Some context: NASA missions are built and funded for finite “prime” missions. After that they undergo external “senior reviews” every two years. All operating missions are stack ranked against each other based on their scientific productivity. Low performing missions are turned off and the money used for other things. In this case it’s not being turned off but reprioritized.
This just reads to me like Alan Stern is salty that they got a low ranking and his mission is being taken from him. But that’s why the senior review asks an external panel and not the PIs!
George Bernard Shaw said “The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore, all progress depends on the unreasonable man.”
This just reads to me like Alan Stern is salty that they got a low ranking and his mission is being taken from him. But that’s why the senior review asks an external panel and not the PIs!