Tag: congress

EELV Phase 2 and Blue Origin: Where’s the Congressional Curiosity?

EELV Phase 2 and Blue Origin: Where’s the Congressional Curiosity?

Responding to a letter from Congressman Mike Rogers, (R) Al, the GAO has released a report summarizing a presentation made before the House Armed Services Committee on June 6. The report, which is focused on the space launch capabilities of other nations, was requested as the Air Force prepares to structure the next phase of […]

Space Policy Goes to the Republican Convention

Space Policy Goes to the Republican Convention

Space is rarely an important topic during most presidential election, but at least this year it is being mentioned. Former astronaut Eileen Collins, the first woman to command a Space Shuttle mission is scheduled to speak on Wednesday evening. It will be interesting to see if her comments match the tone towards public/private partnerships the […]

Posted in: Space Policy
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
The Zombie Rocket Which Cannot Die: Bolden Says SLS/Orion “Protected” From Next President

The Zombie Rocket Which Cannot Die: Bolden Says SLS/Orion “Protected” From Next President

And so it has come to this. From AL.com: NASA administrator says Space Launch System ‘protected’ against next president “The Space Launch System (SLS) being developed by NASA in Alabama is “a protected program” the next president won’t be able to cancel, NASA Administrator Charles Bolden Jr. said Friday in Huntsville. “It’s a protected program […]

Posted in: SLS / Orion
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 […]

Establishing a Legal Framework for Deep Space Development

Establishing a Legal Framework for Deep Space Development

As the NewSpace era gradually transitions from addressing the challenges of reaching orbit to building out the business cases for what can happen once you do, regulatory issues are going to continue to play a significant, and in many cases, enhanced role. For those who are prone to be unhappy about seeing the advance 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
Congressional Hearing Takeaway: NASA May Lose its ARM, Yet Reach for the Moon

Congressional Hearing Takeaway: NASA May Lose its ARM, Yet Reach for the Moon

On February 3rd, Congress held another in an a seemingly endless line of hearings to discus NASA’s human space flight program. As usual, nothing was decided other than the fact that everyone seemed to agree with the assertion that what NASA is saying is a plan, is not one at all, and that some sort […]

Posted in: Mars, Moon, NASA
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 […]

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