The Augustine Commission (Click photo to enlarge)

While in Huntsville, the Commission heard from MSFC Director Robert Lightfoot and Ares program managers and directors about the system’s development. Approximately $3 billion has been spent to date developing Ares I plans, prototypes, simulators, hardware and testing equipment and ground support facilities. (click here to see a video of Ares I progress.)

Despite significant progress on Ares I, several commissioners seemed inclined to abandon the new vehicle in favor of extending the space shuttle and focusing more resources on extending the space station.

In a letter supplied to the Commission, senior Alabama U.S. Senator Richard Shelby said “…NASA will achieve less as it fights internal battles over what direction it should take… History shows that when the nation has provided the necessary resources and called upon the people of Alabama to deliver humans to space, they have delivered.”

Funding concerns were reinforced by Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle who spoke to the Commission saying, “We have to ensure that NASA has the resources to do the jobs it is given… it clearly becomes a two-fold question of not only finding the best technical way to meet those goals, but a will of this country to dedicate the resources to do the job. I am confident the men and women of Huntsville, Alabama can continue to pioneer space exploration.”

Echoing the concerns of the local business community, Shar Hendrick, vice chairman of the Tennessee Valley NASA Advocacy Council (TVNAC) said “The TVNAC strongly endorses the NASA Constellation program, in particular the current launch system architecture.”

The Chamber agrees that the current plans to build the Ares I and Ares V launch vehicles represent the most prudent architecture to replace the Shuttle. Unless additional funding is made available, extending the Shuttle program does not appear to be in the best interest of the national space efforts.

The Commission is slated to make its recommendations by the end of August.