President Obama says he is "100 percent committed to NASA and its future" in a

in Florida. In the detailed, three-page statement, the president takes credit for "an ambitious new direction" for the space agency.

Regarding the Space Launch System, the statement says NASA's new heavy-lift rocket being developed in Huntsville is part of the president's space strategy. "Support for the Space Launch System (increased) by 1.5% in President Obama's latest budget request," the statement said, "and the system continues its steady progress - in July, SLS completed its preliminary review, allowing the program to continue ahead to its preliminary design phase."