Disrupting Constellation Program Spacecraft Development Could Mean More Job Losses, On Top Of Plunging Space Shuttle Employment
Underfunding Can Threaten Astronauts’ Lives
NASA, the largest space agency on the planet, has been short-changed of funds critically required to perform its assigned missions, and the penury is bipartisan, regardless of which party occupies the White House, according to congressional witnesses.
And money shortages can lead to astronauts’ lives being endangered.
Those were the messages from several witnesses before the House Science and Technology Committee space and aeronautics subcommittee, in a hearing that was truncated and then canceled because lawmakers on the panel had to leave to attend myriad consecutive votes on the House floor.
The panel staff provided a graph examining President Obama’s budget plan for the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2010, now before Congress.
The Obama funding level for fiscal 2010 slightly exceeds the financial support that President Bush estimated NASA would require when he enunciated his Vision for Space Exploration (VSE) in 2004.
But then, beginning in fiscal 2011, the Obama funding levels flatline at less than $19 billion yearly, falling steadily further behind the upward trend that Bush estimated would be required to fund the space agency, including its Constellation Program to develop the next-generation Orion-Ares U.S. spaceship system.
By 2014, where the original Bush projection would have NASA spending at well more than $20 billion, the Obama budget plan calls for $18.9 billion, according to the graph. (To be sure, Democrats have criticized Bush for not increasing total NASA funding to cover costs of the Constellation Program. Instead, Bush in essence attempted to finance Constellation for free by retiring the existing space shuttle fleet next year, and using shuttle operating funds to finance development of the Orion space capsule and the Ares I rocket to lift Orion to space. Meanwhile, for half a decade until Orion begins manned flights, NASA will have no way to transport astronauts to space, having to rely on the Russians for taxi rides.)
Witnesses before the subcommittee said the Obama budget may not be sufficient to fund Constellation Program development of Orion-Ares.
And it could be worse. A House Appropriations Committee move would limit NASA funding in some areas even more than the Obama budget, pending the outcome of a study of the Constellation Program being conducted by a committee headed by retired Lockheed Martin Corp. [LMT] chairman and CEO Norm Augustine. (Please see separate story in this issue.)
J.P. Stevens, vice president for space systems with the Aerospace Industries Association, said the Obama budget plan in the future years is wanting, saying the administration needs to propose “a more robust NASA budget over the next several years.”
Even more, he indicated, the AIA is “very concerned about the recent House Appropriations Committee decision to withhold increased funding for human space exploration pending the results of the Augustine Committee … “
This could turn out to be a staggering strategic mistake, Stevens warned. It the funding is dropped out of the budget now, it may never return. “Our question is: from where will the additional funding come if the Augustine Committee recommends that NASA continue to stay on course” with the Constellation Program? Stevens asked.
“We fear that no additional dollars will be available from the appropriations committee and progress on this important program will yet again be delayed.”
More broadly, he said, the government should maintain U.S. space exploration as a priority.
He also said the gap between mandated retirement of the space shuttle fleet on Sept. 30 next year and the first manned flight of the Orion space capsule in 2015 should be minimized.
As for the Constellation Program, it and space exploration “should be treated as national priorities and given the support needed to keep development on its current schedule.”
While AIA is pleased with Constellation progress thus far, “we are deeply concerned about the budgetary implications for the future of the program,” Stevens said.
The Augustine Committee is studying a possible move to drop the Ares I rocket which now is partially developed in favor of converting a military rocket, the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle, or EELV, to human transport use.
But Stevens noted that would toss aside a huge amount of progress seen over the past five years in the Constellation Program, with a carefully thought-out plan as to how to proceed, a strategy and architecture, award of several major contacts, bening metal, conducting critical tests, and more.
While Obama is attempting to stimulate the ailing U.S. economy by investing money in “shovel ready” infrastructure projects such as rebuilding crumbling roads, Stevens noted that the Constellation Program already is underway, both “shovel ready” and “brain ready.”
How disappointing, then, that Obama in his budget plan provides a mere $25 million yearly for developing the Ares V heavy lifter rocket, and nothing for developing the Altair lunar landing.
At a time when the space community already faces major job losses with the shuttle fleet retirement, this is distressing, Stevens indicated. “Even small delays to current plans may cause NASA and the aerospace industry permanent loss of human capital and reduce options for retaining the specially trained and skilled workforce from the retiring shuttle program,” Stevens said.
He also said the International Space Station, which only now is nearing completion, should be kept in operation beyond 2015, at least until 2020.
Stevens added a critical caveat to that: the space station should be given adequate funding to continue its operations, “without taking [money] away from other critical NASA mission objectives,” he said. And AIA recommends that NASA should continue to support commercial orbital launch services, a goal of having private companies provide transport services for cargo and — someday — crew members to the space station.
He also urged authorization support for NASA science and Earth observation, aeronautics, and education programs.
U.S. leadership in space no longer is guaranteed, as other nations surge ahead in their space programs, Stevens cautioned, “and the securing of its space assets is no longer assured.”
He drew agreement from Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz), who chairs the subcommittee.
“NASA is at a critical crossroads,” she said. “Decisions made by Congress and the White House this year will have an impact on NASA for years to come — for better or worse — and we need to ensure that they are for the better.”
Several witnesses said NASA urgently requires adequate, dependable, continuing and stable funding, without sudden declines.
Lives At Stake
While the prospect of lost progress and money might be depressing, and the prospect of lost jobs for talented high-skill people might be worse, an even more grim prospect created by underfunding is an increased risk of astronauts being killed.
John Marshall, a member of the NASA Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel, explained the danger in testimony for the subcommittee.
“Safety always is an unintended victim of reduced spending and any resultant stretch-out of major programs if we are not careful,” he cautioned. “That should not be allowed to happen … “
Marshall warned that the safety panel doesn’t support extending space shuttle flights as a way to close the gap, but if shuttle flights are extended beyond Sept. 30 next year, then money must be provided.
Otherwise, without added cash, continued spending on shuttle flights will crowd out other NASA programs, delaying Constellation so that the gap ultimately might be extended even longer before Orion flies.
“This clearly will further expose NASA to the risk of another shuttle loss and may jeopardize the future U.S. exploration program,” Marshall explained.
Meddling with the Constellation Program also could have dire results.
If NASA missions are held constant, and money and budgets are tight, then schedules would have to slip. But if the schedule is demanding, “then risk to the mission and crew can only increase perhaps beyond control with fatal result,” Marshall warned.
He also urged swift confirmation of “those selected to lead NASA … “
Obama recently named former astronaut and retired Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Charlie Bolden to be NASA Administrator, and Laurie Garver, a former NASA official, as his deputy.