A wise move; Our position: Reversing a cut to NASA's budget could pre-empt a brain drain from the workforce.

Budget-cutters on Capitol Hill have given America's space program a badly needed reprieve. House and Senate panels both have endorsed bills to boost NASA's budget next year.

In February, Congress slashed $400 million from funds NASA had counted on this year in developing a successor to the space shuttle. That cut threatened to lengthen the gap between the shuttle's 2010 retirement and the 2014 launch of Orion, NASA's next manned vehicle. The longer the gap, the greater the risk of the agency losing the shuttle's highly skilled workforce.

While it's not clear whether the higher spending for next year will narrow the gap, it won't make it worse. But both bills need to be passed in their chambers and reconciled before they go to the president. And with more demands than dollars in Washington, NASA supporters will need to shepherd its spending increase to passage.

The House panel also took a farsighted step by backing an amendment from Indialantic Republican Dave Weldon, who represents many employees at the Kennedy Space Center. Mr. Weldon's measure would require NASA to detail how it would make use of the shuttle's workforce for the next vehicle -- another step that could limit a brain drain.

America's space program has spurred scientific and technological advances that have helped build this country's economy. As countries such as China move forward with their own programs, the national-security value of a strong U.S. program grows. Congress needs to keep such benefits in mind when setting NASA's budget.