Congress

Was Discovery of Lunar Ice a Missed ‘Sputnik Moment’ ?

Was Discovery of Lunar Ice a Missed ‘Sputnik Moment’ ?

Did the United States foolishly overlook what should have been an obvious call to action when DOD’s (not NASA’s) Clementine mission discovered water ice at the lunar poles?  And is there still time to do something about it? Spacepolicyonline’s Marcia Smith has a writeup on comments made by U.S. Representative Jim Bridenstine at a meeting […]

Posted in: Congress, Mars, Moon
DNC Astronaut Appearance: Hillary and Guns, Space Not So Much

DNC Astronaut Appearance: Hillary and Guns, Space Not So Much

If anyone happened to waiting for the Democratic party to take credit for the amazing success enjoyed by NASA’s COTS/Commercial Resupply Program under the Obama Administration, using it as an example of what public /private partnerships can accomplish, they are likely to be sorely disappointed. Speaking at the Democratic National Convention last night alongside his […]

Posted in: Congress
The Ties That Bind: Russian / Chinese Engine Cooperation

The Ties That Bind: Russian / Chinese Engine Cooperation

From Tass: “Russia and China are actively discussing the prospects of cooperation in space rocket engine-making, creating a heavy rocket, space stations and making long-distance space flights, Russia’s Ambassador to China Andrey Denisov told TASS on Tuesday. “Our country has substantial potential accumulated in the sphere of engine-making. This is a well-known fact,” the ambassador […]

Posted in: Chinese space, Congress
Congress to Prez: “Kiss My Asteroid”

Congress to Prez: “Kiss My Asteroid”

Congress Give’s President ARM the Finger What may ultimately go down as one of the the strangest and most half-hearted space policy proposals in American history is finally just going down. As spacepolicyonline reports in its usual excruciating detail, a Congressional committee has essentially de-funded the Obama Administration’s Asteroid Redirect Mission, or ARM. Yesterday, the […]

Posted in: Asteroids, Congress
Atlas, Delta, Falcon and Whole Bunch of Smoke

Atlas, Delta, Falcon and Whole Bunch of Smoke

Opinionated Analysis The ping pong match between the House and the Senate over ULA’s request for more RD-180 engines for the Atlas V was in the hands of the latter yesterday, where the Senate Armed Services Committee once again insisted that the number be limited to 9 engines beyond tbose already ordered as part of […]

Europa Lander, SLS Dominate NASA Budget Hearing

Europa Lander, SLS Dominate NASA Budget Hearing

The House appropriations sub-committee which funds NASA held a hearing yesterday regarding the Administration’s FY-2017 budget request. Background  The Administration request for FY 2017 is $18.262 billion. NASA says that the proposed budget is really $19.025 billion because it includes $763 million from other sources. The Congressional appropriation (what NASA actually received) for FY 2016 was […]

Posted in: Congress, NASA
Coaltion White Paper Calls for Stable Space Budgets, Funding SLS & Commercial Crew

Coaltion White Paper Calls for Stable Space Budgets, Funding SLS & Commercial Crew

In an election season pretty much devoid of serious discussion of space policy, if even for a moment, a coalition of space organizations has released a white paper titled “Ensuring U.S. Leadership in Space.” The event took place at a National Press Club Newsmaker news conference at the National Press Club in Washington, DC. The […]

Posted in: Congress, Space Policy
On Board the Omnibus: NASA’s Commercial Crew Program is Finally, Fully, Funded

On Board the Omnibus: NASA’s Commercial Crew Program is Finally, Fully, Funded

For the first time in its often turbulent history, NASA’s Commercial Crew Program is set to receive the full level of funding. $1.243 billion,  requested by the Obama Administration. The news comes as one small part of an Omnibus Spending Bill passed by House and Senate appropriators early this morning. While the agreement, as well […]

Orion First Crewed Mission Slips to 2023

Orion First Crewed Mission Slips to 2023

NASA held a media teleconference on Wednesday to announce the results of a critical review of the space agency’s Orion spacecraft, which had been tentatively scheduled for a first crewed launch in August of 2021. Based on the findings from the review, labelled Key Decision Point C, that launch is now not expected to take […]

Posted in: Congress, SLS / Orion
Space…The Silly Frontier

Space…The Silly Frontier

Tuesday, September 8th 2015 marks the day Congress returns to session after an August recess. It is an event which officially starts the timer on a countdown to an annual budget battle, with this year’s episode, FY 2016, taking center stage. As usual, Spacepolicyonline has a good summary of what is (or is not) to […]

Posted in: Congress, NASA
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