One Organization Calls The Bill "Too Prescriptive"
Following passage by the U.S. House
of Representatives this week of the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration Authorization Act of 2010, which the Senate approved
earlier this year and is now headed to the Presiden't desk for his
signature, the Planetary Society offered a qualified endorsement of
the bill, while The Commecial Spaceflight Federation was effusive
in its support.
The CSF says that the commercial sector will now take on primary
role for Low Earth Orbit crew transportation. The bill specifies
$1.612 billion for commercial crew and cargo programs, including
$612 million in Fiscal Year 2011, and sets the stage for full
funding of the commercial crew program over a 6-year period as
stated by one of the bill's primary authors, Senator Bill Nelson of
Florida. The Commercial Crew Program will enable multiple
companies, including established firms with decades of experience
as well as newer entrepreneurial firms, to develop systems for crew
transportation to and from the International Space Station in Low
Earth Orbit. The bill also establishes the Office of the
Chief Technologist, boosts total funding for technology R&D to
$2.5 billion over three years, and strengthens the Commercial
Reusable Suborbital Research Program with $45 million over three
years.
"Tomorrow (Friday) marks the start of the new fiscal year and
begins a historic new chapter for NASA," Commercial Spaceflight
Federation President Bretton Alexander said Thursday. "Marking a
once-in-a-generation shift, Congress has established that
commercial vehicles will now be the primary means of flying
astronauts to Low Earth Orbit, allowing NASA to focus its own
resources on exploring distant destinations like asteroids and
Mars. The Commercial Spaceflight Federation looks forward to
working in partnership with NASA to develop safe, reliable
commercial capabilities to transport astronauts to and from Low
Earth Orbit."
"America's space industry is taking a quantum leap forward with
this historic shift. The United States has the innovation, the
workforce, and the economic strength to achieve human spaceflight
on a private basis, and it is by employing these unique strengths
that we will maintain US leadership in space," added Commercial
Spaceflight Federation Executive Director John Gedmark. This
bill will allow multiple private companies to move forward with
developing this capability that will not only save the taxpayers
money, but will reduce our dependence on Russia and create
thousands of new high-tech jobs in the process."
"The bill represents a fundamental change in the way NASA does
business, leveraging the complementary strengths of NASA and
industry," said Mark Sirangelo, Chairman of the Commercial
Spaceflight Federation. "The bill's expanded funding for
commercial crew and cargo, technology R&D, and commercial
suborbital research will help accelerate the growth of the
commercial spaceflight industry like never before. In the
next decade, the commercial spaceflight industry will open up the
space frontier to people from all walks of life-- whether
scientists, private astronauts, educators, or explorers."
However, the Planetary Society, while supportive of the budget,
said the bill still needs some work.
"We are gratified that Congress has now approved the budget
increase for NASA, which permits a strong space science and a
reinvigorated Earth science program," the orgnaizations' board said
in a statement. "We also welcome the resumption of NASA's
technology funding. NASA's human space flight program will improve
once it is allowed to focus on exploration rather than
transportation. This Authorization Bill is too prescriptive, as it
specifies rocket performance and design approaches. Let the
contractors do their jobs, instead. We hope the Administration and
Congress will address these issues in the very near future."
The Coalition for Space Exploration also offered a qualified
endorsement of the bill. While they applauded the collective
actions taken by the Congress and the Administration to reach a
consensus on a plan for the future of NASA and the exploration of
space, they say there is still work to be done. "Last night’s
passage of the 2011 NASA Authorization Act by the House of
Representatives demonstrates the kind of broad, bipartisan
cooperation and commitment to NASA that will be necessary to
achieve a bold and sustainable approach to space exploration in the
future," the Coalition said in a statement. "While there is still
much work to be done, this action can be seen as another indication
of the unwavering resolve of our nation to advance space
exploration as a national imperative. We salute the leaders of the
House, Senate and the Administration for making this possible.
"Space Exploration is vital to the progress and overall
well-being of our nation. Its proven impact on our national
economy, the generation of high-tech jobs, stimulation of interest
in STEM education, our understanding of the environment and the
origins of our planet, and on our position as a global leader
cannot be overestimated."
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