As approved Thursday, the NASA authorization bill would allocate $1.3 billion for commercial crew spaceships over the next three years, according to a statement released by committee member Bill Nelson, D-Fla. The rest of the $6 billion could be paid out over the 2014-2016 fiscal years.
Nelson chairs Commerce's space subcommittee and represents the state that is home to NASA's space shuttle launch site. He said the shifts in funding were aimed at balancing support for private-sector and public-sector spaceflight.
"The goal was to preserve U.S. leadership in space exploration and keep as much of the rocket-industry talent as possible employed," Nelson said.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38267623/ns/technology_and_science-space/