Source: Denver Post
Colorado’s two U.S. senators today urged NASA Administrator Charles Bolden to re-evaluate the proposed cancellation of the Constellation program.
The plea by Sens. Mark Udall and Michael Bennet was delivered in a face-to-face meeting with Bolden in Washington as the National Space Symposium began here. The two also presented a letter stating their concerns for Bolden to give to President Barack Obama.
Udall described himself as “guardedly optimistic” by Bolden’s comments that he is committed to human spaceflight and to being flexible in working with Congress as the $19 billion NASA budget is debated.
Colorado could stand to lose several thousand jobs and an estimated $300 million in revenues annually if the Constellation program — which aims to return humans to the moon and beyond — is canceled as proposed by Obama in his fiscal year 2011 budget, according to a recent economic development study.
Lockheed Martin Space Systems based in south Jefferson County is the prime contractor for the Orion crew vehicle, a key Constellation component.
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