WASHINGTON The Clinton administration told space supporters late Friday they should put their differences aside to save the civil space agency, but offered no solutions of its own as to how to save NASAs budget numbers, according to sources close to the meeting.

As reported earlier on space.com, the gathering of Washington-based pro-space groups and other supporters of civil space activities was called and chaired by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) in the Old Executive Office Building across the street from the Executive Mansion.

In the 2pm EDT meeting, space supporters were asked to organize a "fight to restore the <FY2000> budget," according to a source that attended the meeting. "But they didnt have anything to say about why this happened and why they didnt increase NASA funding, too," the attendee said.

In fact, no mention was allegedly made of NASAs future prospects in the final two budgets of the Clinton administration, to be submitted next February and shortly before the new President is inaugurated in late January, 2001.

There was no support for any other measures, such as reestablishing the National Space Council or creating a stronger space advocate within the executive branch, sources claimed Friday evening.

"Basically it was write the Congress", space.com was told. The space advocacy groups, such as the National Space Society, and Planetary Society were all calling for restoration of $1 billion in space agency funds cut by the House of Representatives Appropriation committee. [space.com incorrectly reported over the weekend that the Space Frontier Foundation also called for restoration of the cuts]

It will be up to the full House and the Senate to decide on NASAs 2000 budget next September. The various groups are conducting lobbying campaigns to restore the funds and possibly increase next years allocations.