President Obama has earmarked an additional $2.4 billion over 2008 to $18.7 billion in NASA funding for 2010 but will also retire the current space shuttle program. U.S. Space Foundation CEO Elliot Pulham said, “It is far from what is needed if the U.S. is to stimulate the economy, create more high-tech jobs, and hold on to its eroding leadership position in space.” If Obama retires the current space shuttle program, the U.S. will not have a shuttle by at least 2015. The new increased funding is aimed at developing space-based sensors to monitor global greenhouse gases and global warming.