The FY2021 Consolidated Appropriations Act released today directs the National Science Foundation (NSF) to provide answers on what happened to the Arecibo radio telescope in Puerto Rico and what comes next. Arecibo collapsed last month after supporting cables gave way, but the underlying cause is still being investigated.
NOAA’s Office of Space Commerce won a budget boost in the final version of FY2021 appropriations released today and expected to be passed into law imminently. Although it is not as much as requested, it is more than in prior years as its mission was expanded to encompass Space Traffic Management responsibilities. However, Congress still did not agree to move it from NOAA into the office of the Secretary of Commerce where the Trump Administration hoped it would evolve into a Bureau of Space Commerce.
Congress finalized FY2021 appropriations today. Overall, NASA will receive $23.271 billion, almost $2 billion less than requested. Importantly for the Trump Administration’s Artemis program to return astronauts to the Moon by 2024, it provides only $850 million instead of $3.4 billion for Human Landing Systems. The bill restores funding for Earth and space science programs as well as STEM education programs, congressional priorities the Trump Administration wanted to kill, and admonishes NASA for leaving them out of the request.
Lockheed Martin is acquiring Aerojet Rocketdyne according to a company announcement posted late on a Sunday evening five days before Christmas. The deal will not close until the second half of 2021.
Here is SpacePolicyOnline.com’s list of space policy events for the next week-and-a-half, from December 20 through the end of 2020, and any insight we can offer about them. The congressional schedule is in flux.
Since the U.S. Space Force was created a year ago, the question has been what the members of this new military service would be called. The Army has soldiers, the Navy, sailors, the Marines are the Marines, and the Air Force has airmen. What about the Space Force? Today, Vice President Pence revealed the answer — Guardians.
In the nick of time, Congress passed a third Continuing Resolution (CR) this evening to keep the government operating as negotiations continue on FY2021 appropriations and a new COVID relief bill. This one is just for two days. [UPDATE: The President signed it before midnight.]
The Senate passed an amended version of S. 2800, the NASA authorization bill, by unanimous consent this morning. Sen. Ted Cruz acknowledged that the bill will not pass the House in the few remaining days of the 116th Congress, but expects it to serve as the starting point for legislation next year.
Today the ESA Council appointed Josef Aschbacher as the new ESA Director General beginning next summer when Jan Woerner completes his term. Aschbacher began his career at ESA 30 years ago and currently heads ESA’s earth observation program.
The White House continues to work hard on space policy issues as the Trump Administration comes to a close. Just one week after issuing an update of the broad National Space Policy, today it released Space Policy Directive-6 on space nuclear power and propulsion. A Senior Administration Official demurred when asked if there are any more in the queue.