$16.2bn budget enough for exploration as well as Shuttle return and Hubble servicing
NASA is powering ahead with its space exploration programme after last-minute arm-twisting by the White House secured the agency almost all of the $16.2 billion in funding requested for fiscal year 2005. At the expense of other agencies, US Congress approved a 5% increase over NASA's 2004 budget to cover the space exploration programme as well as the Space Shuttle return to flight and a robotic servicing mission to the Hubble Space Telescope.
Just days before its budget was approved, NASA awarded more than $1 billion-worth of contracts to support exploration systems research and technology proposals, and conducted its first international workshop on space exploration. "The impression was that this is a powerful train leaving the station and now people must decide to put their bags on the train," says David Parker, director of space science at the British National Space Centre, one of 19 agencies attending the three-day workshop.
"I am 100% certain there will be international participation," said Michael O'Brien, NASA assistant administrator for external relations after the meeting. The workshop's goal was to provide a forum for the exchange of information on individual space agencies' plans for human and robotic space exploration, to discuss specific interests and capabilities, and agree follow-up actions. Participants included the Canadian, European and Japanese space agencies, as well as those of China, Russia and Ukraine.
NASA presented a draft "strawman" strategy to establish the first human outpost at the lunar south pole, with robotic missions in 2008-11 to collect data, followed by missions in 2011-15 to put in place a robotic infrastructure to build the base, and human missions in 2015-20 to expand operations using in-situ resources. Initial human activities on the lunar surface would secure the habitat, service the equipment, explore the vicinity and simulate a mission to Mars.
Although most of the nations have not identified the Moon as a stepping stone to Mars, their long-term goals for robotic exploration are common, says NASA, providing an opportunity to collaborate to avoid duplication. NASA will complete an initial evaluation of individual agencies' roadmaps for synergy with the US space exploration strategy by March 2005. Its final evaluation is to be completed by August 2005, when NASA aims to start work with key agencies to identify the best missions for a common programme and to reach agreement on "specific and appropriate" technical areas for collaboration.
Full funding for 2005 does not mean NASA is off the financial hook. Congress has required the agency to report within 60 days on costs to return the Shuttle to flight, estimates for which have already doubled and are expected to go higher, and for the Hubble robotic repair mission. Congress has put the priority on safely returning the Shuttle to flight, and given NASA unprecedented spending flexibility, which could result in money being taken from other programmes, including exploration.
Graham Warwick / Washington DC
Source: Flight International
