Two former US astronauts welcome growing competition in the business of launching satellites

The launch of the Space Shuttle was very familiar to astronauts Marsha Ivins and Ellen Baker, two veterans of NASA's space programme. Ellen took part in three space missions on the Shuttle, while Marsha went into orbit five times. They have both left NASA, after many years in the space programme, which has suffered budget cuts under President Barack Obama. Today the business of launching satellites is very competitive with China, India, Japan and the European Space Agency developing rockets, as well as privately owned companies. The BBC's Russell Padmore asked Marsha Ivins and first Ellen Baker, what they make of the commercialisation of space.