Report from Washington, D.C.
Senate Budget Proposal Includes $726M for Ares I
On April 21, Sen. Kent Conrad (D-ND), chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, unveiled the Senate’s version of the 2011 budget with an added $726 million for continued testing of the Ares I rocket. If appropriated, NASA’s budget would be increased to $19.7 billion from $19 billion in the president’s FY2011 budget request. Senator Conrad…
Space Posture Review Hearing Points Out Vulnerability
The Strategic Forces Subcommittee of the House Armed Service Committee held a hearing on the Space Posture Review on April 21. Witnesses included: General C. Robert Kehler, USAF, commander, Air Force Space Command Robert J. Butler, deputy assistant secretary of defense for cyber and space policy, Office of the Secretary of Defense Betty Sapp, principle deputy…
Report from Washington, D.C.
NASA’s proposed FY 2011 budget came under close scrutiny by both House and Senate lawmakers in March. During several hearings, lawmakers and aerospace industry veterans cited astronaut safety, commercial viability, workforce impacts, and a lack of program details as their most pressing concerns. On March 3, Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) introduced S. 3068, a…
Weiler Talks About NASA Science Mission Directorate
On March 4, Dr. Ed Weiler, NASA associate administrator for the Science Mission Directorate (SMD), spoke with reporters at a Space Foundation Correspondents Group breakfast in Washington, D.C. Weiler began by saying that for the SMD, the president’s budget proposal provides both “good news and great news.” He said the “good news” is for heliophysics,…
Faster, Safer, Greener
The Space Foundation’s Solutions from Space: Faster, Safer, Greener Commercial Aviation details how space technology is dramatically improving air traffic management. According to the paper, the advanced positioning, navigation, and timing capabilities offered by satellite systems can: Reduce air traffic congestion Lower fuel consumption Reduce noise pollution Lessen environmental impact Provide clearer, more accurate, real-time…
Payton Speaks at Space Foundation Luncheon
Deputy Under Secretary of the Air Force for Space Programs, Gary Payton, spoke to reporters Feb. 4 at a Space Foundation Correspondents Group gathering in Washington, D.C. He talked about the new Air Force budget, including plans for space protection, operationally responsive space (ORS), and satellite programs, including five Air Force satellite launches scheduled for…
Report from Washington, D.C.
Early last month, President Barack Obama released his proposed $3.8 trillion budget for the 2011 fiscal year, which gives NASA a proposed boost of $1.3 billion next year and a $6 billion increase over the next five years. To see the budget proposal, click here. The President’s plan zeroes out funding for the Constellation Program…
Washington Report
In January, President Barack Obama’s administration continued to move forward on efforts to review and reform policies in civil, commercial, and defense space. On Dec. 21, Obama signed Presidential Study Directive 8, directing his administration to recommend steps leading to an overhaul of the United States export control regime by no later than Jan. 29.…
Space is Making Us Green
Satellites provide a wide perspective of Earth that cannot be replicated in any other way. Industries involved in energy, resources, and environmental management are benefiting from developments in satellite technology and services. The following is an edited excerpt from the Space Foundation’s The Space Report: The Authoritative Guide to Global Space Activity that demonstrates the…
Industry Group Issues Export Recommendations
The Coalition for Security and Competitiveness last month released its recommendations for modernizing U.S. export controls. The Space Foundation is among the 14 organizations participating in the effort to improve United States’ technological competitiveness by adopting new policies to govern U.S. export controls and new administrative regulations and procedures to streamline export licensing and compliance requirements.…