Stern also chairs the Commercial Spaceflight Federation's Suborbital Applications Researchers Group and is a former NASA associate administrator for science.

MSN: Suborbital spaceships spark scientific frenzy

"America's space industry is taking a quantum leap forward with this historic shift, " said John Gedmark, executive director of the Commercial Spaceflight Federation.

CNN: Congress approves $19 billion for NASA but layoffs loom

Members include: ACORN, AFSCME, Americans United for Change, Campaign for America's Future, Center for American Progress Action Fund, MoveOn.org, National Council of La Raza, National Education Association, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Service Employees International Union, United Food and Commercial Workers, and USAction.

NPR: Profile: Health Care for America Now