While the Obama administration says it will not set any long-term priorities in space until late August at the earliest, in addition NASA, won't initiate any new contracts for a return trip to the moon.

Because of this both Washington and Houston are awaiting findings from a new presidential commission headed by former Lockheed Martin CEO Norman Augustine. Christopher Scolese, NASA's acting administrator, who says the agency's priorities could change once the commission issues its report. "Clearly, if we're on the wrong path, we should change," he says. "If you're asking me if I think we're head on the wrong path — no, I don't."