NASA Budget Update

Twittermail from @KenMonroe: “Now that the FY2010 #NASA Appropriations battle has moved to the Senate, let’s discuss an esoteric problem posed in the House-passed version. The House-passed bill seeks to convert NASA’s R&D accounts from two-year duration to one-year duration. What does this mean? NASA is the third largest R&D agency in the Federal Government, representing 7.7 percent of total R&D spending in FY2010. Because of the duration and complexity of R&D programs, two-year funding has been a widespread practice in virtually all Federal R&D activities, including those at DoD, NSF, NIST, NOAA, EPA and USGS. NASA has long relied on its two-year funding to write contracts that cross fiscal years (as most things do). This practice permits the best, most efficient use of appropriated funds.” [More]
Summary: FY 2010 Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Subcommittee Mark
“National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) – The bill provides $18.68 billion for NASA, $903 million above the Fiscal Year 2009 level and equal to the President’s request. The total funding includes $3.16 billion for Space Shuttle operations; $2.27 billion for Space Station operations; $3.5 billion for development of the next generation Crew Launch Vehicle and Crew Exploration Vehicle and Cargo Launch Vehicle; $4.5 billion for science; and $507 million for aeronautics research.”