Qaeda 1431 H. / 11 October 2010, SPA -- US President Barack Obama on Monday signed into law plans for the NASA space agency that will shift focus to commercial space flight, add an additional space shuttle flight and extend the life of the International Space Station, dpa reported. The US House of Representatives endorsed Obama's vision for remaking NASA last month, authorizing 19 billion dollars for NASA in 2011 and 58 billion dollars over three years. The law not only outlines NASA's budget but sets out its plans, including an extension of funding for the International Space Station until 2020, shifting near-Earth astronaut transport to commercial companies, additional emphasis on Earth science and the development of a heavy-lift vehicle to take astronauts into deep space by 2016. NASA Administrator Charlie Bolden on Monday praised Congress and Obama for endorsing "a blueprint for NASA, one that requires to think and act boldly as we move into the future."
