Report from Washington, D.C.
NASA Budget Analysis Update Available
The Space Foundation has updated its report providing an overview and comparison of the NASA budget. The report provides an overview of FY 2011 NASA budget request and legislation, breaking it down into the President’s FY 2011 Budget Request, FY 2011 funds authorized by the NASA Authorization Act of 2010 and the FY 2011 Enacted…
House Space & Aeronautics Subcommittee Update
In May, the House Space & Aeronautics Subcommittee held two hearings: Office of Commercial Space Transportation’s Fiscal Year 2012 Budget Request NASA’s Commercial Cargo Providers: Are They Ready to Supply the Space Station in the Post-Shuttle Era?” In the first hearing on May 5, members of the Subcommittee voiced their concern that the request sought…
Space News from Washington
During May, space-related subcommittees met, authorization acts were passed and strageic decisions were announced: Hearings The Senate Strategic Forces Subcommittee held a hearing on May 11 entitled, Military Space Programs in Review of the Defense Authorization Request for Fiscal Year 2012 and the Future Years Defense Program. Senators on the Subcommittee recognized several recently successful…
Ruppersberger Supports Return to the Moon
Despite 50 years of strength and our current position of technological leadership in space, Congressman C.A. “Dutch” Ruppersberger (D-MD) said our space program is slipping. Speaking at the 27th National Space Symposium, Ruppersberger said that, between policy and budgetary uncertainty, the future is unclear. He said we must address four areas to reorient and refocus…
New Generation Program Focuses on Washington
The Space Foundation’s New Generation Space Leaders Initiative continued to grow at the 27th National Space Symposium with almost 150 young space professionals attending specialized programs. The New Generation Initiatives featured a full week of events that kicked off on April 11 with the popular “speed mentoring” New Generation Leadership Exchange. During the exchange, up-and-coming…
Day-by-Day Update on D.C. Activities
April 11 The Senate Appropriations Commerce, Justice and Science Subcommittee held a hearing on NASA’s FY 2012 budget request. NASA Administrator Charles Bolden told lawmakers that, in the current tough fiscal environment, the space agency would have to push back the launch date of several missions. For example, the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) had…
NASA and USAID Work Together on Earth Issues
NASA and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) have signed a five-year memorandum of understanding that formalizes agency collaborations that use Earth science data to address developmental challenges, and to assist in disaster mitigation and humanitarian responses. The agreement also encourages NASA and USAID to apply geospatial technologies to solve development challenges affecting the…
NASA Budget Reviews Occupy D.C.
The House Science, Space & Technology Committee held a hearing March 2 on NASA’s FY 2012 budget request, which proposes $18.7 billion in funds for the space agency. Administrator Charles Bolden testified before the Committee. Members of Congress from both parties voiced their concerns that the funding priorities outlined in NASA’s budget request did not…
Congress Expresses EASE Support at Hearing
The House Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces held a hearing March 15 on the FY 2012 National Defense Authorization Budget Request for National Security Space Activities. Witnesses included: The Honorable Erin Conaton, under secretary of the Air Force, U.S Department of Defense General William Shelton, commander, Air Force Space Command Ambassador Gregory Schulte, deputy…
Space Foundation Hosts Ambassador Schulte
On March 14, the Space Foundation hosted a breakfast briefing on the national security space strategy for Congress featuring Ambassador Gregory Schulte, the deputy assistant secretary of defense for space policy, who briefed attendees and fielded questions. Schulte outlined the strategy’s three major objectives: to maintain the advantages that space provides the U.S. to protect…