NASA's Manned Programs Face Congressional Test

[Wisecracker]

NASA's Manned Programs Face Congressional Test

U.S. manned space exploration programs, after nearly two years of budget and policy turmoil, potentially face their biggest legislative challenge yet from lawmakers demanding to see specific plans for next-generation hardware.

Separately, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Tuesday is expected to pick museums in Florida and Texas as recipients of two of the four shuttles slated for retirement by year end, according to people familiar with the matter. Tuesday marks the 30-year anniversary of the first space-shuttle launch.

Appearing before a Senate Appropriations subcommittee Monday, NASA Administrator Charles Bolden said he expects shortly to reveal detailed design and spending blueprints for planned multibillion-dollar heavy-lift rockets and spacecraft to explore beyond low-earth orbit. He said some of the details could be released as early as this week.

But the NASA chief was greeted with bipartisan criticism of the agency's efforts so far. As lawmakers prepare to trim the agency's budget below the previously established level of $18.7 billion for the current fiscal year, the political tug-of-war over NASA's direction appears headed for a climax.

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With the Shuttle going out-of-service we will be much more dependent upon the Rooskies for access to near-space. We need the private sector to step-up, and NASA to focus their attention on 'heavy-lift'.

I don't think Orion is much of an answer -- seems like a cushy Apollo capsule to me.

 

[Reynod]

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