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."

FMI: www.commercialspaceflight.org, www.planetary.org, www.spacecoalition.com