Obama orders review of NASA return to the moon

07.05.2009
Plans for NASA to send humans back to the moon might be in jeopardy.

President Barack Obama's administration Thursday called for an independent review of NASA's human space flight activities.

Looking at possible alternatives to programs already in the pipeline, the review is geared toward making sure the country's human spaceflight program remains "safe, innovative and affordable" after the space shuttle is retired, NASA says.

Acting NASA Administrator Christopher Scolese said in a statement, "The thousands of workers who have given so much over the years to bring human spaceflight to where it is today deserve nothing less than a full assurance their commitment will be applied in the smartest and most practical ways."

The review announcement came just as NASA Thursday unveiled its . It marks a $903.6 million, or 5%, increase over 2009 funding.

NASA says that, all totaled, an extra $2 billion has been added to the agency's 2009 and 2010 budgets under the Obama administration.