Commercial Space Group Calls NASA Bill Good for Business

The Washington, D.C.-based Commercial Spaceflight Federation today praised Congress for passing the NASA Authorization Act that earmarks $1.612 billion for commercial crew and cargo programs, including $612 million in fiscal 2011.

The Commercial Crew Program will enable multiple companies to develop systems for crew transportation to and from the International Space Station.The bill also strengthens the Commercial Reusable Suborbital Research Program with $45 million over three years.

Mark Sirangelo, chairman of the Commercial Spaceflight Federation, said the bill --authored in part by Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla. --represents "a fundamental change in the way NASA does business, leveraging the complementary strengths of NASA and industry. Expanded funding for commercial crew and cargo, technology R&D, and commercial suborbital research will help accelerate the growth of the commercial spaceflight industry like never before.

"In the next decade, the commercial spaceflight industry will open up the space frontier to people from all walks of life -- whether scientists, private astronauts, educators or explorers," Sirangelo said.