NASA chief welcomes 2015 budget allocation

NASA Administrator Charles Bolden has welcomed President Obama Administration’s budget allocation for the 2015 fiscal year.“The president’s funding plan for America’s space programme reaffirms the path we are on, and will keep us moving forward – pushing farther in the solar system and leading the world in a new era of exploration.“Through NASA’s work at all of our centres, our nation is recognized for scientific and technological leadership and knowledge-sharing that improves lives all around the world.”Over the past six years, the Obama Administration has invested more than $100 Billion in America’s space programme, including the $17.5 Billion that is part of this year’s budget.The president’s budget, once again, affirms the bi-partisan strategic exploration plan agreed to with the Congress in 2010. It keeps us moving toward the missions and breakthroughs of tomorrow even as it enables the tangible successes of today, he said.NASA plans to send humans to planet Mars in 2030. “This budget keeps NASA’s deep space exploration programme on track by funding the Space Launch System (SLS) and Orion crew vehicle to take American astronauts farther into the solar system than we have ever gone before. “Our stepping stone approach to sending humans to Mars involves continued research on the space station, testing our new capabilities beyond the moon, exploring an asteroid and ultimately sending a crewed mission to the Red Planet,” he said.