NASA BUDGET STANDS TO HELP DRYDEN CENTER '07 WOES MAY STALL CRAFT'S DEBUT.

Byline: JIM SKEEN Staff Writer

PALMDALE -- Dryden Flight Research Center and aeronautics research fares well in NASA's proposed 2008 budget, but the unresolved 2007 budget could push back the debut of a new manned spacecraft, agency leaders said Monday.

NASA leadership unveiled a proposed $17.3 billion 2008 budget, up 3.1 percent from President George W. Bush's 2007 request. The proposal bumps aeronautics research, one of Dryden's primary missions, from $529.3 million to $554 million.

The proposed budget includes approximately $218 million for Dryden, up 10 percent from the 2007 request.

``The outlook is pretty good for us,'' said Steven Schmidt, Dryden's deputy director. ``The aeronautics side of the house is looking good.''

On the down side, Congress adjourned last year after failing to pass appropriations bills needed to fund the federal budget through Sept. 30, including the bill containing NASA's funding.

Democrats, who have since won the majority in Congress, are pushing a plan to hold some funding to 2006 levels, which would result in a cut this year of about $540 million for NASA.

The funding cut could push back the development of the Orion crew exploration vehicle, the spacecraft that will replace the space shuttle fleet and serve as the cornerstone for efforts to return astronauts to the moon. The shuttle fleet is slated to retire in 2010 and Orion is scheduled to begin flights in 2014.

NASA officials were already concerned with the planned gap between shuttle and Orion. NASA is trying to avoid a lengthy gap like the one between the Apollo and shuttle programs, which lasted from 1975 to 1981.

Dryden is is working on Orion's abort system for use in the event of an emergency during launch.

james.skeen@dailynews

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