The Impact of Appropriator's Actions

Prepared Statement by NASA Administrator Michael Griffin Before the House Appropriations Committee

“The effect of the FY 2007 appropriation is to impose a six-month delay in our ability to bring online NASA’s new human spaceflight systems, the Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle and Ares I Crew Launch Vehicle. Due to the cumulative effect of reductions in Exploration Systems to pay for Space Shuttle Return to Flight costs in FY 2005-06, previously underestimated costs to fly the Space Shuttle until 2010, and the reduction from the FY 2007 request reflected in the FY 2007 Continuing Resolution, based on current budget projections, NASA will not be able to meet the 2014 milestone originally called for when President Bush first announced the Vision for Space Exploration.”