An estimated 1200 employees at NASA are losing their jobs even with Congress passing a $19 billion dollar budget in favor of the agency.
Deputy administrator for NASA, Lori Garver, said the bill is not going to change anything concerning the reduction of workers. Employees received notification of their final deadline to complete paperwork. Many of the soon to be displaced employees began working with the National Administration and Space Agency (NASA) program at its commencement back in the 1980s.
The National Administration and Space Agency Act passed by congress authorized NASA to carry out the President’s new direction concerning the agency. Congress’s approval of the $19 billion bill gives the space agency authority to dispose of George Bush’s plan that included a return to the moon in the year 2020. The new plan under Obama will see the agency send explorers on an asteroid and send explorers to Mars over the next 15 to 20 years.
Republicans and Democrats alike anticipate President Obama will sign the bill into law after passing through Congress. Decisions on appropriations of program dollars are delayed until after elections in November.
The new act will authorize another shuttle launch as well as push forward the shuttle program date from February to June 2011. NASA administrator said that the international space station would be loaded with much needed supplies with the addition of another shuttle launch. The life of the space station now has been extended to 2020.
October 1st, 2010 marked the 52nd anniversary of NASA. It marks the day the space station began seeking to explore the space and beyond.