Congress Directs NASA to Build a Deep Space Habitat

In the latest round of budget negotiations, NASA got a pretty good windfall. But hiding in that $19.3 billion budget it is a $55 million directive: begin building a deep space habitat, and have it ready to go by 2018. In 180 days, NASA will have to report on any progress. It may be part of Congress pushing NASA to be more serious in its efforts toward a crewed Mars mission in the 2030s. That mission will require a lot of money and a lot of new technology...

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