NASA is good-to-go into future

William Atkins
Tuesday, 12 October 2010 22:33

Science - Space

On October 11, 2010, president Barack Obama signed the bill that authorizes $19 billion for NASA in fiscal-year 2011: provide an extra shuttle flight, develop a heavy-lift rocket for solar system exploration, and privately develop commercial low-Earth-orbit space taxis.

 

Although the budget for 2011 cancels the Constellation program and plans to first go to the Moon, the bill does allow for a manned spacecraft similar to the Orion space capsule (part of the Constellation plan) that will allow astronauts to explore asteroids, the planet Mars, and other such places in our solar system.

The bill allow authorizes NASA to develop new technologies and robotic (unmanned) missions within the solar system and beyond, and institute major upgrades to the infrastructure at the Kennedy Space Center and the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, both in Florida.

According to Senator (Florida-Democrat) Bill Nelson, "We now have a way forward for NASA. Now with the signing of this legislation into law, NASA has a blueprint, NASA has a roadmap." [CBS News: 'President Obama signs NASA budget authorization']

Nelson adds, "The goal is not the moon. We were there 40 years ago. The goal is Mars by a flexible path. The president has stated that goal ... and this legislation which he is signing into law will now set us on that course." [CBS News]

NASA Administrator Charles Bolden wrote, in a written statement, that NASA will "'¦ foster a growing commercial space transportation industry that will allow NASA ... to start work on a heavy-lift architecture to take astronauts beyond low-Earth orbit and to develop a multi-purpose crew vehicle for use with our new space launch systems." [CBS News]

Bolden added, "We have been given a new path in space that will enable our country to develop greater capabilities, transforming the state of the art in aerospace technologies. We will continue to maintain and expand vital partnerships around the world. It will help us retool for the industries and jobs of the future that will be vital for long-term economic growth and national security.' [CBS News]

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