It's been a month since NASA administrator Charlie Bolden and United States President Barack Obama unveiled a new vision for their country's space agency: one that would put the business of launching humans mainly into the hands of the private industry.

The move predictably attracted rancour from the ranks of Florida and Texas senators, where the powerhouses of the American space program are based and also, two states considered instrumental during elections. An additional $6 billion promised in NASA's fiscal 2011 budget did nothing to quell the concerns.

Amidst the fury, Obama announced Sunday morning that his administration would host a space summit somewhere in Florida on April 15 to talk about the future of the U.S. in spaceflight.

Conflict with National Space Symposium

Details were few at the time of the announcement, but already the timing caused consternation from some observers.

The National Space Symposium in Colorado Springs, Colorado is finishing up on April 15 -- with Bolden one of the highlighted speakers giving an address on that date.

So far, NASA's new vision calls for developing a new heavy-lift vehicle, in partnership wtih commercial industry, with the flexibility to bring humans into low earth orbit and to other destinations.

Critics in Congress say the vision lacks direction with no clear idea of where these vehicles will fly to. Previously, NASA was working towards the Constellation moon-to-Mars program first announced by then-U.S. president George Bush in 2004.

Further, there is no announced date about when these vehicles will be ready.

Concerns about gap and Soyuz

Before the new vision was announced, workers in Florida expressed concern about the "gap" between the end of the shuttle (scheduled for September this year) and the beginning of Constellation, then set for 2015.

During that time, the only way American astronauts can venture into space is through the Russian Soyuz spacecraft -- a highly reliable craft in operation for more than a generation that United States and Canadian astronauts have used many times in the past.

Still, using the Soyuz means lost jobs in the United States at a time when the country is gripped by more than nine per cent unemployment. Florida Today estimates the changeover in the space program will cost 9,000 jobs in the Space Coast industry alone, with another 14,000 at risk in related fields (like tourism) that depend on the space program for survival.

The agency had already poured US$9 billion into the Constellation program and gone so far as to test the new rocket for the program, Ares, when the new vision for NASA was announced in February.

Canadian space vision remains unknown

As for Canada, nearly 18 months ago Steve MacLean, a former astronaut, stepped up to helm the Canadian Space Agency. At the time, the government entity had gone through a string of short-term presidents and was being criticized for a lack of funding and vision.

Upon MacLean's appointment in September 2008, then-industry minister Jim Prentice tasked him with developing a new vision for the space agency, adding it was of the utmost urgency and importance that it be completed.

In 2009, the agency had a banner year with astronauts Julie Payette and Bob Thirsk returning to space.

MacLean has spent the past while meeting with Canadian space representatives in industry and government to develop his plan, and the agency received additional funds in the past two budgets to develop remote sensing, rover and next-generation Canadarm technologies -- CDN$60 million last year and $36 million this year, both part of $110 million in stimulus money allocated last year under the government's Economic Action Plan.

In 2009, the agency had a banner year with astronauts Julie Payette and Bob Thirsk returning to space, and also by lending its moral support to Guy Laliberte, the Montreal-based Cirque du Soleil founder who visited the International Space Station that summer as a tourist. In addition, the CSA hired two new astronauts.

But with the Canadian program so tightly tied to NASA's vision, it's possible Canada's long-term space plan will remain behind closed doors for months or years yet as the Americans work to figure out where they're going next.

With files from The Associated Press