Finally, after spending much of 2010 sparring over the future direction of NASA, Congress approved the space agency's reauthorization bill (pdf) last night. It was not a moment too soon, as the new fiscal year begins tomorrow. Over at Bad Astronomy, Phil Plait documents the reactions of Congressional representatives, and that unsavory feeling of watching the sausage get made in Congress. Here are the basics of the bill, which President Obama is expected to sign. Money The measure covers the next three years, appropriating $19 billion to NASA for 2011 and slightly more over the next two years, adding up to about $58 billion through 2013. Along with the reauthorization bill, the House also passed a continuing resolution to grant NASA the money to get moving. But Congress doesn't reconvene from its current break until after the November elections, and that's when they'll have to pass appropriations to actually get NASA this money. Space Shuttle The program is still going away, and sooner rather than later. The Congressional compromise tacked on one additional shuttle flight to the last two that currently remain. But after that, it's curtains.
With the end of that program, scores of jobs at NASA and its contractors will be lost. In fact, on Oct. 1 nearly 1,400 shuttle workers will be laid off at NASA contractor United Space Alliance – a joint venture by Boeing and Lockheed Martin. [Space.com]
