According to a February 14 statement by NASA administrator Charles Bolden, if the US space agency continues to operate at 2010 funding levels as it has been doing, it will have enough money for a third – and, apparently, the last - space shuttle mission this year.

NASA administrator and former astronaut Charles Bolden has arrived in China for a six-day official visit, which he has described as an “introductory” visit that might include talks pertaining to the potential chances of future cooperation for human spaceflight.

Bringing to an end months of guesswork about the prospective NASA chief, President Barack Obama has named the extremely popular former space shuttle commander - Maj-Gen. Charles Bolden - for the esteemed post. In addition, former NASA associate administrator Lori Garver has been named the Deputy of the US space agency. Both the appointments would be subject to Senate confirmation.