Scientists are trading telescopes for aprons this week to sell Milky
Way cupcakes, Saturn cake, and chocolate chip Opportunity cookies in an
effort to salvage U.S. planetary science projects.
The 2013 budget proposal submitted by the Obama administration earlier this year would cut funding for NASA's
planetary science projects by about $300 million. While Congress is
still deliberating over the federal budget, groups of scientists are
planning a series of demonstrations — in the form of bake sales, car
washes and other events — for Saturday, June 9, to plead their case.
Though planet-studying spacecraft usually cost millions, or even
billions, of dollars, every penny helps. That's the reasoning behind the
Planetary Exploration Car Wash and Bake Sale to be held by University
of Central Florida students and professors who hope to sway lawmakers
into providing more money for studying the solar system. It is one of
nearly 20 planned demonstrations for Saturday at sites across the
country, organizers said.
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