The House approved a $30 million increase in funding for the Operationally Responsive Space (ORS) to $117 million in the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2008, the Aerospace Industries Association noted, terming this a positive step.

The AIA also praised elements of the House Armed Services Committee-authored funding measure that provide a $63 million funding increase that better balances spacecraft programs, launch services and system infrastructure, according to the industry group.

Across Capitol Hill, the Senate Armed Services Committee increased the ORS budget by $15 million, which has been designated for small satellite sensors. Furthermore, the much- awaited ORS report from the Department of Defense to Congress was delivered in April, the AIA noted.

The report, required by the 2007 Defense Authorization Act, outlines how DOD would organize, administer, and implement the ORS office, which opened May 21 at Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M.