NASA's Constellation project killed

WASHINGTON, Feb. 1 (UPI) -- The proposed FY 2011 federal budget kills NASA's much heralded Constellation program, as expected, but provides the space agency with $100 billion overall.

The Constellation program was based on a vision of returning astronauts to the Moon by 2020. However, administration officials said the program was over budget, behind schedule and lacking in innovation due to a failure to invest in critical new technologies.

An independent review panel determined that even if fully funded, NASA's program to repeat many of the achievements of the Apollo era, 50 years later, was the least attractive approach to space exploration when compared to potential alternatives.

President Barack Obama's proposed budget for NASA includes projects that would support future heavy-lift rocket systems aimed at increasing the capability of future exploration architectures with significantly lower operations costs than current systems.

The proposal includes $369 million for new technology development and test programs aimed at increasing the capabilities and reducing the cost of future space activities.

Officials said $600 million would be used to complete the final five space shuttle missions and allow an orderly retirement of the program, even if its schedule extends into FY 2011. An additional $183 million would extend operations of the International Space Station.

The proposed NASA budget would also accelerate development of new satellites for Earth science priorities and support a contract with industry to provide astronaut transportation to the space station, reducing reliance on foreign crew transports.