Report from Washington, D.C.
Exploration "Too Important" to Give Less than Best
“The effective restoration of U.S. exploration leadership is simply too important to the well-being of the nation, both economically and competitively, for us to give anything less than our very best to ensure its success,” was how Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., summed up his thoughts at a Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Subcommittee on Science…
Super Committee Failure Could be Tough on Space
In last month’s Space Watch The View From Here column, Space Foundation CEO Elliot Pulham predicted that the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction (aka the Super Committee) would fail to produce a plan to reduce the U.S. budget deficit by $1.2 trillion over the next 10 years. Turns out, as usual, he was right. Commenting on…
NASA Budget Analysis Available
Despite a very contentious year between Congress and the White House, President Barack Obama signed a spending bill in November that sets the 2012 budget for NASA, bringing to an end several years of operation under restrictive Continuing Resolutions that underfunded the agency. According to Space Foundation Vice President – Washington Operations Brendan Curry, “This…
Basla Talks about Cyber Security
In October, the Space Foundation held a senior executive luncheon focused on cyber security featuring Air Force Space Command Vice Commander Lt. Gen. Michael Basla, USAF. Attended by 26 Space Foundation corporate member executives, the event was hosted by Space Foundation Chief Executive Officer Elliot Pulham and Vice President – Washington Operations Brendan Curry. Basla…
Subcommittee Looks into ISS Crew Safety
The House Science, Space and Technology Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics held a hearing on Oct. 12 entitled The International Space Station (ISS): Lessons from the Soyuz Rocket Failure and Return to Flight. In establishing the purpose of the hearing, Subcommittee Chairman Steven Palazzo (R-MS) said the recent Progress launch failure caused “NASA to contemplate…
Republicans Recommend NASA Cuts
Republicans on the House Science, Space and Technology Committee recently sent a letter to the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction recommending “over $1.5 billion in savings in FY 2012,” including cutting $177 million from the NASA budget by taking the following actions: • Cancel the Orbiting Carbon Observatory (OCO)-2 missions • Reduce the Other…
Commercial Acquisition Clarified
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report last month on the proposed Department of Defense (DoD) block buy acquisition strategy for Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicles (EELVs), recommending that the DoD “assess engine costs and mission assurance activities, reassess the length of the proposed block buy and consider how to address broader launch acquisition and…
Minibus Bill Includes NASA, NOAA Funding
The Senate has begun a debate on a “minibus” appropriations bill, H.R. 2112, that combines the bills for Agriculture, Transportation, Housing and Urban Development and Commerce-Justice-Science. The Commerce-Justice-Science bill includes funds for both NASA and NOAA. Although subject to numerous amendments, the package has not affected funding levels for NASA or NOAA space programs. The…
NASA Consolidates Human Spaceflight
NASA has officially consolidated its human spaceflight activities, including the International Space Station (ISS), deep space exploration and commercial cargo- and crew-transport operations, into the new Human Exploration and Operations (HEO) Mission Directorate. Previously NASA’s human spaceflight activities were spread between the Space Operations Mission Directorate and Exploration Systems Mission Directorate. Former NASA Space Operations Associate…
Congress to Resume Funding Discussions
Congress is out of session for the month of August, but is returning at the beginning of this month to continue work on many unfinished appropriation bills, including some that fund the Department of Defense, NASA and NOAA. When Congress returns in September it will take up several appropriation bills, including some that fund NASA, NOAA and…