AIP FYI #129: Senate Appropriations Bill for NASA

In passing its FY 2005 VA/HUD spending bill (S. 2825) on September
21, the Senate Appropriations Committee recommended a total of
$15,579.5 million for NASA. Although $201.3 million greater than
NASA’s FY 2004 budget, this is $664.5 million less than President
Bush requested. The Committee would increase funding for
Exploration Capabilities above FY 2004 funding, but reduce the
Exploration, Science and Aeronautics account. Neither account is
funded at the level asked for by the President. In the accompanying
report (S. Rept. 108-353), the Committee notes that it is
“supportive” of the President’s space exploration vision, but warns
that the “current Federal fiscal environment is not favorable to
supporting completely the budget NASA has presented for fiscal year
2005.” To fund two of its important priorities – restoring the
space shuttle to flight and servicing the Hubble Space Telescope –
the Committee designated for those efforts $800.0 million in
emergency funding that is not subject to budget caps. However,
there are indications that the Administration, and budget hawks in
Congress, are displeased with efforts to designate these and other
items as emergency spending, adding to the difficulties of finishing
up the appropriations process in a timely manner.

The Committee devotes a lengthy portion of report language to its
opinions and concerns regarding the President’s exploration vision,
the need to develop new heavy lift capability, and the importance of
maintaining a strong, balanced science program. Stating that NASA’s
science program “should be nurtured and sustained as the new policy
is implemented,” the report calls for “the National Academies’ Space
Studies Board to conduct a thorough review of the science that NASA
is proposing to undertake under the new policy and to develop a
strategy by which all of NASA’s science disciplines…can make
adequate progress towards their established goals, as well as
providing scientific research in support of the new policy.”
Selections from this portion of the report will be provided in
greater length in FYI #130. Readers who wish to view the text in
full can find it at http://thomas.loc.gov/.

EXPLORATION, SCIENCE AND AERONAUTICS:

The Committee recommends $7,736.5 million for this account.
According to the report, this is $146.7 million, or 1.9 percent,
less than FY 2004 funding of $7,883.2 million, and $23.5 million, or
0.3 percent, less than the request of $7,760.0 million. The House
bill would provide $7,621.2 million.

Selected quotations from this section of the report text are
provided below:

Space Science: In its report, the Committee states that it has
included “an additional $300,000,000 in emergency funding for a
servicing mission to the Hubble Space Telescope…. The Committee
anticipates that there will be a Hubble servicing mission which, at
this time, is not a part of the fiscal year 2005 budget submission.
Once the study being conducted by the National Academy of Sciences
is completed, the Committee will consider any appropriate funding
options presented by NASA. NASA should consider a servicing mission
a priority.” Among other items in this section of the report, the
Committee expresses concern over “proposed reductions to the Living
With a Star” program and “the growth of the Solar Dynamics
Observatory.” Additionally, it “expects NASA to provide the
necessary funding for the Pluto-Kuiper Belt mission in 2005 to
ensure the mission is launched on schedule. The Committee expects
NASA to submit any request for additional funds through the
operating plan.”

Earth Science: The report states, “The Committee believes that Earth
science has been a critical part of a balanced space program long
advocated by this Committee. The Committee remains fully committed
to a robust Earth science program at NASA notwithstanding the recent
headquarters reorganization plan. The Committee expects NASA to
remain fully committed to Earth science, with future missions
identified with 5 year funding profiles that reflect a serious
commitment to Earth science as a vital part of the Nation’s space
program.”

Biological and Physical Research: According to the report, “The
Committee has expressed its intent that scientific research remain
one of NASA’s top priorities. However, delays in the construction of
the Station and the current stand down of the Shuttle fleet have
significantly reduced the opportunities for life and microgravity
research in the near term. In order to maximize what research can
still be done on the [space station], the Committee funds Biological
Sciences Research within Earth science at $368,000,000, the same as
the funding level for fiscal year 2004.”

EXPLORATION CAPABILITIES:

The Committee recommends $7,811.1 million for this account.
According to the report, this is $343.2 million, or 4.6 percent,
above FY 2004 funding of $7,467.9 million, and $715.3 million, or
8.4 percent, less than the requested level of $8,526.4 million. The
House VA/HUD appropriations bill would provide $7,496.8 million.

Selected quotations from this section of the report text are
provided below:

Space Shuttle: “The Committee has included an additional
$500,000,000 in emergency funding for the Space Shuttle to implement
the recommendations of the Columbia Accident Investigation Board and
other costs associated with return to flight activities…. The
Committee continues to believe that there is no higher priority than
improving the safety and reliability of the remaining Shuttle
orbiters…. The future of the [space station], and other U.S.
manned space flight missions for the rest of the decade are
contingent upon having a working Shuttle fleet that is safe and
reliable throughout the remaining years of the shuttle program. The
Committee is concerned that as the Shuttle and the Shuttle
infrastructure continue to age, further challenges in operating the
fleet may arise…. Finally, the Committee expects regular
consultations by NASA on all proposed changes to investments in the
Shuttle program.”

Space Station: The Committee notes that the International Space
Station [ISS] continues to operate at a reduced level with future
construction not expected to begin until 2005. The current crew of
two cannot fully utilize the capabilities of the ISS for the
research it was intended to facilitate, and the caretaker role of
the astronauts does not currently justify the funds requested for
operations of the ISS. Despite the ability of the international
partners to fill the gap created by the grounding of the shuttle
fleet, the capabilities of the ISS have been dramatically
diminished. Accordingly, the Committee has reduced funding for the
ISS by $120,000,000. As soon as the Shuttle is available to provide
access to the ISS, the Committee is adamant that NASA provide the
Committee with a plan detailing the steps necessary to complete
construction of the ISS. This plan may include completion of the ISS
by only using the shuttle, or a combination of shuttle and unmanned
flights for delivering components to the ISS…. If there is to be
a redirection of the research to be conducted onboard the ISS, any
revision shall be done in consultation with the ISS partners. These
partners will be affected by such actions, and their participation
to this point has been both crucial and beneficial. If NASA intends
to have international partners for future space exploration, then
NASA should be sure not to exclude its current partners in making
decisions involving the research direction and construction schedule
of the ISS.”

Crew Exploration Vehicle: “The Committee is prepared to commit funds
to the Crew Exploration Vehicle [CEV], but is concerned that there
has not been enough initial planning to determine what specific
capabilities the CEV should have…. While the Committee feels that
a plan with sufficient details on cost and accountability for any
subsequent budget overruns will eventually emerge, the time to lay
the proper groundwork for such an ambitious vision is prior to
heading down the path, not on the way…. As NASA begins to
consider another manned vehicle program, the Committee does not want
to repeat the mistakes of the Space Station, where poor management
and lack of independent oversight resulted in major cost overruns,
to occur with the CEV…. Therefore, the Committee directs the
Administrator to identify an independent oversight committee to
examine the design, technology readiness and cost estimates for the
CEV…. In order to allow for the initiation of the CEV, the
Committee recommends a funding level of $268,000,000. This will
allow for a modest start for this ambitious program, and still allow
NASA the time needed to refine its plans for the vehicle in time for
a full start in the fiscal year 2006 budget request.”

Audrey T. Leath

Media and Government Relations Division

The American Institute of Physics

fyi@aip.org

www.aip.org/gov

(301) 209-3094