Budget cuts and the Mars rovers

Due to a directive to cut $4m, there is a proposal to put Spirit on long term hibernation and to limit the activities of Opportunity.

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5j1ExT948JtSH7ZaYSH6OG-hP1hUQD8VK2PGO0

This really seems ridiculous to me and a fine way to treat the folks who overachieved on the rover.

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- NASA says it has absolutely no plan to turn off either of the Mars Rovers because of budget cuts.

NASA is saying Tuesday that it has rescinded a letter that recommended budget cuts in the Mars Rover program to cover the cost of a next-generation rover on the Red Planet.

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/us/AP-Mars-Rovers.html?_r=1&oref=slogin