 CSF Welcomes NASA Budget Support Commercial Crews Washington DC (SPX) - The Commercial Spaceflight Federation welcomed the strong support for commercial spaceflight in the new NASA FY2012 proposed budget. CSF President Bretton Alexander stated, "In this constrained fiscal environment, commercial spaceflight is more important than ever. NASA's Commercial Crew program will result in significant savings to the US taxpayer, and will cut the amount of money the nation has been sending to Russia every year. Leveraging private investment is the only way NASA can make its dollars go farther in these times of belt-tightening." Last year's NASA Authorization Act identified commercial spaceflight as the primary means to access low Earth orbit and transport NASA astronauts to the International Space Station. The Commercial Crew program has been endorsed by a broad array of thought leaders, including over 25 former astronauts, members of the Columbia Accident Investigation board, over 14 Nobel Laureates, and leaders from across the political spectrum such as former Governor Bill Richardson and former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich. CSF Executive Director John Gedmark added, "NASA's number one job is to safely keep America flying in space and eliminate our dependence on the Russians as quickly as possible. It's because commercial spaceflight is the fastest way to end our reliance on Russia that robust funding for Commercial Crew is so critical. In addition, Commercial Crew will create thousands more private-sector jobs using a combination of government and private investment." Gedmark concluded, "It's time to unleash the innovation of the American private sector in space, and NASA's new budget does exactly that. It's the only way to ensure America's leadership in space." |
"This budget requires us to live within our means so we can invest in our future," NASA Administrator Charles Bolden said. "It maintains our commitment to human spaceflight and provides for strong programs to continue the outstanding science, aeronautics research and education needed to win the future."
The NASA budget includes $4.3 billion for the Space Shuttle and International Space Station programs, $5 billion for science, $3.9 billion for future exploration systems and $569 million for aeronautics research.
"This budget demonstrates the administration's commitment to maintaining NASA's leadership role in space," Deputy Administrator Lori Garver said. "It puts us on a path to out-innovate, out-educate and out-build the rest of the world."
The budget supports the transition of the space shuttle program's workforce and facilities when the fleet retires this year after 30 years of service. Among the program's many historic accomplishments is the construction of the International Space Station. The station will operate until at least 2020, allowing NASA to fully use it as a technology test-bed and national laboratory for human health research. While continuing to work with its international partners on station activities, NASA will select a non-profit organization to stimulate, develop and manage research activities on the U.S. portion of the station.
NASA has prioritized funding for its partnership with the commercial space industry to facilitate crew and cargo transport to the station. Companies will innovate to provide safe, reliable and cost effective access to low Earth orbit. NASA also will invest in the flight systems to take humans beyond low Earth orbit, including a deep space capsule and heavy lift rocket, and key research and technology to enable the long journeys.
NASA's science budget supports new missions and continued operations of the many observatories successfully studying Earth and space. The agency will launch the Mars Science Laboratory in fiscal year 2012 and continue work on a wide range of astrophysics, heliophysics and Earth science missions.
The 2012 budget request continues NASA's commitment to enhancing aviation safety and airspace efficiency, and reducing the environmental impact of aviation. NASA also remains dedicated to developing the next generation of technology leaders through vital programs in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
"We had to make some tough choices, but the budget gives us a plan for sustainable and affordable exploration," said NASA's Chief Financial Officer Elizabeth Robinson. "We're looking at new ways of doing business that improve program management and delivers even greater results to the American taxpayers."
earlier related report
House Appropriations Committee Introduces CR Containing Largest Spending Cuts in History
Washington DC (SPX) Feb 15, 2011
The House Appropriations Committee has introduced a Continuing Resolution (H.R. 1) to fund the federal government for the last seven months of the fiscal year while cutting spending by over $100 billion from the President's fiscal year 2011 request. This CR legislation represents the largest single discretionary spending reduction in the history of Congress.
Chairman Hal Rogers gave the following statement on the introduction of the CR:
"This year, our nation is spending 1.5 trillion dollars more than we have, running our debt to $14 trillion. The taxpayers have told us loud and clear that this is simply unacceptable, and have demanded that we get our nation's fiscal house in order.
"This CR responds to this call. The legislation includes the largest reduction in discretionary spending in the history of our nation - over five times larger than any other discretionary cut package ever considered by the House.
"The CR contains over $100 billion in cuts compared to the President's request - fully meeting the spending reduction goal outlined in the Republican 'Pledge to America' while providing common sense exceptions for our troops and veterans.
"These cuts go far and wide, and will affect every community in the nation. These were hard decisions, and I know many people will not be happy with everything we've proposed in this package. That's understandable and not unexpected, but I believe these reductions are necessary to show that we are serious about returning our nation to a sustainable financial path.
"The cuts in this CR are the result of difficult work by our subcommittees who have weeded out excessive, unnecessary, and wasteful spending, making tough choices to prioritize programs based on their effectiveness and benefit to the American people. My committee has taken a thoughtful look at each and every one of the programs we intend to cut, and have made determinations based on this careful analysis.
"It is my intent - and that of my Committee - that this CR legislation will be the first of many Appropriations bills this year that will significantly reduce federal spending. It is important that we complete the legislative process on this bill before March 4th - when the current funding measure expires - to avoid a government-wide shut down and so that we can begin our regular budgetary work for this year."
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