"NASA science is fundamental to the Vision for Space Exploration," said J. Craig Wheeler, the AAS president, in a statement. "By introducing this amendment, Senators Hutchison and Mikulski are trying to ensure that NASA can accomplish all of the missions the American people expect from their space agency."

Kevin Marvel, the association's executive officer, added: "Emergency appropriations should be used by Congress to offset unexpected additional costs, like those incurred by NASA in recovering from the shuttle Challenger and Columbia disasters."

Marvel noted that extra money was made available when the Challenger accident took place in 1986. "Senators Hutchison and Mikulski have rightly decided that additional funds should be provided to NASA to cover the costs caused by the Columbia disaster and hurricane Katrina."

The AAS statement:

The American Astronomical Society congratulates NASA on its recent successful return to flight of the space shuttle; however, return to flight has been a substantial unexpected expense.

NASA faces significant outstanding fiscal challenges that include maintaining the shuttle, completing the International Space Station, and fulfilling the Vision for Space Exploration. The AAS believes that meeting these challenges should not diminish the high quality science that NASA undertakes on behalf of the American taxpayer.

The AAS commends Senators Mikulski and Hutchison for their leadership in proposing an emergency supplement to NASA's (fiscal year 2007) appropriations that will help to compensate for the unexpected expenses associated with the shuttle Columbia accident and damage to NASA facilities caused by Hurricane Katrina.

This emergency funding request will alleviate severe cuts to NASA's space science program that are being taken to fully fund the space shuttle and the ISS - costs for which there was never an adequate budget. The AAS pledges to work with Senators Mikulski and Hutchison along with their colleagues in the Congress to ensure the long-term health of NASA.

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