Obama Defends Policy at Kennedy Space Center

President Barack Obama spoke at the Kennedy Space Center earlier today, outlining his plans for America’s future in space and defending his decision to end NASA’s Constellation program in favor of commercial alternatives.

The President broke no new ground in his address, largely reiterating a policy that was rolled out in February and refined over the last two months. He said he is strongly supportive of the space program, pointing out the $6 billion increase that he had proposed for NASA over the next five years.

“So let me start by being extremely clear: I am 100 percent committed to the mission of NASA and its future,” Obama said. “Because broadening our capabilities in space will continue to serve our society in ways that we can scarcely imagine. Because exploration will once more inspire wonder in a new generation — sparking passions and launching careers. And because, ultimately, if we fail to press forward in the pursuit of discovery, we are ceding our future and we are ceding that essential element of the American character.”

Obama said he expects to see Americans travel to near Earth asteroids and return on the moon within his lifetime. These flights could be done by 2025, which is five years beyond the previous target date. Ultimately, humans would travel on to Mars.

The cancellation of the Constellation program has caused dismay and outrage in parts of the country heavily dependent upon NASA spending. This is especially true in Florida’s Space Coast, which is facing the end of the shuttle program within the next year. There has been strong opposition from the Congressional delegation of the Sunshine State as well as those from Texas, Alabama, Utah and Colorado.

Opponents of the plan have raised concerns about the safety of turning over human spaceflight to commercial operators, a point the President addressed directly.

“Now, I recognize that some have said it is unfeasible or unwise to work with the private sector in this way,” Obama said. “I disagree. The truth is, NASA has always relied on private industry to help design and build the vehicles that carry astronauts to space, from the Mercury capsule that carried John Glenn into orbit nearly 50 years ago, to the space shuttle Discovery currently orbiting overhead. By buying the services of space transportation — rather than the vehicles themselves — we can continue to ensure rigorous safety standards are met. But we will also accelerate the pace of innovations as companies — from young startups to established leaders — compete to design and build and launch new means of carrying people and materials out of our atmosphere.”

Obama said the new plan would allow America to field a new spacecraft and launch system faster than the problem-plagued and budget-challenged Constellation program, whose Ares rockets are running far behind schedule.

In an effort to bolster support for the plan, the Obama Administration announced a compromise earlier this week in which part of the Constellation program would be saved. The Orion crew vehicle, slated for cancellation, would be adapted as an escape system for the International Space Station. This would maintain jobs on the program and given an opportunity for its prime contractor, Lockheed Martin, to bid on contracts under NASA’s $6 billion Commercial Crew Development initiative.

The President also reiterated the administration’s support for a sped up heavy lift vehicle. NASA would spend about $3 billion over the next five years studying advanced technologies and refining the design before deciding what to build.

“Critical to deep space exploration will be the development of breakthrough propulsion systems and other advanced technologies. So I’m challenging NASA to break through these barriers. And we’ll give you the resources to break through these barriers. And I know you will, with ingenuity and intensity, because that’s what you’ve always done,” the President said.

Obama flew to Florida on Air Force One with astronaut Buzz Aldrin, who has been a big supporter of the new direction. This is in sharp contrast to his Apollo 11 crew mate Neil Armstrong, who this week released a letter co-signed by Apollo commanders Jim Lovell and Eugene Cernan saying the policy abandons U.S. leadership in space. The split reflects deep divisions among astronauts over the wisdom of the new approach.