Congress, NASA, Other

Briefs: another CR, NASA budget hearings, India’s budget

The House is expected to take up today a short-term continuing resolution (CR) to keep the government operating for two more weeks and thus avoiding a government shutdown at the end of the week. The House CR would include $4 billion in cuts, although none of them would appear to directly affect NASA or other space activities. The White House and Senate leadership would prefer a month-long CR to allow more time to work out a final FY11 spending bill, although House Speaker John Boehner prefers the two-week version, POLITICO reports.

Another stopgap funding bill isn’t the only thing on appropriators’ minds in the House. On Thursday morning NASA administrator Charles Bolden will appear before the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee to discuss the administration’s FY12 budget request. That will be just a day after Bolden testifies on the same topic before the House Science, Space and Technology Committee.

As Congress weighs NASA’s future funding, the space agency’s Indian counterpart is getting some good budgetary news. India’s 2011 budget includes a 35-percent increase for the Indian Space Research Organisation: 66.26 billion rupees (US$1.47 billion) for 2011-12 versus 48.8 billion rupees ($1.08 billion) in 2010-11, according to Indian government budget documents. Some of that additional funding will go towards India’s nascent human spaceflight plans as well as its Chandrayaan-2 robotic lunar mission.

27 comments to Briefs: another CR, NASA budget hearings, India’s budget

  • DCSCA

    Dot the ‘i’s’ and cross the ‘t’s’ on another fragment of legislative theater as evidence to the world that the ‘American Century’ has ended some time ago.

  • NASA Fan

    It’s time to reconstitute the Augustine Committee, and have them review the plan forward for Congress’s legislative agenda & approach to governing. No doubt they’d report back to the American people that Congress’s path forward is unsustainable, and should be terminated, in favor of the flexible path of government, which rotates through multiple forms of government, i.e. dictatorship, monarchy, , communism, democracy etc,,,,because what we have now isn’t working.

  • Aberwys

    Why does everyone in the US bang the drum worrying about “sustainability” and “affordability”?

    Look at how we measure up to other nations:

    GDP (US) = $14,624,184 Million in 2010, hardly an economic banner year.

    For comparision:
    GDP(India) = $1,430,020M
    GDP(China) = $5,745,133M

    And India is upping their ISRO budget by 35% and we have to squabble over $2B? Seriously? What is happening here is changes in perception of value with shoddy arguments that pander to the perceived current state of our nation.

    Cut spending from DoD first and then come and complain about how there isn’t enough money for NASA.

  • As Congress weighs NASA’s future funding, the space agency’s Indian counterpart is getting some good budgetary news.

    That’s why after the US lifted sanctions from the ISRO, the JPL asked them to build a probe to orbit the Moon and drop a lander that will launch back a kilo of rocks; http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/et-cetera/sanctions-off-nasa-lab-asks-isro-to-partner-for-moon-mission/articleshow/7488573.cms

    Whether we like it or not, international partnerships (and commercial) are going to happen if NASA is to accomplish anything of worth.

  • amightywind

    It’s time to reconstitute the Augustine Committee, and have them review the plan forward for Congress’s legislative agenda & approach to governing.

    Again? The Augustine Committee is merely a leftist fig leaf trotted out every decade or so to sabotage NASA when it is executing a GOP program. A better way to achieve continuity at NASA would be to execute major programs within the first of a new President in order to establish facts on the ground. This was the primary failure of Constellation. Obama’s year of dithering actually hurt his plans, fortunately.

  • The Augustine Committee is merely a leftist fig leaf trotted out every decade or so to sabotage NASA when it is executing a GOP program.

    Again? Honestly Windy, you have to get over this commie under every bed routine and stop listening to Joe McCarthy’s voice in your head.

    And as for Obama, he could really give a crap about what NASA does.

  • Michael from Iowa

    Constellation didn’t work out, it’s done with and no amount of whining will revive it. Time to stop grieving and move on amighty. If you really want to help NASA, send your congressman a letter demanding Congress fully fund the Reauth Act.

  • Regarding India’s space budget increase, notice that their total amount is around 10% of NASA’s budget. The US budgets more for NASA than the space agencies of the rest of world, combined. The question is how much more per dollar India can accomplish, compared to NASA.

  • I assume that, unfortunately, either CR would again carry over the Shelby restrictions on spending from fy 2010?

  • Coastal Ron

    Nelson Bridwell wrote @ March 1st, 2011 at 12:12 pm

    The question is how much more per dollar India can accomplish, compared to NASA.

    Good question. If their space program is anything like the rest of their government, then probably not much better than NASA (or worse), since India doesn’t have a very efficient government system (bloated overhead, corruption, etc.).

    The more important question will be whether India uses some of that money to take Boeing up on their offer of help with their space industry. THAT could be a small game changer!

  • amightywind

    ‘Help’ from India is not confidence inspiring. The readiness of the left to make one sided gratuitous agreements is most puzzling.

    http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-12-25/india/28235931_1_cryogenic-engine-gslv-gsat-5p

    Do you ever learn?

    Constellation didn’t work out, it’s done with and no amount of whining will revive it.

    It should be apparent that the political struggles over NASA are the result of deeply polarized opinions about its direction. In 2012 the Senate if not the Presidency are likely fall to the GOP. Proponents of Constellation will have their revenge.

  • The more important question will be whether India uses some of that money to take Boeing up on their offer of help with their space industry. THAT could be a small game changer!

    It isn’t a bad idea actually since Boeing has over 50 years in the space business and has the most experience in sealed atmospheric vessels.

    Then again the ISRO would have to swallow their pride to ask for help and they’ve been getting help from the Russians lately, so Boeing might miss out on that market.

  • Doug Lassiter

    Charles Lurio wrote @ March 1st, 2011 at 12:43 pm

    “I assume that, unfortunately, either CR would again carry over the Shelby restrictions on spending from fy 2010?”

    H.R.1, the first CR which was passed two weeks ago, did strike that Constellation protection language that Shelby slid in to the FY10 approps bill. H. J. Res 44 which is the second CR, expected to be passed today, does not have any language lifting the Shelby restriction. But H. J. Res 44 is “making further continuing appropriations”, and in addition to those amendments, just changes the expiration date of the first one. So my reading is that the Shelby’s protection language remains struck. Constellation is not only dead, it is defunded.

  • common sense

    With some chance our Congress will add that we cannot collaborate with India. Just in case India would like to establish a lunar base… with China… That’d be something else you have to admit. Russia would support them both. All the while Congress would support Liberty!

  • Fred Cink

    “And as for Obama, he could really give a crap about what NASA does.” WOW, standby for the sun to discontinue fusing hydrogen into helium and the reversal of cosmological expansion. Hey, ANYTHING could happen now that I find myself in agreement with a statement of dad2059. (!)

  • Michael from Iowa

    In 2012 the Senate if not the Presidency are likely fall to the GOP. Proponents of Constellation will have their revenge.
    So you admit your support of Constellation has absolutely nothing to do with wanting what’s best for the space program and everything to want with petty political delusions of ‘vengeance’.

  • Coastal Ron

    dad2059 wrote @ March 1st, 2011 at 2:27 pm

    Then again the ISRO would have to swallow their pride to ask for help and they’ve been getting help from the Russians lately, so Boeing might miss out on that market.

    I don’t think the pride issue will be that much of a factor, since as you pointed out, they have already been getting help from the Russians. Keep in mind also that India is much more familiar with the U.S. now, what with all the outsourcing we’ve done, so they are quite familiar with the technology potential from the U.S. versus Russia. Let’s just hope that the NBC show Outsourced hasn’t pissed them off… ;-)

    The other thing that plays into it is that an American alternative like the CST-100 has only been known about for a year, so up until now if you wanted someone to help you get your space program going, Russia was the only option.

    It also depends on what India wants to do, and what capabilities they need. Comparing Soyuz to CST-100 is like comparing a 1963 Mini Cooper to a 2010 minivan. Soyuz is a true spaceship with an airlock, but CST-100 is more roomy and modern, and may be all they need if India is leasing some Bigelow modules.

    Lot’s of stuff happening – it’s going to be a fun year!

  • NASA Fan

    @ common sense : “What could have been”

    With all due respect to the spiral approach, Adm. Steidle was in dream land thinking he’d have the funding to pull it off the way he envisioned.

  • Hey, ANYTHING could happen now that I find myself in agreement with a statement of dad2059. (!)

    I try not to be ideologically hide-bound like some commenters here. I calls ‘em as I perceives ‘em.

  • gregori

    Augustine Panel is “left wing”…….what?

    They suggested using PRIVATE companies to provide transport to LEO as service instead of GOVERNMENT designed, operated and owned vehicles. They think industry should provide services to the government and other customers instead of a government owned monopoly.

    The people on the panel were mostly from BUSINESSES, not traditionally the types of people who are in anyway left wing.

    How much of a partisan hack do you need to be to makes statements so infused with cognitive dissonance it makes ones head spin?

    Supporting Constellation just because its the GOP’s idea is idiotic. Its like claiming to be against the Soviets but supporting government design bureaus for vehicles!!

    US Government doesn’t design your cars, your planes, your stationary, your houses, your clothes……..and so Obama decided to extend this to the rest and privatize LEO human spaceflight, a very “right wing” move.

    GOP should be cheering, its what they suggest for everything else in the country……things that are far more important than something as trivial as human spaceflight. Actual important things like housing, medicine, banking, defense, transport have been risked to the private market.

  • Byeman

    “With all due respect to the spiral approach, Adm. Steidle was in dream land thinking he’d have the funding to pull it off the way he envisioned.”

    Not anymore than Griffin.

  • common sense

    @ NASA Fan wrote @ March 1st, 2011 at 7:00 pm

    “With all due respect to the spiral approach, Adm. Steidle was in dream land thinking he’d have the funding to pull it off the way he envisioned.”

    Adm. Steidle had a plan, a long term plan. As long as O’Keefe was at the helm he got the funding. And the spiral approach, much like FY11, was to make incremental steps. Our friend Griffin came and threw all to waste with the result we know today.

    So yes there is much respect to pay to some one who actually had a workable plan. So much so that his plan is being re-implemented by this WH.

  • common sense

    @ Byeman wrote @ March 1st, 2011 at 9:49 pm

    “Not anymore than Griffin.”

    A lot less than Griffin!!! Steidle was sharing the wealth with several contractors. Griffin gave it all out to ATK for the LVs. Different politics different results…

  • VirgilSamms

    “Comparing Soyuz to CST-100 is like comparing a 1963 Mini Cooper to a 2010 minivan.”

    No it’s not- they are not cars. The stupid analogies on this site are endless.

  • Martijn Meijering

    And the spiral approach, much like FY11, was to make incremental steps.

    Steidle’s approach was much more comprehensive than FY11, it had an overarching vision, something critics of FY11 claim is their main objection to it.

    With all due respect to the spiral approach, Adm. Steidle was in dream land thinking he’d have the funding to pull it off the way he envisioned.

    The nice thing about spiral development is that its budget can be dialed down with graceful reduction in (or slow-down of) functionality. The same is not true for pie-in-the-sky, overreaching SDLV plans.

  • common sense

    @ Martijn Meijering wrote @ March 3rd, 2011 at 6:10 pm

    “Steidle’s approach was much more comprehensive than FY11, it had an overarching vision, something critics of FY11 claim is their main objection to it.”

    I am just saying in principle. It still was an incremental approach as technology was becoming available.

    “The nice thing about spiral development is that its budget can be dialed down with graceful reduction in (or slow-down of) functionality. The same is not true for pie-in-the-sky, overreaching SDLV plans.”

    Precisely.

Leave a Reply to Byeman Cancel reply

  

  

  

You can use these HTML tags

<a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong>