The White House has asked Norman Augustine, a former aerospace industry executive, to lead a review of Nasa's manned activities and report by August.

BBC: Obama reviews post-shuttle plans

Norman Augustine, chair of the review committee and former chief executive of aerospace giant Lockheed Martin, said members would offer broad options to President Obama.

BBC: Nasa defends its spaceflight plan

This panel is commonly referred to as the Augustine committee, after its chairman Norman Augustine, who was once head of Lockheed Martin, one of America's largest aerospace companies.

ECONOMIST: Human spaceflight: Over the moon? | The