Listen Live: Last Augustine Hearing On Tap Today

A presidential panel reviewing options for the future of U.S. human space flight will hold a final public hearing today -- a teleconference during which interested people will be in a "listen only" mode.

Only 300 dial-up lines will be available, but you can listen live here in The Flame Trench. From 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. today, you can click HERE to access live NASA audio coverage of the hearing. A link to the streaming audio will appear before the beginning of the event.

The only agenda item will be to score options presented in this 12-page summary report, which was released Sept. 8 to the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.

The commission says NASA will need an additional $3 billion annually to support a viable human spaceflight program. Recommendations range from continuing the existing plan to develop Constellation program rockets to extending the space shuttle to relying on commercial vehicles.

Members stressed that they are offering options to President Obama and NASA, not making formal recommendations.

The group's final report is expected to be delivered to the White House before the end of the month.

Click HERE for more information on the Review of U.S. Human Space Flight Plans Committee.

Here's the full NASA press release on the teleconference today:

AUGUSTINE SPACE FLIGHT COMMITTEE ANNOUNCES ADDITIONAL MEETING

WASHINGTON -- The Review of U.S. Human Space Flight Plans Committee will hold a public teleconference on Thursday, Oct. 8, from approximately 1 to 2 p.m. EDT.

The only topic for discussion will be finalization of scoring of options the committee presented in their summary report on Sept. 8.

This meeting will be held by teleconference only. The teleconference will be open to the public. The service limit is approximately 300 dial-in callers. Public participants will be in a listen-only mode.

The following numbers are available to hear the teleconference:

++Toll-free number: 1-888-373-5705.

++Other number: 1-719-457-3840.

Participant Passcode: 190078.

The meeting must be held on this date for the committee's final report to support the time frame associated with the federal budget process.

For this reason, it is not possible to accommodate the usual full public notice period. A notice in the Federal Register is expected to appear on or about Oct. 6.

For committee information, charter, biographies and other data, visit the Augustine Committee website.