President Barack Obama has proposed increasing funding for management of the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to 5.9 billion dollars, Associated Press transmits citing a source in the White House.

It is assumed that these funds will be allocated to NASA in five years. Some of them will go to extend the term of the International Space Station in orbit possession until 2020. In addition, this amount will provide grants for companies to build private spacecraft. It will be used to send astronauts into space after the shuttle program closure.

At the same time Barack Obama plans to abandon idea of re-landing astronauts on the moon. This plan was proposed by the precursor of the present head of the White House, George W. Bush.