In 2005, former President George W. Bush established the Constellation Program. This program set ambitious local goals for the National Aeronautic Space Agency (NASA)(Chang). However, when President Barack Obama took office, he decided to change NASA's goals. Away from local space, President Obama's plan focused on the exploration of asteroids and, later, even Mars (Malik). Unfortunately, or rather perhaps fortunately, the funding and laws necessary to implement these new policies were blocked for several weeks due to the budget crisis of 2011. While NASA and several other agencies funded by the federal government were distressed by their momentary state of limbo (Moskowitz), this booth gave experts just the opportunity to lay out the details of these unnecessary and potentially harmful changes. Congress is money,” said Henry Hertzfeld, professor of space policy and international affairs at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. (Moskowitz). And in fact, money is the main concern for many people as the country slowly emerges from recession. Many people are demanding that something be done to combat the raising of the "debt ceiling," and many congressmen and women are struggling to comply by cutting the budget in order to keep their seats in office. Washington. However, the changes at NASA are just another example of how the government is not being fiscally responsible. Under President Obama's proposed changes to the NASA Authorization Act of 2010, NASA funding will be increased by $6 billion over the next five years (Foust). This decision does not exactly defend the idea of ​​a nation that tightens its belt and focuses on unnecessary spending. It also doesn't... middle of paper ...t, Jeff. “Memorials and malaise.” Editorial. The Space Review. Space UP Houston, January 31, 2011. Web. February 20, 2011. < http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1770/1>Handwerk, Brian. “NASA is on track for the 2020 Human Moon mission.” National Geographic. Np, December 11, 2007. Web. May 15, 2011./news/2007/12/071211-nasa-moon.html>.Moskowitz, Clara. "NASA stuck in limbo as new Congress takes over." MSNBC. Np, January 7, 2011. Web. February 20, 2011. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40967788/ns/technology_and_science-space/Moskowitz, Clara. "President Obama signs a new vision for American space exploration." MSNBC. Np, October 10, 2010. Web. February 20, 2011.< http://www.space.com/9305-president-obama-signs-vision-space-exploration-law.html>Martin, Paul K. Letter to the Committee on Science and Technology. Reading room. Np: NASA, 2011. N. pag. Print