The top civilian and military leaders of the Air Force punted today when asked about President Trump’s comments yesterday calling for creation of a Space Force. The Air Force and other Pentagon officials have been stridently opposing congressional efforts to create a Space Corps or other unique entity to execute DOD space activities for the past year.
Acting NASA Administrator Robert Lightfoot expressed confidence today that important NASA decisions will not be delayed even if a new Administrator is not in place before he leaves the agency on April 30. A new Acting Administrator would also have all the requisite authorities to make decisions, he stressed.
The Senate confirmed Jeffrey DeWit to be NASA’s new Chief Financial Officer (CFO) today. He is the first Trump nominee for NASA to be confirmed.
Here are our tidbits for March 13, 2018: meet Ultima Thule; WIA nominations open for 2018 awards; Bryce publishes new Start-Up Space Report. Be sure to check our website for feature stories and follow us on Twitter (@SpcPlcyOnline) for more news and live tweeting of events.
President Trump visited the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar near San Diego today. In an approximately 25 minute speech, he focused on military themes and famous Marines, including John Glenn, the first American to orbit the Earth. Several minutes of the speech were devoted to civil, commercial and military space programs and he said he was considering creation of a Space Force akin to the Air Force. He made no reference to last year’s efforts by the House Armed Services Committee to establish a Space Corps.
Acting NASA Administrator Robert Lightfoot’s announcement today that he will retire on April 30 raises obvious questions about who will lead the agency thereafter. President Trump’s nominee, Rep. Jim Bridenstine (R-Oklahoma), has not been confirmed by the Senate and it is not clear when or if it will go to the Senate floor for a vote. With other top positions at NASA vacant and the first test flights of new commercial crew systems coming up in a few months, the agency seems particularly in need of strong leadership, but the impasse between the White House and the Senate remains.
Here are our tidbits for March 12, 2018: Musk’s plans for Mars rocket; GOES-S now GOES-17. Be sure to check our website for feature stories and follow us on Twitter (@SpcPlcyOnline) for more news and live tweeting of events.
Robert Lightfoot, who has been serving as NASA’s Acting Admistrator for more than a year, today announced that he will retire from the agency on April 30. In a memo to employees, he said he would work with the White House on the transition to “the new Administrator.” President Trump nominated Rep. Jim Bridenstine (R-Oklahoma) to be NASA’s new Administrator in November, but it is controversial and the Senate has not confirmed him yet.
Here is our list of space policy events for the week of March 11-16, 2018 (yes, the fun begins TODAY– Sunday) and any insight we can offer about them. The House and Senate are in session this week.
Steve Jurczyk is now NASA’s Acting Associate Administrator (AA), the third highest ranking position in the agency. He had been Associate Administrator for the Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD). His STMD Deputy, James Reuter, is now Acting STMD AA. Robert Lightfoot became AA in September 2012, but since January 2017 has been wearing a second hat as NASA’s Acting Administrator. Jurczyk’s promotion should relieve some of the burden as NASA continues to await Senate confirmation of a new Administrator.