Whereas the United States has invested in human flight
program since May 5, 1961, a program that has been a source for the United
States leadership role in space exploration and advancement in scientific
research; and is a national security interest and asset for the Nation.
Whereas the Constellation program is a human space flight
program that includes: the Ares I launch vehicle, capable of launching to
low-Earth orbit; the Ares V heavy-lift launch vehicle, to send astronauts and
equipment to the Moon; the Orion capsule, intended to carry astronauts to
low-Earth orbit and beyond; and the Altair lunar lander and lunar surface
systems astronauts will need to explore the lunar surface.
Whereas the President’s Fiscal Year 2010 Budget provided
$18,700,000,000 for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA);
the Budget funds a program of space-based research to advance our understanding
of climate change and its effects, as well as human and robotic space
exploration; and the budget supports the use of the Space Shuttle to complete
assembly of the International Space Station.
Whereas the 2010 NASA budget funded a program of
space-based research that supports the Administration’s commitment to deploy a
global climate change research and monitoring system.
Whereas 2010 NASA budget was to fund the safe flight of
the Space Shuttle through the vehicle’s retirement at the end of 2010. An
additional flight will be conducted if it can be completed safely before the
end of 2010.
Whereas the President’s Fiscal Year 2011 Budget proposes
to eliminate the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)’s Space
Shuttle and Constellation program and allocate $6,000,000,000 over 5 years for
the purpose of developing commercial space flight.
Whereas the Congress recognizes the policy outlined in
section 501(a) of the National Aeronautics and Space Authorization Act of 2005
(42 U.S.C. 16761(a)), that the United States shall maintain an uninterrupted
capability for human space flight and operations in low-earth orbit, and
beyond, as an essential element of national security and the ability to ensure
continued United States participation and leadership in the exploration of
space.
Whereas eliminating the Constellation upon retirement of
the Space Shuttle will create a national security risk to the United States and
will diminish the Nation’s efforts to advance scientific research in
space.
Whereas the United States will for the first time since
its space program began, be without a human space flight program.
Whereas transferring funds from the Constellation program
to the development of commercial space programs to carry human and crew into
space is taking a chance on an unknown quantity and is an unnecessary and
unreasonable risk this country must not take.
Whereas the retirement of the Space Shuttle this year will
leave the United States vulnerable and depending on Russia to put United States
astronauts in orbit without the Constellation program; in May of last year when
it became clear the United States had no one else to turn to, Russia raised its
prices from $48,000,000 to $51,000,000 per launch for each astronaut.
Whereas the Constellation program is not just about going
to the moon, as the United States has a commitment to the International Space
Station (ISS), and with the Space Shuttle being retired this September, the
Constellation is the only system under development that will give NASA the
future capability to launch and retrieve crews to and from the ISS.
Whereas decreasing the use of the International Space
Station would impact the ability to sustain its systems and physical
infrastructure.
Whereas the Constellation program should be funded to
continue use of the International Space Station to support the agency and other
Federal, commercial, and academic research and technology testing needs.
Whereas partnerships between universities and NASA centers
should be established to provide research opportunities for conduct of research
in the United States International Space Station National Laboratories for the
next generation of scientists in order to ensure effective utilization of the
International Space Station research capabilities.
Whereas NASA conducts aeronautics research to address
aviation safety, air traffic control, noise and, emissions reductions and fuel
efficiency.
Whereas NASA’s contribution to our knowledge of air and
water supports improved decisionmaking for natural resource management and
emergency response, thus enabling us to better respond to future homeland
security threats.
Whereas knowledge of Earth’s water cycle is a critical
first step in protecting our water supply; water flows over the Earth’s surface
in oceans, lakes, and streams, and is particularly vulnerable to attack.
Whereas NASA sensors provide a wealth of information about
the water cycle; and contributes to improving our ability to monitor water
resources and water quality from space; we must also protect the quality and
safety of the air we breathe; airborne contaminants can pose danger to human
health; and chemical, nuclear, radiological, and biological attacks are
plausible threats against which we can better protect the United States through
NASA’s research: Now, therefore, be it
That it is the sense of the House of
Representatives that—
(1)NASA is a national
security asset and interest for the United States;
(2)elimination of the
Constellation program will present Homeland Security implications for
cyberspace, critical infrastructure, and the intelligence community of the
United States;
(3)elimination of the
Constellation program will compromise the effectiveness of the International
Space Station as it relates to the strategic importance of space station
research, and intelligence;
(4)continuation of
NASA’s Constellation program is crucial to improving national security,
climate, and research in science and medicine; and
(5)the United States
should maintain its funding of the Constellation program and should begin
funding commercial space in 5 years and not sooner.