NASA Money

The agreement that averted a government shutdown last week funds the government through the rest of the current fiscal year. NASA's overall budget for the fiscal year was set at $18.45 billion. The agreement also finally, formally cancels Constellation. However, the agreement also directs NASA to continue developing the Orion spacecraft and to build a heavy lift launcher. Both of those were key elements of Constellation's return to the Moon effort, but the heavy lift launcher, some argue, now has no mission.