NASA Clears Shuttle for Launch on Election Eve

As if next week isn’t exciting enough with the mid-term elections on Tuesday, NASA has approved the launch of space shuttle Discovery at 4:40 pm EDT the day before. Discovery will make its last scheduled flight as STS-133 with a crew of six commanded by Steve Lindsay.

Only one more space shutle flight is scheduled after this one, currently expected in February 2011. The 2010 NASA authorization act allows one additional shuttle flight to be flown if NASA determines that it is safe. The act authorizes the launch and recommends funding for it, but whether the funding actually will be provided through the appropriations process remains up in the air.

The election may have some bearing on that. If the Republicans gain control of the House and/or Senate, deficit reduction is their major theme and funding for domestic discretionary agencies like NASA will be that much more difficult to obtain. Still, NASA’s activities enjoy wide bipartisan support, so the funding could be provided. Some NASA supporters fear, however, that NASA will be directed to fly the mission and have to redirect funds from its other activities.