NASA 2011 budget proposal pending Congress approval

[Gravity_Ray]

Johnson Space Center Houston
Oversee commercial cargo program to resupply ISS, Also develop the inflatable hab’s, and in-orbit spacecraft refueling needed for Mars missions. 6.5 Billion Over the next 5 years.

Marshall Space Flight Center
Develop heavy-lift rocket propulsion with a 3.1 Billion program over next 5 years. Developing on orbit assembly of larger complex spacecraft. New advanced propulsion technology to shorten transit time. New technology to shield humans during long duration in space travel. New technology to land two-story space craft right next to another two-story space craft that was sent ahead.

KSC
1,000 Constellation job losses (I am really not sorry to see this white elephant disappear though, talk about a welfare program). But 6.3 Billion Over the next 5 years to develop new private sector launch industry, and another 1.9 Billion over 5 years to upgrade and modernizer the launch infrastructure (badly needed there).

 

[starfhury]

The changes for KSC could be very interesting if played out properly. KSC could really become a big commercial space port for sub orbital flights. With the new space port in New Mexico coming online soon, it brings up possibilities. Imagine getting on a suborbital, boosting out from new mexico flying over the gulf of mexico and then landing in Florida or vice versa. Just make a slightly bigger SS2 and add some small cargo carrying capacity. Now that's a thrill ride right there. Does SS2 have the possibility of gliding from 61 miles up the 1600 miles from NM to FL? I can see commercial companies taking advantage of this.