A sampling of links to recent space policy, politics, and government (US and international) related space news and resource items that I found of interest:

• NASA lunar program:
  • NASA head rules out SpaceX rockets for 2024 moon mission – CNET
  • Crew safety during an early lunar return  – The Space Review
• Europa mission
  • Management for NASA’s Europa Mission – NASA Inspector General (pdf)
  • NASA IG Warns on Europa Clipper, Lander Costs and Schedules – SpacePolicyOnline.com
  • Inspector general report warns of cost and schedule problems for Europa Clipper – SpaceNews.com
  • NASA IG finds both Europa missions a mess – Behind The Black

NASA estimates flying Europa Clipper on SpaceX Falcon Heavy “would save approximately $700 million” compared to SLS.

But NASA also says Falcon Heavy (flown twice) requires “additional flight testing” to fly the mission while SLS (never flown) “is exempt.”https://t.co/3cECCPO0UD pic.twitter.com/jeTDbOI6fs

— Michael Sheetz (@thesheetztweetz) May 29, 2019

• Trump space:
  • NASA: President Donald Trump is making a good investment – USAToday.com
  • White House sends mixed messages on 2020 research spending bills – Science/AAAS
  • Former U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson named to NASA advisory committee – Orlando Sentinel
• NASA commercial partnerships:
  • Study Informs NASA Plan for a Vibrant Future Commercial Space Economy | NASA
  • NASA’s LEO Commercialization Studies Paint Questionable Outlook – SpacePolicyOnline.com
  • Op-ed | ISS doesn’t have to be an FFRDC; It has to be done right – SpaceNews.com
• US states space:
  • Lift off: Space Florida, Israeli agencies to collaborate – Florida Politics
  • SASC bill directs DoD to make use of commercial spaceports for small satellite launches – SpaceNews.com
• Commercial Crew Program:
  • NASA Provides Update on SpaceX Crew Dragon Static Fire Investigation – Commercial Crew Program
  • NASA says SpaceX readying Crew Dragon capsule for possible piloted test flight by end of year – Spaceflight Now
  • ULA looks to return America to space | Editorials -timesdaily.com/Alabama
• US military space:
  • Experts Warn Space Force Rhetoric Risks Backfiring – Breaking Defense
  • Congress says ‘not so fast’ to speed-obsessed Space Development Agency – SpaceNews.com
  • Future narrowband satellite capability to transfer to Air Force – U.S. Air Force
  • Navy to transfer satellite communications responsibilities to Air Force – SpaceNews.com
• Chinese space:
  • China’s Chang’e-4 probe resumes work for sixth lunar day – Xinhua | English.news.cn
  • China Has a Head Start in the New Space Race | The Diplomat
• Japanese space:
  • Trump, Abe Agree on Expanded Human Space Exploration – SpacePolicyOnline.com
  • Japan Astronauts to Soon Join U.S. in Trip to Mars, Trump Says – Bloomberg
• Indian space:
  • Op-ed | India needs its own space force – SpaceNews.com
• Russian space:
  • Russian space sector plagued by astronomical corruption – AFP/Phys.org
  • Losses from Roscosmos emergency launches in 2010-2018 reach $541.83 mln – TASS
  • Russia starts preparations for launch of Soyuz-2.1b rocket from Vostochny spaceport – TASS
  • Roscosmos to spend over 259 bln rubles on space launches in 2019-2021 – Interfax
  • How Russia (yes, Russia) plans to land cosmonauts on the Moon by 2030 | Ars Technica
• UK space:
  • What Effect will Brexit Have on UK Spaceflight? | Space.com

Webcasts:

** Episode T+122: National Security SpaceX Lawsuit – Main Engine Cut Off

NSSL, LSA, OMG! Last week, SpaceX filed a lawsuit against the US Air Force over the Launch Service Agreement development contracts. We’re mere months away from bids being due for the National Security Space Launch Phase 2 launch contracts, so I figured now would be a good time to take a step back to explain what these programs are, why they matter, and why SpaceX is filing this lawsuit at this moment in time.

** May 28, 2019 Zimmerman/Batchelor podcast | Behind The Black

** The Space Show – Tue, 05/28/2019 – James Donovan talked about his new book, Shoot for the Moon: The Space Race and the Extraordinary Voyage of Apollo 11, and about “space policy, returning to the Moon, lessons learned, space and humanity plus more”.

** Sharing a Passion for Mars at the Humans to Mars Summit | The Planetary Society

This year’s Humans to Mars Summit in Washington D.C., once again ended with a panel of Martian all-stars talking about their hopes for a future that includes the Red Planet. Planetary Radio host Mat Kaplan leads the inspiring and entertaining discussion. Emily Lakdawalla shows us the beautiful, sunlit clouds of Mars, while this week’s What’s Up segment gives Mat the job of singing the answer to our latest space trivia quiz.

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Moon Rush: The New Space Race

A sampling of links to recent space policy, politics, and government (US and international) related space news and resource items that I found of interest:

• Schedule:
  • What’s Happening in Space Policy May 26-June 1, 2019 – SpacePolicyOnline.com
• NASA Lunar program:
  • Op-Ed | Time to go back to the moon, to truly stay – SpaceNews.com
  • Sirangelo to NASA — Hi and Bye – SpacePolicyOnline.com
• Lunar Gateway:
  • Maxar Wins First Gateway Contract – SpacePolicyOnline.com
•  Commercial Crew Program:
  • Boeing completes tests of Starliner thrusters – SpaceNews.com
• Commercial spaceflight regulation
  • Commercial Space Transportation: Improvements to FAA’s Workforce Planning Needed to Prepare for the Industry’s Anticipated Growth – U.S. GAO
• Lunar history preservation:
  • Historic Moon Landing Sites: Space Act Calls for Preservation and Protection – LeonardDavid.com
  • One Small Step Act bill – ForAllMoonKind.org (pdf)
• US military space:
  • Crunch time: Rocket companies in all-out battle for Air Force award – SpaceNews.com
• US states space:
  • Florida Space Coast is bouncing back with help from SpaceX, Boeing and Blue Origin | Borneo Bulletin Online
• GPS system:
  • Senate Adopts GPS Resolution – GPS Innovation Alliance (GPSIA)
• Euro space:
  • EU/ESA Space Council – ESA – Webcast of “9th high-level EU/ESA Space Council, with the theme ‘Space as an enabler’, will take place on Tuesday, 28 May”.
  • Europe to Mars – and back! – ESA
• Indian space:
  • U.S. Air Force’s Space Fence Detects Debris from India Anti-Satellite Test – Lockheed-Martin
• Russian space:
  • Soyuz 2-1b launches latest GLONASS-M satellite – despite being hit by lightning – NASASpaceFlight.com
  • “Roskosmos” plans to increase the capacity of “Angara” – RIA News (Google Translate)
• Rwandan space:
  • Rwanda looks to deploy satellite tech to monitor progress on SDGs | The New Times | Rwanda
• UAE space:
  • Emirati astronaut Hazza on final training before taking off to space – Khaleej Times
• UK space:
  • Cornwall is “ready for lift off” with a spaceport – Pirate FM

Webcasts:

** Mars Hotel/The Space Show – Wed, 05/22/2019 – John Batchelor & Dr. David Livingston talked with William Harwood of CBS News about “Jeff Bezos and the Blue Moon Lander project, his recent press conference & returning to the Moon”.

** National Space Society Space Settlement Interview with Voice of America – National Space Society –

On the Science Edition of Voice of America Press Conference USA, host Rick Pantaleo discusses the possibilities of life in space with Mark Hopkins and Al Globus of the National Space Society (30 minutes).

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Safe Is Not an Option

A sampling of links to recent space policy, politics, and government (US and international) related space news and resource items that I found of interest:

• Lunar Gateway power & propulsion module award:
  • NASA Awards Artemis Contract for Lunar Gateway Power, Propulsion | NASA
  • Maxar Selected to Build, Fly First Element of NASA’s Lunar Gateway  Maxar/Business Wire
• Lunar lander award:
  • NASA to soon announce winner of first commercial lunar lander competition – Spaceflight Now
• NASA’s Artemis lunar program:
  • More Details Emerge About Artemis – SpacePolicyOnline.com
  • No Extra Moon Money in House Committee CJS Bill – SpacePolicyOnline.com
  • NASA has difficulty rallying support from Congress to go back to the moon – Axios
• NASA budget:
  • House bill restores funding to Earth science and astrophysics missions – SpaceNews.com
  • Momentum grows for nuclear thermal propulsion – SpaceNews.com
• Low earth orbit commercial space station:
  • Companies encourage NASA to press ahead with LEO commercialization efforts – SpaceNews.com
• Commerce Dept. space office:
  • HAC Stiffs New Commerce Bureau for Satellite Regulation – Breaking Defense
  • House Appropriators Say No to Elevating Office of Space Commerce – SpacePolicyOnline.com
• Space regulation:
  • Industry seeks more time to review revised commercial launch regulations – SpaceNews.com
  • How defense and civil space offices can work together to on space situational awareness and space commerce – The Space Review
• US space politics:
  • A Government Coup by NASA’s Bureaucracy – American Greatness
  • Republicans are for the Moon? Democrats are for Mars? A Look at the Artificial Divide — Astralytical
• US military space:
  • Launch Services Agreeement protest:
    • SpaceX is suing the government — and Blue Origin and ULA want to intervene – The Verge
    • Blue Origin, ULA and Northrop Grumman weigh in on SpaceX rocket lawsuit – GeekWire
    • SpaceX launches new legal battle against U.S. Air Force – SpaceNews.com
    • SpaceX lawsuit: Air Force rocket awards ‘wrongly’ gave billions to Blue Origin, ULA, Northrop Grumman – CNBC
    • SpaceX protest of USAF Launch Services Agreement (LSA) awards – CourtListener.com (pdf)
  • Launch:
    • Not everyone on Capitol Hill disapproves of the Air Force launch strategy – SpaceNews.com
    • Pentagon’s ‘on-demand’ space launch challenge presents host of challenges – POLITICO
  • Misc projects:
    • House Appropriators Suggest Changes to Major Space Efforts – Air Force Magazine
    • Schedule woes for GPS 3 ground control system far from over, warns GAO – SpaceNews.com
    • House appropriators suggest Navy and Air Force should merge satellite communications programs – SpaceNews.com
  • Space force:
    • Senate authorizers approve Space Force but switch up its organizational structure – DefenseNews.com
    • SASC OKs Space Force, But Imposes Tight Oversight – Breaking Defense
    • SASC Approves Establishment of U.S. Space Force – SpacePolicyOnline.com
    • DOD Keeping Door Open to Space National Guard – Air Force Magazine
  • Air Force Secretary selection:
    • Trump picks Barbara Barrett, a former U.S. ambassador and space enthusiast, to run Air Force – The Washington Post
• Canadian space:
  • Canada mulls accelerated schedule to keep pace with NASA’s 2024 moon goal – SpaceNews.com
  • Canadian Ideas Wanted Now for the Beginning of Renewed Moon Exploration Era – SpaceQ
• Chinese space:
  • Safety last: Reckless behavior provides China with economic competitive advantages in space launch – SpaceNews.com
  • U.S. launch companies not worried about Chinese competition – SpaceNews.com
  • China to launch six to eight BDS-3 satellites this year – Xinhua | English.news.cn
  • Launch of Yaogan-33 satellite fails in north China – Xinhua | English.news.cn
• Greek space:
  • Greek Space Agency Signs Space Cooperation MoU With Airbus – SpaceWatch.Global
• Indian space:
  • Isro’s new commercial arm NewSpace India officially inaugurated | Business Standard News
  • India plans July launch of Chandrayaan 2 moon mission – Spaceflight Now
• Luxembourgian space:
  • Luxembourg launches LSA Data Center to promote access to space data — SpaceResources/Luxembourg
• Russian space:
  • Roscosmos’s strategic mission is to expand Russia’s influence — Rogozin – TASS
  • Roscosmos chief announces plans to land man on Moon in 2030 – Interfax

Webcasts:

** NASA Awards Artemis Contract for Lunar Gateway Power, Propulsion | NASA

NASA announces the first partnership of its kind with MAXAR Technologies to power the future lunar orbiting station. For more information visit NASA.gov/moontomars

** The Space Show – Tue, 05/21/2019 – Dr. Philip Metzger discussed “starting space industrialization, establishing Cislunar transportation, lunar development, asteroid development, thinking big, Mars and more”.

** Talking with NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine | The Planetary Society

The former Oklahoma congressman and Navy aviator stepped into the leadership role barely a year ago. Now he wants to see humans back on the Moon by 2024 as a vital stepping stone to Mars. Join us for a wide-ranging conversation about this ambitious plan and much more. Planetary Society Chief Scientist Bruce Betts continues the countdown to launch of LightSail 2 before he takes us across the heavens in What’s Up.

** Episode #3 – Artemis, Blue Moon, Planet Definition, & more – MarsTalk – Mars Society podcast hosted by Christopher Tarantola, joined by James Burk & Lucinda Offer

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Safe Is Not an Option

A sampling of links to recent space policy, politics, and government (US and international) related space news and resource items that I found of interest:

• Schedule:
  • What’s Happening in Space Policy May 19-25, 2019 – SpacePolicyOnline.com
• NASA’s lunar program:
  • NASA’s full Artemis plan revealed: 37 launches and a lunar outpost | Ars Technica
  • Industry wants NASA to move ahead quickly on Gateway module – SpaceNews.com
  • NASA chooses companies to design part of its Artemis lunar lander – Ars Technica
  • Did Bezos just save NASA’s Project Artemis moon mission? – TheHill
  • The White House is giving NASA another $1.6 billion to go to the moon. It won’t be enough. –  Popular Science
• NASA budget:
  • NASA spending bill clears House subcommittee – SpaceNews.com
• Planetary defense:
  • NASA Administrator Bridenstine Endorses the NEOCam Mission – National Space Society – NSS
• Space settlement:
  • Achieving Bezos’ bold vision of space settlement requires bold policy direction – SpaceNews.com
• Govt-Commerical space;
  • SpaceX sues the federal government but asks to keep details under wraps – GeekWire
  • SpaceX sues US government to protest mystery launch or rocket R&D contracts – Teslarati
  • Advising NASA – Wayne Hale’s Blog
• US state space:
  • Spaceport America vision at the edge of paying off big – Albuquerque Journal
  • So far, a spaceport at Sawyer airport seems like good idea – The Mining Journal
• Space tech exports law:
  • ESPI Brief 27: Space Policy Directive 2: ITAR, an instrument of U.S. dominance – SpaceWatch.Global
• US military space:
  • Pentagon’s ‘on-demand’ space launch challenge presents host of challenges – POLITICO
  • House appropriators deny Space Force funding, call on DoD to study alternatives – SpaceNews.com
  • Outgoing SecAF Worries About Developing Service Culture at New Space Force | Military.com
  • Space officers could have a better chance of promotion under new proposed guidelines – SpaceNews.com
• Chinese space:
  • Long March 3C rocket launches Beidou satellite toward geostationary orbit – Spaceflight Now
  • Satellites to customize data for BRI [Belt & Road Initiative] – ecns.cn
• Indian space:
  • ISRO planning 7 interplanetary missions, Venus on the to-do list – DNAIndia.com
• Japanese space:
  • Japan to sign on to US moon exploration platform – Nikkei Asian Review
• Russian space:
  • Proton launch provider ILS embraces closer relationship with Roscosmos – Spaceflight Now
  • Fourth Blagovest Satellite Launch Planned for July – SpaceWatch.Global
• UK space:
  • #SpaceWatchGL Op’Ed: Britain’s Vital Strategic Interests In Space – SpaceWatch.Global

Webcasts:

** The Emerging Space Environment, Hearing of the Senate Subcommittee on Aviation and Space, May 14, 2019

** Amending the Budget to Support Humans on the Moon in 2024 – This Week @NASA – May 17, 2019

** Will $1.6 billion Let NASA’s New Artemis Program Become Reality? – Scott Manley

** Sun, 05/19/2019 – Emily Carney talked about Space Hipsters, which she co-founded, “and lots more regarding space programs, education, outreach, policy, and getting young women interested in space”.

** Tue, 05/14/2019: Dr. Robert Zubrin talked about his new book, The Case for Space: How the Revolution in Spaceflight Opens Up a Future of Limitless Possibility and about “the Gateway, lunar return, Mars, policy, China, Pell Grant funding and more”.

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The Case for Space:
How the Revolution in Spaceflight Opens Up
a Future of Limitless Possibility