Senator Wayne Allard (R-CO) announced yesterday that he will not seek a third term in 2008. Allard has been a supporter of military space issues in the Senate and was chairman of the strategic forces subcommittee of the Senate Armed Services Committee in the last Congress; he also served (along with Rep. Jane Harman (D-CA)) as co-chair of the Congressional Space Power Caucus. Allard’s web site lists military space as one of his “important issues” as well. (It is a long list of issues, though…)
While Allard’s retirement is expected to set off a battle to secure the Republican nomination to replace him, the Post notes that the likely Democratic nominee is someone who also has some space ties: Rep. Mark Udall, who served as the ranking Democrat on the space subcommittee of the House Science Committee in the last Congress.
Jeff,
Sorry a bit OT but I wonder what your opinion on the new UK “consultation” by the BNSC is?:
http://www.bnsc.gov.uk/content.aspx?nid=6223
More moon collaboration? Enter the launcher market? Or concentrate more funds on space science and possibly travel?
I think the least needed is an agency given the criticisms of “one armed tied behind its back” of the BNSC.