Robert BlockThe Write Stuff
Orlando Sentinel
In the latest broadside attack on President Barack Obama’s new space policy, an influential space group has criticized the White House plans for NASA, saying that they needed “focus” and should concrete on developing a new heavy lift rocket to take humans back to the moon by 2025.
The National Space Society, which was once headed by NASA’s current deputy administrator Lori Garver and chief of Staff George Whitesides, said in a press release dated Feb. 5 that the White House plans to increase spending on science, technology and commercial space companies to ferry astronauts for the international space station were commendable.
“However, we believe the President’s 2011 budget request would leave the job only partly done,” the release said. “NSS calls for the President and Congress to restore funding for human spaceflight beyond low-Earth orbit.”
Ten days ago, the White House announced it intended to scrap the Constellation program that was supposed to return astronauts to the lunar surface by 2020 because it was “unsustainable” and was never going to work. Members of Congress and NASA contractors immediately attacked the policy, saying that America risked surrendering its leadership role in space if Obama’s plan were implemented.
The National Space Society, which was once headed by NASA’s current deputy administrator Lori Garver and chief of Staff George Whitesides, said in a press release dated Feb. 5 that the White House plans to increase spending on science, technology and commercial space companies to ferry astronauts for the international space station were commendable.
“However, we believe the President’s 2011 budget request would leave the job only partly done,” the release said. “NSS calls for the President and Congress to restore funding for human spaceflight beyond low-Earth orbit.”
Ten days ago, the White House announced it intended to scrap the Constellation program that was supposed to return astronauts to the lunar surface by 2020 because it was “unsustainable” and was never going to work. Members of Congress and NASA contractors immediately attacked the policy, saying that America risked surrendering its leadership role in space if Obama’s plan were implemented.
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