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NASA's new budget likely to scrap Constellation program
by Jaspreet Virk - February 1, 2010 - comments
With the space shuttle fleet retiring next year, NASA had planned to use Constellation program to continue exploration in space. But Bush’s ambitious plan is likely to be axed by the Obama administration.
New York, February 1 -- Details of NASA’s space program will be out today when President Barack Obama presents a budget request.
Many are anticipating the outcome of the budget. According to White House officials, NASA will focus on inviting private sector participation to develop commercial spacecrafts to launch astronauts into Earth’s low orbit.
President's budget will call for investing approximately $6 billion over a period of five years to develop commercial cargo flights to space.
NASA, which has been developing shuttles over the years, will only supervise the construction work undertaken by private companies.
Plan to return to moon likely to end
At the same time, the budget will spell the death knell for Constellation program, stated officials.
It is expected that the budget will scrap Ares I and with it President George W. Bush's ambitious space exploration program.
Bush in 2004 had unveiled a Constellation program. It aimed at sending astronauts back to the Moon by 2020 and using human and robotic exploration to prepare for living base and missions to Mars.
NASA is already working on the hardware and software for the Ares I rocket, meant to send future astronauts into orbit. The rocket is a planned successor to space shuttle.
With the space shuttle fleet retiring next year, NASA had planned to use Constellation program to continue exploration in space. However, Bush’s ambitious plan is likely to be axed by the Obama administration.
Budget plan to spur debate
Though the budget numbers are expected to increase over the current $18.7 billion, cancellation of the Constellation program is likely to spark debate in the Congress.
Many lawmakers have reacted sharply to the media reports about the budget. Even NASA administrator Michael Griffin called the program disastrous for the program aimed at sending humans to space.
Criticizing the budget, he added, “It means that essentially the U.S. has decided that they're not going to be a significant player in human space flight for the foreseeable future.”
But White House spokesman Nick Shapiro defended the budget request saying that president is focusing on a space program that will help in “creating innovative new opportunities, industries and jobs. The president's budget will take steps in that direction."
The Obama administration believes that the space program will help in creating nearly 1,700 jobs and will counterbalance the loss of 1,700 jobs in Florida, when the space shuttle expires next year.