Restless in Huntsville, Houston, and on the Hill
Obama overhauls NASA’s agenda in budget request, Washington Post
“The decision to kill Constellation is akin to President Richard M. Nixon’s decision to end the Apollo program in the early 1970s and build the space shuttle.”
Space group attacks Obama’s plans for NASA; calls for lunar return, Orlando Sentinel
“The National Space Society, which was once headed by NASA’s current deputy administrator Lori Garver and chief of Staff George Whitesides, said in a press release today that the White House plans to increase spending on science, technology and commercial space companies to ferry astronauts for the international space station was commendable. “However, we believe the President’s 2011 budget request would leave the job only partly done,” the release said. “NSS calls for the President and Congress to restore funding for human spaceflight beyond low-Earth orbit.”
Impact of a scale-back goes far beyond Houston, Sen. Corwyn, Houston Chronicle
“But NASA cannot pass the baton of human spaceflight to a runner that is still trying on its shoes. The private sector requires years of further development before it can send a human being to the moon or compete with America’s international rivals. NASA was assigned the Constellation mission for the same reason it took on Apollo: It remains the only entity in the country capable of getting it done.”
NASA chief: Mars is our mission, Houston Chronicle
“The president’s plan is not what our country needs at this time,” said Rep. Pete Olson, R-Sugar Land. “We have been the world’s leader for 50 years, and I can’t accept that we’re going to fall behind. We are going to fight, fight, fight to ensure that the next person who steps on the moon is an American.” Olson said the right thing to do is add $3 billion to NASA’s budget annually for the next five years to ensure Constellation is fully funded.”
NASA Administrator Charles Bolden looks to work out NASA future, Huntsville times
“I’ve got tiger teams out there looking to put meat on the bones” to define future NASA work, Bolden told a group of reporters and editors during a meeting at The Times today. “This is not a decision that will be resolved in a day.”
Davis defends NASA, Huntsville Times
“Davis, a candidate for governor, joined Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle and former NASA Administrator Mike Griffin in the meeting with 20 aerospace executives from companies such as Boeing and Dynetics to discuss strategies to keep the Ares rocket and return trips to the moon in the federal budget.”
