NASA « Space Politics

Augustine’s scenarios

By Jeff Foust on 2009 July 20 at 12:20 pm ET

Late Sunday the Review of US Human Space Flight Plans (aka the Augustine committee) issued a call for comments for a document called “Exploration Beyond LEO: Process and Progress”. (I had separately heard about this a little earlier Sunday from an alert reader.) The short document—just over two pages—is key because it hints at what […]

On the job

By Jeff Foust on 2009 July 17 at 6:41 pm ET

While there hasn’t been a formal release by NASA, multiple reports state that Charles Bolden and Lori Garver were officially sworn in this morning as NASA administrator and deputy administrator. (NASA does have an image of Bolden arriving at his new office.) There will apparently be a more formal ceremony or other event to welcome […]

Bolden and Garver confirmed by the Senate

By Jeff Foust on 2009 July 15 at 10:10 pm ET

The US Senate confirmed Wednesday evening the nominations of Charles Bolden and Lori Garver as NASA administrator and deputy administrator, respectively. Acting on unanimous consent—which allows the Senate to expedite the process provided no one objects—the Senate confirmed the two early Wednesday evening. In today’s fractured media world, it’s no surprise that many found out […]

Bolden vote impending?

By Jeff Foust on 2009 July 15 at 7:15 am ET

Both Florida Today and Orlando Sentinel report that the Senate Commerce Committee is expected to vote on the nominations of Charles Bolden and Lori Garver to be NASA administrator and deputy administrator as soon as this afternoon. The Sentinel says that the committee’s vote would take place this afternoon “in a room off the Senate […]

Augustine news and notes

By Jeff Foust on 2009 July 14 at 6:49 am ET

Some recent items of interest related to the Review of US Human Space Flight Plans (aka Augustine) Committee and its work:

The Orlando Sentinel reports today that a subcommittee of the overall committee has asked NASA about “both minor tweaks and ‘wholesale’ changes” to Constellation, including perhaps shifting to a single-rocket architecture than the current […]

Don’t mess with Texas?

By Jeff Foust on 2009 July 9 at 6:58 am ET

Last week it appeared that Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL) had convinced NASA and the White House to shift $100 million in stimulus funds from supporting commercial crew efforts to Constellation. As the Waco Tribune-Herald reports, some members of the Texas Congressional delegation are opposed to the move. Why? SpaceX has its rocket engine testing facilities […]

Passing the audition

By Jeff Foust on 2009 July 9 at 6:35 am ET

For all the talk about a rapid confirmation of Charles Bolden and Lori Garver to be NASA administrator and deputy administrator, it’s a bit ironic that Wednesday’s confirmation hearing before the Senate Commerce Committee started late. A recess plus an “executive session” to deal with several bills that lasted much longer than the scheduled 10 […]

Reminder: Bolden and Garver nomination hearing today

By Jeff Foust on 2009 July 8 at 6:33 am ET

This afternoon the Senate Commerce Committee will hold nomination hearings for Charles Bolden and Lori Garver to the posts of NASA administrator and deputy administrator, respectively. (Note that the hearing, which also includes several other non-NASA nominees, is officially slated to begin at 2:10 pm, not 2 pm; there’s a 10-minute executive session at 2 […]

“America’s Future in Space”

By Jeff Foust on 2009 July 7 at 11:12 am ET

The Space Studies Board of the National Research Council published today a long-awaited report on the US civil space program: “Americaâ€™s Future in Space: Aligning the Civil Space Program with National Needs”. The report was prepared by a committee led by Lester Lyles, the former general and one-time candidate for the job of NASA administrator, […]

Shelby wins battle on stimulus funding

By Jeff Foust on 2009 July 3 at 3:09 am ET

Earlier this week NASA Watch reported that Sen. Shelby was fighting to redirect stimulus money from commercial crew activities to Constellation, going so far, reportedly, as to threaten to put a hold on the nominations of Charles Bolden and Lori Garver, and had won some kind of compromise on the funding from the administration (which, […]

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