SPACE.com -- OKeefe Says OSP Plan Consistent With 2004 Budget Request

Four concepts for the Orbital Space Plane (OSP) design released by NASA.

Orbital Sciences Corporation and Northrop Grumman are teamed to address NASA needs for an Orbital Space Plane. CREDIT: Orbital Sciences

Boeing engineers are designing the Orbital Space Plane (OSP) for NASA. The company is one of three contractor teams developing proposals for the OSP which includes the spacecraft, ground operations and all supporting technologies needed to conduct missions to and from the International Space Station. CREDIT: Boeing

Artist concept of a cutaway view of the X-37 showing its components. The X-37 launch vehicle experimental demonstrator will operate in both the orbital and reentry phases of flight. This unpiloted Boeing-built ship could help in designing the Orbital Space Plane by flying and verifying certain technologies. CREDIT: NASA/Marshall

House Committee Urges NASA To Halt Work on Orbital Space Plane

Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin to Collaborate on Orbital Space Plane

Debate Intensifies for Simple Vs. Advanced OSP Design

Goals For the Next Century: To The Moon, Mars and Beyond


	OKeefe Says OSP Plan Consistent With 2004 Budget Request By Jason Bates Space News Staff Writer posted: 04:20 pm ET 29 October 2003

Untitled

WASHINGTON -- NASAs schedule for the Orbital Space Plane does not move the program out ahead of the ongoing inter-agency space review being led by the White House, the agencys administrator Sean OKeefe said Oct. 29 in response to recent Congressional concerns about the program.

In an Oct. 21 letter, the leadership of the House Science Committee, the Congressional panel that authorizes NASA programs, said it wanted the agency to halt work on the Orbital Space Plane until the White House, Congress and NASA agree on the direction the human spaceflight program should take beyond the international space station.

"Without such consensus on a shared vision, progress on all of these steps will stall and public support for the nations civilian space program will inevitably founder," the letter, signed by Rep. Sherwood Boehlert (R-New York), the chairman of the committee, and Rep. Ralph Hall (Texas), the ranking Democrat, said.

In testimony before the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee Oct. 29, OKeefe said the plan we have developed is consistent with what is included in the presidents budget request for 2004. We are not ahead [of the interagency review] and we are not planning to move ahead.

The Orbital Space Plane, billed as the nations next space vehicle, would be launched atop an expendable rocket and ferry astronaut crews to and from the international space station. Plans call for fielding an early space station crew rescue version of the vehicle by 2010, but NASA is considering moving up that schedule by two years.

Northrop Grumman, Boeing and Lockheed Martin were awarded contracts to design versions of the Orbital Space Plane. Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin announced in September that they would combine their efforts. NASA officials hope to award the prime contract in mid-2004.

Sen. Ernest Hollings (D-S.C.), suggested that the president should appoint a commission to help set a vision and plan for NASAs future in human spaceflight that included Harold Gehman, chairman of the Columbia Accident Investigation Board, and several of the boards members.

Gehman said he was supportive of any measure that would spark debate on the future of NASA and included all branches of government, plus scientists and engineers. One of the goals of the Columbia board included changing the way NASA does business, and causing a national debate on the lack of an agreed upon national vision of what the United States wants to do in space, he said.

NASAs 2004 budget request also lays out a clear mission for the agency and the steps needed to reach its goals, OKeefe said. The agencys three primary focus areas, all designed to improve technology needed for long-term human space travel, are developing new power and propulsion systems, understanding and expanding the capability for humans to survive in space for long periods, and developing improved communications needed, he said.

OKeefe said NASAs response to the House Science Committees letter would be delivered before the end of the day Oct. 29.

	New Galapagos Expedition Offers Lindblad Expeditions Explore the Galapagos and save up to 25% off select departure dates www.Expeditions.com

	BP There’s energy security in energy diversity.

	One-stop destination for the lowest domestic airfares Search all airlines, including Southwest now!

	HP ProLiant Servers The HP portfolio of servers-leading technology that respects the bottom line. Powerful ProLiant technology at a price that's worth a second look.