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NASA Attempts To Cut Back Constellation

FleaPlus writes "In a surprise move in the battle between NASA and certain members of Congress over NASA's future direction, NASA has told its contractors to cut back nearly $1 billion on this year's Ares/Constellation program, stating that the cutback is necessary to remain in compliance with federal spending laws requiring contractors to withhold contract termination costs. While complying with budgeting laws (and in line with NASA's desire to cancel Constellation), this move is also potentially in violation of a 2010 appropriations amendment by Sen. Shelby (R-AL) and Sen. Bennett (R-UT) which prohibits NASA from terminating any Constellation contracts. If NASA's move goes through, the biggest liability is $500M for ATK, the contractor who is/was responsible for the first stage of the Ares I medium-lift rocket."

3 of 132 comments (clear)

  1. The German magic is gone by AHuxley · · Score: 3, Interesting

    The decades of Nazi's Ageing in Southern Anonymity seems to be over.
    You would think they would have passed on the 'how to keep your projects funded' secrets as well as engineering, medical and other useful data.

    --
    Domestic spying is now "Benign Information Gathering"
  2. Re:Augh. by Pojut · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Actually, the money IS there. Getting rid of a single jet fighter program or, you know...getting the fuck out of the middle east...would be enough to pay for this.

  3. Re:Augh. by Pojut · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I 100% agree...but you will never see the "Defense Budget" getting fitted for a hair cut. Never. All in the name of "national security".

    We need to do only two things right now: secure our homeland, and fight people out in deserts. Funding our military as if the Cold War were still in full swing is not just stupid, but irresponsible.

    What's the point of spending trillions of dollars to defend your country if there's no country left to defend?