Agency CFO: "We Had To Make Some Tough Choices"
NASA has requested $18.7 billion for fiscal year 2012 in a
budget the agency says supports a reinvigorated path of
innovation, technological development and scientific discovery. The
budget supports all elements of NASA's 2010 Authorization Act,
which was passed by a strong bipartisan majority of Congress and
signed into law by President Obama.
"This budget requires us to live within our means so we can
invest in our future," NASA Administrator Charles Bolden said in
announcing the budget request Monday. "It maintains our commitment
to human spaceflight and provides for strong programs to continue
the outstanding science, aeronautics research and education needed
to win the future."
The NASA budget includes $4.3 billion for the Space Shuttle and
International Space Station programs, $5 billion for science, $3.9
billion for future exploration systems and $569 million for
aeronautics research. "This budget demonstrates the
administration's commitment to maintaining NASA's leadership role
in space," Deputy Administrator Lori Garver said. "It puts us on a
path to out-innovate, out-educate and out-build the rest of the
world."
NASA Administrator Charles Bolden
The budget supports the transition of the space shuttle
program's workforce and facilities when the fleet retires this year
after 30 years of service. Among the program's many historic
accomplishments is the construction of the International Space
Station. The station will operate until at least 2020, allowing
NASA to fully use it as a technology test-bed and national
laboratory for human health research. While continuing to work with
its international partners on station activities, NASA will select
a non-profit organization to stimulate, develop and manage research
activities on the U.S. portion of the station.
NASA has prioritized funding for its partnership with the
commercial space industry to facilitate crew and cargo transport to
the station. Companies will innovate to provide safe, reliable and
cost effective access to low Earth orbit. NASA also will invest in
the flight systems to take humans beyond low Earth orbit, including
a deep space capsule and heavy lift rocket, and key research and
technology to enable the long journeys.
NASA's science budget supports new missions and continued
operations of the many observatories successfully studying Earth
and space. The agency will launch the Mars Science Laboratory in
fiscal year 2012 and continue work on a wide range of astrophysics,
heliophysics and Earth science missions.
The 2012 budget request continues NASA's commitment to enhancing
aviation safety and airspace efficiency, and reducing the
environmental impact of aviation. NASA also remains dedicated to
developing the next generation of technology leaders through vital
programs in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. "We
had to make some tough choices, but the budget gives us a plan for
sustainable and affordable exploration," said NASA's Chief
Financial Officer Elizabeth Robinson. "We're looking at new ways of
doing business that improve program management and delivers even
greater results to the American taxpayers."