No Changes to NASA Budget in Markup

No changes were made to the NASA budget today during full committee markup of the Commerce, Justice, Science (CJS) appropriations bill for FY2010. The budget for the Constellation program remains at $3.2 billion, or $700 million below the $3.9 billion requested by the Obama Administration. CJS subcommittee chairman Alan Mollohan (D-WV) said that he expects the Administration to submit an amended budget request following completion of the Augustine panel and the funding can be reconsidered then. That panel has been established to look at options for the future of the U.S. human space flight program. Its report is due in August. Meanwhile, the CJS bill is scheduled to go to the House floor next Wednesday, June 17.