How will Carl Sagan Center research differ from NASA research?
NASA is an Executive Branch government agency subject to political forces. Over the past few years these forces have resulted in a re-direction of much NASA funding to the human space flight effort and a strong emphasis on Lunar exploration. The CSC, as a private research entity has the independence to pursue astrobiology and the study of life in the universe freed from such political constraints. In addition, government science funding, as we have seen, is subject to wide fluctuation on a nearly annual basis. By adding private funding to our revenue, the CSC will provide stability and a long-term commitment to the pursuit of astrobiology research.
