More budget funds given to NASA for space exploration, climate research
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2009-02-27

WASHINGTON, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Barack Obama on Thursday announced his overall budget request for the fiscal year 2010 that starts Oct. 1, which gives more money to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for space exploration and climate change research.

It gives the U.S. space agency 18.7 billion U.S. dollars, a rise of 2.4 billion dollars over 2008 when 1 billion dollars from the economic stimulus package is included. It will also fund NASA's robust program of space exploration involving humans and robots.

"NASA will return humans to the Moon while also supporting a vigorous program of robotic exploration of the solar system and universe," the budget reads.

According to the budget, NASA will also get money for the safe flight of the Space Shuttle through the vehicle's retirement at the end of 2010. An additional flight will be conducted if it can be completed safely before the end of 2010.

The budget will also fund NASA's program of space-based research that supports the agency's commitment to deploy a global climate change research and monitoring system, a major change from previous years.

Acting NASA Administrator Christopher Scolese called the proposal "fiscally responsible" in a statement, saying it will "ensures NASA maintains its global leadership in Earth and space research."


Editor: Wang Hongjiang