Report from Washington, D.C.

This week in Washington, the Senate Appropriations Committee exceeded NASA’s budget request for FY22 but only added $100 million to be spent on the Human Landing System, the Lucy mission successfully launched from Cape Canaveral, Congress hosted two hearings on the future of deep space travel and international partnerships, and William Shatner went where very…

This week in Washington, the Senate voted to extend the debt ceiling, NASA reassigned Astronauts Nicole Mann and John Cassada from Boeing’s Starliner flight to the SpaceX Crew-5 mission, and the HPSCI approved the creation of a separate National Space Intelligence Center. Space Foundation Online Content Women in Space: The Dr. Sally Ride Quarter Story Space…

This week in Washington, the House passed the 61st consecutive National Defense Authorization Act, General Jay Raymond revealed the new Space Force Uniforms as well as the “Guardian Ideal,” and NASA Administrator Bill Nelson announced Jim Free as the first lead of a new Mission Directorate overseeing the Artemis Mission. Symposium 365 Upcoming Event World…

The 36th annual Space Symposium took place in Colorado Springs and on the virtual Symposium 365 platform from August 23-26. Thousands of individuals participated in the in-person programming and more joined us virtually. Thank you to all of our distinguished speakers, sponsors and industry partners, exhibition participants, and attendees. Rosh Hashanah began earlier this week,…

This week, the $3.5 trillion spending package passed the Senate. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said the House will return from recess early to take up the budget resolution and infrastructure bill during the week of Aug. 23.  36th Space Symposium You can still register for the Virtual Experience at Space Symposium. Join us to…

This week, the Senate confirmed Frank Kendall III to be the 26th Air Force secretary in a voice vote. The Senate moved forward through procedural votes on the major infrastructure bill. President Biden nominated John Plumb, chief of government relations at the Aerospace Corporation, to be assistant secretary of defense for space policy. The Space…

This week, Richard Branson and the Unity 22 crew, comprised of Sirisha Bandla, Beth Moses, Coplin Bennet, and pilots Michael Masucci and Dave Mackay, successfully completed the first fully crewed flight for Virgin Galactic and made a giant leap towards commercial suborbital spaceflight. Next week, Blue Origin will fly the oldest and youngest people ever…

The week the Senate is out of session while the House Appropriations Defense Committee held closed markup sessions. Over 50 years in the making, Mary Wallace “Wally” Funk will fly to space.  Richard Branson announced July 11 as the new spaceflight date. Additionally, the space community remembers the Soyuz 11 crew, the only spacefarers to…

This week the House and Senate held hearings for FY2022 budget requests. Juneteenth becomes first new U.S. National Holiday in nearly 40 years. Pam Melroy was confirmed as NASA Deputy Administrator and Rick Spinrad also passed on voice vote to become NOAA Administrator. Sign Up for Space Symposium 365 Register here to access key events…