Lawmakers question NASA's budget proposal

Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle criticized NASA's fiscal 2012 budget proposal this week for diverting funding from manned spaceflight towards boosting the commercial space industry.

NASA Administrator Charles Bolden defended the ability of the commercial space industry to ferry astronauts to the International Space Station, particularly after the space shuttle program is retired later this year, at a hearing Wednesday in front of the House Science Committee.

"I am certain that commercial entities can deliver," Bolden said. "We have got to develop commercial capability to get into low Earth orbit. The nation needs to become unafraid of exploration. We need to become unafraid of risks."

“I am concerned that the future of our space program is in serious jeopardy,” said chairman Ralph Hall (R-Texas), noting the Obama administration's budget requests 31 percent less funding for manned spaceflight than mandated by the NASA Authorization Act of 2010.

The request increases funding for the commercial spaceflight industry by more than $700 million, a 70 percent increase over the bill passed by Congress.

“Commercial crew was not ignored, but to be perfectly clear, it was not – and is not – Congress’ first priority," Hall said.

"Yet the Administration’s FY2012 budget proposal completely flips the priorities of the Act, significantly increasing Commercial Crew funding while making deep cuts to the Human Exploration Capabilities accounts which Congress clearly intended to serve as our assured access to space.”

Hall was joined in his criticism by ranking member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Texas), who said she was disappointed by the president's budget request.

“I had thought that the Administration agreed with the compromise that was enacted into law, but I am afraid that I do not see it reflected in the proposed NASA budget request," Johnson said, telling Bolden he needs to work with lawmakers, "not simply tell us what you can’t do."

“The most constructive approach for all of us here is to consider the budget request that you will present today as the beginning of the discussion, not the end."

NASA officials will likely face more tough questions from the Senate Commerce Committee at Wednesday's hearing on "programmatic challenges in the 21st century."

Ranking member Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas) helped craft last year's compromise and has strongly opposed cuts to NASA's manned spaceflight program.