Interesting tidbit on the stimulus bill that passed the House last night: advocates of NASA were asking for up to $2 billion - a mere .24% of the overall $819 billion package - for "space exploration and accelerated construction of the next generation of manned spacecraft."

In the end, NASA was allotted $600 million by the House - none of it for space-related activities. The biggest chunk of the money, $400 million, went to "put more scientists to work doing climate change research." Another $50 million was earmarked to repair NASA facilities in the Houston area that were damaged by Hurricane Ike.

All is not lost, however. NASA advocates are hoping Florida Democratic Senator Bill Nelson, a former astronaut whose state also has deep ties to NASA, will be able to push through higher levels of spending for NASA in the Senate version of the stimulus bill and shephard them safely through the conference committee.