After intensely debating the future of the manned-exploration program of National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the Senate Commerce Committee Thursday gave its unanimous approval to the White House’s $19 billion bill pertaining to the outsourcing of space transportation.

The vote by the Senate Commerce Committee marks a Congressional committee’s first ever explicit approval of the concept of making use of private rockets for sending astronauts into space.

The bill – called the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010 - is essentially a blueprint for the cancellation of NASA’s return-to-the-Moon program; and the commencement of investments in commercial companies that can manufacture rockets to take US astronauts to low Earth orbit; as well as the speeding up of the development of a heavy-lift rocket for more far-flung missions.

Furthermore, the bill would also extend the life of the International Space Station to 2020; and, as per President Obama’s request, increase financing for earth science and aeronautics; with the NASA budget for the next three years totaling $19 billion in 2011; $19.45 billion in 2012; and $19.96 billion in 2013.

Talking about the proposed legislation, Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison of Texas – the Senate Commerce Committee’s ranking Republican member and one of the leading architects of the bill – said that it essentially “balances the need for investing in new technologies,” with the “continued evolution of the commercial market” in playing a more noteworthy role in US space exploration.