Weldon Readies Bill To Cut Gap Between Shuttle, Orion-Ares Spacecraft

Calling reliance on Russia to launch U.S. crews into space "very dangerous," Rep. David Weldon (R-Fla.) is working on legislation that would shorten the time that astronauts would need a lift into space. The space shuttle will be scheduled for retirement either March 31 or Sept. 31, 2010. But the next vehicles to launch Americans…