Report from Washington, D.C.
Space-Related Activity on the Rise
On Oct. 22, after months of deliberations, the Review of U.S. Human Space Flight Plans Committee released its final report. Among lawmakers there has been strong bi-partisan consensus that the current U.S. human space flight program is on an unsustainable trajectory that needs increased funding. However, lawmakers continue to debate the report’s prospective paths going…
Lawmakers Gain Insight into Chinese Space Program
The Space Foundation Government Affairs team spent a large portion of October debriefing space policy decision-makers on the Space Foundation-led mission to Chinese space facilities, which offered helpful insight into the future of Chinese human space flight initiatives. Led by Chief Executive Officer Elliot Pulham, the Space Foundation delegation comprised former shuttle astronaut and AVIATION…
SGAC Publishes Vision for the Next Decade
The Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC), a non-governmental organization that represents students and young space professionals to the United Nations, member countries, and space agencies, has released a report that outlines a youth vision of the “spacescape” in the next decade. The Youth Space Vision for the Next Decade: Looking Back to Look Forward includes…
Space Foundation a Hit at IAC
Space Foundation Research Analyst Mariel John presented two papers at the 60th International Astronautical Congress (IAC), Oct. 12-16, in Daejeon, South Korea. Both papers – Space Activities in Developing Nations: Contributions to Capacity Building and Innovation and Remote Sensing for Disease Prevention in Nigeria – focused on Nigeria as a case study for the positive impact space activity can…
Space Offers Solutions for Developing Nations
Some of the solutions to many developing nations’ social and economic woes might just come from the most unlikely place – outer space. Solutions from Space: Space Applications for International Development, a Space Foundation white paper released last month, says that the ability of space-based technology to overcome infrastructure and access issues might help solve previously…
D.C. Awaits Full Space Flight Commission Report
As we proceed into the autumn, much of the focus of the space policy community in Washington, D.C., has been absorbing and digesting the recently released Executive Summary report from the committee on the Review of U.S. Human Space Flight Plans. Both the House of Representatives and Senate have already held oversight hearings on the…
U.S. and Europe to Cooperate on Space
NASA has signed a number of agreements to facilitate cooperation between the United States and Europe on matters relating to space. A memorandum of understanding with the European Space Agency (ESA) signed last month allows NASA and ESA to exchange technical information and personnel, which will aid the eventual development of new space transportation systems.…
Space Growth Can Build Overall National Capacity
Creating a locally grown space program could be a key to development and growth for low-income countries, according to one of two papers being presented this month by Space Foundation Research Analyst Mariel John at the 60th International Astronautical Congress (IAC) in Daejeon, South Korea. Using the Nigerian space program as a case study, John looked at the…
Space Could Stop Epidemics
One of two papers presented by Space Foundation Research Analyst Mariel John this month at the 60th International Astronautical Congress (IAC) in Daejeon, South Korea, examines the technical, programmatic, and political requirements for implementing an operational program to use remote sensing for disease prevention in Nigeria. With a fast-growing economy and a population of more…
Space Foundation Adds Government Affairs Associate
Tommy Sanford has joined the Space Foundation as a government affairs associate, working out of the Washington, D.C., office. Sanford has held internships with the House of Representatives Space & Aeronautics Subcommittee and the Department of Commerce’s Office of Space Commercialization. “I’m a strong believer in opportunities in space improving life on Earth,” said Sanford. In…