Scientists need to understand current atmospheric processes so they will be better able to determine future changes and assess the consequences for society. The upper atmosphere is one of the least explored regions of Earth, making accurate information about it essential for global climate change studies. A new NASA spaceborne instrument called SABER (Sounding of the Atmosphere using Broadband Emission Radiometry) will allow researchers to learn more about the upper atmosphere by helping produce the first comprehensive global measurements of this region. It will provide a never before seen view of the atmosphere and pave the way for a new area of science. SABER, built by Utah State University Space Dynamics Laboratory and managed by NASA Langley Research Center, is one of four instruments on the TIMED (Thermosphere, Ionosphere, Mesosphere, Energetics and Dynamics) spacecraft scheduled to begin its 2-year mission with launch in late 2001.
To view the floor statement that Congressman Bachus delivered during the House debate on the health care bill, click here. 1/1