Senators discuss bill that would reset spaceflight goals

A U.S. Senate committe expected to approve legislation that would reset NASA's priorities in the coming years has just begun in Washington, D.C.

You can link to a live Webcast here of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee executive session, which will mark up a draft NASA Authorization Act of 2010.

Two members of the committee have hailed the compromise bill as a bi-partisan "breakthrough," and plan to hold a press conference at 11:45 a.m.

"I am so pleased with the bill that is coming out of the committee today," said Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison of Texas, the committee's ranking Republican, said this morning.

The reauthorization act, seting policy for the next three years, would accelerate development of a heavy-lift rocket and fund development of commercial crew taxis, and officially steer the agency from the Constellation program to return to the moon.

Once approved, the bill will be forwarded to Senate appropriators.