Space tourism brings attention to aerospace summit in Colorado Springs this week

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Space tourism stoking interest at Colo. summit

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Space tourism is on the agenda at a weeklong summit for the aerospace industry in Colorado Springs.

The 26th National Space Symposium started Monday. This year’s symposium is taking on a new importance as the industry mulls signals from the White House that space tourism is due for an expansion. Next year’s proposed budget by President Barack Obama increases the role of commercial space exploration.

Obama’s proposal puts the Constellation program — which aims to return humans to the moon and beyond — on the chopping block.

NASA Administrator Charles Bolden will discuss the vision for civil space on Tuesday.