U.S. President Barack Obama has signed the NASA Authorization Act of 2010 into law after Congress approved the measure earlier this month.
    The Act, originally drafted by the U.S. Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee authorizes appropriations for NASA’s 2011, 2012 and 2013 fiscal years, which are largely in line with President Obama’s fiscal year 2011 budget request announced earlier this year, which called for more investments in U.S. commercial space companies.
    The bill requires NASA to develop portfolio that includes aeronautics, Earth and space science and education, covering investments in technology and robotic capabilities. The bill also includes a sustainable exploration program with new technologies and in-space capabilities; building future exploration off the workforce, assets and capabilities of the Space Shuttle and other efforts.
    The bill authorizes one final Space Shuttle flight, based on an independent safety review, to provide necessary support for the extension of the International Space Station to at least 2020. The bill also shifts focus to commercial crew and cargo services, with the goal of providing cheaper access to the ISS and reducing U.S. reliance on Russia for access to the ISS after the Space Shuttle retires.