Space Command Gets New Mission Statement
U.S. Space Command announced today that it now has an approved campaign plan, which includes a new mission statement. Deterring conflict, but defeating aggression if necessary, are its hallmarks.
Jacobs Nomination Clears Committee, But Questions Remain
The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee approved the nomination of Neil Jacobs to be Administrator of NOAA today, but the committee’s top Democrat said she is not committing to voting for him once it reaches the Senate floor. Jacobs has been acting administrator for more than a year and was in charge during Hurricane Dorian and “Sharpiegate.”
Last Updated: May 20, 2020 4:52 pm ET
Space Council Hears Good News About Civil, Commercial, National Security Space
The White House National Space Council held a short meeting today where Vice President Pence got good news updates on space activities across the government. The meeting was quickly overshadowed by the announcement that a high ranking NASA official was forced to resign yesterday, but there were some notable developments.
Last Updated: May 20, 2020 1:07 am ET
Loverro: “No Regrets”
Doug Loverro has no regrets about the actions he took that led to his sudden departure last night as the head of NASA’s human spaceflight program. The news shocked the NASA community just two days before a pivotal review in preparation for the first launch of astronauts from American soil since 2011.
Last Updated: May 19, 2020 10:56 pm ET
Doug Loverro Resigns
Doug Loverro, the head of NASA’s human spaceflight program, abruptly resigned last evening. In a message to colleagues, he assured them it was not about their performance, but about his own. …
Last Updated: May 19, 2020 4:49 pm ET
Today’s Tidbits: May 17, 2020
Here are SpacePolicyOnline.com’s tidbits for May 17, 2020: ULA launches X-37B; new competition for Space Command HQ; new members for Space Council Users’ Advisory Group; Roscosmos wants NASA to stop by. Be sure to check our website for feature stories and follow us on Twitter (@SpcPlcyOnline) for more news and live tweeting of events.
Last Updated: May 17, 2020 11:11 pm ET
What’s Happening in Space Policy May 17-23, 2020
Here is SpacePolicyOnline.com’s list of space policy events for the week of May 17-23, 2020 and any insight we can offer about them. The Senate is in session this week. The House will meet in pro forma session on Tuesday; the schedule thereafter has not been announced.
Last Updated: May 19, 2020 8:27 am ET
Bridenstine Scolds China Over Long March Reentry Debris
NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine took China to task today after debris from the reentry of the core stage of its Long March-5B rocket fell in Africa. Calling it “really dangerous,” he used it as an example of why the Artemis Accords unveiled today are necessary to ensure safe operations on the Moon. In a statement, he said space exploration should “inspire hope and wonder, not fear and danger.”
Last Updated: May 15, 2020 5:14 pm ET
NASA Unveils “Artemis Accords”
NASA unveiled a set of principles today that it expects countries to adopt if they want to partner with the United States in exploring and utilizing the Moon. Called the Artemis Accords after the name given to NASA’s program to return astronauts to the Moon by 2024, NASA will begin formal discussions with potential partners today.
Last Updated: May 15, 2020 1:31 pm ET
No Checkered Flag Yet, But Commercial Crew Getting Closer to Finish Line
NASA astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken entered quarantine yesterday in preparation for their flight to the International Space Station (ISS) scheduled for May 27. It will be a new era for NASA — the first launch of astronauts from American soil since 2011 and the first crewed flight in NASA’s effort to develop crew space transportation systems as public-private partnerships where it is just a customer, not the owner of those systems.