Washington Updates

In January, President Barack Obama’s administration continued to move forward on efforts to review and reform policies in civil, commercial, and defense space. On Dec. 21, Obama signed Presidential Study Directive 8, directing his administration to recommend steps leading to an overhaul of the United States export control regime by no later than Jan. 29.…

Satellites provide a wide perspective of Earth that cannot be replicated in any other way. Industries involved in energy, resources, and environmental management are benefiting from developments in satellite technology and services. The following is an edited excerpt from the Space Foundation’s The Space Report: The Authoritative Guide to Global Space Activity that demonstrates the…

On Dec. 8, the Space Foundation and the National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA) held a Space Power Lecture breakfast (pictured) featuring Norman Augustine, retired Lockheed Martin chairman and chief executive officer and head of the Future of U.S. Human Spaceflight Plans Committee. Augustine addressed the challenges that lie ahead for the United States as a space power, including…

The following is an edited excerpt from the Space Foundation’s The Space Report: The Authoritative Guide to Global Space Activity. Often, space-based capabilities are combined to create new capabilities, many of which are changing our lives here on solid ground. For example, “geoinformatics” converges position, navigation, and timing (PNT) systems with remote sensing and position…

The Space Foundation, in partnership with the National Defense Industry Association (NDIA), held the last Space Power Lecture Breakfast of 2009 on Dec. 8 in Washington, D.C. Featured speaker Norm Augustine, chairman of the Future of U.S. Human Spaceflight Plans Committee and former Lockheed Martin chairman and chief executive officer, talked about the challenges facing…

At a Dec. 2 hearing convened by the Aviation Subcommittee of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, the House of Representatives tackled the issue of safety in space transportation. Rep. Jerry Costello (D-IL), chairman of the subcommittee, made it clear in his opening remarks that Congress needed an update on the rapidly growing industry. Members…