(NASA’s Vehicle Assembly Building – Photo Credit: NASA)
The House of Representatives has passed the 2015 funding bill for Commerce, Justice, Science and related agencies.
With a vote of 321-87, NASA is set to receive a modest budget increase as the American space agency has been approved of a new budget of $17.9 billion for 2015.
This is $250 million higher than its 2014 budget and $435 million above what the President requested for the agency.
This bill includes a $785 million contribution towards NASA’s Commercial Crew Program.
The Planetary Science Division of NASA is also set to receive a very strong $1.45 billion budget for next year which is nearly $185 million above the budget proposed by the President. It is also very close to The Planetary Society’s goal of receiving $1.5 billion per year.
The increase is welcome news to NASA as it was speculated that the agency would actually face budget cuts.
Although this is only a tiny 3% increase on the agency’s entire budget, the new bill and the new funds will enable NASA to continue financing their top priorities, such as their planned deep-space missions to take astronauts to Mars. It will also help the agency launch the powerful James Webb Space Telescope which is set for liftoff in 2018.
Many have mixed opinions on the topic, but the new bill will provide valuable funding that will go a long way for the very intelligent people at NASA considering the recent challenges facing the agency.
The money isn’t in NASA’s hands yet, the Senate has to release details about its own proposed NASA budget for 2015, however a first draft is expected next week.
Also, the full Senate must pass its own version of the budget which will then be reconciled and approved with the House.
There is still a way to go before this increased budget is confirmed, but so far it seems it will be good news for NASA, Planetary Science and all of the agency’s divisions.
[This is a developing news story, please expect updates and corrections as more facts and information emerges]
The Solar System & Beyond 
A story about the US Congress that is “good news”? Funding approved? This ought to be on world-wide Front Pages!
I know! Its only appeared in a handful on publications so far. I suspect once the bill has been fully passed, the story will rise in popularity. I think some news organisations don’t wish to comment on it before its been 100% confirmed, however the new budget shouldnt fail at this stage.