$100M shifted to Ares program
Orlando Sentinel
For months, a powerful Republican senator from Alabama has fought the Obama administration to block $150 million that the White House wanted to spend to help private companies build rockets capable of reaching the international space station.
Now, it appears that U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby has won, in a decision that could have a major impact on the Cape Canaveral work force and America’s continued access to space.
According to administration and industry sources, Shelby insisted that $100 million of the money — part of $1billion set aside for NASA under this spring’s economic-stimulus bill — be diverted to Constellation, the troubled rocket program meant to replace the space shuttle after its 2010 retirement.
Though details of the concession to Shelby remain unclear, the fight shows the extent to which Shelby will go to defend both Constellation and Marshall Space Flight Center, the Alabama facility developing the Ares I rocket central to Constellation.
Read the full story.
Similar Posts:
- Stimulus Money Could Double SpaceX’s McGregor Workforce
- Congress Gives $1.5 Billion to Ares Program, Provides Protections Against Cancellation
- Save the Shuttle Campaign Gains Support in House
- Sen. Shelby Accused of Pork Barrel Politics for Supporting Ares
- Will Sen. Shelby Suddenly Remember There’s a Commercial Launch Company in Decatur?
Apparently NASA has become the Northern Alabama Space Agency. I’m at the point where I would actually support a bill that would give a 50% pay raise to everyone at Marshall as long as they staid home and didn’t actually do anything. It would immediately double the productivity and effectiveness of our entire space industry.