WASHINGTON, March 15 (States News Service) Congressional lawmakers said they were doubtful NASAs "great budget" for next year could be realized due to a GOP plan to reduce government spending.
The chair of the House Appropriations VA-HUD Subcommittee, Rep. James Walsh, (R-New York), told NASA Administrator Dan Goldin he was "not very optimistic" that NASA would see all of the $14 billion requested -- a 3.2 percent increase over this years budget.
The panel cited a Republican plan to lower spending on all programs but defense below this years levels as the reason.
"I dont see how there could much of an increase in appropriations for NASA," said Alan Mollohan, (D-West Virginia), who opposes the GOP resolution.
Nevertheless, Goldin, who repeatedly addressed NASAs recent failures and said the agency was reshaping its "faster, better, cheaper" creed, received a vote of confidence from Walsh. The chairman said Goldins willingness to accept failure was "absolutely the right view" and offered his support.
When asked what program would be cut first if NASAs budget remained flat, Goldin answered it would be the agencys $4 million plan to develop reusable launch vehicles for a replacement of the shuttle.
While Goldin said it was "essential" to spur private sector involvement in space launches, "if we get this budget cut, we are going to lose it (the program) at least for next year."
Goldin offered an ambivalent pledge to make changes in NASAs "faster, better, cheaper" management strategy, a topic addressed by studies released this week, and another published at the end of March.
While Goldin said he would offer no apologies for "pushing the limits," he said he had not adequately defined the philosophy of "faster, better, cheaper" to employees, and may have let projects have too much freedom.
"I probably pressed too hard on [the strategy of doing more with less]," he said. "And now we need to pull back."
He said under NASA Chief Engineer Brian Keegan, the agency would mull over the recent reports recommendations, and come out with an action plan for the entire agency by mid-summer.
Sweeping through next years budget, Goldin sought to defuse the panels disappointment with Russias delays in delivering a service module to the International Space Station (ISS). Goldin said that while Russia is suffering delays, that when it actually sells goods to the U.S., "their performance has been outstanding."
"We are on or ahead of schedule for every single [ISS] component," Goldin said.
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