NASA Announces Fiscal Year 2012 Budget

"This budget requires us to live within our means so we can invest in
our future," NASA Administrator Charles Bolden said. "It maintains
our commitment to human spaceflight and provides for strong programs
to continue the outstanding science, aeronautics research and
education needed to win the future."

The NASA budget includes $4.3 billion for the Space Shuttle and
International Space Station programs, $5 billion for science, $3.9
billion for future exploration systems and $569 million for aeronautics research.

"This budget demonstrates the administration's commitment to
maintaining NASA's leadership role in space," Deputy Administrator
Lori Garver said. "It puts us on a path to out-innovate, out-educate
and out-build the rest of the world."

The budget supports the transition of the space shuttle program's
workforce and facilities when the fleet retires this year after 30
years of service. Among the program's many historic accomplishments
is the construction of the International Space Station. The station
will operate until at least 2020, allowing NASA to fully use it as a
technology test-bed and national laboratory for human health
research. While continuing to work with its international partners on
station activities, NASA will select a non-profit organization to
stimulate, develop and manage research activities on the U.S. portion
of the station.

NASA has prioritized funding for its partnership with the commercial
space industry to facilitate crew and cargo transport to the station.
Companies will innovate to provide safe, reliable and cost effective
access to low Earth orbit. NASA also will invest in the flight
systems to take humans beyond low Earth orbit, including a deep space
capsule and heavy lift rocket, and key research and technology to
enable the long journeys.

NASA's science budget supports new missions and continued operations
of the many observatories successfully studying Earth and space. The
agency will launch the Mars Science Laboratory in fiscal year 2012
and continue work on a wide range of astrophysics, heliophysics and
Earth science missions.

The 2012 budget request continues NASA's commitment to enhancing
aviation safety and airspace efficiency, and reducing the
environmental impact of aviation. NASA also remains dedicated to
developing the next generation of technology leaders through vital
programs in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

"We had to make some tough choices, but the budget gives us a plan for
sustainable and affordable exploration," said NASA's Chief Financial
Officer Elizabeth Robinson. "We're looking at new ways of doing
business that improve program management and delivers even greater
results to the American taxpayers."

The NASA budget and supporting information are available at:

http://www.nasa.gov/budget

Source: NASA

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