US Manned Space Flight Taking a Budget Hit

An anonymous reader points out that Congress has quietly begun dismantling NASA's manned space flight program. "Other recommendations contained in the bill include a $77million reduction in NASA's proposed space operations budget, which includes the space shuttle and international space station; a $6 million reduction in science; and a $332 million shift in funds from the Cross Agency Support account to a new budget line-item included in the subcommittee's mark. Dubbed Construction and Environmental Compliance, the new account would be funded at $441 million. Congressional aides said the new line item and accompanying funds are aimed at consolidating NASA's various construction efforts into a single pot of money."

Affect on Armadillo Aerospace?

[malloc]

I just saw this April 2009 video interview with John Carmack [flightglobal.com] this morning, where he mentions that some of their NASA work is up in the air, pending the budget shakeout. Does this mean no more NASA work for Armadillo Aerospace [armadilloaerospace.com]?

It does emphasize one benefit of private research and development: not subject (as in "we kill you right now") to such political money shuffling.

-Malloc

They have yet to take my suggestion

[Locke2005]

The expensive thing about manned space exploration is the added costs of bringing the explorers back. Manned exploration would be cost-competitive with robotic exploration if we just sent astronauts on one-way trips! Any volunteers?

Re: A shame and ironic

[DerekLyons]

I can't think of too many other programs at the time that would have driven the miniaturization of ICs as much as Apollo.

Atlas, Titan, Minuteman, Polaris...

Re:Huston, the Eagle has landed

[Kittenman]

Nice quote, but it would have been more effective if you'd correctly spelt "Houston".