Fri, Feb 05, 2010
Program Scuttled In FY2011 NASA Budget Proposal
Lockheed Martin says it is "keenly disappointed" by the
Administration's budget proposal for NASA that would cancel Project
Orion as part of an elimination of NASA's Constellation
Program.
In a prepared statement released Wednesday regarding the FY2011
budget request, which cancels the Orion Project as part of NASA's
Constellation Program, the company said Orion's maturity is evident
in its readiness for a first test flight in a matter of weeks. "In
fact," the statement reads, "Orion can be ready for crewed flights
to low Earth orbit and other exploration missions as early as 2013,
thus narrowing the gap in U.S. human space flight capability when
the shuttle is retired later this year."
Orion In Lunar Orbit Artists
Concept
"Significant investment has already been made by the nation and
private industry in Orion, which is human rated to provide a level
of safety unmatched by any previous or currently proposed crewed
vehicles," the statement continued. "Nearly 4,000 people at more
than 500 commercial companies and hundreds of small business
suppliers across the country have worked diligently on the Orion
project to support the nation's human space flight efforts. New
facilities have been built and others upgraded. Innovative
technologies such as a launch abort system, autonomous rendezvous
and docking, closed-loop life support systems, state of the art
solar power and avionics systems have been incorporated. And the
next-generation of engineers, scientists, teachers and students, so
critical to America's future, has been inspired. Cancellation of
Orion would sacrifice these capabilities and accomplishments."
The President's budget proposal is subject to review and
approval by Congress.
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