The final version of the FY2023 defense appropriations bill will boost funding for the U.S. Space Force not only above FY2022, but over President Biden’s request — a new total of $26.3 billion. The defense appropriations bill is incorporated in the FY2023 Consolidated Appropriations bill introduced in the early hours this morning and currently being considered by the Senate. The funding is a little higher than what was recommended in the National Defense Authorization Act last week.

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NASA is slated to get $25.4 billion for FY2023 in the Consolidated Appropriations bill introduced at about 2:00 am ET this morning. While an increase over the $24 billion for FY2022, it is less than the $26 billion requested. Coupled with inflation and COVID-related costs, the agency will continue to be challenged in executing its broad portfolio of science, technology, aeronautics and human spaceflight programs.

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The head of Russia’s space agency said today a decision will be made next week on what to do about the damaged Soyuz MS-22 spacecraft docked at the International Space Station. Soyuz MS-22 is the ride home for two Russian cosmonauts and an American astronaut as well as their lifeboat while they’re onboard. Last week all the coolant leaked out of an exterior cooling loop due to a tiny hole that could have been caused by a micrometeoroid or space debris.

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Here is SpacePolicyOnline.com’s list of space policy events for the next two weeks, December 18, 2022-January 2, 2023, and any insight we can offer about them. The House and Senate will be in session this week. If they complete their work by Friday they will be in recess the last week of the year except for pro forma sessions. The 117th Congress ends and the 118th Congress begins at noon on January 3, 2023.

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Rocket Lab is getting ready to launch the Electron rocket for the first time from the United States. The launch from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility on the coast of Virginia is scheduled for 6:00 pm ET tonight. The launch is important not only because it gives Rocket Lab a foothold in the U.S. in addition to its home in New Zealand, but is the first use of a new NASA-developed Autonomous Flight Termination System expected to significantly reduce the cost of launch operations and increase launch cadence. [NEW UPDATE: The December 18 launch was scrubbed due to upper level winds. Initially Rocket Lab was going to try again on December 19, but they’ve concluded winds will still be a problem. They are assessing when the next launch attempt will be made.]

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Vice President Kamala Harris has announced the members of the external advisory group for the White House National Space Council. The 30-person list is heavy on industry representation — both traditional and novel space companies — as well as individuals from the Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics (STEAM) fields and from the climate community.

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NASA said this afternoon that it will delay a planned International Space Station spacewalk on Monday as it works with its Russian counterpart, Roscosmos, to investigate the cause of a dramatic coolant leak on Russia’s Soyuz MS-22 spacecraft. Instead, on Sunday, NASA will use the robotic Canadarm2 to take a look at the Soyuz to assess the spacecraft’s status and try to determine what caused the leak. Three ISS crewmembers — two Russians and one American — need that spacecraft to bring them back to Earth.

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The Senate passed the FY2023 National Defense Authorization Act tonight. Although it seemed in peril just a week ago, the bipartisan leadership of the House and Senate Armed Services Committees once again demonstrated their determination and influence to maintain a perfect record for getting the NDAA through Congress 62 years in a row. The Senate also passed and sent to the President a one-week extension to the Continuing Resolution to keep the government funded through December 23.

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Two Russian cosmonauts on the International Space Station were suited up and ready to begin a spacewalk when it was called off because of a leak in the Soyuz MS-22 spacecraft docked outside. The stream of particles from the leak was clearly visible in NASA TV’s live coverage. Russia is trying to determine the source of the leak and implications for the integrity of the spacecraft. Soyuz MS-22 delivered the two comonauts and NASA’s Frank Rubio to the ISS and is intended to bring them back to Earth.

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Nigeria and Rwanda today became the first African countries to sign the Artemis Accords, bringing the total number of signatories to 23. The Accords lay out principles for countries to work together effectively on the Moon and are open to all countries to sign. Originally the United States intended to require any country wanting to participate in the U.S.-led Artemis program to sign them, but they’ve evolved into a more general commitment to peaceful cooperation in civil space activities in cislunar space.

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