Report from Washington, D.C.

The Space Foundation’s New Generation Space Leaders Initiative continued to grow at the 27th National Space Symposium with almost 150 young space professionals attending specialized programs. The New Generation Initiatives featured a full week of events that kicked off on April 11 with the popular “speed mentoring” New Generation Leadership Exchange. During the exchange, up-and-coming…

April 11 The Senate Appropriations Commerce, Justice and Science Subcommittee held a hearing on NASA’s FY 2012 budget request. NASA Administrator Charles Bolden told lawmakers that, in the current tough fiscal environment, the space agency would have to push back the launch date of several missions. For example, the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) had…

The House Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces held a hearing March 15 on the FY 2012 National Defense Authorization Budget Request for National Security Space Activities. Witnesses included: The Honorable Erin Conaton, under secretary of the Air Force, U.S Department of Defense General William Shelton, commander, Air Force Space Command Ambassador Gregory Schulte, deputy…

On March 14, the Space Foundation hosted a breakfast briefing on the national security space strategy for Congress featuring Ambassador Gregory Schulte, the deputy assistant secretary of defense for space policy, who briefed attendees and fielded questions. Schulte outlined the strategy’s three major objectives: to maintain the advantages that space provides the U.S. to protect…

According to a story from The Associated Press, the Russians are hiking the price of rocket rides again for U.S. astronauts – to nearly $63 million. The price goes up in 2014 for an astronaut to fly to and from the International Space Station on a Russian Soyuz spacecraft. The previous contract charged just under…

The House Science, Space & Technology Committee held a hearing March 2 on NASA’s FY 2012 budget request, which proposes $18.7 billion in funds for the space agency. Administrator Charles Bolden testified before the Committee. Members of Congress from both parties voiced their concerns that the funding priorities outlined in NASA’s budget request did not…

President Barack Obama released his FY 2012 budget request to Congress on Feb. 14, proposing a freeze on non-security discretionary spending, which includes funds for NASA and NOAA. The $18.7 billion requested to fund NASA is the same amount the agency received in 2010 and is currently operating under. The Space Foundation’s analysis of the…

On Feb. 4 the Department of Defense (DoD) released its long-awaited 10-year National Security Space Strategy (NSSS), which, according to Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, “represents a significant departure from past practice” with a pragmatic approach to maintain advantages derived from space while confronting the new challenges of an increasingly “congested, contested and competitive” space…

The House Armed Service Committee held a hearing Feb. 18 on the Air Force’s FY 2012 budget request, which includes $11.6 billion for space superiority efforts. The requests for Air Force space programs includes: $1.138 billion for Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicles $987 million for Space-Based Infrared System $2.292 billion for Advanced Extremely High Frequency $281…

Jan. 5 marked the opening of the 112th Congress, which welcomed 96 new members to the House of Representatives and 16 to the Senate. Florida’s 24th district, home to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, is now represented by Rep. Sandra Adams (R-FL). Also, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) is Florida’s new junior senator. Alabama’s 5th district, home…