[ESIP-all] FW: Earth Day Message from the Administrator

[Carol B. Meyer]

Frank Lindsay asked me to share these comment's from NASA's new
administrator, Michael Griffin


------ Forwarded Message
From: NASA_INC <NASA_INC at hq.nasa.gov>
Date: Fri, 22 Apr 2005 12:16:12 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: Earth Day Message from the Administrator

Point of Contact: Dean Acosta, Public Affairs, 202/358-1400
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Earth Day 2005

When our Apollo astronauts took the first photographs of the
Earthrise over the lunar horizon some 35 years ago, a new
awareness of our planet's uniqueness took hold, resulting in the
first Earth Day.

On this Earth Day, we are on the cusp of a new era in
understanding our home planet and using that knowledge to improve
life here and to help prepare the way for new voyages to the
moon, Mars and beyond.

Through NASA's constellation of Earth Observation System
satellites we are providing scientists with information and
analysis useful in addressing such challenges as the emergence
and spread of disease, the accelerated melting of glaciers, and,
a few months ago, recovery efforts following a massive tsunami.
Later this summer the CALIPSO and CloudSat satellites will be
launched to help expand our Earth observational capabilities.

Turning to the Vision for Space Exploration agenda, we're using
knowledge gained about life forms that thrive in Earth's most
extreme environments (e.g., Antarctica, the deserts of Chile, and
volcanoes and geysers of Yellowstone) to develop strategies in
the search for evidence of life beyond our home planet.

On this Earth Day and every day, please join NASA in celebrating
the accomplishments of this agency and those of all people who
aspire to make this planet a better place to live. As travelers
on Earth and to other worlds, we must seize the great opportunity
we've been given to expand our scientific knowledge, apply our
technological creativity and inspire future generations of
explorers as we continue to study Earth and extend our
exploration reach to the moon, Mars and beyond.

Michael Griffin
NASA Administrator

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