CompTIA, the Computing Technology Industry Association, today joined other industry leaders in supporting the 2016 NASA Transition Authorization Act (S. 3346). Several Senators made note that the authorized funding level for science programs in this bill is lower than proposed appropriations levels for FY 2017, and the Coalition remains supportive of full funding for NASA’s science missions.
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Members of the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee passed a bipartisan bill authorizing $19.5 billion to continue work on a Mars mission and efforts to send astronauts on private rockets to the International Space Station from USA soil – regardless of shifting political winds.
With a couple of months left before the next United States president takes office, the Senate takes action to ensure that existing space programs continue regardless of who will be running the administration.
The bill requires NASA to develop and submit a plan to Congress on a strategic framework and critical decision plan, based on current technologies, to achieve the exploration goals and objectives of a human mission to Mars. Not just that, even the eight-month journey to Mars is so rife with risks that NASA, which sent manned missions to Moon almost 50 years ago, is yet to send a human to Mars. That bill, co-authored by Nelson and former Sen.
The legislation would authorize money for different NASA components, including $4.5 billion for exploration, almost $5 billion for space operations and $5.4 billion for science. Nelson says this bill marks the beginning of a new era of American spaceflight.
“Fifty-five years after President Kennedy challenged the nation to put a man on the moon, the Senate is challenging NASA to put humans on Mars”, said Florida senator Bill Nelson.
The bill does not order NASA to scrap its controversial plan to send astronauts to an asteroid and collect samples by 2021.
The bill also funds continued development of an American-made rocket to once again send American astronauts to and from the International Space Station without having to rely on Russian Federation.
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Other parts of the bill include the instruction that NASA ensure the safety of the astronauts by developing a space suit that can withstand whatever Mars has instore for them.
