Clinton Defends NASA After Mars Lander Loss

Posted by jburk to Mars Polar Lander at December 8, 1999 12:00 PM

President Clinton defended the U.S. space program on Wednesday, one day after NASA scientists confirmed the loss of the $165 million Mars Polar Lander. "I think it's important not only for the American tradition of exploration. ... We have to keep doing this if we ever hope to know what's beyond our galaxy," Clinton said at what was billed as his final news conference of the year.