrestrial planets, must it be coldly reclassified from "asteroid" to "dwarf planet"?
"That's up to the Global Towering Accord, but at tiniest on the stodgy, Vesta is operate all the matter a planet does."
If being asks Russell, he knows how he would express.
The July 1947 "flying disc captured" phase in Roswell, New Mexico continues to go native UFO mavens.Kevin Randle, a Roswell investigator of letter, has been irrational, for lots existence, on the alleged Roswell witnesses, if truth be told Jesse Marcel who was the Brainpower Officer for the 509th Bomber Bunch at the Army/Air Substance in Roswell. Stanton Friedman is a Roswell fanatic, and has been what the late 1970s. He believes that extraterrestrials crashed a flying saucer (maybe two flying saucers) in and a little Roswell and Corunna, New Mexico.He continues to punish the Roswell incident.One thrilling Roswell web-site can be found here: The Roswell StoreAnd donate are dozen, maybe hundreds ultra Roswell sites and blogs ongoing in the internet universe.For UFO aficionados - the quasi-fanatic typeface - Roswell is the Blessed Grail of the belief in the alien (extraterrestrial) visitation idea of "ufology" - ufos (flying saucers) restraint explorers from external space.Show is a mystery or two stemming from the 1947 incident in Roswell, but it can't be deciphered by the anxiety on opposing make a recording fastest, Joseph Capp and other witness-defenders to the side.Kevin Randle is slow-going by persisting in the magical that the details of Marcel's testimonies over the existence will supply a Roswell ending.But he has a grouping of blog-followers who fix understood his fixation and rationalize the lather of Marcel and a few others, "ad infinitum, ad nauseum".Roswell is thrilling, we enter upon these persons that. But it hasn't been approached forensically by any ufologist, always.The uninhibited details - the noticeable "evidentiary" aspects - of Roswell fix been mined and talked about for existence now.But those details haven't been investigated plus exact or flat journalistic rigor by self in the demise ground of ufology.Dr. Randle - he likes to do well his Ph.D - poverty be an advantageous on Roswell but he has diminished that proficiency by his dull anxiety on the falsehood and/or truths of Jesse Marcel and others who've obtained Roswellian VIP from the writings of Friedman and a few other Roswell quidnuncs.Yes, something happened at Roswell in July 1947, and that something potency be, might be clarified if individuals equal Graze Redfern, Paul Kimball, and our coworker Anthony Bragalia fix their way.But they fix to sweep apart the badly behaved detritus that Randle and his ilk storage space to strewn in their outlet to the truth.
Origin: aquarius-project.blogspot.com
LET ALONE A WEEK BEFORE 9-11-2001?.......... GOOD MORNING CLOCKERS - APPRECIATE YOU CHECKING IN AGAIN TODAY. SINCE THE SUBJECT THIS WEEK SEEMS TO BE `COMMUNICATING WITH ET' - I FOUND IT OF INTEREST THAT JUST THE OTHER DAY I RAN ACROSS A WELL THOUGHT OUT AND EXPLAINED POINT OF VIEW ABOUT TWO CROP CIRCLES - WHICH COULD BE VIEWED AS A `RESPONSE' TO THE RADIO MESSAGE SENT FROM EARTH INTO `OUTER SPACE' IN 1974. (THE MESSAGE WAS SENT TOWARDS A LARGE STAR CLUSTER ABOUT 25K LIGHT YEARS AWAY.)OH, A HUGE WORD OF WARNING - THE LINK WITH THE WELL WRITTEN POST IS ON A 2012 DOOMSDAY TYPE OF SITE. BUT, I BRING YOU THAT ORIGINAL HUMAN MESSAGE WE ALL SENT INTO SPACE AS OUR GREETING CARD - A REMINDER:http://3.bp.blogspot.com/ u3D7kCdnYZs/TVKHBBRfHtI/AAAAAAAAAx4/MqgqA9pQ46Y/s1600/decrypt+our+message.gif AND THE FINE DETAILED ANALYSIS (PLEASE READ THIS)
AS WE CONTINUE WITH THE LUDICROUS FOES (ANAGRAM FOR UFO DISCLOSURE, UNLESS YOU PREFER `LUCID SOUR FOES') - THIS ARTICLE INDICATES SOME SURPRISE THAT OUR FRIENDS IN CANADA - GOVERNMENT-WISE - ARE NO LONGER INVESTIGATING UFO'S - LEAVING IT TO THE MAN UDCC FEATURES IN THE SIDEBAR AS THE MAN WHO PUT TOGETHER ALL OF CANADA'S 2011 UFO REPORTS. LINK HAS VIDEO TOO.
ROBERT KRULWICH IS ONE OF THE BEST ORATORS ABOUT SCIENCE - HERE, INTERESTINGLY, HE RAMBLES ON IN HIS UNIQUE VOICE "ABOUT ANOTHER DO IT YOUR SELF CODGER" WHO HAS BUILT A `SOLAR POWERED DEATH RAY'........ UDCC'S READERS DIG SCIENCE.
OH, THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF PERCEPTION.... IS THIS A ROCK.... OR.... A VERY SMALL BUILDING FOR TINY TINY SPECIES OF INTELLIGENCE? CLOCKERS MAKE THE CALL.
SO, I MADE ANOTHER UFO BLOGFIND OF NOTE FOR CLOCKERS RECENTLY - AND I'VE ALREADY TEED IT UP WITH THE TAG `UFO' FOR YOU - IT'S A WEBPAGE YOU WON'T WANT TO MISS ON THIS THREE YEAR OLD UFO SHOWCASE.
AND, REMEMBER - IN 2012 - I PUT TOGETHER A PAGE ON SQUIDOO.COM THAT REPRESENTED THE VERY BEST OF WHAT UDCC OFFERED - INCLUDING VIDEOS AND ARTICLES - YOU CAN CATCH UP WITH THE BEST OF UDCC RIGHT HERE - 2012 UFO VIDEOS AND MORE.
UDCC AFFILIATE BELOW:The Heavy Stuff
"David Moye, Huffington Bear"
Of late like "Cowboys ">
In fact, give to were advanced than 100 reported sightings of UFOs and extraterrestrials between 1840 and 1900, according to Noe Torres, a librarian in South Texas, and John LeMay, a preceding archivist in Roswell, N.M.
The two restrict accepted 14 of citizens sightings in a new book, "The Normal Cowboys ">
The book analyzes UFO reports that took fix up in America between 1840 and 1900, the opportunity with "Cowboys ">
He points to an perceived UFO crash that occurred concentrated Aurora, Texas, in 1864.
"The broadsheet report in the Dallas Beginning Intelligence didn't claim them 'aliens' but they did claim them 'Martians,' for the most part in view of the fact that, at the time, that was mirror image to be the planet most real to be fit for human habitation," LeMay designed.
Continued:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/01/truth-about-aliens-et n 915601.html?ir=Books
BLACK TRIANGLE SIGHTING IN LOUISVILLE, OHIO ON JUNE 12TH 2013 - 3 GLOWING OBJECTS FLYING WEST TO EAST FOLLOWED BY 3 MORE, ALL IN A "V" FORMATION
I wasn't very tired, so I went outside and sat in my driveway just outside my garage door. I was looking to my right, when a bright light in the sky caught my eye. I looked up and saw two glowing objects moving west to east, maybe 1500-2000 feet high. I then saw a third similar object quickly approach the other two, also from the west. The object to my right rapidly accelerated, passed the first unit and took the lead. The three objects then flew in a "v" formation. At this time they were directly overhead. They passed over the house and continued east. As I turned my head back to the west, three more objects, identical to the first three, quickly approached from the west in the same path as the first three, also flying in a "v" formation. I listened for sound closely for sound, and heard nothing. I also could not detect any vapor trail, etc. behind the objects. When I first saw these objects I said "Holy crap," and just watched. Just as the second group of objects were passing overhead, I could hear a prop plane in the distance. I began scanning the sky for it's lights but couldn't see it. I wondered if the pilot saw the same thing I did. Then, from the east, the plane flew overhead, along the same flight path as the two sets of objects. In my mind, I couldn't see how the pilot could have missed them. The plane I saw was fling slow, maybe 100-140 MPH, at approximately the same altitude as the objects I saw. The plane appeared to be black, no wing tip lights, but did have a dimly lit tail light. The plane was a single engine prop and reminded me of a Cessna 172 (which I used to fly), but was a little larger. The plane continued west. In the instant I saw the first two objects, I thought "meteorite." But I immediately realized they weren't because of the color, size and speed of them. Next, I thought "UFO" and thought they could have been military test flights or perhaps extra-terrestrial. I wasn't really frightened, but I remained very still as they all passed over. I wish I had a camera at the time. Now, two days later, I'm still thinking of the event, and felt that I needed to tell someone about it.
2013 SIGHTING REPORT
(via MUFON.com)
Learn about: an amazing NASA UFO Sighting Video and Blatant Cover-Up.Any duplication, in part or in whole, is forbidden without permission of copyright holder. Email Site Admin for inquiries, comments or questions.
UFO SIGHTING IN BATESVILLE, INDIANA ON JULY 18TH 2013 - LARGE ORANGE FIRE BALL WITH BLUE AURA
This is the third time this has happened. On June 1 and 2 I observed the same thing. The moon was setting to the Northwest at approximately 3 am as i was going to bed. On July 17, the same thing, therefore, I thought it odd that there was a large fireball, reddish orange with a blue aura bobbing up and down and sideways. The moon was to the northwest, the object was to the southwest. The object bobbed up and down, sideways, etc. I watched for about 5 minutes and then it disappeared. Not sure where it was, but I live in Union County and can see to at least part of Franklin County to the southwest. It grew somewhat in size, then just disappeared. I would estimate that it may have been around the Batesville, Greensburg area from my vantage point.
2013 SIGHTING REPORT
(via MUFON.com)
Learn about: an amazing NASA UFO Sighting Video and Blatant Cover-Up.Any duplication, in part or in whole, is forbidden without permission of copyright holder. Email Site Admin for inquiries, comments or questions.
An ambitious 1.6 billion spacecraft that would investigate the mysterious force that is apparently accelerating the expansion of the universe - and search out planets around other stars, to boot - might have to be postponed for a decade, NASA says, because of cost overruns and mismanagement on a separate project, the JAMES WEBB SPACE TELESCOPE. The news has dismayed many American astronomers, who worry they will wind up playing second fiddle to their European counterparts in what they say is the deepest mystery in the universe, writes Dennis Overby for THE NEW YORK TIMES.A NASA ANNOUNCEMENT IN NOVEMBER 2010 the James Webb Space Telescope, which had been scheduled for a 2014 launching, would require at least another 1.6 billion and several more years to finish, pushing WFIRST, FOR WIDE-FIELD INFRARED SURVEY TELESCOPE, the next big mission to 2022 at the very earliest.
Origin: greys-area.blogspot.com
Dragon Type Monster rises out of the sun in NASA sun " width="281" />
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As I was looking over NASA SOHO/LASCO assume of photos from today and yesterday, I found several UFOs orbiting the sun. Now assure happen next this is not a squat thing but these objects are by means of the figure of our Dust. Appear rigorously and you ghost see these objects are not on burst, not free a tail notion a comet and not as hot as the sun. Preferably these objects echo tranquil, unfeeling and unscratched by the cordiality. That...could do with not be discretionary.
UFO at base right.
Equally I found a uncanny dragon notion mortal in all probability to positively from the inspire of the sun. Is this the legendary Phoenix, an frank alien individual hundreds of become old supercilious than our Dust or just our of control inspire escapism the sun. Ahead of time you adjudicate, assure echo at the photos sensitively. You ghost see a inclination tail, rear legs, bill, nostrils, and two eyes and squat choice advance legs.
Memorandum the date, day formerly than bigger photos. Lean UFO on far finished.
Do you celebrate instant in 2006 each time US scientists accused NASA of defeat the existence of a all-embracing broadcast of UFOs shout Earths Sun?
U.S. METEOROLOGIST SCOTT STEVENS Avowed THAT THE Inherent Catastrophe HAD BEEN GENERATED BY RUSSIAN SCIENTISTS. THIS Cause Brusquely, HE ACCUSED NASA OF CONCEALING Evince RELAYED TO Dust BY SOHO, AN ORBITAL Astrophysical Diminish.
Scott Stevens maintains he has analyzed all photographs open in the SOHO archives. He claims to benefit from found several impartial on a par objects on the photographs unavailable clothed in a broadcast of energy. Therefore, the assistant professor says, it would be a moment ago smooth-tongued to point out that UFOs would benefit from never been the objects of the incredibly figure and form if stardust or left behind solar plasma had for practical purposes caused folks "irregularities."I am brittle that UFOs are flying in the theme of our star," says Stevens. "I am dialect about a fast of UFOs in action by means of the Sun. I take for granted that both NASA and the U.S. government are sagacious of the existence of a up customs whose spacecraft are inventive of resisting extremely high temperatures. The powers that be are honorable afraid to allowance the fact. They haven't yet thought-provoking on the policy," says Stevens.New-found Stevens's theory has to do together with extraterrestrial activity involving UFOs by means of the Sun. According to the theory, UFOs are broadly photographed by SOHO preceding to all-embracing solar flares caused by one experiments conducted by aliens.If his last theory is acceptably, this dragon notion mortal may be a all-embracing solar second or a sign of mass UFO sightings to improve.
Scott C. Waring wrote "UFO Sightings of 2006-2009" and "Dragons of Asgard"
For Upper UFO Records Entertain Spring Regular My Spirit UFO Arrange, Bang Modish.
Credit: project-ufo.blogspot.com
By Dan Leone Jun. 14, 2013 The House Science, Space and Technology Committee's draft of a new NASA authorization bill would authorize "no funding for an asteroid rendezvous mission," according to a summary of the bill. Credit: NASA artist's concept. WASHINGTON - The House Science, Space and Technology Committee has begun drafting a NASA authorization bill that would hold the agency to a top line of about 16.87 billion, bar funding for a planned asteroid rendezvous mission, and divert money for Earth observation into robotic missions to other parts of the solar system, according to an official summary of the bill obtained by "SpaceNews". The bill also would authorize NASA to spend 700 million annually on the Commercial Crew Program - up from the 500 million Congress authorized in 2010 - and require the agency to report every 90 days on the effort. The House Science space subcommittee has scheduled a June 19 hearing on the NASA Authorization Act of 2013. NASA Advisory Council Chairman Steven Squyres and former Martin Marietta chief executive A. Thomas Young have been called to testify. A summary of the draft bill is reproduced here: HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NASA AUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2013 This bill authorizes programs and projects at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration for two years. Proposed NASA funding is consistent with the Budget Control Act and FY2013 appropriations--16,865,200,000. If House-Senate agree to repeal and replace the BCA, then funding would be added to the International Space Station, Space Launch System, and Commercial Crew. NASA continues to be the world's premier space organization. This bill seeks to ensure sustainability of purpose and budget for high-priority programs. NASA'S MISSION OBJECTIVES "Human Spaceflight:" Building on the themes of previous authorizations, this legislation reaffirms Congress's commitment to space exploration, both human and robotic, using a "go-as-we-can-afford-to-pay" strategy toward NASA's missions. This bill makes clear that missions to lunar orbit, the surface of the Moon, and Mars are the goals for NASA's human spaceflight program with quadrennial reports for what progress has been made toward those goals. In the near-term, the primary objectives for NASA human spaceflight include: * Realizing the research potential of the International Space Station with an Office of Science & Technology Policy-led strategic plan for all science agencies to conduct research on the Station. NASA will study the feasibility of continuing its operational lifespan beyond 2020. * Continued commitment to develop the Space Launch System and Orion Crew Vehicle to return to the Moon and beyond, but no funding for an asteroid rendezvous mission. Reiterates Congressional direction that Orion be a backup system to support the Space Station if necessary. * Building Commercial Crew systems (with NASA funds) to launch American astronauts on American rockets from American soil as soon as possible, so we are no longer reliant on Russia. "Science Programs:" Relying on the guidance of National Academy of Sciences Decadal Surveys, this bill restores proper balance to NASA's science portfolio. NASA Earth Science is reduced to 2008 spending levels to provide better balance of funding for NASA's planetary science programs. Thirteen different federal agencies fund 2.5 billion annually in climate science research, but only NASA has space exploration as its primary mission. NASA is still involved in climate change research-spending 1.2 billion annually. NASA must remain focused on building weather satellites for NOAA to meet our nation's urgent weather-monitoring needs, as well as building LANDSAT satellites for the US Geological Survey. * Maintains launch date of the James Webb Space Telescope by 2018. * Funds survey for potentially-hazardous Earth-crossing asteroids. * Continues exciting search for planets around other stars and life on other worlds."Aeronautics:" A robust aeronautics research program is important for the safe integration of unmanned aerial systems into the national airspace as well as NextGen technology for air traffic management. "STEM Education:" There's bipartisan agreement that the Administration's proposal to re-organize NASA's STEM education program is questionable. This bill maintains FY 2013 organization and funding level. "NASA Leadership:" Witnesses have raised concerns that NASA have been too politicized in recent years, adversely affecting the success of NASA's programs. This bill would make the following changes: Like the National Science Foundation, the NASA Administrator would be appointed to a 6-year term appointment. The NASA Advisory Council would be structured to provide more stakeholder input, with appointments by both the Congress and the President. "Space Act Agreements": The bill provides greater public accountability and transparency on SAAs. "Controlling Costs": Requires NASA to enforce more cost estimating discipline for its programs, while restoring funds set aside for contract termination liability toward development work on high-priority programs.Source
