Jul 27, 2010 | Constellation Program, Exploration, Legislative Activity, The Moon
The investigative arm of Congress sided with NASA on Monday in a report sought by lawmakers over concerns the agency had slowed 2010 spending on the Constellation Program, while they reviewed White House plans to cancel the six-year-old, back-to-the-moon initiative....
Jul 6, 2010 | Benefits of Space Exploration, Blog, Capitol Hill News, Education Station, Exploration, International Cooperation, Kids Space, Legislative Activity, Newsroom
How best to thwart Earth-threatening objects is receiving increased attention in Washington, D.C. Congressman Dana Rohrabacher (Republican from California) has introduced a bill calling for the establishment of a United States Commission on Planetary Defense. Such a...
May 13, 2010 | Capitol Hill News, Legislative Activity
Absent congressional action to delay the end of the space shuttle program, the Atlantis orbiter will make its final flight to orbit at 2:20 pm EDT tomorrow. The weather forecast for the STS-132 launch is 70% favorable. The 12-day mission will take a Russian mini...
May 13, 2010 | Capitol Hill News, Legislative Activity
The Subcommittee on Strategic Forces of the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) cut $182 million from the $9.9 billion FY2011 request for unclassified national security space programs today. A committee press release lists the following additions and...
May 13, 2010 | Capitol Hill News, Legislative Activity
NASA Administrator Charlie Bolden told the Senate Commerce Committee today that he will do “everything in my power” to ensure that the commercial launch companies at the heart of President Obama’s new plan for NASA succeed. The magnitude of that...
May 12, 2010 | Capitol Hill News, Legislative Activity
One of the resounding themes of yesterday’s Space Law and Policy 2010 symposium was that of the need for holistic solutions – that take into account the role of a variety of players- to solve the regulatory issues facing the space community.
May 11, 2010 | Capitol Hill News, Legislative Activity
A National Research Council (NRC) study committee reports that NASA’s basic research facilities are in a state of decline. Committee co-chair John Best says that it is “imperative that NASA restore and maintain its basic research laboratories” or...
May 11, 2010 | Capitol Hill News, Legislative Activity
Rep. Alan Mollohan (D-WV) is in a tight primary race today. With anti-incumbent fervor shaping political races this year, Rep. Mollohan’s close to 30 years in the House may work against him rather than for him as would be typically true. He chairs the House...
May 11, 2010 | Capitol Hill News, Legislative Activity
UPDATE: Rep. Mollohan lost the primary. He will remain in Congress for the rest of this year, of course, but the extent to which his lame duck status affects the outcome of the debate on NASA’s FY2011 funding and the Obama plan for human space flight is an...
May 10, 2010 | Capitol Hill News, Legislative Activity
In a rare public appearance to talk about the future of the human spaceflight program, Neil Armstrong, the first man to set foot on the Moon, will testify to the Senate Commerce committee on Wednesday. Mr. Armstrong will be joined by fellow Apollo astronaut Gene...