{"id":197,"date":"2013-01-24T07:44:30","date_gmt":"2013-01-24T07:44:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=197"},"modified":"2013-01-26T02:30:56","modified_gmt":"2013-01-26T02:30:56","slug":"house-space-committee-membership-rice-univ-space-policy-panel-webcast","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=197","title":{"rendered":"House space committee membership + Rice Univ. space policy panel webcast"},"content":{"rendered":"

The\u00a0House Science, Space and Technology (HSS&T) Committee released a list of the members of the House Space Subcommittee, which will have major influence on NASA’s budget, programs and projects : House Space Subcommittee Members Named for 113th Congress – spacepolicyonline.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

[Update<\/strong>: More on the committee from Jeff Foust: House Science Committee organizes for the new Congress – Space Politics<\/a>
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There will be an interesting space policy discussion today (05:00 pm – 07:30 pm CT) at Rice University and it will be webcast live (perhaps it will also be available later in their video archive<\/a>) : Lost in Space: The Need for a Definitive U.S. Space Policy – James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy Rice University<\/a><\/p>\n

When the space shuttle program ended in July 2011, the United States lost its capacity to launch humans into space. U.S. astronauts are now flying to space in Russian spacecraft, and if the nation does regain such a capability, it may be provided by commercial companies. In the interim, NASA has initiated the development of a large rocket booster with no firm requirements or defined use, as well as a space capsule with limited capabilities to be flown to a yet unspecified destination. In light of the current situation, two reports were released in December 2012 that call into question the future of the U.S. space program: A Space Foundation paper urges NASA to shed some of its science and research functions, and to focus again on exploring space; and a study by the National Research Council concludes that a national disagreement over NASA\u2019s space goals has proven detrimental to space agency budgeting and planning efforts.<\/p>\n

With all of these concerns in mind, Rice University\u2019s Baker Institute will bring together a panel of six space policy experts to review the present status and future of NASA and the nation\u2019s civil space program. Participants will also discuss the need for and the elements of a definitive national civil space policy.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Panel participants include:<\/p>\n

Mark J. Albrecht, Ph.D., is chairman of the board for U.S. Space LLC. He served as executive secretary of the National Space Council from 1989 to 1992 and as a principal adviser to President George H.W. Bush on space.<\/p>\n

Leroy Chiao, Ph.D., is an adjunct professor at Rice University, the chair of the National Space Biomedical Research Institute\u2019s user panel and special adviser for human spaceflight to the Space Foundation. He served as a member of the Review of U.S. Human Spaceflight Plans Committee chaired by Norman Augustine in 2009. Chiao flew on three space shuttle flights and was commander of Expedition 10 flying for six months onboard the International Space Station.<\/p>\n

Joan Johnson-Freese, Ph.D., is a professor of national security affairs at the U.S. Naval War College. She is the author of six books, including \u201cHeavenly Ambitions: America\u2019s Quest to Dominate Space\u201d and \u201cSpace as a Strategic Asset,\u201d as well as more than 80 articles on space security, globalization and foreign policy.<\/p>\n

Neal F. Lane, Ph.D., is the senior fellow in science and technology policy at the Baker Institute and the Malcolm Gillis University Professor at Rice University. He served as assistant to the president for science and technology and director of the White House Office of Science and Technology (OSTP) from 1998 to 2001. Lane also served as the director of the National Science Foundation and a member (ex officio) of the National Science Board from 1993 to 1998.<\/p>\n

Eugene H. Levy, Ph.D., is the Andrew Hays Buchanan Professor of Astrophysics at Rice University. He served as provost of Rice from 2000 to 2010 and is currently a member of the NASA Advisory Council Science Committee.<\/p>\n

John M. Logsdon, Ph.D., is a professor emeritus of political science and international affairs at George Washington University\u2019s Elliott School of International Affairs after serving as director of school\u2019s Space Policy Institute from 1987 to 2008. He is the author of \u201cThe Decision to Go to the Moon: Project Apollo and the National Interest,\u201d a general editor of the eight-volume series \u201cExploring the Unknown: Selected Documents in the History of the U.S. Civil Space Program,\u201d and has written numerous articles and reports on space policy and history.<\/p>\n

Moderator<\/p>\n

George W.S. Abbey is the Baker Botts Senior Fellow in Space Policy at the Baker Institute.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Update Jan.25.13<\/strong>: Here’s a review of the event: Lost in Space: The Need for a Definitive U.S. Space Policy? \u00ab Coalition for Space Exploration<\/a><\/p>\n

And the video:<\/p>\n