Hampton U. gets money to extend NASA mission

Posted to: Education Hampton News
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By Denise Watson Batts
The Virginian-Pilot
© December 17, 2009

Hampton University has received a contract increase of $10.2 million from the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center to extend the NASA Aeronomy of Ice in the Mesosphere, or AIM, satellite mission for three more years.

AIM is the first project dedicated to the study of "night-shining" clouds. The high altitude of these clouds allows them to continue reflecting sunlight after the sun has set below the horizon.

The AIM Project Data Center is located at Hampton's Center for Atmospheric Sciences.

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Waste of money

Submitted by big65mopar on Thu, 12/17/2009 at 3:22 am.

that could be spent helping those who need it, putting people back to work, rebuilding infrastructure, keeping teachers in schools but instead its being wasted on studying high altitude clouds.

look again

Submitted by ybrikwerdna on Thu, 12/17/2009 at 1:00 pm.

That money that is being given to Hampton is coming from NASA's funds. Just like any other gov't organization, if they don't spend the money they lose it. Round here... they call all things like this use-or-lose. The real problem here that needs to be address is this very policy that leads to such a ridiculous amount of waste in goverment spending (not to mention the idiots at the helm with no basic understanding how money or financial accountability works). Honestly, I seriously doubt they would spend it on any of those items you listed since they wouldn't serve their immediate needs and the benefits would be too indirect. Also, for all either of us know, this research yield significant results and I don't see any problems with funds that support the educational system on any level.