Nasa’s budget is to be maintained at the 2010 level of $18.7bn until 2016, according to the latest budget unveiled by US President Barack Obama.

The budget proposes a five-year freeze on spending levels at Nasa, meaning that it will receive 1.6% less than it had asked for the 2011 fiscal year.

The budget will be allocated for space operations and exploration systems, including $2.9bn for the development of a heavy launcher and a space capsule intended for missions beyond low Earth orbit.

$7bn will be invested in the new heavy launcher, which will be operational by 2016.

The US budget for the 2011 financial year was not approved due to a disagreement on spending levels prior to the mid-term elections in November.

Subsequently, a decision to stick to 2010 spending levels was arrived at by the Obama administration, according to space-travel.com.