Small Glimmer of Hope for NASA in Houston

HOUSTON - We don't truly appreciate what we have until it's gone, and that may be the case for NASA.

The federal agency's space shuttle program was set to retire in September. That was bad enough. But on top of that, the Obama administration cancelled the Constellation Program in the 2011 federal budget. Constellation was set to replace the shuttle with new ships and human space flights.

Bob Mitchell with the Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership says, "I will tell you that was an absolute shock to the NASA community."

But there is a small, a very small glimmer of hope for NASA workers in a federal audit. The Office of Inspector General says because of the time it takes NASA to carry out a shuttle flight, the program won't end in September with its fourth and final flight. At a cost of $200 million a month, the program will likely take until February 2011 to wind down.

"Well it's good news in that we indirectly will be keeping the program alive, we'll keep people employed and the program goes forward,” says Houston City Councilman Mike Sullivan.

Sullivan also says it a brief reprieve for clear lake residents who rely on NASA. But he says the fight to reinstate NASA to a full fledged manned space flight operation is not over.

Sullivan says, "What we're looking for is a commitment from the current administration, President Obama, to extend the life of the program and let us go on with long term plans."

Many will admit NASA has done a poor job proving its value to the American public. Some are asking what has the agency done to deserve nearly $20 billion in funding every year?

"From the medical devices, fetal monitors for babies, to Lasik surgeries, MRI's, cell phones, the gps,” says Mitchell.

Mitchell says if you don't think technology is important -- what about your security? Mitchell says that alone is reason why congress should reinstate the constellation program. He says keeping the shuttle program a few more months is just a temporary fix.

"We've got to get to people...to call their congressmen in other states this is not just a Texas issue...this is the importance of national security."

But the battle to save NASA is far from over as FOX 26 news has learned 150 people from all walks of life are heading to DC in 2 weeks to state their case to save the Constellation program.