Space Policy

As noted in this month’s Second View, one of the reasons for the success of this year’s Space Symposium was the increased international participation in the form of government and trade delegations. This presence opens opportunities for companies to generate new business and for governments to engage with each other and with industry. The use…

The inaugural issue of New Space magazine, published by Mar Ann Liebert, Inc., and edited by Scott Hubbard, features an editorial on new space by Space Foundation Chief Executive Officer Elliot Pulham, who serves on the magazine’s editorial board. New Space, which was officially launched at the 29th National Space Symposium in April, is a…

The inaugural issue of New Space magazine, published by Mar Ann Liebert, Inc., and edited by Scott Hubbard, features an editorial on new space by Space Foundation Chief Executive Officer Elliot Pulham, who serves on the magazine’s editorial board. New Space, which was officially launched at the 29th National Space Symposium in April, is a…

At the House Science, Space and Technology Committee September hearing on “Recent Developments in NASA’s Commercial Crew Acquisition Strategy,” NASA testified that the Commercial Crew Integrated Capability (CCiCap) will enable industry partners to advance the integrated critical design of their planned crew transportation systems. This includes the crew spacecraft, launch vehicle, ground systems and mission…

On Sept. 20, six members of the U.S. House of Representatives introduced the Space Leadership Preservation Act (H.R. 6491), which is aimed at providing NASA with more stability and predictability. Among other things H.R. 6491 would do are: Create a 10-year term for the NASA administrator Establish a board of directors to provide a quadrennial…

The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation held a hearing last month on “The Path from LEO to Mars,” which examined NASA’s exploration portfolio, both robotic and human, beyond low-Earth orbit (LEO) to the surface of Mars. Steve Squyres, Ph.D., testified that there are two areas of concern regarding getting beyond LEO and eventually…

The U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics, Committee on Science, Space and Technology held a hearing in September on “Examining NASA’s Development of the Space Launch System and Orion Crew Capsule” at which representatives from industry testified that Orion is currently advancing toward its Exploration Flight Test-1 (EFT-1) in 2014. EFT-1 mission…

Subcommittee Looks at Commercial Launch Market The House Science, Space & Technology Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics held a hearing in June on “An Examination of Future Commercial Launch Markets & FAA’s Launch Indemnification Program.” The Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) launch indemnification program was created in the 1980s to provide a structured risk-sharing regime to…