[FPSPACE] Nasa's budget and review of human spaceflight activities

[Zeger Nuyens]

>
> May 7, 2009
>
> Michael Cabbage/Stephanie Schierholz 
> Headquarters, Washington 
> 202-358-1600 
> mcabbage at nasa.gov 
> stephanie.schierholz at nasa.gov 
>
> RELEASE: 09-102
>
> NASA ANNOUNCES FISCAL YEAR 2010 BUDGET
>
> WASHINGTON -- NASA announced Thursday an $18.69 billion budget for 
> fiscal year 2010 to advance Earth science, complete the International 
> Space Station, explore the solar system and conduct aeronautics 
> research. The budget request represents an increase of $903.6 
> million, or 5 percent, above funding provided in the fiscal year 2009 
> Omnibus Appropriations Act. All totaled, an additional $2 billion has 
> been added to NASA's 2009 and 2010 budgets under the Obama 
> administration. 
>
> NASA's fiscal year 2010 request funds a robust program to continue the 
> agency's missions of exploration and research. It supports the 
> administration's commitment to deploy a global climate change 
> research and monitoring system. It funds a strong program of space 
> exploration involving humans and robots with the goal of returning 
> Americans to the moon and exploring other destinations. And it 
> supports the safe flight of the space shuttle to complete assembly of 
> the International Space Station by the shuttle's planned retirement. 
>
> Funds freed by the shuttle's retirement will support development of 
> systems to deliver people and cargo to the station, the moon and 
> other destinations. As part of the effort, NASA will invest in 
> private-sector development and the demonstration of vehicles to 
> support the agency's human crew and cargo spaceflight requirements. 
>
> With the fiscal year 2010 budget request, NASA will advance global 
> climate change research. NASA's investment in Earth science research 
> satellites, airborne sensors, computer models and analysis has 
> revolutionized scientific knowledge and predictions of climate change 
> and its effects. Using the National Research Council's recommended 
> priorities for space-based Earth science research, NASA will develop 
> new sensors to support the administration's goal of deploying a 
> global climate research and monitoring system. 
>
> The budget request also renews NASA's commitment to aeronautics 
> research to address aviation safety, air traffic control, noise and 
> emissions reduction, and fuel efficiency. And NASA's diverse 
> portfolio of science, technology, engineering and mathematics 
> educational activities is aligned with the administration's goal of 
> improving American innovation and global competitiveness. 
>
> In conjunction with the budget release, the White House also announced 
> the launch of an independent review of NASA's human spaceflight 
> activities. The Review of United States Human Space Flight Plans will 
> examine NASA development programs and possible alternatives. The goal 
> is to provide options that will ensure the nation's human spaceflight 
> program remains safe, innovative and affordable in the years 
> following the space shuttle's retirement. 
>
> The review team will work closely with NASA and seek input from the 
> Congress, the White House, the public, industry and international 
> partners as it develops these options. The panel's results will 
> support an administration decision by August 2009 on how to proceed. 
> Acting NASA Administrator Christopher Scolese expressed his support 
> for the effort. 
>
> "The thousands of workers who have given so much over the years to 
> bring human spaceflight to where it is today deserve nothing less 
> than a full assurance their commitment will be applied in the 
> smartest and most practical ways," Scolese said. 
>
> A blue-ribbon panel of experts will conduct the review, led by Norman 
> Augustine, a former aerospace industry executive who served on the 
> President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology and is a 
> recipient of the National Medal of Technology, the Joint Chiefs of 
> Staff Distinguished Public Service Award and the Department of 
> Defense's Distinguished Service Medal. Augustine also has served as 
> chairman of the American Red Cross and the National Academy of 
> Engineering, and was president of the Boy Scouts of America. Michael 
> Hawes, the associate administrator of NASA's Office of Program 
> Analysis and Evaluation in Washington, will serve as the lead of the 
> NASA team supporting the review. 
>
> "It is an honor to be asked to lead this important human spaceflight 
> review, and I am excited about working with my fellow panel members 
> to examine these difficult and complex questions," Augustine said. "I 
> am a real believer in the value of this nation's human spaceflight 
> activities and will do everything I can to provide the information 
> needed to help the country maintain the spectacular arc of progress 
> NASA has fueled for five decades." 
>
> Work will continue on NASA's missions of exploration and research 
> while the review is underway. 
>
> "With this budget," Scolese said, "NASA is able to support a balanced 
> portfolio of priorities in space exploration, Earth and space 
> science, and aeronautics research." 
>
> The NASA budget and supporting information are available online at: 
>
>
>
> http://www.nasa.gov/budget 
>