Washington Updates

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…

Space policymakers and industry executives celebrated United States-Japan space cooperation at a reception Jan. 31 at the Washington, D.C., residence of the Ambassador of Japan to the United States, Ichiro Fujisaki. Sponsored by the Space Foundation, the Ambassador and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), the event recognized the long and rich history of cooperation…

The U.S. has removed nine Indian space and defense companies, including those from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Defense Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), from the export control entity list, with the objective of strengthening high technology trade between the two countries. The action ends a 13-year ban on export of high-tech, dual-use items…

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…