Reauthorization of the U.S. federal Methane Hydrate Research and Development Act of 2000 (Public Law 106-193, Section 3b) should emphasize that the overriding focus of the Department of Energy's methane hydrate research and development program should be on the potential importance of hydrate as a future energy resource for the nation and the world.NASA has provided funding for a 6-month additional extension of the operation of the Mars rover missions, the agency announced on 21 September.