Panel votes to scuttle space telescope

By Gautham Nagesh - 07/07/11 02:58 PM ET

The House Appropriations Committee Science subpanel voted Thursday to cut funding for the successor to the Hubble Space Telescope, calling the project "billions of dollars over budget and plagued by poor management."

The decision to terminate funding for the James Webb Space Telescope, which would still need to garner approval from the full committee, House and Senate, is part of a $1.6 billion cut in NASA's funding approved by the subcommittee.

“This legislation includes funding for some of the most critical aspects of government — the protection of our people here at home, the competitiveness of our businesses and industries, and the scientific research that will help America continue to lead the world in innovation,” House Appropriations Chairman Hal Rogers (R-Ky.) said.

"However, given this time of fiscal crisis, it is also important that Congress make tough decisions to cut programs where necessary to give priority to programs with broad national reach that have the most benefit to the American people."

The Webb telescope was designed to look deeper into space than the Hubble, but its launch date has been pushed back repeatedly — to 2018 at the earliest. The move drew opposition from some Democrats, who have called it the latest blow to the nation's space program.

“Days before NASA embarks on its final space shuttle mission, we can ill-afford to jeopardize both the current and future leadership our country has in space exploration and observation," said Rep. Donna Edwards (D-Md.) in a statement voicing strong opposition to the cuts.

"The project is 75 percent complete and supports 2,000 jobs, including 500 in my state of Maryland. While there is reasonable cause for concern regarding NASA’s management of the project, eliminating this important and ambitious project is truly short-sighted," she said.

Edwards said she worries about the message sent to students by cutting projects aimed at advancing research and technology.

NASA has been the target of frequent cuts in recent years, as the Obama administration has looked to boost the commercial space industry. The president addressed the future of NASA after the retirement of the space shuttle program this year during Wednesday's Twitter town hall.

"Frankly, I have been pushing NASA to revamp its vision. The shuttle did some extraordinary work in low-orbit experiments, the International Space Station, moving cargo," Obama said.

"But now what we need is that next technological breakthrough. We’re still using the same models for space travel that we used with the Apollo program 30, 40 years ago," Obama said.

The president said NASA is currently redefining its mission by investing in basic research with the ultimate goal of reaching Mars. He said the private sector could handle the more routine lower-orbit space travel.