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Projects: Space AdvocacyThe Planetary Society Welcomes the Administration’s "New Paradigm" for Human Spaceflight
February 2, 2010 The Administration’s 2011 budget proposal for NASA combines strong support for space exploration with a demand for a radical shift in the agency’s practices and priorities. The Planetary Society welcomes the Administration’s new approach, which is broadly consistent with the Society’s report Beyond the Moon: A New Roadmap for Human Space Exploration in the 21st Century. We now urge Congress to adopt the Administration’s proposal as a new departure, which can finally advance human exploration beyond Earth orbit and beyond the Moon. The 2011 budget proposal adds $6 billion to the NASA budget over the next 5 years. The plan extends the life of the International Space Station (ISS) to at least 2020, and directs NASA to engage and encourage the commercial space industry to develop the hardware required for transportation to and from the ISS. It offers strong support for the robotic exploration of the solar system, both in the science program and with precursor missions for future human exploration. The proposed budget also allocates funds for the development of innovative new technologies that should enable space exploration for many years to come. Earth science also received a major boost in the Administration’s proposal, and several Earth observation missions will now fly earlier than anticipated. These include a reflight of the Orbiting Carbon Observatory, which was lost due to launch vehicle failure in 2009. NASA’s Constellation program, an Apollo-inspired program for returning humans to the Moon by 2020, will be cancelled. The program was over-budget and far behind its original schedule, and the Independent Committee reviewing it had concluded that it was not on a “sustainable trajectory.” When combined with the budgetary increase, the cancellation would free up the resources necessary for a sustained expansion of human presence in the solar system. “The new plan should enable human space exploration to move ahead more realistically and more quickly than previous plans,” said Louis Friedman, Executive Director of the Planetary Society. “A continuing series of new achievements along a flexible path into the solar system would be more inspiring than going back to the Moon, and more affordable as it proceeds step-by-step into deep space” he added. "This strategic shift brings NASA back to its roots. It's a significant strategic investment." Sally Ride Planetary Society President and planetary scientist Jim Bell agreed: “The President’s proposal represents a major paradigm shift in NASA’s human exploration program while maintaining solid support for continuing robotic missions and space science research. The scientific, technological, educational, and economic benefits of such a complimentary and publicly-engaging human and robotic space-program could be profound.” More on the Administration's proposal:Statement by The Planetary Society Statement by Buzz Aldrin, Apollo 11 Astronaut Statement by Norman R. Augustine, Chairman, Committee to Review U.S. Human Space Flight Plans Did you like this story? Send
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