Virginia Says 'YES' to NASA Commercial Plan

The Virginia General Assembly, bucking recent political trends in the more traditional space states, has passed resolutions in the House of Delegates and the Senate affirming support for the NASA FY 11 budget submitted by the White House and backed by NASA Administrator Charles Bolden.

New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson has also endorsed the NASA FY 2011 budget proposal that embraces the commercial launch vehicle development option for the space agency as opposed to large government operated space launch vehicles.

The Alabama legislature was first to act by calling upon President Obama to reconsider cancellation of the Constellation program. The Alabama, Florida, Texas, and Utah Congressional delegations in Washington have been among the most vocal critics of the presidential NASA budget that brings some $6-billion dollars to bear for commercial cargo space launches.