NASA at a turning point, opinion, Walt Cunninghman and Pete Olson, Politico “However, last year President Barack Obama shifted NASA policy away from human spaceflight. His budget cancelled the next-generation Constellation human flight system rather than modifying any deficiencies — wasting a $9 billion taxpayer investment. Instead, NASA was directed to pursue a riskier course, diverting billions of dollars to a group of companies – most devoid of experience in […]

GOP Lawmakers Appeal for Manned Exploration Funds Space News “To be clear, we believe that NASA’s budget can be reduced,” the lawmakers wrote, urging Ryan to take aim at climate-monitoring programs poised for a funding boost over the next five years under the $18.72 billion budget blueprint U.S. President Barack Obama unveiled Feb. 14. “Within the NASA budget specifically, we believe there is an opportunity to cut funding within the […]

Human Space Exploration Framework Summary Presentation to the NASA Advisory Council Strategy: 1-Fixed Initial Conditions: Mission to a NEA when Affordable Description: A fixed cost and initial milestone-constrained assessment, consistent with the NASA 2010 Authorization for the DRM 4B (NEA mission) only. Manifest changed to incorporate HLLV test flight. Utilized updated design & cost estimates, that include some lean development options Simple Result Description: Over-constrained. Does not meet all schedule, […]

Congress must fulfill duty to clarify NASA’s future, Pete Olson, Houston Chronicle “The last two Congresses — one controlled by Republicans, the other by Democrats – endorsed NASA’s current path. Unfortunately, they failed to provide the necessary funding. This Congress must meet our commitment to NASA. We must stop bailing out the past in a seemingly endless stream of bailouts and instead start providing for our future. President Barack Obama […]

Congress to NASA: “Help is on the way”, Houston Chronicle “And what’s the message for Johnson Space Center? “The first message is we love you,” [Rep.] Olson said. “We think about what these men and women are doing right now with all this uncertainty about their future. They’re remaining focused on their mission. And my message to them is that help is on the way. The House and Senate are […]

US must remain the global leader in exploring space, Rep. Pete Olson, The Hill “The president does not outline any path for the United States to get out of low earth orbit. A major component, the revised “Orion-lite” proposal, is little more than an opportunity to delay the inevitable layoffs of highly skilled workers across America and does not further our ability as a nation to explore the heavens or […]