NASA online Earth Day poll is under way

WASHINGTON, April 14 (UPI) -- NASA says it's inviting the public to vote for the most important contribution the U.S. space agency has made toward improving life on the planet.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is conducting the online survey as part of its celebration of Earth Day, which will be observed April 22. Voting began Tuesday and ends April 21. Poll results will be announced on NASA's Web site on Earth Day.

"A 2008 National Research Council study identified major accomplishments resulting from Earth observations made from space," NASA said. "The report … cataloged scientific discoveries and practical applications, including many that resulted from NASA missions, made possible from satellite observations."

Space agency officials selected 10 candidates highlighted in the study for consideration as NASA's greatest achievements. The options include diagnosing Earth's ozone layer, predicting food shortages and tracking ecosystems worldwide. Visitors to the online polling site will be able to cast votes for up to three candidate accomplishments.

Voting is being conducted at http://www.nasa.gov/topics/earth/earthday/greatest_hits.html.