Posted: Thu, Sep 20, 2001, 12:33 AM ET (0433 GMT)
NASA is considering delaying or otherwise altering its schedule of future Mars missions, NASA Watch reported Wednesday. According to reports published on the site, the space agency is considering flying a planned 2007 mission — featuring a "smart" lander and long-range rover — in 2009, and either pushing back the 2009 mission or canceling it altogether. The reports say that "budgetary concerns" are driving this possible change... Last week's terrorist attacks and the expected military response by the United States means that NASA will see no extra money in the near future, according to one senator. Bud Cramer (D-AL) told the Huntsville Times that NASA will "have to take a back seat" to military and other programs... Archivists have found a tape with audio from mission control recorded as Apollo 11 landed on the Moon in 1969, the BBC reported Wednesday. The tape, in poor condition but still audible, features flight director Gene Kranz and other controllers during the minutes shortly before and after the landing. The tape had been feared to be lost.

Related Links:

•  NASA Watch
•  Huntsville Times article
•  BBC article about Apollo 11 tape