Various space policy related items:

• What NASA wants in an authorization bill – Space Politics
• House committees to take up NASA authorization, appropriations bills this week – Space Politics
• House Subcommittee Markups of NASA Authorization and Appropriations Bills Next Week – spacepolicyonline.com
• Space Policy Events for the Week of July 8-12, 2013 – spacepolicyonline.com
• Weather Forecasting Improvement Bill Scheduled for Markup July 9 – spacepolicyonline.com
• Russian space industry disastrously ill – ITAR-TASS
• ISRO sets target of twelve missions in 2013-14 – Times of India/SpaceNews.com

Update: More items:

Congresswoman Donna Edwards (D-MD), ranking member of the House Science Committee’s space subcommittee,  gave a speech on NASA policy. Here’s a sampling of tweeter posts:

• Jeff Foust (jeff_foust) on Twitter
  • Edwards reiterating previous concerns about need for balanced portfolio and adequate funding for NASA.
  • Edwards: time to commit to goal of a human mission to Mars, something the public will support.
  • Edwards is pushing for a human mission to Mars by 2030, significantly more aggressive than Obama Administration’s current goals.
  • Edwards: neither the President nor Congress should determine what the interim destinations should be towards Mars; that’s up to NASA.
  • Edwards: will release version of 2013 NASA authorization act later today to outline this approach to going to Mars.
  • Asked Edwards if she feared NASA policy was becoming more partisan; she said she though “sadly” it already had in recent years.
  • After her talk, she said she’s had some discussions with the Senate on the general outlines of an authorization bill.
• Marcia Smith (SpcPlcyOnline) on Twitter
  • Edwards: how do we “hook” the next generation on space exploration? NASA should remain a multi-mission agency.
  • Edwards: need balanced, adequately funded NASA portfolio. Achieveable timelines with safety as priority.
  • Edwards: have to match the enthusiasm that was demostrated by the huge number of astronaut applicants.
  • Edwards: need “21st century space innovation agenda” – get used to hearing that phrase.
  • Edwards wants to get to Mars by 2030. Lists new space techs that are needed, including nuclear propulsion. “We have a lot of work to do.”
  • Edwards keeps saying “manned” mission. How anachronistic. She needs to get up to date. It’s a HUMAN mission to Mars.
  • Edwards wants to set NASA vision and roadmap in 2013 NASA auth act that she plans to release 2day.
  • Not sure what the pt of this really is. Mars as ultimate dest for human spflt is already well accepted. Issue is intermediate steps.

Maria Smith later posted this on her blog: Edwards To Release Democratic Version of 2013 NASA Authotization Bill Today – Spacepolicyonline.com

A paper on space policies around the world:

• An Analysis of the Space Policies of the Major Space Faring Nations and Selected Emerging Space Faring Nations – Graham Gibbs – spacepolicyonline.com (pdf)
• Redirect: “An Analysis of the Space Politics of the Major Space Faring Nations and Selected Emerging Space Faring Nations” –  Roger Launius’s Blog

Update 2: Edwards releases the House Democrats proposed NASA Authorization bill : Democratic 2013 NASA Authorization Bill Calls for $18.1 Billion, Commitment to Human Landing on Mars – spacepolicyonline.com