Washington Updates

The first and last Americans to walk on the Moon voiced their opposition to the president’s proposed plan for NASA’s exploration program at a Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee hearing May 12 on The Future of U.S. Human Space Flight. Witnesses included: Dr. John P. Holdren, director, Office of Science and Technology Policy Maj.…

On May 19, the House Armed Services Committee passed its version of the FY 2011 Defense Authorization Bill. The bill provides detailed policy instructions to the Pentagon on how to proceed with a variety of programs, including space-related programs. The Committee cut $300 million from the Air Force’s $352 million budget request for the National…

On April 20, U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates announced broad reforms to the U.S. export control system as recommended by President Barack Obama. In his speech, Secretary Gates laid out a blueprint for an export control system where “higher walls are placed around fewer, more critical items.” The administration is seeking a single export-control list,…

On April 21, Sen. Kent Conrad (D-ND), chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, unveiled the Senate’s version of the 2011 budget with an added $726 million for continued testing of the Ares I rocket. If appropriated, NASA’s budget would be increased to $19.7 billion from $19 billion in the president’s FY2011 budget request. Senator Conrad…

The Strategic Forces Subcommittee of the House Armed Service Committee held a hearing on the Space Posture Review on April 21. Witnesses included: General C. Robert Kehler, USAF, commander, Air Force Space Command Robert J. Butler, deputy assistant secretary of defense for cyber and space policy, Office of the Secretary of Defense Betty Sapp, principle deputy…

NASA’s proposed FY 2011 budget came under close scrutiny by both House and Senate lawmakers in March. During several hearings, lawmakers and aerospace industry veterans cited astronaut safety, commercial viability, workforce impacts, and a lack of program details as their most pressing concerns. On March 3, Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) introduced S. 3068, a…