Daniel Inouye: “One specific high priority area for investment in optical astronomy that will be needed to develop the next generation…”

“One specific high priority area for investment in optical astronomy that will be needed to develop the next generation of ground-based telescopes is in the area of adaptive optics. This will enable a major advance in astronomy that will have far-reaching effects in other areas, including national security. The National Academy of Sciences Decadal Survey in Astronomy has identified this as the enabling breakthrough that will be needed for the Giant Segmented Mirror Telescope, the top priority for optical astronomy. For fiscal year 2004, about $5 million in additional funding for adaptive optics development is needed in order to develop the future generation of ground based telescopes, particularly for the GSMT. Would the chairman and ranking member be willing to join me in examining this possibility during conference on this bill?”