Washington Updates

On June 24, the Space Foundation, in partnership with the Secure World Foundation, hosted a discussion and briefing on space weapons for congressional staff. See related story in this issue of Space Watch. On June 17, the Review of U.S. Human Space Flight Plans Committee, chartered to examine NASA’s human spaceflight plans and programs, held…

Participants at this fall’s 2nd Global Space Development Summit, organized by the Center for Strategic and International Studies in partnership with the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, the Space Foundation and the Chinese Society for Astronautics, will examine critical developments on issues of space exploration and Earth observations. Scheduled for Nov. 12-13 in Washington,…

On May 6, the Space Foundation hosted a Space Foundation Correspondents Group breakfast with Gen. C. Robert Kehler, USAF, commander, Air Force Space Command. Speaking with about a dozen reporters, Gen. Kehler said that the United States is working to update its Cold War-era space situational awareness (SSA) system, a need made more urgent by…

Space situational awareness (SSA) was a recurring theme at the Space Foundation Correspondents Group (SFCG) meeting May 6 in Washington, D.C. Speaking with about a dozen reporters, General C. Robert Kehler, USAF, commander, Air Force Space Command, said that the United States is working to update its Cold War-era SSA system, a need made more…

On May 23, President Barack Obama announced his intent to nominate Major General Charles Bolden, USMC (retired), as NASA administrator and Lori Garver as Deputy NASA administrator. In making the nomination, Obama said, “These talented individuals will help put NASA on course to boldly push the boundaries of science, aeronautics and exploration in the 21st…

The Space Foundation hosted a reception and briefing in Washington, D.C., April 30, for congressional staffers, U.S. and international space agency officials, and industry representatives celebrating the release of The Space Report 2009: The Authoritative Guide to Global Space Activity. Marty Hauser, Space Foundation vice president, Washington operations, research & analysis, briefed the attendees on…