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Public Policy and Government Affairs
September Washington, D.C., Space Activity Wrap-up
Space Industry Updates The week of Sept. 19, the Artemis program was criticized in several House oversight hearings. On Sept. 23, NASA signed a contract with Lockheed Martin for six to 12 Orion spacecraft to be built at Johnson Space Center in Texas. Previously, NASA’s decision to award Alabama’s Marshall Spaceflight Center the leading role…
September Space Activity on the Hill
Congress returned on Sept. 9 after a month-long August recess. Last week, the Senate focused on appropriations markups and a nomination hearing for Secretary of Air Force and Army. There is increasing pressure as Congress attempts to pass the bill and prevent a government shutdown by Sept. 30. Although another lengthy government shutdown is unlikely, there…
Space Foundation Holds Washington, D.C., Briefing on Space Situational Awareness
During October the Space Foundation held a briefing in Washington, D.C., regarding Space Situational Awareness (SSA) and the status of the U.S. Air Force Space Fence Program. Panelists included: Robert Curbeam, Vice President for Mission Assurance, Quality & Raytheon Six Sigma, Integrated Defense Systems, Raytheon Steve Bruce, Vice President for Integrated Warfare Systems and Sensors,…
U.S. Government Reopens and Tries to Find Compromise
On Oct. 17, President Obama signed into law the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2014, which ended the 16-day government shutdown and funds the government at FY 2013 budget levels through Jan. 15, 2014. There is a section in the law that provides a caveat to fund NOAA’s Joint Polar Satellite System and the Geostationary Operational Environmental…
Space Foundation Hearing Report – "Exoplanet Discoveries: Have We Found Other Earths?"
The House Science, Space & Technology Subcommittee on Space and Subcommittee on Research held a joint hearing on May 9, “Exoplanet Discoveries: Have We Found Other Earths?” Members of Congress in Attendance: Congressman Lamar Smith (R-TX), chairman, full committee Congressman Steven Palazzo (R-MS), chair, space subcommittee Congressman Larry Buschon (R-IN), chair, research subcommittee Congressman Dana…
Subcommittee on Space Hearing Report "Next Steps in Human Exploration to Mars and Beyond"
The House Science, Space, & Technology Subcommittee on Space held a hearing on May 21, “Next Steps in Human Exploration to Mars and Beyond.” Members in attendance included: Congressman Steven Palazzo (R-MS), chair, Space Subcommittee Congressman Lamar Smith (R-TX), chairman, Full Committee Congressman Ralph Hall (R-TX) Congressman Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) Congressman Morris “Mo” Brooks (R-AL)…
Read Space Foundation Budget Reports
The White House released its Fiscal Year 2014 budget request to Congress on April 10. The budget is normally issued in early February, but was delayed due to a delay in finalizing FY 2013 funding. The Space Foundation has produced two reports, providing overviews and comparisons of the Fiscal Year 2014 budgets. The reports include…
House Passes Cyber Bill
The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act (CISPA)on April 18, directing the federal government to conduct cybersecurity activities to provide shared situational awareness in real time between all designated federal cyber operations centers and the appropriately approved private sector entities. The bill has been referred to the Senate. However,…
Senate Armed Services Subcommittee Hearing Report
The Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces held a hearing on April 24, “Military Space Programs and Views on Department of Defense Usage of the Electromagnetic Spectrum.” Senators in attendance included: Sen. Deb Fischer (R-NE) Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL), ranking member, Strategic Forces Subcommittee Sen. Mark Udall (D-CO) Hearing witnesses were: Douglas Loverro, deputy assistant secretary…
Space Foundation Summarizes House Science, Space & Technology Committee Subcommittee on Space Hearing
The House Science, Space & Technology Committee Subcommittee on Space held a hearing on April 24, “An Overview of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Budget for Fiscal Year 2014.” Members in attendance included: Congressman Steven Palazzo (R-MS), chairman, subcommittee Congressman Lamar Smith (R-TX), chairman, full committee Congressman Ralph Hall (R-TX) Congressman Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) …