 | |
| Program overview | |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Organization | NASA |
| Purpose |
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| Status | Cancelled |
| Program history | |
| Cost | $230 billion (2004) |
| Duration | 2004[1]–2010[2] |
| First flight |
|
| Last flight |
|
| Successes | 2 |
| Launch site(s) | |
| Vehicle information | |
| Crewed vehicle(s) | |
| Launch vehicle(s) | |
| Part of a series on the |
| United States space program |
|---|
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The Constellation program (abbreviated CxP) was a crewed spaceflight program developed by NASA, the space agency of the United States, from 2005 to 2009. The major goals of the program were "completion of the International Space Station" and a "return to the Moon no later than 2020" with a crewed flight to the planet Mars as the ultimate goal. The program's logo reflected the three stages of the program: the Earth (ISS), the Moon, and finally Mars—while the Mars goal also found expression in the name given to the program's booster rockets: Ares (the Greek equivalent of the Roman god Mars).[3][4] The technological aims of the program included the regaining of significant astronaut experience beyond low Earth orbit and the development of technologies necessary to enable sustained human presence on other planetary bodies.[5]
Constellation began in response to the goals laid out in the Vision for Space Exploration under NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe and President George W. Bush.[6][7] O'Keefe's successor, Michael D. Griffin, ordered a complete review, termed the Exploration Systems Architecture Study, which reshaped how NASA would pursue the goals laid out in the Vision for Space Exploration, and its findings were formalized by the NASA Authorization Act of 2005. The Act directed NASA to "develop a sustained human presence on the Moon, including a robust precursor program to promote exploration, science, commerce and US preeminence in space, and as a stepping stone to future exploration of Mars and other destinations."[3] Work began on this revised Constellation Program, to send astronauts first to the International Space Station, then to the Moon, and then to Mars and beyond.[4]
Subsequent to the findings of the Augustine Committee in 2009 that the Constellation Program could not be executed without substantial increases in funding, on February 1, 2010, President Barack Obama proposed to cancel the program, effective with the passage of the U.S. 2011 fiscal year budget.[8][9][10][11] He then revised administration statements in a major space policy speech at Kennedy Space Center on April 15, 2010.[12] On October 11, the signing of the NASA Authorization Act of 2010 shelved the program,[13] with Constellation contracts remaining in place until Congress would act to overturn the previous mandate.[14][15] In 2011, NASA adopted the design of its new Space Launch System.[16]
- ^ "A Renewed Spirit of Discovery". NASA Constellation Program Office. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
- ^ Tariq Malik (February 2, 2010). "NASA grieves over canceled program". NBC News. Retrieved May 6, 2023.
- ^ a b Connolly, John F. (October 2006). "Constellation Program Overview" (PDF). NASA Constellation Program Office. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 10, 2007. Retrieved October 23, 2014.
- ^ a b "Constellation News and Media Archive". June 15, 2011. Archived from the original on July 11, 2007. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
- ^ Connolly, John F. (October 2006). "Constellation Program Overview" (PDF). Constellation Program Office. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 10, 2007. Retrieved July 6, 2009.
- ^ "Taking the Vision to the Next Step". NASA. October 5, 2004. Archived from the original on November 1, 2004. Retrieved August 16, 2011.
- ^ "Administrator O'Keefe's House Testimony". NASA. April 21, 2004. Archived from the original on August 26, 2004. Retrieved August 16, 2011.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
BBC cancels Moon returnwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Cite error: The named reference
FY2011_budgetwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Cite error: The named reference
WashPost eliminates fundswas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Fiscal Year 2011 Budget Estimates" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on February 1, 2010. Retrieved March 7, 2010.
- ^ "Press Release: Remarks of President Barack Obama at the Kennedy Space Center - As Prepared for Delivery". ucsb.edu. April 15, 2010. Retrieved May 6, 2023.
- ^ "Obama signs Nasa up to new future". BBC News. October 11, 2010.
- ^ Testimony of Charles Bolden before the Senate Appropriations subcommittee, April 11, 2011
- ^ "NASA Stuck in Limbo as New Congress Takes Over". Space.com, January 7, 2011.
- ^ "NASA Announces Design For New Deep Space Exploration System". NASA. September 14, 2011. Archived from the original on September 21, 2011. Retrieved September 14, 2011.