The US Senate has passed the new NASA Authorization Bill by unanimous consent Thursday evening, a move that could result in a major boost to NASA.
The Bill proposes a $2.6 billion increase in next year’s NASA budget, directs the Agency to cease shuttle retirement activities until April 30, 2009 – pending the extension assessment study’s results, to fully evaluate STS-134’s AMS mission, while adding $1 billion to Constellation’s Ares and Orion development.