NASA Administrator says 50 year mission is on track

NASA says it will continue its leadership in space exploration, despite how they get people there is currently unknown. “The question is not if we’re going to explore, but how we’ll do it.” said NASA Administrator Charles Bolden recently in a speech at the National Press Club Friday.

Commercial space partners are the route NASA seems to be going with. Plans to upgrade facilities at Kennedy Space Center in Florida for commercial use are under way. Until the commercial space programs are ready and can safely transport cargo and crew to the International Space Station (I.S.S.), American astronauts will have to be transported with the help of the Russians and their Soyuz rockets.

In the meantime NASA will be developing a heavy lift rocket that will be capable of reaching places like asteroids and Mars. In laying out NASA’s future, President Barack Obama and Congress disagree what NASA’s priorities are. Obama wants to emphasize on commercial rockets, and Congress wants NASA to emphasize the development of the heavy lift rocket.

Bolden disputed with members of Congress claiming that utilizing the commercial sector is just what NASA needs to dedicate resources to developing their heavy lift rocket. “The station is the pinnacle of our current achievement, a stepping-stone to the rest of the solar system and the tip of what comes next.” he stated.

Mark Kelly, the Commander of Space Shuttle Endeavour’s final mission, and husband of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (R-Ariz), was in attendance at Friday’s speech. He went on record that he has no plans to run for public office in October when he retires from NASA, despite rumors that have been circulating.

NASA Administrator Charles Bolden gets emotional when speaking at the National Press Club on Friday.

The Commander of Space Shuttle Endeavour's final mission, Mark Kelly, addresses the National Press Club on Friday.

Crew Readies for Final Shuttle Mission and Bolden Speaks at Ntl. Press Club on This Week @NASA