NASA Administrator Charles Bolden today vowed to maintain America’s position in the area of human space flight, becoming emotional as he talked about the Space Shuttle Program, which launches its final mission July 8.

Mr. Bolden, a former astronaut himself, said he expects private companies to begin ferrying cargo to the International Space Station in less than a year, followed by human transport in three years.

He was joined at the National Press Club by NASA astronaut Mark Kelly, the husband of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ).