For those of you who don't follow space issues, when the stimulus act was passed, it included $1 Billion for NASA. Within that, $400 million was set aside for Exploration: Funding is recommended to shorten the gap in time that the Nation does not have a U.S. vehicle to access space after the Space Shuttle is retired in 2010.
To achieve this, President Obama proposed a balanced approached; $250 million would be invested in NASA's flagship Ares/Orion plan, and $150 million to stimulate commercial crew vehicles (such as Dragon/Falcon 9, Cygnus/Taurus II, or a crewed Delta IV/Atlas V). But Senator Shelby objected. He wanted all of for the Ares I rocket program, run out of Marshall Spaceflight Center in Alabama.
Now, lets remember - exactly how many Republicans voted for the stimulus bill? 3. And did any of them have the name Richard Shelby (aka the turncoat from Alabama)? No.
Fast forward to June - over at dailykos, Darksyde was the first to publicly comment on Shelby's blocking the NASA stimulus money (apparently the ONLY senator doing so), which was later confirmed by SpaceNews. The unknown was what actions Shelby was threatening to do if the money was spent in a balance fashion, that encouraged competition. Now we know
He threatened to put amendments into legislation that would punish various field centers at NASA (other than MSFC of course) that have been involved in commercialization by stripping them of facilities or programs so as to send a message.
Unfortunately, it looks like the Obama administration has rolled over on this as well.
I realize that this is a little smaller and more "far out" than, say, the public option for health care, but its still an issue. I am not certain whether I am more pissed at Shelby, or saddened by Obama. For Shelby, his actions are those of a complete hypocrite, and in any just world, he would've been told to sit down, shut up, and accept that he is getting some money for a program thats is having technical problems, and programmatic issues.
As for Obama, rolling on the small stuff will only encourage the Republicans to try and roll him on the big stuff, whether it's space or other issues.
Again, going back to Keith's story, what happens when the Augustine report comes out, and Marshall Spaceflight Center's masturbation fest Ares I is canceled? |
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