William Atkins
Tuesday, 02 February 2010 08:10
Science -
Space
Page 1 of 3
The Obama Administration has announced its 2011 NASA Budget. NASA calls the news its "Bold New Approach to Exploration" as the new, yet-to-be manned Constellation program is already DOA (Dead BefOre Arrival).
An overview of the NASA 2011 Budget, as proposed by the White House and the Obama Administration, and apparently approved by NASA administrator Charles Bolden, is found at
Fiscal Year 2011 Budget Estimates.
Bolden stated,
“President Obama today has given us a bold challenge -- to become an engine of innovation, and the catalyst for an ambitious new space program that includes and inspires people around the world.” [NASA: “
Statement by Charlie Bolden, NASA Administrator, February 1, 2010, NASA Budget Press Conference”]
As announced on Monday, February 1, 2010, The summary of the 2011 NASA Budget Report begins,
“Today we are launching a bold and ambitious new space initiative to enable us to explore new worlds, develop more innovative technologies, foster new industries, increase our understanding of the earth, expand our presence in the solar system, and inspire the next-generation of explorers….”
Early on, the Report states that NASA will significantly invest in the following technologies:
•
Transformative technology development and flagship technology demonstrations to pursue new approaches to space exploration;
• Robotic precursor missions to multiple destinations in the solar system;
• Research and development on heavy-lift and propulsion technologies;
• U.S. commercial spaceflight capabilities;
• Future launch capabilities, including work on modernizing Kennedy Space Center after the retirement of the Shuttle;
• Extension and increased utilization of the International Space Station;
• Cross-cutting technology development aimed at improving NASA, other government, and commercial space capabilities;
• Accelerating the next wave of Climate change research and observations spacecraft;
• NextGen and green aviation; and
• Education, including focus on STEM. [STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics]
Some of the more interesting news from the Report is that statement that the
Constellation program will be cancelled.
The Report states, “
The FY 2011 Budget cancels the Constellation program and provides $2.5 billion over two years for related facility and close-out costs including any increased cost for Shuttle transition due to Constellation cancellation.”Page two continues with other announcements from the Report on the International Space Station and Commercial Developments in Space.
