Lifeline thrown to shuttle

House and Senate leaders authorized $2.5 billion to keep the space shuttle flying through 2011, if it’s necessary to complete planned missions to the international space station. Funding to maintain shuttle operations past the current deadline of December 2010 is part of the nonbinding $3.4 trillion budget blueprint passed by the House and Senate Wednesday. (Source: Wall Street Journal, 04/29/09) Gulf Coast note: Stennis Space Center, Miss., and Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans are both involved in the shuttle program.