Facts

With a sizable chunk of the federal budget going to NASA spending - but not enough to please every astronomer on Cape Canaveral - debates loom in and around DC on what's the best use of our space money.

What NASA's spending its money on (out of a total budget of $16 billion in 2005) (NASA - pdf)

Space Station and Shuttle: $6.7 billion

"Science" (studies and exploration to understand the solar system and universe more using traditional satellites, telescopes, exploration probes, etc.): $5.5 billion

"Exploration Systems" (researching and developing technology for future exploration, particularly getting humans farther afield and using new power sources): $2.7 billion

"Aeronautics research" (good old fashioned planes technology): $0.9 billion

Education: $0.2 billion

for past budgets see NASA.

NASA's space plans

According to a NYT editorial
(Dec. 2005), NASA will continue to run the space shuttle for 19 trips (18 to the space station and 1 to the Hubble telescope), while building the shuttle's replacement, a "crew exploration vehicle," that will be finished in 2012 and will start taking astronauts to the moon in 2018. But, as the Times points out, those plans could be tripped up if Congress doesn't vote to fund them in the 2007 budget.

Where the facts are from:

• NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration - government site

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