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Congress Puts NASA Bill on Fast Track to the White House
"With unanimous support, the House of Representatives today passed H.R. 6063, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2008, authorizing programs at NASA for fiscal year 2009 (FY09)."
"The provision should not be construed as a congressional endorsement of extending the life of the Shuttle program beyond the additional flight added by this bill to deliver the AMS to the International Space Station," said Gordon. "Rather, it reflects our common belief that the decision of whether or not to extend the Shuttle past its planned 2010 retirement date should be left to the next President and Congress, especially since both of the Presidential candidates have asked for the flexibility to make that decision."
Two Bills Aim for the Skies, Washington Post
"As it prepares to adjourn, Congress is close to passing and sending to President Bush two bills aimed at keeping American astronauts flying to the international space station during a five-year gap when NASA will have no manned spacecraft of its own capable of reaching the $100 billion orbiting laboratory."
Senate Republicans block economic stimulus bill, AP
"The House plan seems more focused on spending that would have an immediate impact on job creation while the Senate measure contains a wish-list of items long-sought by members of the Appropriations Committee, including money to provide the U.S. Capitol police with new radios, accelerate NASA's development of a new space vehicle and move the Department of Homeland Security to a new headquarters."
This Authorization Act has too much for NASA to do with its existing budget (not surprise). There are some good things in here if NASA gets the money to do them. Here are some interesting points:
- Baseline ULF-4 and ULF-5 in the Shuttle manifest
- Add AMS to the manifest and come to Congress to get permission not to fly it.
-Take no further action which would preclude extending Shuttle
- Report on the impact of extending Shuttle 1-2 years and 3-6 years
- Establish an ISS National Laboratory Advisory Committee
- Names the Constellation Lunar outpost the "Neil A. Armstrong Lunar Outpost"
- Requires NASA to do long-term technology development for exploration
The list goes on and includes Space Sciences and Aeronautics requirements too.