Sat, Jan 30, 2010
$6 Billion For Private Development Of Commercial Manned
Spacecraft
The Commercial Spaceflight
Federation said Thursday it applauds NASA's anticipated
announcement of a $6 billion competitive, commercial crew program,
and welcomes the President's show of support for NASA with his
significant planned increase for NASA's overall budget.
"NASA investment in the commercial spaceflight industry is a
win-win decision: 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," said Bretton Alexander, President of the
Commercial Spaceflight Federation. "This is on par with the
early days of aviation and the U.S. Airmail Act, which spurred the
growth of an entire new industry that now adds billions to the US
economy every year."
Alexander said the move will be a shot in the arm for the
economy. "At a time when job creation is the top priority for our
nation, a commercial crew program will create more jobs per dollar
because it leverages millions in private investment and taps the
potential of systems that serve both government and private
customers," he said. "We have a tremendous opportunity here to
jump-start private activity in low-Earth orbit that will further
lower the cost of access to space and unleash the economic
potential of space long promised."
Alexander said that working with NASA, private industry can
develop the capabilities to safely launch U.S. astronauts just as
commercial spaceflight providers are already trusted by the U.S.
government to launch multi-billion dollar military satellites,
which are vital to national security and on which the lives of our
troops overseas depend. "Investing $6 billion will fund a
full program of multiple winners for commercial crew, so that
robust competition in the marketplace can reduce costs and generate
innovation," he said. "We are excited to see such a
significant commitment from the Obama Administration and NASA
leadership for pursuing this important initiative for NASA and the
nation."
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