Events of Interest: Week of December 6-10, 2010

The folllowing events may of interest in the coming week. For more details, see our calendar on the right menu or click the links below.

During the Week

Congress passed a second Continuing Resolution (CR) last week to keep the government operating until December 18, and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid reportedly has said that his plan is for the Senate to adjourn by December 17. In these last remaining two weeks of the 111th Congress, it will either pass an omnibus funding bill to keep government agencies operating for the rest of FY2011 or kick the can down the road again with another CR. It is anyone’s guess as to which path it will be, as Congress wrangles with associated issues such as extending unemployment benefits and the “Bush era” tax cuts. Anything can happen in the crazy days at the end of a Congress, especially when the party in power of one of the chambers is about to change. We will try to keep you apprised of any actions that would affect space activities.

Meanwhile, we can all hope that the commercial sector will move a step forward this week with a successful launch of Falcon 9 and the Dragon spacecraft on Tuesday as part of NASA’s Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) program.

Monday, December 6

• NASA pre-launch teleconference for the Falcon 9 COTS launch, 1:30 pm EST, NASA TV

Tuesday, December 7

• Scheduled launch of Falcon 9: window is open from 9:03 am to 12:22 pm EST. NASA TV will cover the launch from the T-5 minute hold.

Wednesday, December 8

• Space Transportation Association breakfast with NASA Associate Administrator Chris Scolese, 8:00 am EST, 2325 Rayburn House Office Building (contact rich@spacetransportation.us to register)
• FAA Commercial Space Transportation Advisory Committee (COMSTAC) meeting via teleconference, 11:00 am EST