What's Happening in Space Policy October 20-24, 2014

Here is our list of space policy-related events in the coming week, October 20-24, 2014, and any insights we can offer about them.  Congress returns on November 12.

During the Week

The U.S. Court of Federal Claims has scheduled a second hearing on Sierra Nevada Corporation’s (SNC’s) lawsuit against the government vis a vis the Commercial Crew Transportation Capability (CCtCAP) contracts for Tuesday at 2:30 pm ET (it’s not listed on our calendar because we don’t list court dates for lawsuits since they are rarely open to the public).  The first hearing was on Friday, where the court allowed SpaceX and Boeing to intervene in the case.  The court is also considering SNC’s request to keep most of the filings under seal because some of the material may be proprietary and some is protected under SNC’s protest to the Government Accountability Office (GAO).  SNC is protesting NASA’s award of the CCtCAP contracts to Boeing and SpaceX.  Ordinarily, under the Competition in Contracting Act (CICA), work would stop under those contracts until GAO rules on SNC’s protest (it has until January 5, 2015).  NASA did issue a stop-work order, but later rescinded it based on its statutory authority to avoid significant adverse consequences.  SNC is challenging the legality of that rescission.  Check back with SpacePolicyOnline.com to learn about what happens on Tuesday.

There are many other interesting events on tap during the week as well.   On Monday, the United Nations Office of Outer Space Affairs (which administers the UN Committee on Peaceful Uses of Outer Space), the Mexican Space Agency and another Mexican organization, CICESE, will hold a symposium on Making Space Technology Accessible and Affordable.  The opening ceremony and a press conference — including the head of the Mexican Space Agency, Javier Mendieta — will be webcast. 

The third of three International Space Station (ISS) spacewalks in as many weeks is scheduled for Wednesday.  This time it is two Russians, Max Suraev and Alexander Samokutyaev, who will step outside.   NASA TV will cover it beginning at 9:00 am ET.

Two very interesting luncheons are being held in the Washington, DC area on Thursday, unfortunately at exactly the same time.  The Washington Space Business Roundtable is hosting a panel of experts on the future of satellite communications in support of DOD at the University Club is downtown DC, while the National Capital Section of the American Institute of Aeronautics is hearing from NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Chris Scolese across the river in Arlington, VA.   Not to mention that there’s an all-day symposium in DC that day on space and satellite regulatory issues.  Busy day!

Those and other events we know about as of Sunday afternoon are listed below.

Monday, October 20

• UN/Mexico Symposium on Making Space Technology Accessible and Affordable, Ensenada, Mexico (opening ceremony and press conference will be webcast)

Wednesday, October 22

• ISS Spacewalk (Russia), begins approximately 9:24 am ET (NASA TV coverage begins 9:00 am ET)

Wednesday-Sunday, October 22-26

• American Society for Gravitational and Space Research, Pasadena, CA

Thursday, October 23

• 3rd Annual Space and Satellite Regulatory Colloquium, W Hotel. Washington, DC, 7:30 am – 4:30 pm ET
• WSBR Luncheon Featuring Panel of Experts on the Future of SATCOM in Support of DOD, University Club, Washington, DC, 11:30 am – 1:30 pm ET
• AIAA-NCS Luncheon Featuring NASA’s Chris Scolese, Army Navy Country Club, Arlington, VA, 11:30 am – 1:30 pm ET