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Preliminary information coming out of the Augustine Commission on U.S. Human Space Flight indicates that if our nation’s space program proceeds on its current trajectory the U.S. would have a seven year human space flight gap – much larger than originally projected. The Commission’s report offers eight scenarios detailing the different directions the Administration could take with regard to the America’s Space Program.

“A seven year space gap is unacceptable to me and, I believe, to our nation. This would cripple our nation’s space program and our space industry, slow down technological advancements and further erode job growth in key sectors of our economy,” said Congressman Bill Posey who worked on the Apollo Moon Missions as a young man. “It is totally unacceptable. Having a national human space flight program not only has the tangible benefits of helping us keep our competitive advantage and lead the world technologically, but it has the intangible benefit of inspiring our nation’s students and future generations of Americans to go into the sciences and seek discovery. Nothing can replace that.”

“Unfortunately, the Augustine Panel was hamstrung by having their recommendations confined by the current five-year flat-lined budget. If NASA’s budget remains flat-lined, as set forth in the Administration’s five year plan, the space gap will grow to seven years. Restoring NASA’s budget to a funding level that is more in line with its historical level of funding will enable our nation to close the gap and lead the world in space.”

In 2007, at $16.8 billion, NASA’s budget represented 0.61% of the federal budget. For 2009, at $18.2 billion in a $3.6 trillion budget, NASA accounts for only 0.51% of the federal budget. The Administration essentially flat-lines NASA’s budget through 2014, setting spending at $18.6 trillion in 2014, which would represent a further erosion of NASA’s budget to 0.46% of the federal budget.

Last April Posey introduced bipartisan legislation, the American Space Access Act, which closes the manned space flight gap by extending the life of the space shuttle beyond 2010 and accelerating production of NASA’s next generation launch vehicle through the Constellation program. The bill also authorizes the additional funds that are needed to close the gap.