On the eve of the second meeting of the National Space Council, the White House announced the 29 members of the Council’s Users’ Advisory Group. Composed of non-federal government representatives, it reports to and provides advice solely to the Council.
Acting NASA Administrator Robert Lightfoot said today that the return of humans to the lunar surface probably will take place in the “latter part of the decade,” referring to the 2020s. Speaking to the Space Transportation Association about NASA’s FY2019 budget request, he did not provide many details of the path between now and then, but conveyed optimism about all that can be accomplished with the budget request just sent to Congress. It proposes $19.9 billion for the agency, close to its current funding level, dropping to $19.6 billion each year for FY2020-2023.
Here is our list of space policy events for the week of February 19-23, 2018 and any insight we can offer about them. The House and Senate are in recess this week (except for pro forma sessions). [Updated February 19 with more information about Wednesday’s Space Council meeting.]
The American Astronomical Society (AAS) is expressing “grave concern” about the Trump Administration’s proposed termination of the Wide-Field Infrared Survey Telescope (WFIRST). The concern is not only about the telescope itself, but the consensus-based Decadal Survey process that recommended it. The astronomy and astrophysics communities have used Decadal Surveys to prioritize ground- and space-based astronomy research since the early 1960s. AAS says it will defend the Decadal Survey process and fight the proposed termination of WFIRST and a 10 percent cut to NASA’s astrophysics budget.
Here are our tidbits for February 15, 2018: Mike Griffin confirmed as USD/R&E and other nominations progress; Chris Shank joins Van Scoyoc Associates; intelligence community warns on antisatellite (ASAT) weapons. Be sure to check our website for feature stories and follow us on Twitter (@SpcPlcyOnline) for more news and live tweeting of events.
Here are our tidbits for February 13, 2018: second time’s a charm for Progress MS-08; a SpaceX-ULA space race with hat eating as the bet; SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell is Satellite Executive of the Year. Be sure to check our website for feature stories and follow us on Twitter (@SpcPlcyOnline) for more news and live tweeting of events.
Concern about the damaging effects of “space weather” on satellites and Earth infrastructure like the electric grid has been growing in recent years. At the same time, spacecraft positioned between the Earth and the Sun to warn of such events are aging. NOAA’s FY2019 budget request proposes a Space Weather Follow-On (SWFO) program to replace some of those capabilities, but it is quite modest compared to what the agency was planning two years ago.
The Trump Administration released its FY2019 budget request today. At first glance, it looks like good news for NASA — $19.9 billion. At second glance, however, the projections for the next four years show a reduction to $19.6 billion and flat funding thereafter without an increase even for inflation. In addition, it proposes killing the next large space telescope, WFIRST, because the money is needed to implement plans for future human exploration of the Moon and Mars. Reaction from key congressional Democrats so far is not favorable.
Here is our list of space policy events for the week of February 12-16, 2018 and any insight we can offer about them. The House and Senate are in session for all or part of this week.
NASA wants a “seamless” transition from the International Space Station (ISS) to whatever comes next in low Earth orbit (LEO). An internal NASA document explains that the proposal to end direct government support for ISS in 2025 does not imply it will be deorbited then, but a goal to move to a new model where NASA is one customer of a commercial LEO enterprise. The FY2019 budget request that will be submitted to Congress tomorrow will include funding to help commercial alternatives be ready in time, perhaps using parts of the ISS. Congressional opposition to the idea is already building, however.