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Senator Nelson says White House will support robust space program
"It is perpetuating the perilous practice of pursuing goals that do not match allocated resources," the report says. More specifically, the space program needs another $3 billion annually. "I've asked the president to use money from leftover stimulus funds," said Nelson, in a prepared statement.
Chairman Gordon and Subcommittee Chairwoman Giffords Comment on Augustine Committee Report
"Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee Chairwoman Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ) added: "While I look forward to reading the Augustine panel's final report, Congress has already made its decisions on the issues considered by the panel. Now that both internal and external independent reviews have confirmed that the Constellation program is being well executed, we know what needs to be done. Let's get on with it and cease contemplating our collective navels."
Keith's note: Um, with all due respect, the issue that Norm Augustine reiterated multiple times today is "not could NASA build Ares, but should it build Ares". He did not give a unequivocal backing for continuation of the program of record. Rather he said that he thought that NASA could eventually make it all work. Congress may well have "already made its decisions", but the White House may have some different ideas as to what they want NASA to do. Stay tuned.
The fun begins. Chairman Gordon sounds like he wants to keep the program of record going, and Chairwoman Giffords definitely wants to keep it going. Senator Nelson's suggestion of using stimulus money to plug funding gaps stops short of a real, solid funding commitment, in my opinion. His idea of shifting jobs to Cape Canaveral is sure to face vigorous opposition.
I hope the administration doesn't take too long to come up with its plan. The positions of those who consider the matter settled will just have time to become more entrenched.