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Planetary Society Reaches Out To Congress On NASA Funding
Washington DC (SPX) Feb 02, 2009 With a new Congress now in session in Washington, The Planetary Society is renewing its efforts to promote space exploration and help shape space policy in the coming years. In early February all members of Congress will receive a copy of Beyond the Moon, the Society's "roadmap" for the future of space exploration. The roadmap calls for increased international cooperation, supports the planned retirement of the space shuttle as soon as possible, and recommends relaxing the rigid schedule that requires a human landing on the Moon by 2020. Taken together, these steps will free up funds for missions that will extend human presence beyond the Moon and into the solar system. The roadmap is also the subject of a forthcoming op-ed article in Space News by Planetary Society President Jim Bell and space veteran and Society consultant Douglas Stetson. By reaching out to Congress early in its term, the Society is making sure that its voice and that of its members will be heard when the time comes to make difficult budgetary decisions. Such budgetary negotiations are not far off: President Obama's economic stimulus package now making its way through Congress includes significant funds for NASA, above and beyond the agency's regular budget. The Senate version of the bill, which was passed by the full Appropriations Committee on January 27, includes $1.5 billion for NASA, which is equivalent to an 8.5% increase over its current level of funding. $500 million of this total will go towards NASA science, in particular the critical Earth science missions recommended in the National Academies' decadal survey. An additional $500 million will go towards shortening the gap between the shuttle's retirement and first manned Orion missions, a period in which the U.S. will have no independent means to send humans to space. The House version of the stimulus package passed the full House on January 28, and it contains only $600 million in additional funds for NASA. Two thirds of this total is intended for the Earth science mission recommended by the National Academies. Differences between the House and Senate versions of the bill will be resolved by a conference committee, and then sent White House for the President's signature. NASA is also hoping to obtain additional funds from a 2009 budget omnibus bill that is currently being prepared in a Congressional conference committee. Since Congress did not complete the appropriations process last year, NASA and numerous other departments and agencies are currently funded through a continuing resolution that fixes the budget for 6 months at 2008 levels. This period ends on March 6, 2009, and an omnibus bill must be passed before then to provide funding for the rest of the year. NASA officials are hopeful that some of the budgetary increases that were approved in last year's negotiations but never passed into law will be included in the omnibus bill. With the new Administration moving fast on the economic stimulus package, and a deadline for the omnibus bill looming in early March, vital legislation will be passed in the coming weeks that will have lasting effect on the future of the space program. Related Links Planetary Society Space Tourism, Space Transport and Space Exploration News
NASA Adds Prizes To 2009 Rice Business Plan Competition
Houston TX (SPX) Jan 21, 2009The Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship (Rice Alliance) of Rice University is pleased to announce the addition of three awards of $20,000 each sponsored by NASA to be presented at the 2009 Rice Business Plan Competition. |
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