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Projects: Space Advocacy

President Signs NASA Authorization Bill

by Amir Alexander

October 16, 2008

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On Wednesday, October 15, 2008, President Bush signed into law the NASA Authorization Bill passed by Congress last month. By authorizing NASA to spend $20.21 billion in fiscal year 2009, the bill represents a substantial increase of $2.6 billion over the administration's budget request for NASA earlier this year. $4.9 billion of the bill's total is directed towards science operations, and another $4.9 billion is authorized for exploration. An authorization bill, unlike an appropriations bill, does not actually fund programs, and the spending levels it cites are not binding on NASA. Nevertheless it does provide the agency with spending guidelines and indicates Congress's priorities.

"I'm grateful to the president for his signature on the NASA Authorization Act of 2008" NASA Administrator Michael Griffin said in a statement. "The major provisions of this authorization bill affirm Congress' support for the broad goals of the president's space exploration policy, including the return of American astronauts to the moon, exploration of Mars and other destinations."

Out of the total amount allocated to NASA science, $1.48 billion are directed towards planetary science, including $486 million for Mars exploration. The bill directs NASA to pursue a Mars mission at each and every launch opportunity, leading to a sample return mission. The Planetary Society has been a longtime advocate of these goals, and we are highly pleased that Congress has adopted this position.

The Science authorization also includes $1.5 billion in funding of Earth observation missions. The allocation is an expression of Congress's commitment to preserve and expand NASA's observing capabilities, as the current fleet of Earth-monitoring satellites and instruments ages and is gradually retired.

$1.1 billion of the bill's total allocation for exploration is for funding the development of the Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle – NASA's future space vehicle that is designed to take humans to the Moon and beyond for the first time since the Apollo missions. An additional $1 billion is designated for the development of the Ares I launcher that will carry the Orion into space, and a similar amount will be kept available to accelerate the development of both these projects. Meanwhile $106 million are allocated to the lunar Precursor Robotic Program, a series of lunar missions that will prepare the way for humans' return to the Moon on board the Orion vehicle.

While the bill does provide funding towards the future lunar outpost proposed in the Vision for Space Exploration, Congress makes it clear that the base need not be permanently occupied by humans. The bill's language states that "any such outpost shall be operable as a human-tended facility capable of remote or autonomous operation for extended periods."

Click to enlarge > Apophis speeds toward Earth Credit: Michael Carroll

In an indication of our members' successful advocacy, the bill specifically recommends greater involvement of nongovernmental organizations in space missions, and its language reflects many of the priorities the Society had championed during the bill's months of preparation. The bill follows the Society's recommendations in emphasizing the importance of tracking Near Earth Objects, calling for a study of a future mission to detect NEO's from space. It also instructs the NASA administrator to study the possibility of a mission to Apophis – the largest known asteroid that will pass within striking distance of Earth in the coming decades. In the past year, the Society has organized a design competition for just such a mission to Apophis.

The bill's allocation of $2 million to the Arecibo Observatory for continuing planetary radar operations is also in line with the Society's longstanding advocacy. Arecibo is the largest and most powerful radio telescope in existence, a world center for planetary and astronomical research, as well as SETI and the radar tracking of NEO's. For the past year the Society has been campaigning to save the facility from closure, emphasizing its scientific importance and its role in providing early warning of possible impacting asteroids. Congress's action is an important step towards preserving Arecibo's crucial capabilities.

Overall, The Planetary Society welcomes the Congressional bill and supports its priorities. "The Congressional bi-partisan support is very helpful as the space program heads into what will be very difficult budget times" said Louis Friedman, the Society's Executive Director. "The Authorization Committees did a very good job."