Report from Washington, D.C.

Report from Washington, D.C.

Written by: Space Foundation Editorial Team

The Space Foundation will release The Space Report 2008: The Authoritative Guide to Global Space Activity in conjunction with the 24th National Space Symposium. This year's edition, which covers primarily 2007 data, contains information on global space budgets and revenues, workforce issues, and a yearly summary and analysis of the Space Foundation Index. The early April release will provide timely and useful information throughout the calendar year. The Space Report 2008 will be available for purchase at the symposium and online at www.TheSpaceReport.org.

Issues affecting all space sectors have garnered much interest in Congress this year. Both the House and the Senate have held numerous hearings on space policy issues. On the civil side, hearings have addressed the Fiscal Year (FY) 2009 NASA budget, the impact of paying Russia for access to the International Space Station during the five year gap in U.S. human spaceflight capabilities, space and earth science programs, and workforce transition issues related to the retirement of the space shuttle.

The House and Senate Armed Services committees also conducted hearings on military space programs, with significant discussion on the shootdown of the failed National Reconnaissance Office satellite, space acquisition strategy, space situational awareness, international intentions for military uses of space, Operationally Responsive Space, and the space protection strategy mandated in the FY2008 Defense Authorization. Hearings about space programs, activities, and policies are expected to continue throughout the year.

Also receiving increased attention this spring in Washington, D.C., is export control modernization, with policymakers within government joining the call for reexamining the International Traffic in Arms Regulations and the U.S. Munitions List. The Space Foundation continues to work actively on the effort to reevaluate and modernize the export control regime through its participation in the Coalition for Security & Competitiveness.

On March 5, the Space Foundation Correspondents Group welcomed Dr. Mark Lewis, Chief Scientist for the Air Force, and in mid-March, the Space Foundation partnered with Analytical Graphics, Inc. to sponsor a reception for space policy professionals. The reception provided a valuable opportunity for interaction between individuals from industry, Capitol Hill, government agencies, and other space-focused organizations.

In preparation for the 24th National Space Symposium, the Space Foundation's Washington, D.C., office has been working to facilitate congressional participation. The Honorable Wayne Allard, United States Senate, The Honorable Tom Feeney, United States House of Representatives, The Honorable Mark Udall, United States House of Representatives, and The Honorable Heather Wilson, United States House of Representatives, will all be participating in the symposium, and a variety of congressional staff are expected to attend as well.

This article is part of Space Watch: April 2008 (Volume: 7, Issue: 4).


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