Bolden speaks on space science

At a speech to members of the American Astronomical Society’s annual meeting , NASA administrator Charles Bolden spoke about the major scientific discoveries that NASA facilities had helped produce, but remained quiet on the results expected of the report of the Augustine committee (headed by retired aerospace executive Norman Augustine) of the future strategic direction for human spaceflight. The current strategic plan is unsustainable unless NASA’s budget is increased dramatically said the Augustine report which provided four options for the Obama administration to consider under different budget scenarios.

“I’m sure all of you would like to know what direction President Obama will choose for the future of the space program,” said Bolden. “All I can say for now is that NASA is working closely with the executive office in helping him determine the best path forward.”

The result is expected to be an extra $1 billion in funding, but at the cost of canceling the Ares 1 launcher that would take astronauts into space.

Instead NASA will concentrate on building a new simpler heavy lift launcher based heavily on the Shuttle-C concept says Science magazine . Some services, such as supplying the International Space Station , would be contracted out to commercial companies such as Space X, which would use its Falcon 9 medium-lift launcher that is scheduled to fly for the first time in March.

The European Space Agency , which recently confirmed an agreement to work more closely with NASA on lunar and Mars missions, along with other partners such as Japan, may be asked to share costs and provide hardware for joint missions.

A future for space science?

Bolden assured the audience that “the future of human spaceflight will not be paid for out of the hide of the science program,” a comment that received cheers and a round of applause.

However, in an interview with Physics Today held last month, associate administrator Ed Weiler who is in charge of NASA’s science program, said that the community will soon be faced with “hard decisions” over which programs will receive funding as too many science missions are extended beyond their initial design life, and that the space mission budget would likely be constrained in the near future.

Paul Guinnessy