COLORADO SPRINGS — NASA Administrator Charles Bolden told a packed, anxious audience today that the agency and president are “absolutely committed to a vibrant future for human spaceflight.”
Considerable controversy has greeted President Barack Obama’s proposed fiscal year 2011 federal budget, which increases NASA’s overall funding but re-directs efforts to commercial operations.
The cancellation of the Constellation program — which aims to return humans to the moon and beyond — has brought concerns from members of Congress and companies with Constellation contracts.
Bolden, speaking at the National Space Symposium at the Broadmoor, did not tip Obama’s hand. The president is scheduled Thursday to give more details on NASA’s revamped budget during a “space conference” in Florida.
The new direction, Bolden said, will involve “transformative efforts” for a new era of space exploration using innovative technologies developed in a “step-wise approach.”
Bolden acknowledged that “small steps” are being taken along a “game-changing” path, but the re-focus with international and commercial partners will “let innovation thrive.”
An “incremental, measured program,” Bolden said, will build on a rich space heritage.
Ann Schrader: 303-954-1967 or aschrader@denverpost.com.
