BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. -- U.S. Senator Bill Nelson told Eyewitness News Monday morning that he met recently with President Barack Obama about NASA's future and believes the President will make a decision soon.

Nelson says it would take an additional $27 billion over the next decade to replace the shuttle after 2011, continue flights to the International Space Station, and to take care of NASA’s workers.

“He is very sensitive to this and I really believe the President is a fan of the space program and, at the end of the day, I am optimistic. But in a very tough money time, it's going to take a lot more money to make up for the deficiencies of the last decade,” Nelson said.

Senator Nelson expects the President to make a decision sometime around the Thanksgiving holiday.