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A full-size mock-up of the crew module for the Orion Crew exploration vehicle, which will become America's primary vehicle for human space exploration - Source: Reuters -
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President Barack Obama wants to end NASA's moon program, turn
over space transportation to commercial companies and jump-start
technologies needed for future human exploration of Mars and other
destinations, officials said.
The plan is part Obama's budget for the fiscal year to September
30, 2011, which must be approved by the US Congress.
NASA, which currently receives about $25 billion a year, has been
working to develop a replacement for the space shuttles, which are
being retired this year after five more missions to complete
construction of the orbiting International Space Station, a $US100
billion project of 16 nations.
NASA currently spends more than half of its budget on human space
programs.
Obama's budget ends work on the shuttle follow-on vehicle, known as
Orion, as well as a pair of rockets developed to fly astronauts to
the space station, the moon and other destinations in the solar
system.
"We are proposing cancelling the program, not delaying it," Peter
Orszag, director of the Office of Management and Budget, told
reporters during a conference call.
Funds previously earmarked for the Constellation program, initially
intended to return US astronauts to the moon by 2020, instead would
be used for research projects that include robotics and other
technologies needed to prepare for an eventual human mission to
Mars, Orszag added.
NASA already has spent $12.7 billion on Constellation and likely
would owe millions more to cancel existing contracts.
Prime contractors on the Ares rocket program include ATK Launch
Systems, Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne and Boeing Co.
Lockheed Martin is the lead contractor on the Orion capsule.
A space advisory panel, tapped by Obama to review the Constellation
program, determined that without a $4.2 billion-a-year budget
boost, the program was doomed.
The board also recommended NASA help commercial firms develop space
taxis to ferry crewmembers to and from the space station, a service
the United States currently is paying Russia to provide at a cost
of $71 million a seat.
Obama apparently has decided to take its advice.
Advocates say turning over space transportation to the private
sector will create more jobs per dollar because the government's
investment would be leveraged by millions of dollars in private
investments.
"NASA investment in the commercial spaceflight industry is a
win-win decision," Bretton Alexander, president of the Commercial
Spaceflight Federation, said in a statement.
"Commercial crew will create thousands of high-tech jobs in the
United States, especially in Florida, while reducing the
spaceflight gap and preventing us from sending billions to
Russia.'
NASA already has contacts with Space Exploration Technologies and
Orbital Sciences Corp. to deliver cargo to the station.
SpaceX and other firms also are developing spaceships that can
carry passengers to orbit and back.
Some members of Congress, anticipating the announcement to cancel
Constellation, last week launched pre-emptive strikes.
"I, for one, intend to stand up and fight for NASA, and for the
thousands of people who stand to lose their jobs," said Senator
Bill Nelson from Florida, the base of the space shuttle
program.
