It was introduced by a Texan senator

Mar 4, 2010 09:41 GMT  ·  By
The ARES I prototype, ARES I-X, rolls to the Launch Pad 39B facility, at the Kennedy Space Center, in October 2009
   The ARES I prototype, ARES I-X, rolls to the Launch Pad 39B facility, at the Kennedy Space Center, in October 2009

In a move that could severely stifle US President Barack Obama's plan for the American space agency, a senator from Texas has recently introduced a new bill that aims to keep the space shuttles flying for an additional two years. At this point, the new approach to space exploration dictates that NASA retires its shuttles this September, and then relies on Russian spacecraft to deliver its astronauts to orbit. In a few years, it would rely on private American companies to do the same. The new piece of legislation also calls for the rapid development of a new heavy-lift rocket that could fly in less than five years.

The new bill was proposed by US Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas) on Wednesday. This is only the last in a row of efforts that legislators are making to prevent the new White House plan of shutting down Project Constellation, retiring the shuttles, and handing over the faith of manned space exploration to private companies. Many representatives view this plan as a measure that would directly affect the country's domination of space, and which would also jeopardize national security. Many senators have vowed to stop the new initiative, which they see as sacking a good approach to space exploration, in favor of uncertain goals that extend a long way into the future.

“We must close the gap in US human space flight or face the reality that we will be totally dependent on Russia for access to space until the next generation of space vehicle is developed. If the space shuttle program is terminated, Russia and China will be the only nations in the world with the capability to launch humans into space. This is unacceptable,” the Texan representative said on March 3 in a press release. His bill is bound to gain a lot of support in Congress, given that officials from both parties are upset at the new 2011 budget proposal, at least as far as space exploration goes, Space reports.

The current budget allots $989 million for the space shuttles next year, as well as an additional $89 million for 2012. These funds are scheduled to be used primarily for decommissioning and closing down the decades-long program. If the new bill passes, then NASA will have to spread out this year's flights, and also to add new ones for the coming two years. Hutchinson proposes that an additional $3.4 billion is provided to NASA for 2011 and 2012, so that it can keep flying the shuttles. The bill is called the Human Space Flight Capability Assurance and Enhancement Act, and similar proposals will be forwarded in the House of Representatives next week, most likely by US Reps. Suzanne Kosmas (D-Fla.) and Bill Posey (R-Fla.).