More funding for NASA

Things are looking up for NASA again, at least in part. The US Congress has approved a motion to privde NASA with total funding of the $16.2 billion it sought for 2005. These funds will be used to return the Shuttles to flight and to design a replacement vehicle.

It's really a pity to see that NASA is struggling to get funding for their projects. If you consider that the whole space program can be funded by building one or two less military platforms such as nuclear submarines or other weapon systems, it is a great shame. Instead of workign together to ensure a future for mankind amongst the stars it seems that goverments would rather spend more money on new ways to destroy humanity, than to fund space exploration.

The best news however is about the Hubble Space Telescope. Congress has approved funds for a repair mission provided that NASA thinks it will be safe. Hubble is currently only functioning on two gyros. A repair mission is need to repair and replace the gyros and to breathe new life into the Hubble telescope.

I think it would be a more than fitting end to the shuttle fleet if one of their last missions are used to keep our "eye in the sky" operating for quite a few years more. If no repairs are done, Hubble could stop functioning by 2010.

Let's hope everything works out and Hubble is there to stay.

NASA doesn't have the needed funding

According to recent news reports it seems that NASA is facing a huge funding problem. The shuttle program alone appears to be headed for a deficit of around $3 billion to as high as $6 billion during the next 5 years.

NASA simply can't afford all the projects it currently has on it's plate. They are already busy cutting funding to non-essential projects and focusing on just one mission - the return to the moon.

Existing funding is prioritized for the development of a new spacecraft. Other projects are simply put on the shelves for the time being. It seems that the return to the moon might be a very difficult objective to achieve. Not to mention a mission to Mars.

Hopefully funding will be increased in time for the projects to receive to needed priority and make the plan for space exploration announced 21 months ago a reality.

Alternatively perhaps it's time for the world to create a "Global Space Agency", with all countries contributing funding and expertise. After all, space belongs to no one nation and the future of humanity is indeed amongst the stars!