Astronauts and Scientists Challenge NASA’s Endorsement of Global Warming Science

FLORIDA – A group comprised of nearly 50 former astronauts and scientists claims that NASA is ruining its reputation in its championing of man-man global warming. Among the group were former Apollo astronauts Buzz Aldrin and Walt Cunningham along with the former head of the Johnson Space Center.

Former NASA executives demanded in a letter to Administrator Charles Bolden that he and the agency “refrain from including unproven remarks” supporting global warming in the media.

“We feel that NASA’s advocacy of an extreme position, prior to a thorough study of the possible overwhelming impact of natural climate drivers is inappropriate,” they wrote. “At risk is damage to the exemplary reputation of NASA, NASA’s current or former scientists and employees, and even the reputation of science itself.”

The letter was signed by seven Apollo astronauts, a deputy associate administrator, several scientists, and even the deputy director of the space shuttle program.

NASA officials denied that it endorses climate change theories and is instead fostering “cutting-edge” investigation into the controversial topic. “NASA sponsors research into many areas of cutting-edge scientific inquiry, including the relationship between carbon dioxide and climate. As an agency, NASA does not draw conclusions and issue ‘claims’ about research findings. We support open scientific inquiry and discussion,” said NASA Chief Scientist Waleed Abdalati in a statement to Secrets.

But the group said that thousands of years of data challenge modern-day claims that man-made carbon dioxide is causing climate change. “With hundreds of well-known climate scientists and tens of thousands of other scientists publicly declaring their disbelief in the catastrophic forecasts, coming particularly from (NASA’s) Goddard Institute for Space Studies leadership, it is clear that the science is NOT settled,” they wrote.

Evidence they pointed to of NASA’s advocacy of man-made global warming included the agency’s web site which is filled with stories about the impact of climate change on the earth, animals, and ecosystems. The majority of administration officials agree with the position NASA has taken.

“The unbridled advocacy of CO2 being the major cause of climate change is unbecoming of NASA’s history of making an objective assessment of all available scientific data prior to making decision or public statements,” the critics added.

Their letter was welcomed by outspoken global warming critic and author Leighton Steward who said, “These American heroes, the astronauts that took to space and the scientists and engineers that put them there, are right to criticize NASA’s advocacy of an extreme and unsubstantiated position.”

In a statement Steward added; “Our Earth science programs provide many unique space-based observations and research capabilities to the scientific community to inform investigations into climate change, and many NASA scientists are actively involved in these investigations, bringing their expertise to bear on the interpretation of this information. We encourage our scientists to subject these results and interpretations to scrutiny by the scientific community through the peer-review process. After these studies have met the appropriate standards of scientific peer-review, we strongly encourage scientists to communicate these results to the public,” he said in a statement.