Posted: Wed, Sep 17, 2003, 9:57 AM ET (1357 GMT)
President George Bush confirmed Tuesday that an interagency group is currently reviewing American space policy, but declined to provide any additional details about their work. Speaking to a group of newspaper reporters, Bush said that the group is currently studying potential options so that it can determine the best options "for NASA to proceed in a way that is a good use of taxpayer dollars," according to the Orlando Sentinel. "The mission ought to go on," Bush said, according to the Houston Chronicle. "What should be the mission? We're in the process of coming up with what we think is the right recommendation for NASA." Bush declined to specifically support a human expedition to Mars, but did say that "the more we explore, the better off America is." The existence of the interagency group was revealed last week when NASA administrator Sean O'Keefe mentioned it during a House Science Committee hearing. At that hearing both Republican and Democratic members of Congress pressed O'Keefe and the Bush Administration for both more information on the group's work as well as a Congressional role.

Related Links:

•  Orlando Sentinel article
•  Houston Chronicle article