At first glance the proposed 2010 budget request from NASA looks promising. The requested amount is $18.686 billion and includes increased funding for human spaceflight programs such as the Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle, which includes avionics technology investment.
Posted by John McHale
At first glance the proposed 2010 budget request from NASA looks promising. The requested amount is $18.686 billion and includes increased funding for human spaceflight programs such as the Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle, which includes avionics technology investment.
This is a "five percent increase from the 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act," according to a statement by acting NASA Administrator Christopher Scolese. He adds that the budget supports the "goal of returning Americans to the moon and exploring other destinations." Currently the request calls for $3.963 billion for exploration compared to $3.505 in the 2009 request.
The space shuttle request is for about $3.157 billion for next year but scheduled to be zero by 2013. The Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle for request for 2010 is at $1.383 billion and scheduled to steadily increase the next two years as the shuttle retires. A funding request of $1.415 billion was made for the Ares I Crew Launch Vehicle for 2010.
According to NASA the Obama Administration will resubmit the exploration request after the independent review of planned U.S. human space flight activities is complete. President Obama announced the formation of the review earlier this month.
According to an administration release the review will be conducted by panel of experts led by Norman Augustine, the former chief executive officer of Lockheed Martin. The "Review of United States Human Space Flight Plans" is to examine ongoing and planned NASA "development activities, as well as potential alternatives, and present options for advancing a safe, innovative, affordable, and sustainable human space flight program in the years following space shuttle retirement."
In a story in USA Today, the administration is even considering a former astronaut to head NASA -- retired Marine Maj. Gen. Charles Bolden.
I'm glad human space flight is getting so much attention. Manned space programs are what make the public interested which in turn persuades Congress to release more dollars for spaceflight. The continued success of the Chinese space program may also prove persuasive, especially if they get to the Moon before we get back there...
For more on the 2010 NASA budget request, visit http://www.nasa.gov/news/budget/index.html.
