US Manned Space Flight Taking a Budget Hit

An anonymous reader points out that Congress has quietly begun dismantling NASA's manned space flight program. "Other recommendations contained in the bill include a $77million reduction in NASA's proposed space operations budget, which includes the space shuttle and international space station; a $6 million reduction in science; and a $332 million shift in funds from the Cross Agency Support account to a new budget line-item included in the subcommittee's mark. Dubbed Construction and Environmental Compliance, the new account would be funded at $441 million. Congressional aides said the new line item and accompanying funds are aimed at consolidating NASA's various construction efforts into a single pot of money."

Comments

Affect on Armadillo Aerospace?

[malloc]

I just saw this April 2009 video interview with John Carmack this morning, where he mentions that some of their NASA work is up in the air, pending the budget shakeout. Does this mean no more NASA work for Armadillo Aerospace?

It does emphasize one benefit of private research and development: not subject (as in "we kill you right now") to such political money shuffling.

-Malloc

They have yet to take my suggestion

[Locke2005]

The expensive thing about manned space exploration is the added costs of bringing the explorers back. Manned exploration would be cost-competitive with robotic exploration if we just sent astronauts on one-way trips! Any volunteers?

Re: A shame and ironic

[DerekLyons]

I can't think of too many other programs at the time that would have driven the miniaturization of ICs as much as Apollo.

Atlas, Titan, Minuteman, Polaris...

Re:Huston, the Eagle has landed

[Kittenman]

Nice quote, but it would have been more effective if you'd correctly spelt "Houston".