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