Mars Mission in Jeopardy for NASA

A mission to Mars and a plan to take people to the moon may fall apart before it even gets off the ground.

NASA's dreams and ambitious vision to take people to the moon and Mars may be in jeopardy due to uncertain planning and funding.

According to a recent congressional report, NASA's replacement for the space shuttle, the Constellation Program, is in jeopardy and members of Congress readily agreed at a hearing on the growing concern.

The United States Government Accountability Office said the Constellation program, scheduled to begin by 2015, is troubled by engineering, funding and mechanical issues.

The NASA program was meant to use heat shielding from the 1960s Apollo program, but experts apparently could not replicate the material.

NASA has planned the Ares I Crew Launch Vehicle and the Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle missions but both are in danger.

The official report also noted that existing test facilities are insufficient for testing Ares I's new engines, including troublesome vibrations. Both vehicles also have weight issues, according to the report.

NASA's Richard Gilbrech told the subcommittee hearing that the 2009 budget request for the Constellation program is $3 billion.