Looks like my rocket-scientist friends will have some work to do over the next few years. And since JSC is only 10 minutes from this computer (depending on the traffic lights), I bet I know several of the leading figures in this new quest to return to the moon.

NASA handed out assignments for President Bush's lunar human exploration program on Monday, with much of the development work headed as expected for the Johnson Space Center in Houston and the Marshall Space Flight Center in Alabama.

All 10 of the space agency's installations in eight states will be involved in meeting the $104 billion Constellation program's goal of returning American explorers to the moon as early as 2018.

Johnson's responsibilities for directing the development of a new moon ship, called the Crew Exploration Vehicle, as well as for managing much of the work actually carried out at other agency installations, emerged in September as NASA unveiled the blueprint for its lunar transportation system.

The economy of this part of Harris County is driven by NASA and related corporate entities. Some of the older generation at my church still talk about the original Mercury astronauts on a first name basis. There is a couple that talks about some of the astronaut kids hiding out at their home to get away from the news crews in their front yards. One dear lady laments that the custom of NASA wives preparing meals for the families of those in space has fallen by the wayside since the end of the Apollo program.

This area is a company town -- and i'm glad it may stay that way for a little bit longer.

Posted by: Greg at 11:39 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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