Explore Mars Applauds House Passing of FY 2011 NASA Authorization

For Immediate Release:
Contact: Chris Carberry, Executive Director
Phone: (617) 909-4425
Email: Carberry@exploremars.org



Explore Mars Applauds House for Passing FY 2011 NASA Authorization

Beverly, Massachusetts, October 1, 2010: Explore Mars applauds the House of Representatives for its historic vote to pass S. 3729, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010. The legislation now goes to President Obama, who is expected to sign the bill into law.

In support of human exploration, S. 3729 authorizes the development of a heavy lift launch vehicle and a multi-purpose crew vehicle by the end of 2016. While both are necessary for a meaningful program of human exploration, Explore Mars believes that it is absolutely critical that NASA control both the cost and schedule to develop these vehicles, so that funds are not taken from other programs. It also is essential that NASA develop an exploration plan that will allow for relatively low cost missions beyond low-Earth orbit as soon as possible in order to maintain public and political support for the program. As noted by Joe Webster, political director for Explore Mars, "A program that spends tens of billions of dollars while deferring any human missions for 20 years or more is not a serious program." According to Mr. Webster, "NASA needs to move past business as usual and develop a program that, in partnership with the commercial sector, will quickly start us down the flexible path to Mars."

S. 3729 also fundamentally changes the way NASA does business by authorizing an exciting program where NASA will purchase crew transportation services to low-Earth orbit from commercial providers. This change will allow NASA to focus its efforts on human exploration beyond low-Earth orbit. The legislation specifically notes destinations such as the Moon, near-Earth asteroids, and Mars.

Explore Mars urges NASA to develop a program that will allow a lunar fly-by in 2017, a mission to a near-Earth asteroid by 2020, Mars orbit/Phobos by 2025, and a human landing on Mars by 2030. According to Chris Carberry, Executive Director of Explore Mars, “This Authorization is a step in the right direction. We now need to start building a true exploration program.”


Explore Mars was created to promote science and technology innovation and education with a use for Mars exploration and settlement. Through a series of technology innovation awards, scientific symposiums, Mars analog work, technology demonstrations, and other programs, we provide a platform for scientists and "citizen scientists" to engage in meaningful space exploration research and development in the private sector.


For more information regarding the Explore Mars organization, please visit: ExploreMars.org.

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