Editor’s note: NASA will be holding a “Think Tank Roundtable” next Tuesday at NASA HQ. This event will include briefings for several dozen representives of Washington, DC organizations, think tanks, and industry on NASA’s budget and major programs.

Biologist, Explorers Club Fellow, ex-NASA Space Biologist and Payload integrator, Editor of NASAWatch.com and Astrobiology.com, Lapsed climber, Explorer, Synaesthete, Former Challenger Center board member...