NASA Fiscal Year 2010 Budget - Message from NASA Acting Administrator

Subject: Fiscal Year 2010 Budget - Message from NASA Acting Administrator

Message from the Acting Administrator: Fiscal Year 2010 Budget

Today, President Obama announced an $18.69 billion budget for NASA for FY 2010 to advance Earth science, complete the International Space Station, explore the solar system and conduct aeronautics research. The budget request represents an increase of $903.6 million, about 5 percent, above the amount provided NASA in the FY 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act. I appreciate the president's strong support for NASA as demonstrated by the additional $2 billion provided in our 2009 and 2010 budgets.

The FY 2010 budget does a number of things: It supports the administration's commitment to deploy a global climate change research and monitoring system.

It funds a strong program of space exploration involving humans and robots with the goal of returning Americans to the moon and exploring other destinations. And it supports the safe flight of the space shuttle to complete assembly of the International Space Station by the shuttle's planned retirement.

With the FY 2010 budget request, we will advance our global climate change research. NASA's investment in Earth science research satellites, airborne sensors, computer models and analysis already has revolutionized scientific knowledge and predictions of climate change and its effects. Using the National Research Council's recommended priorities for space-based Earth science research, we will develop new sensors to support the administration's goal of deploying a global climate research and monitoring system.

The budget request also renews NASA's commitment to aeronautics research to address aviation safety, air traffic control, noise and emissions reduction, and fuel efficiency. And NASA's diverse portfolio of science, technology, engineering and mathematics educational activities is aligned with the administration's goal of improving American innovation and global competitiveness.

Along with the budget release, the White House also announced the launch of an independent review of NASA's human space flight activities. The Review of United States Human Space Flight Plans will examine our development programs and suggest possible alternatives. The goal is to provide options that will ensure the nation's human space flight program remains safe, innovative and affordable in the years following the space shuttle's retirement. During the review, work on the Constellation Program will continue.

The review team will work closely with NASA and seek input from the Congress, the White House, the public, industry and international partners as it develops these options. The review will be done by a blue-ribbon panel of experts led by Norman Augustine, a former aerospace industry executive who has served on the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology and chaired a number of organizations, including the National Academy of Engineering and the American Red Cross.

Michael Hawes, the associate administrator of NASA's Office of Program Analysis and Evaluation at Headquarters, will serve as the lead of the NASA team supporting the review. The review's results will support an administration decision by August 2009 on how to proceed.

As we move forward into the future, I'm confident that with your expertise and hard work, NASA will continue its record of amazing accomplishments in exploration and research. The president's FY 2010 request represents a major investment in this future.

Christopher J. Scolese
Acting Administrator

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It will be hard to see the Space Shuttle Program end! What a thrill it is to see this go up and know that it was one of the United States greatest achievements!

:applause: