NASA cuts could be mixed news for N.M.

WASHINGTON (KRQE) – The Obama administration said it wants to cancel the Constellation program to replace the space shuttle and hand over development to private industry, and that could be mixed news for southern New Mexico.

NASA just a few months ago hauled the Orion capsule developed under the program to White Sands Missile Range near Las Cruces. Scientists planned to launch the capsule over the missile range to test its escape system.

But the program is years behind schedule, billions of dollars over budget and unlikely to succeed without massive funding increases, a study panel said. The space agency has spent $9 billion on Constellation so far.

NASA administrator Charlie Bolden agreed with the findings. "The truth is that we were not on a path to get back to the Moon's surface," he said.

Bolden said NASA plans a smooth shutdown of the Constellation program.

Meanwhile, NASA employees at White Sands said they're awaiting guidance from headquarters about the program's future, but for now still plan to conduct a test launch this spring.

Members of Congress from states with many space jobs have vowed a fight to keep Constellation alive.

But NASA's cuts could be the commercial space industry's gains. If the program is cut, it would mean more funding to commercial industry — and possibly more launches from Spaceport America in southern New Mexico.

The spaceport is scheduled to open its new runway and terminal next year.