NASA chief gives funding priority to new space vehicle

Billions of dollars in budget shortfalls projected in NASA accounts through 2010 will hinder the space agency's ability to meet its long-term goals, just as other nations focus research dollars on space exploration, several members of the House Science Committee warned Thursday.

NASA's top budgetary priority is developing the next Crew Expeditionary Vehicle by 2012, a costly initiative that comes at the expense of many of the agency's other research and technology accounts.

"A renaissance costs money, and I don't see any Medicis waiting in the wings to underwrite NASA," said Science Chairman Sherwood Boehlert, R-N.Y. "So while NASA may have relatively smooth sailing right now, we ignore the clouds on the horizon at our own peril."

The agency's Space Shuttle program will bear the brunt of those cuts -- roughly $4.8 billion over the next five years. NASA Administrator Michael Griffin recognized the budget constraints, stating that he is taking a "go as you can afford to pay approach" to space exploration.

But Griffin stood by the agency's decision to make the priority the CEV, which President Bush said should be used for extended human missions to the moon, even if it means cutting other initiatives in the agency's budget. "NASA simply cannot afford to do everything on its plate today," he said. "Painful choices must be made," he later added.

NASA officials want to develop the exploration vehicle by 2012 -- two years earlier than originally planned -- to minimize any time lag between the shuttle retirement in 2010 and completion of the CEV. Griffin's "whatever-it-takes" mentality to developing the CEV services is a "dire warning to the rest of NASA," said Science ranking member Bart Gordon, D-Tenn.

Griffin countered that NASA is moving forward and funding other major initiatives, including a shuttle flight to service the Hubble Space Telescope.

Throughout the hearing, Republicans and Democrats alike congratulated Griffin on his ability to turn around a troubled space program, but some members cautioned that financial management reforms must continue. Both GAO and the NASA inspector general recently have uncovered problems with the agency's financial records, concluding that poor money management could make it susceptible to cost overruns and fraud.

Griffin said he is "appalled ... that we find ourselves in this situation." He added that the agency has made progress, but "we're not there yet." Meanwhile, two NASA facilities in Mississippi and Louisiana are still recovering from Hurricane Katrina, Griffin said.

The administration recently requested $324.8 million to support NASA's recovery needs, including repairing and replacing property, Space Shuttle external tanks and other support equipment, and communications infrastructure. Griffin acknowledged that more money may be needed in the future.