The largest make-work organization in the world, NASA, is still looking for their next big gimmick.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (AP) -- Space shuttle Columbia's pure science mission initially was seen as a vehicle for an all-female crew, but that idea was abandoned. Then it was proposed as a carrier for GoreSat, the Earth-observing spacecraft dreamed up by Vice President Al Gore, but that was put on ice by a Republican Congress.

I like how the AP can't resist getting in a jab against the Republicans and fiscal responsibility. Is this the best way to spend taxpayer money, that was seized from hard working Americans at the point of a gun? Satellites can typically be launched by cheap and efficient rockets. There is no need to send up 7 or 8 people in a huge launch vehicle as babysitters.

And is Al Gore inventing satellites now? First the internet, and now this!