Astronauts and NASA Scientists Tell Agency Chief to Stop Publishing Unproven Claims that Man-Made Carbon Dioxide is Causing Global Warming

The Washington Examiner reports:

Administrator of the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration

In an unprecedented slap at NASA’s endorsement of global warming science, nearly 50 former astronauts and scientists--including the ex-boss of the Johnson Space Center--claim the agency is on the wrong side of science and must change course or ruin the reputation of the world’s top space agency. 

Challenging statements from NASA that man is causing climate change, the 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.

..

In their letter, 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.

NASA’s website is filled with stories about the impact of climate change on the earth, animals, and ecosystems. Most 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.

... 

Here is a full copy of the letter:

March 28, 2012

The Honorable Charles Bolden, Jr.
NASA Administrator
NASA Headquarters
Washington, D.C. 20546-0001

Dear Charlie,We, the undersigned, respectfully request that NASA and the Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) refrain from including unproven remarks in public releases and websites. We believe the claims by NASA and GISS, that man-made carbon dioxide is having a catastrophic impact on global climate change are not substantiated, especially when considering thousands of years of empirical data. 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 the GISS leadership, it is clear that the science is NOT settled.

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 decisions or public statements.

As former NASA employees, 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. We request that NASA refrain from including unproven and unsupported remarks in its future releases and websites on this subject. 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. 

For additional information regarding the science behind our concern, we recommend that you contact Harrison Schmitt or Walter Cunningham, or others they can recommend to you.

Thank you for considering this request.

Sincerely,

(Attached signatures)

CC: Mr. John Grunsfeld, Associate Administrator for Science  

CC: Mr. Chris Scolese, Director, Goddard Space Flight Center 

Ref: Letter to NASA Administrator Charles Bolden, dated 3-26-12, regarding a request for NASA to refrain from making unsubstantiated claims that human produced CO2 is having a catastrophic impact on climate change.

/s/ Jack Barneburg, Jack – JSC, Space Shuttle Structures, Engineering Directorate, 34 years  

/s/ Larry Bell – JSC, Mgr. Crew Systems Div., Engineering Directorate, 32 years 

/s/ Dr. Donald Bogard – JSC, Principal Investigator, Science Directorate, 41 years 

/s/ Jerry C. Bostick – JSC, Principal Investigator, Science Directorate, 23 years 

/s/ Dr. Phillip K. Chapman – JSC, Scientist – astronaut, 5 years 

/s/ Michael F. Collins, JSC, Chief, Flight Design and Dynamics Division, MOD, 41 years 

/s/ Dr. Kenneth Cox – JSC, Chief Flight Dynamics Div., Engr. Directorate, 40 years 

/s/ Walter Cunningham – JSC, Astronaut, Apollo 7, 8 years 

/s/ Dr. Donald M. Curry – JSC, Mgr. Shuttle Leading Edge, Thermal Protection Sys., Engr. Dir., 44 years 

/s/ Leroy Day – Hdq. Deputy Director, Space Shuttle Program, 19 years 

/s/ Dr. Henry P. Decell, Jr. – JSC, Chief, Theory & Analysis Office, 5 years 

/s/Charles F. Deiterich – JSC, Mgr., Flight Operations Integration, MOD, 30 years 

/s/ Dr. Harold Doiron – JSC, Chairman, Shuttle Pogo Prevention Panel, 16 years 

/s/ Charles Duke – JSC, Astronaut, Apollo 16, 10 years 

/s/ Anita Gale 

/s/ Grace Germany – JSC, Program Analyst, 35 years 

/s/ Ed Gibson – JSC, Astronaut Skylab 4, 14 years 

/s/ Richard Gordon – JSC, Astronaut, Gemini Xi, Apollo 12, 9 years 

/s/ Gerald C. Griffin – JSC, Apollo Flight Director, and Director of Johnson Space Center, 22 years 

/s/ Thomas M. Grubbs – JSC, Chief, Aircraft Maintenance and Engineering Branch, 31 years 

/s/ Thomas J. Harmon 

/s/ David W. Heath – JSC, Reentry Specialist, MOD, 30 years 

/s/ Miguel A. Hernandez, Jr. – JSC, Flight crew training and operations, 3 years 

/s/ James R. Roundtree – JSC Branch Chief, 26 years 

/s/ Enoch Jones – JSC, Mgr. SE&I, Shuttle Program Office, 26 years 

/s/ Dr. Joseph Kerwin – JSC, Astronaut, Skylab 2, Director of Space and Life Sciences, 22 years 

/s/ Jack Knight – JSC, Chief, Advanced Operations and Development Division, MOD, 40 years 

/s/ Dr. Christopher C. Kraft – JSC, Apollo Flight Director and Director of Johnson Space Center, 24 years 

/s/ Paul C. Kramer – JSC, Ass.t for Planning Aeroscience and Flight Mechanics Div., Egr. Dir., 34 years 

/s/ Alex (Skip) Larsen 

/s/ Dr. Lubert Leger – JSC, Ass’t. Chief Materials Division, Engr. Directorate, 30 years 

/s/ Dr. Humbolt C. Mandell – JSC, Mgr. Shuttle Program Control and Advance Programs, 40 years 

/s/ Donald K. McCutchen – JSC, Project Engineer – Space Shuttle and ISS Program Offices, 33 years 

/s/ Thomas L. (Tom) Moser – Hdq. Dep. Assoc. Admin. & Director, Space Station Program, 28 years 

/s/ Dr. George Mueller – Hdq., Assoc. Adm., Office of Space Flight, 6 years 

/s/ Tom Ohesorge 

/s/ James Peacock – JSC, Apollo and Shuttle Program Office, 21 years 

/s/ Richard McFarland – JSC, Mgr. Motion Simulators, 28 years 

/s/ Joseph E. Rogers – JSC, Chief, Structures and Dynamics Branch, Engr. Directorate,40 years 

/s/ Bernard J. Rosenbaum – JSC, Chief Engineer, Propulsion and Power Division, Engr. Dir., 48 years 

/s/ Dr. Harrison (Jack) Schmitt – JSC, Astronaut Apollo 17, 10 years 

/s/ Gerard C. Shows – JSC, Asst. Manager, Quality Assurance, 30 years 

/s/ Kenneth Suit – JSC, Ass’t Mgr., Systems Integration, Space Shuttle, 37 years 

/s/ Robert F. Thompson – JSC, Program Manager, Space Shuttle, 44 years 

/s/ Frank Van Rennselaer – Hdq., Mgr. Shuttle Solid Rocket Boosters, 15 years 

/s/ Dr. James Visentine – JSC Materials Branch, Engineering Directorate, 30 years 

/s/ Manfred (Dutch) von Ehrenfried – JSC, Flight Controller; Mercury, Gemini & Apollo, MOD, 10 years