Houston, TX

NASA has just awarded a contract to The Boeing Company, in Huntsville, Alabama to construct the new Ares series of rockets. The Ares I rockets will shuttle astronauts to the International Space Station, and is also intended to carry astronauts back to the moon for more research. Big projects such as these are possible in part from federal funding, which is a priority in Washington right now say politicians.

At his Congress @ Your Corner, Nick Lampson expressed a desire to provide additional funding to NASA. This is a popular thing to say in Clear Lake, where a large number of NASA employees reside. However, it is a consistent message from a variety of politicians. In 2006, the President’s budget allocated $724.4 million.

According to NASA Administrator’s Statement About FY 2007 Budget

NASA’s budget is roughly 0.7 percent of the overall federal budget. …. operating 56 space missions with an annual budget of over $5.3 billion per year.

However, NASA isn’t the only industry in H-town.

What industry do you think the federal Government should also focuses on assisting and building in our town?

NASA, NASA budget, NASA funding, Ares I rockets, International Space Station