An earlier vote in the House had proposed a $55 million cut to NASA's $130 million New Frontiers budget for 2004. Almost all of that money was targeted for the New Horizons mission to Pluto and the Kuiper Belt, slated for launch in 2006.

New Horizons officials and outside analysts had told SPACE.com that such a cut would delay the mission and reduce its science accomplishments at the least -- and might jeopardize the project entirely.

The $200 million cut to the space station budget was justified based on recent changes to operations in the wake of the Columbia shuttle disaster.

"With the current situation aboard the station of a reduced crew and Russians supplying vehicles for crew and cargo transfer, there are other pressing needs within NASA and the bill for funds," the committee said in a statement. "At this time, NASA is unsure as to when the ISS will be operating with a crew of three, it may only be for a few more months or it could be longer than a year. The ISS has reserves of over $250 million and should be able to cover this modest reduction."

The bill also contains a cut of $20 million to the Jupiter Icy Moons Orbiter. This mission would use electric propulsion powered by a nuclear fission reactor and would showcase several forward-thinking technologies. Its launch is planned for no earlier than 2011.

"This reduction corresponds to a similar amount funded into the program last year, but that was not requested," the committee said.

The bill contains $50 million in additional funds for aeronautics research at NASA. Minor adjustments were made to other programs, but there are no major cuts or terminations to any other space programs or missions.

The total budget for the space agency in 2004 would be $15.3 billion. President Bush's original proposal in February called for $15.5 billion to go into the space program.