Fla - Standing with Florida Senator and former astronaut Bill Nelson 20 minutes north of the spiritual home of America’s space program in Cape Canaveral, Barack Obama committed to keeping NASA exploring the outer reaches of the cosmos for years to come - reversing a pledge to cut funding for new space flights.

Obama recalled watching American astronauts emerge from the Pacific ocean after space flights as a boy in his Native Hawaii. “When I was growing up, NASA inspired the world with achievements we’re still proud of,” he said. “Today, we have an administration that sets ambitious goals for NASA without giving NASA the support it needs to reach them.”

Obama promised to expand the space program by reestablishing the National Aeronautics and Space Council to help formulate a vision for the next stage of space exploration. What’s more, he claimed that cuts to the new shuttle program that he’d originally planned to make were now called off.

“I know [it’s] still being reported that we were talking about delaying some aspects of the Constellation program to pay for our early education program,” said Obama. “I told my staff we’re going to find an entirely different offset, because we’ve got to make sure that the money that’s going into NASA for basic research and development continues to go there. That has been a top priority for us.”

The McCain campaign and the RNC took issue with that characterization - pointing to his website, which still claims Obama would cut Constellation funding. They also note an interview just today in which Obama cast doubts on the program.

“The Constellation project is a bold vision, but we haven’t thought through all the steps to get there and what the funding sources are,” Obama told the Orlando Sentinel.

“The only thing Barack Obama knows about sending a man to the moon is that it’s a good applause line,” said RNC spokesman Alex Conant. “Obama’s plans to cut NASA funding and delay scientific exploration are indicative of his inexperience with space policy.”

But the Obama campaign claims that the Illinois Senator simply changed his mind about cutting NASA funds, and now supports the Constellation program – finding another way to pay for his education plans.

“Barack Obama understands how critical NASA is to America’s scientific and economic edge,” said spokesman Jen Paski. “That is why we have an alternative offset to pay for his early edcuation plan by reforming and reducing earmark spending, reforming federal contracting procedures.”

The campaign couldn’t say when the candidate had his change of heart, however.

FOXnews, Aaron Bruns