WASHINGTON -- The Bush administration has directed NASA to kill its Pluto-Kuiper Belt Mission and Solar Probe spacecraft that was to study the Sun up close.

However, additional funds dedicated to propulsion research could still keep alive the option of a spacecraft sprinting to Pluto before 2020.

Details of the new NASA budget, released today by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), also show the Bush administration willing to pump added monies into future robotic Mars exploration.

In highlighting the presidents projected $14.5 billion budget for NASA in fiscal year 2001, OMB documents said the Pluto and Solar Probe missions "will not be funded," as both programs had a "very large" escalation in cost.

"To support a potential future sprint to the planet Pluto before 2020, additional funds will be directed to key propulsion technology investments," the OMB document states.

Action items

Edward Weiler, NASA's associate administrator for space science, told SPACE.com a request issued in mid January for organizations to propose a Pluto-Kuiper Belt Mission is being killed.

"It is NASAs and the administrations intent to cancel the Pluto announcement of opportunity. Before we take that action, we are notifying the Congress of that intended action," Weiler said.

Weiler said two factors sparked the decision: space science budget shortfalls in 2002 and President Bush's focus on Mars exploration.

In-space propulsion

Research dollars are being targeted to develop new in-space propulsion technologies, Weiler said. These technologies could include solar electric, nuclear or other types of propulsion.

"A leap in technology can open up unimaginable opportunities in the future," Weiler said. "I dont want to take any options off the table because I think that would be foolish of us."

"Everything we do in the solar system is basically, you hit the gas pedal as you leave Earth and then you put it in coast all the way, wherever youre going," Weiler said. "Thats a heck of a way to travel."

Money spent now on new propulsion would not only shorten the trip time to Pluto, but travel time to other destinations, such as Saturns enigmatic moon Titan, Weiler said.

Mars: the Bush push

The Bush administration calls for a "more robust" Mars exploration program. Although details of NASAs budget are not to be released until April 3, the presidents space agency budget will add monies to bolster future robotic surveys of the Red Planet.

Weiler said that by increasing Mars funding, "a lot more science is guaranteed to be back on Earth a lot earlier." Extra funding increases the likelihood of getting a sample return back from Mars early next decade, he said.

While space science has its own financial woes, the larger issue of cost overruns in the International Space Station haunts NASA.

The OMB document issued today notes that "recent cost growth on the station is estimated at approximately $1 billion for 2001 and 2002 and $4 billion for the next five years."

NASA chief Daniel Goldin has stated that no space science monies would be used to fund space station cost overruns, Weiler said.

"I can absolutely guarantee you that not only does he (Goldin) talk the talk, he has walked the walk," Weiler said. "My budget has not been touched by space station overruns."