In what is sure to cause some sparks the next time Bolden runs into Senate Appropriations Science Subcommittee Chairwoman Mikulski or Ranking Member Shelby, Space News is reporting that Funding for Orion Launch Abort System To Cease April 30. If this isn’t a violation of the FY 2010 Appropriations language,
Human Spaceflight: In October 2009, the Review of U.S. Human Spaceflight Plans Committee (The Augustine Commission) reported its findings on NASA’s human space flight program. The Augustine Commission raised several issues regarding the current program and budget profile that will require thoughtful consideration by the Administration. In the absence of a bona fide proposal from the Administration on the future of U.S. human spaceflight activities and investments, the bill provides the budget request of $3.1 billion for activities to support human spaceflight in fiscal year 2010; however, the bill requires that any program termination or elimination or the creation of any new program, project or activity not contemplated in the budget request must be approved in subsequent appropriations Acts.
then we don’t know what would be.
This fight between Congress and NASA’s executive leadership has been brewing for awhile. In early February, 27 members of Congress wrote Administrator Bolden accusing him of trying to terminate Constellation, never mind the above Appropriations language.
The worst part of all of this is that it seems the NASA Administrator has broken his promise made to Congress that he would do nothing to slow-down or terminate contracts related to the Constellation program while the debate over NASA’s future was yet to be decided. What a tragedy.
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