Space exploration deserves constant role in U.S. plans

Today's Topic: NASA flies under the radar

Our View

With a presidential campaign at a fever pitch, a financial crisis reaching dramatic heights by the day and a deadly war against terrorists seeing no end, the nation's space program has quietly been making news.

Unfortunately, most of that news has flown under the radar of public attention. But especially at a time when the nation is about to gain new leadership, it's worth taking a look at some of the recent developments in space, because they may hold answers to many questions and may foretell who might have the upper hand among nations in the space race overall.

Recent events involving the National Aeronautics and Space Administration include:

• Discovery of ice crystals above the north pole of Mars by NASA's Phoenix lander, which has been making weather readings about the planet since May 25. The discovery of snow in the atmosphere above the pole reportedly was a surprise to the scientists studying the planet.

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