35 years since the night that (unfortunately) changed very little...

The U. S. House Appropriations Committee choose the low-key 35th anniversary of the landing of the Eagle to eliminate the new Vision for Space Exploration from the VA-HUD budget. Projects Constellation (which would build the new Crew Exploration Vehicle) and Promthemus (responsible for the Jupiter Icy Moons Orbiter) are effectively nixed unless the Senate comes riding to the rescue. And in this election year, it is hard to see anyone defending the Shuttle-Killer or a flying nuclear-reactor, especially in this age of Yucca.

UPDATE:The star-spangled Curmudgeon notes that the Hammer (the House Majority Leader and the future representitive of Johnson Space Center) is pissed. But Rep. DeLay might not be in a position to do much.

UPDATE:The Adminstration spits the dummy. (Via Nasawatch.)

"If the final version of this bill that is presented to the President does not include adequate funding levels for Presidential initiatives, his Senior Advisors would recommend that he veto the bill."