Senate To NASA: Build Us A Big Rocket; It's The Law!

NASA cannot build a heavy-lift rocket and crew exploration vehicle under the cost, schedule and engineering constraints imposed last fall by Congress, the agency said in a report this week.

Legislators had a curt response: Tough luck. Buck up and get on with it.

"The production of a heavy-lift rocket and capsule is not optional. It's the law," U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Orlando, and three other members of the Senate Commerce Committee said Wednesday evening in a joint statement.

The tussle erupted after NASA gave Congress a report that says the agency cannot field a new supersized rocket and astronaut spaceship by a target date of Dec. 31, 2016 -- at least not under conditions levied by legislators.

Read all about it HERE

For the full report, click HERE