When a Bush Watch reader called our attention to an ANANOVA news service story that "Bush Backs Alien Evidence" we did a double-take. The story said "The US President used his budget document to declare that there may be 'space aliens' to be discovered.," so we went to the same budget document that Congress is presently pouring over to see for ourselves. The relevant passage sandwiches its interest in space alien discovery between a request for $3 billion in power and propulsion technologies with requests for $31 million in communications technologies and $39 million in human research.

As you can see from the Bush Budget excerpt below, "importan discoveries" suggest that the possibility of space aliens is not as far-fetched as previously believed, giving romantic members in Congress a provocative reason to approve the requested funds. At any rate, we wonder if Bush consulted with his faith-based friends to get their take on the subject. --Politex, Bush Watch, 02.04.03

Where Are the Real Space Aliens?

Despite all the space aliens that appear in science fiction movies and books, we have yet to find conclusive evidence for life, even microbes, anywhere in the universe besides Earth.

Through the early 1990s, research showed that the universe, except for the Earth, was possibly inhospitable to life. However, in the past 10 years, a number of important discoveries indicate that habitable worlds may be much more prevalent than previously thought.

Researchers have found life in very harsh environments on Earth, which expands the possible kinds of places where life might exist. In our solar system, scientists have discovered evidence of currently or previously existing large bodies of water, a key ingredient of life, on Mars and the moons of Jupiter. Astronomers also have begun to find planets outside our solar system, identifying approximately 90 stars with at least one planet orbiting them.

Perhaps the notion that “there’s something out there” is closer to reality than we have imagined.

Getting More Scientific Data Back. Like power and propulsion, today’s communications technology also limits scientific research in space. Since the beginning of space exploration, radio waves have transmitted information to and from Earth. But radio signals weaken as they travel and carry limited scientific data. Optical communications, which rely on lasers, can carry much larger amounts of information than radio signals—enough to send video-like transmissions from deep space missions.

To take advantage of this emerging technology and greatly improve the scientific and educational return of future research missions, the President’s Budget provides $31 million to initiate development of the first operational deep space optical communications system. Spacecraft in the Mars Exploration Program will be the first missions to use this technology in 2009, increasing the amount of data they can transmit back to Earth.

Improving the Efficiency and Safety of Human Research in Space. The space environment is hazardous to the human body. High radiation, the lack of gravity, and distance from resources make it difficult, and sometimes dangerous, for astronauts to pursue research in space. This is especially true for any future long-term missions beyond Earth’s orbit that may require humans to conduct research that would not otherwise be possible. In these extreme and distant environments, astronauts would not be protected by Earth’s magnetic field, could be exposed to harsh conditions for several months, and must carry large amounts of food, water, air, and other supplies.

To understand and address these health and logistical challenges, the President’s Budget provides $39 million to begin a Human Research Initiative. This initiative builds on three years of continuous human presence on board the Space Station to accelerate our understanding of what is required to safely send humans on long-term missions beyond Earth’s orbit. This initiative will also help operate the Space Station more efficiently by reducing the amount of supplies that must be launched to the Station and enabling astronauts to safely spend more time in orbit

. The President’s Budget directs funding to better understand the environmental forces affecting the Earth’s climate and to improve the safety and security of the nation’s air transportation system. This research uses capabilities that are unique to NASA in order to improve life on Earth --from the Bush Administration Budget, released February 3, 2003