Awards Parties For Shuttle Workers Include All The Perks

Last month, just as NASA convinced the Senate to free up $1 billion in extra funds for space exploration, an examination by CBS News of how the agency used its money showed some of the money is used for fluff.

The same day of the Senate’s award, NASA also posted an online notice few people saw -- seeking four-star hotel bids for a December awards banquet. The fete honors workers who've contributed to flight safety. But it's not just a gathering for a handful of brainy engineers to eat dinner; it includes a five day and four night stay at a luxury Florida hotel for 300 honorees and their guests. Lavish receptions and front row tickets to the shuttle launch are part of the act.

The party, as well as the launch, is paid for with tax dollars... a situation one senator questioned. "I think it’s kind of ironic that they’re gonna be extravagant at how they spend money and they’re coming to us saying they want more money," Oklahoma Senator Tom Coburn said.

Former astronaut Bill Nelson stood up for NASA. "Right now we’re at a critical point because NASA has been starved of funds," said Nelson, who is also a legislator.

Those attending the NASA party won’t go hungry. The reception includes carved fresh roast beef, coconut fried shrimp, spring rolls, shrimp wrapped with bacon, 5-6 desserts, antipasto plates to include assorted meats, cheeses, grilled vegetables and assorted marinated vegetables, and breads, according to CBS.

The reception is then followed by a three-course sit-down dinner.

Most of those attending the party are not NASA officials, but vendors who work for Boeing and other companies.

NASA spokesman Bryan O’Connor thinks the event is warranted. "I think what I would do is ask the people who we have honored to give me an idea if they think this thing was reasonable, if they felt they were honored properly," he said.

But would taxpayers approve if they knew the expense? "It’s the cost of dinner and putting people up in a hotel for a couple of days," O’Connor said.

The costs according to the CBS report are pretty high, approaching half a million dollars by the time the reception, awards, air fare and ground transportation, and food are tabulated.

NASA holds a banquet party for every launch -- so honoring all those people costs taxpayers around $4 million a year. When asked if the agency would still hold a dinner if forced to cut expenses, NASA said it would just reduce the amount of people honored.

"If we were told that we had to reduce it I think we would reduce the number of honorees rather than trying to go to a poor place or a place that doesn’t have good service," O’Connor said.

NASA will hold another gala in December during the next shuttle launch.

FMI: www.nasa.gov, www.senate.gov/