NASA Spending

The U. S. House passed a spending bill this week that, among other things, provided NASA's 2011 budget. In a time that finds many Americans, and many members of Congress, clamoring for deep cuts in federal spending, NASA did fairly well in the spending bill, getting only $90 million less than President Obama requested.

The NASA-related provisions in the bill also officially cancels the Constellation program, replacing it with Mr. Obama's emphasis on technology development and strengthening the commercial space sector. That said, however, the bill also continues funding for the development of a heavy-lift vehicle for NASA as well as for continued development of the Orion capsule-- two of the biggest pieces of Constellation.

The bill now goes to the U. S. Senate for its consideration.