appropriations.house.gov/pdf/RecoveryReport01-15-09.pdf

we have more detail on the NASA changes:

“NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION
SCIENCE
Science
Recovery funding: $400 million
Investments in the areas of Earth science, planetary science, heliophysics and astrophysics seek to answer fundamental questions concerning the ways the Earth’s climate is changing; the comparison of the Earth with other planets in the solar system and around other stars; and the connections among the Sun, Earth and heliosphere. These investments are critically important to understanding climate change and mitigation.

Within the funds provided, not less than $250 million will be used to accelerate the development of the Tier 1 set of Earth science/climate research missions recommended by the National Academies decadal survey as being critically important for answering key Earth science/climate
research questions. Funds are also provided to restore the Total Solar Irradiance Sensor to an NPOESS satellite, which measures solar radiation and is critical to understanding climate change; and to add a thermal infrared sensor to the Landsat Continuing Mapper necessary for water management (e.g., soil moisture and water use) particularly in the western states. It is estimated by NASA that these investments will support in excess of 2,600 jobs.

AERONAUTICS
Aeronautics
Recovery funding: $150 million
The NASA Authorization Act of 2008 requires system-level research, development, and demonstration activities related to aviation safety, environmental impact mitigation, and the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen). Investments in environmentally-friendly or “green” aviation, supersonic testbeds, and development of aerospace systems and technologies require substantial participation by the aerospace industry and inter-governmental agencies, and result in significant job creation. NASA believes it is possible to expend all of these funds by the end of the second fiscal year after receipt and estimates that nearly 1,000 jobs will be supported.

CROSS AGENCY SUPPORT PROGRAMS
Disaster Assistance
Recovery funding: $50 million
To date, insufficient funding has been provided for reconstruction at affected NASA centers precipitated by hurricanes and floods during the last calendar year. NASA has identified over $85 million in reconstruction projects. NASA estimates that over 440 jobs will be created.

NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION
PROCUREMENT, ACQUISITION AND CONSTRUCTION
Acquisition and Development of NOAA Satellites and Sensors
Recovery funding: $600 million
$600 million will address critical requirements in satellite acquisition and development and provide necessary resources to address unmet national climate change research and mitigation activities, including the acquisition of climate sensors on soon-to-be deployed satellites. In addition, funds are provided to address critical gaps in climate modeling, and establish climate data records for continuing research into the cause, effects and ways to mitigate climate change.

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY
SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL RESEARCH AND SERVICES

Scientific and Technical Research and Services
Recovery funding: $100 million
The STRS program is an intramural research program made up of laboratories and technical programs and national research facilities. Funding will be used to establish environmental measurements and standards, including remote sensing for climate change;” …etc…

Hey, they even have a Centennial Challenge … just not the one we’re familiar with:

“CENTENNIAL CHALLENGE
Centennial Challenge Matching Grant Program
Recovery funding: $100 million
This program was created in 2007 to prepare the National Park Service for its second century of service…”

How about this one?

“Leaking Underground Storage Tank (LUST) Enforcement and Clean-up Program
Recovery funding: $200 million”

And you thought only space missions have great acronyms.

I wonder if the “satellite sensors that measure solar radiation” is a reference to DSCOVR (i.e. Triana). Is it ready to move into test and launch fairly quickly?

It sounds like some of it is to add researchers to study climate change. This might be quickly done if it’s using existing data, beefing up existing projects or funding proposals that have already been made, etc.

Point conceded.

ANONYMOUS:Without reviewing the specific spending proposed for each of these agencies, we really can’t say whether they should have received more funding than NASA in an economic stimulus package. For example, it could be that the bulk of the NSF and NIH spending is going to be used to expand the number of awards in ongoing and oversubscribed grant programs, which would get money into the hands of university researchers in the next few months. (I don’t know that, but it’s possible.)

No need to speculate or guess. Anybody can read the bill, and the report language here:

http://appropriations.house.gov/pdf/RecoveryReport01-15-09.pdf

http://appropriations.house.gov/pdf/RecoveryBill01-15-09.pdf

ANONYMOUS:The possible exception would be DOE. I would guess that much of the DOE spending is going to energy infrastructure, which was clearly a higher priority than almost any other domestic discretionary issue for the Obama campaign and which probably has a backlog of “shovel-ready” projects to boot.

No more guessing is needed. The list of areas for DOE funding is clearly delineated in starting in page 27 of …
http://appropriations.house.gov/pdf/RecoveryReport01-15-09.pdf

FWIW,

– Al

In fairness to me, it’s not an apology. I wrote that post before the bill was released. (And I had no foreknowledge of what was in the bill.)

I was just pointing out that departments, agencies, and programs that are heavy with multi-year development projects (like NASA generally or Constellation specifically) are not good candidates for short-term economic stimulus spending. The planning and procurement processes involved ensure that little of the funding will be spent over the next few months.

“is [sic] conflicts with the facts. Let’s review the other R&D agencies, which have schedules.”

Without reviewing the specific spending proposed for each of these agencies, we really can’t say whether they should have received more funding than NASA in an economic stimulus package. For example, it could be that the bulk of the NSF and NIH spending is going to be used to expand the number of awards in ongoing and oversubscribed grant programs, which would get money into the hands of university researchers in the next few months. (I don’t know that, but it’s possible.)

But since the bulk of the NASA funding went to projects that are probably not “shovel-ready”, it would not surprise me to learn that’s true of the other R&D agencies. In that case, your point stands.

The possible exception would be DOE. I would guess that much of the DOE spending is going to energy infrastructure, which was clearly a higher priority than almost any other domestic discretionary issue for the Obama campaign and which probably has a backlog of “shovel-ready” projects to boot.

One other point that I’d make at the risk of receiving the apology accusation a second time… I think it’s actually a positive sign for space advocates that NASA made the bill at all, even if the funding was smaller than that for other R&D agencies and didn’t go to space exploration, technology, or science. Instead of taking Earth science and aeronautics research out of the hide of space exploration, technology, and science — arguably a real possibility with the new Administration and Congress — money was added to the topline. Heck, the prior Congress and White House forced NASA to eat hurricane repairs out of the hide of the human space flight program — this is the first time in years that funding has been added to take care of those repairs.

Not perfection, but a lot better than it could have (and arguably has) been.

I’d also point out that given the mess that Constellation, and NASA’s human space flight plans in general, are in, it may be some number of months until the new White House figures out where it wants to place its bets in space exploration and technology, anyway. Until they figure out a (hopefully good) path forward, I’d rather see them keep their powder dry. Sure beats blowing $4 billion trying vainly to bring the Ares I/Orion schedule one lousy year to the left as Griffin has suggested, or $15 billion (probably more) tying the Shuttle albatross around NASA’s neck for another five years.

We have to be realistic — a leap to COTS D or Orion on an EELV to shorten the gap, or a restructuring of the lunar architecture to something more sustainable, or some other innovative shift in direction for the human space flight program was not in the cards for this bill or timeframe. The new President has yet to be sworn in, Griffin just left office today, and his successor has yet to be named. I wouldn’t begin furrowing brows and wringing hands until the new Administration has at least submitted its 2010 budget to Congress in the April/June timeframe. At that time, if there’s no shift towards or study of alternatives (i.e., Ares I/Orion forever), or if space exploration, technology and/or science is getting whacked budgetarily, then there will be reason to worry.

My 2 cents… FWIW…

Anon,

This apology is conflicts with the facts. Let’s review the other R&D agencies, which have schedules.

I reviewed the stimulus package for the science & tech agencies. I have listed them by order of amount received in the stimulus bill.

DOE receives $43.9 Billion (for energy related projects.)

NIH receives $4.6 Billion.

National Telecommunications & Information Administration receives $3.8 Billion.

NSF receives $2.5 Billion.

NOAA receives $1 Billion.

NASA receives $600 million.

NIST receives $500 million.

Now you may think “well at least NASA got more than somebody.”

But wait, the President’s budget request for NIST for FY2009 was $678 million.
http://www.nist.gov/public_affairs/releases/budget_2009.htm

The NIST stimulus package of $500M is 74% of its FY2009 budget request.

FWIW,

– Al

PS — This is completely depressing.

appropriations.house.gov/pdf/PressSummary01-15-09.pdf

Don’t lose sight of the first sentence here …we’re digging quite a hole …

“With passage of this package, we will face a large deficit for years to come. Without it, those deficits will be devastating and we face the risk of economic chaos.”

There are various energy provisions … could NASA or commercial space get a piece of this? For example:

“GSA Federal Buildings: $6.7 billion for renovations and repairs to federal buildings including at least $6 billion focused on increasing energy efficiency and conservation. Projects are selected based on GSA’s ready-to-go priority list.”

NASA does have some infrastructure issues beyond hurricane damage.

“Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Research: $2 billion for energy efficiency and renewable energy research, development, demonstration, and deployment activities to foster energy independence, reduce carbon emissions, and cut utility bills. Funds are awarded on a competitive basis to universities, companies, and national laboratories.”

Could there be energy-related space demos or spin-offs?

“Department of Defense Research: $350 million for research into using renewable energy to power weapons systems and military bases.”

SPS folks, is there a demo in there for you?

“National Science Foundation: $3 billion, including $2 billion for expanding employment opportunities in fundamental science and engineering to meet environmental challenges and to improve global economic competitiveness, $400 million to build major research facilities that perform cutting edge science, $300 million for major research equipment shared by institutions of higher education and other scientists, $200 million to repair and modernize science and engineering research facilities at the nation’s institutions of higher education and other science labs, and $100 million is also included to improve instruction in science, math and engineering.”

… will any NSF efforts related to space get funded?

There is also lots of health, medicine, and biology money … any ISS experiements in there?

“National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Satellites and Sensors: $600 million for satellite development and acquisitions, including climate sensors and climate modeling.”

“NOAA Habitat Restoration: $400 million for ready-to-go habitat restoration projects.”

NOAA outdoes NASA with $1B total … wake up NASA …

“Small Business Credit: $430 million for new direct lending and loan guarantee authorities to make loans more attractive to lenders and free up capital.”

Is this of any use to small startup space companies?

… and billions and billions and billions more … let’s hope a decent amount of it gets put to productive use.

I’m not surprised Constellation didn’t get extra funding, even if Griffin says it’s “shovel ready”. NASA might want to consider the types of things that are getting funded, and try to align itself more to those priorities of the incoming Administration and Congress while still making progress in space.

nasawatch.com/archives/2009/01/american_recove.html

The bill does contain $600 million for NASA, including $400 million in Earth science/sensors, $150 million in aviation safety/NextGen air traffic control development, and $50 million for hurricane damage repair at NASA field centers.

There may be some individual Earth science and aeronautics projects in that mix that are “shovel ready” this year, but the hurricane repair will probably be the only project that flows money in the coming months (and that assumes that NASA does not redesign any damaged facilities).

FWIW…