Congress questions Bolden about cancellation of Constellation

This just in from Bart Jansen in Washington

Lawmakers are upset NASA is sending letters to contractors asking the cost of canceling contracts under a White House budget proposal yet to be approved.

NASA Administrator Charles Bolden told the House Science Committee that the letters simply sought cost estimates and he wouldn't cancel contracts without congressional approval.

The clash came a day after a Senate hearing where senators also blasted Obama's budget proposal to cancel the Constellation program of returning people to the moon.

Obama proposed spending $6 billion more on NASA during the next five years, but focus instead on extending funding for research at the International Space Station and supporting private industry to ferry people to it.

House Science Chairman Bart Gordon, D-Tenn., said one contractor received a letter Feb. 22 asking for a reply by March 5 about the costs of canceling its contract by April 1, July 1 and Oct. 1.

NASA also disapproved an Ares 1 contract Jan. 23 that lawmakers feared meant development of Ares rockets and the Orion space capsule were already being shut down.

Lawmakers said the letters appeared to contradict spending legislation from last year that prohibited the administration to "cancel, terminate or significantly modify contracts” under the Constellation program until Congress acts again.

"There are many of us who feel that Congress should have an opportunity to respond as a body to this budget proposal by the president and that cancellation of contracts at this stage in the game until Congress has engaged in what our alternative proposals may be is premature," said Rep. Suzanne Kosmas, D-New Smyrna Beach.

Bolden said in a Feb. 12 letter to lawmakers and again in oral testimony that he never intended to cancel contracts "to circumvent these provisions or violate the law." Obama’s budget proposal is for the year starting Oct. 1.