What's Happening in Space Policy November 2-8, 2014

Here is our list of space policy-related events for the week of November 2 – 8, 2014 and any insight we can offer about them.   Congress returns on November 12.

During the Week

News can be expected throughout the week on the October 28 Antares launch failure and the October 31 SpaceShipTwo (SS2) accident.  Orbital Sciences Corporation is leading the Antares investigation and has been posting regular updates on its website.   The National Transportation Safety Board (NSTB) is leading the SS2 investigation, where one of the two pilots died and the other is hospitalized.   NTSB held two briefings yesterday (at 9:00 am and 8:00 pm Pacific Time), and a third is scheduled for tonight (Sunday) at 8:00 pm PT (11:00 pm ET).  We will post information on any briefings that we learn about during the week on the calendar.

On the national scene, the biggest news in the coming week will be, of course, Tuesday’s mid-term elections.  Republicans are expected to retain control of the House and could win control of the Senate as well, although some races are very close, legal challenges may by filed against some state voter registration laws or processes, and there is a chance there could be as many as four Independents in the Senate (there are two now), which could sway the balance of power depending on which party they choose to caucus with (the two incumbent Independents caucus with the Democrats).  All of that makes prognostication especially difficult and could mean that the issue of which party controls the Senate may not be settled on Tuesday.

The most important thing is for EVERY ELIGIBLE VOTER TO GET OUT AND VOTE!  YOUR VOTE DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

Lots of other interesting events are on tap, too.  Certainly the most intriguing one is a panel discussion sponsored by the American Chemical Society and American University on Thursday on “The First and Final Frontiers: The Overlapping Technology Policies of Farming and Space Exploration.”   The Washington Space Business Roundtable’s luncheon later that day also should be particularly interesting.  Mark Sirangelo of Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) is the speaker.  Between SNC’s lawsuit against the government over the Commercial Crew Transportation Capability (CCtCAP) contract awards and this past week’s commercial space setbacks (though they did not involve SNC), Sirangelo’s take on the present and future of commercial space should be thought provoking.   It’s a busy day.  The ACS/AU event is from 10:00-11:00 am ET, NASA is having a briefing at KSC (watch on NASA TV) at 11:00 on the planned December launch of the Orion capsule on its Exploration Flight Test-1 (EFT-1), and the WSBR luncheon starts at 11:30.

On Saturday, NASA, in partnership with the University of Arizona, will hold the first of two “citizen forums” on the Asteroid Initiative.  This first one is in Phoenix.  The second, on November 15, is in Boston.  People had to apply to participate in person and that process is closed; those chosen are being paid $100.  Anyone else can participate online (no stipend), but must register. 

Sunday, November 2

• Third NTSB briefing on SpaceShipTwo accident, Mojave, CA, 8:00 pm PT (11:00 pm ET)

Monday, November 3

• 7th Annual Space Law Conference, National Press Club, Washington, DC, 12:00-3:00 pm ET

Monday-Tuesday, November 3-4

• National Research Council (NRC) Committee on Astronomy and Astrophysics, Beckman Center, Irvine, CA (some sessions are closed, open sessions will be webcast)

Tuesday, November 4

• ELECTION DAY — DON’T FORGET TO VOTE

Wednesday-Thursday, November 5-6

• NRC Space Studies Board, Beckman Center, Irvine, CA (some sessions are closed)

Thursday, November 6

• Farming and Space Exploration–Overlapping Technology Policies, American University, Washington, DC, 10:00-11:00 am ET (preceded by breakfast reception 9:00-10:00)
• NASA Briefing on December EFT-1 Orion Launch, Kennedy Space Center, FL, 11:00 am ET (watch on NASA TV)
• WSBR Luncheon Featuring Sierra Nevada Space System’s Mark Sirangelo, University Club, Washington, DC, 11:30 am – 1:30 pm ET

Saturday, November 8

• Citizen Forum on Asteroid Initiative, Phoenix, AZ, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm local time