14 DAY TRIAL // About a week ago, on March 12, 16 members of the US House of Representatives signed a letter to the Government Accountability Office (GAO), asking it to investigate whether the new plans to abandon Project Constellation are breaking the law or not. Under the 2011 budget proposal set forth by President Barack Obama, NASA plans to go to the Moon with the ARES delivery systems and the Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle are terminated.
The officials who signed the document say that they believe the new proposal is in direct violation of a piece of legislation passed last December, called the Anti-Deficiency Act. What the document basically states is that the space agency is not allowed to end any of the programs pertaining to the Project, or initiate new, related plans. In other words, in order for NASA to be able to take any firm decisions, it needs Congressional approval.
But some reports that have surfaced lately show that officials at the agency have instructed some of their employees to conserve the funds allotted for Constellation in 2010. The US Representatives want GAO to investigate whether this means the law has been broken, Space reports.
“We believe that interpretation of this bill language should take into account the fact that these activities are not easily stopped and started but rather are long-term contract plans (as long as 36 months out) involving highly specialized engineering teams both in government and in the private sector,” the letter says. Its signers were referring to the programs that are a part of the Project, which are very time-consuming and intensive, and also involve numerous contractors and sub-contractors. One of the reasons for which so many people are involved is the fact that there are numerous new technologies going in Constellation that have never before been used.
The letter was initiated by Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-Ala.), who is also a member of the House Appropriations commerce, justice, science subcommittee, the group in charge of overseeing the way NASA spends its funds. Representatives from Texas and Florida have also expressed their support for the letter, and urge GAO to intervene. Most of the signers are from states that would stand to lose most if Constellation is canceled. The officials point out quite accurately that withdrawing funding for the Project would live thousands of the most highly-trained and skilled engineers in the world jobless.
The signers also took issue with NASA giving orders to preserve Constellation funds for this year. “We believe that this act does not apply to the situation, particularly given the fact that Congress has specifically forbidden the termination not just of the program, but of programs and activities. Congress, therefore, not NASA, is responsible for contract shutdown costs and will provide them – in [2011], in the event that Congress approves the President's plan in whole or in part,” the letter to GAO adds.