Space Policy Events for the Week of November 18-22, 2013
The following events may be of interest in the week ahead. The House and Senate are in session.
During the Week
NASA’s launch of the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution (MAVEN) mission on Monday at 1:28 pm ET should start the week off on a high note. Weather permitting, that is. The forecast is for a 60 percent chance of favorable conditions. The odds get worse on Tuesday and all fingers are crossed that the Atlas V will lift off sometime during the 2-hour launch window tomorrow (until 3:28 pm ET) and MAVEN will start the 10-month journey to Mars on time. NASA TV begins launch coverage at 11:00 am ET. A post-launch press conference is scheduled for approximately 2.5 hours after launch.
Also on Monday, the Senate is scheduled to try to begin debate on its version of the FY2014 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The bill, S. 1197, was approved by the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) on June 14.
The American Astronautical Society is hosting a panel discussion on international cooperation in space featuring officials from NASA and the Japanese, Canadian and European space agencies. The meeting is on Tuesday in 2325 Rayburn from 11:30 am – 1:30 pm.
The next day and just down the hall in 2318 Rayburn, the Space Subcommittee of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee will hold a hearing on commercial space, with witnesses from the Satellite Industry Association and the Mojave Air and Space Port, but the appearances of House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) and Dennis Tito, often called the first space tourist and now the man behind the Inspiration Mars concept of sending two people on a slingshot trajectory to Mars in 2018, are likely to draw the most attention. McCarthy’s district includes Mojave.
Also on Wednesday, NASA is set to resume the Asteroid Initiative workshop that was interrupted on September 30 because of the government shut-down. It is scheduled for Wednesday-Friday back at the Lunar and Planetary Institute in Houston.
Here’s the full list of events we know about as of Sunday afternoon, November 17.
Monday, November 18
- MAVEN launch and post-launch press conference, Kennedy Space Center, FL, launch window open 1:28-3:28 pm ET, NASA TV coverage begins 11:00 am ET
- Pete Rustan Courage to Innovate Awards Dinner, Chantilly, VA., 5:30 – 9:30 pm ET
Monday-Wednesday, November 18-20
Monday-Friday, November 18-22
- Space Aspects of Geography Awareness Week, National Air & Space Museum, various events
Tuesday, November 19
- IFRI discussion of Militarization of Space and Norway’s Satellite Stations, Paris, FR, 9:00 – 10:30 am local time (CEST)
- NASA Advisory Council (NAC) Astrophysics Subcommittee, virtual (WebEx and telecon), 11:00 am – 5:00 pm ET
- American Astronautical Society Panel on Celebrating International Cooperation in Space, 2325 Rayburn, 11:30 am – 1:30 pm
Tuesday-Wednesday, November 19-20
- NOAA Science Advisory Board, Beacon Hotel, Washington, DC [NOAA’s response to the Satellite Task Force report is currently scheduled for November 19 at 2:00 pm ET, but check the Board’s website for possible changes)
Tuesday-Thursday, November 19-21
- NASA’s VEXAG, NASA HQ, Washington, DC
Wednesday, November 20
- House SS&T Subcmte Hearing on Commercial Space, 2318 Rayburn, 10:00 am ET
Wednesday-Friday, November 20-22
- NASA Asteroid Initiative Workshop (resuming after being interrupted by the government shutdown), Houston, TX
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