Quote from: Coastal Ron on 03/26/2017 03:57 pmWhich means that if the National Space Council is reconstituted with V.P. Pence at it's head, that we should really be looking to V.P. Pence for indications of where the administration will be pointing NASA. That all we can and should expect from Trump will be platitudes, but no actionable details.Good point. What do we know about Pence's record on space when he was in Congress?
Which means that if the National Space Council is reconstituted with V.P. Pence at it's head, that we should really be looking to V.P. Pence for indications of where the administration will be pointing NASA. That all we can and should expect from Trump will be platitudes, but no actionable details.
FAA Space Office To Get Budget Boost from House Appropriators http://www.spacepolicyonline.com/news/faa-space-office-to-get-budget-boost-from-house-appropriators
House appropriators are recommending a budget boost for FAA's Office of Commercial Space Transportation (AST). The office received $19.8 million for FY2017, but the Trump budget proposal for FY2018 is $2 million less. By contrast, the House appropriations subcommittee that funds the office is proposing $21.587 million.
Here is the House committee's proposed CJS bill (NASA starts at page 60):https://appropriations.house.gov/uploadedfiles/bills-115hr-sc-ap-fy2018-cjs-commercejusticescience.pdfhttps://appropriations.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=394951National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) – NASA is funded at $19.9 billion, $219 million above the 2017 enacted level. This funding includes:$4.6 billion for Exploration – $226 million above the fiscal year 2017 enacted level. This includes funding to continue the development of the Orion crew vehicle and Space Launch System and related ground systems.$5.9 billion for NASA Science programs – $94 million above the fiscal year 2017 enacted level. This targets funding to planetary science and astrophysics to ensure the continuation of critical research and development programs, while reducing funding for lower-priority research.
Jeff Foust @jeff_foust 4m4 minutes agoIn NASA Advisory Council science cmte meeting, NASA’s Craig Tupper says he thinks FY18 budget for NASA science will follow past trends.
Jeff Foust @jeff_foust 3m3 minutes agoTupper says he expects Senate to fund NASA science at a similar overall level to House bill, but with more money for Earth science.
Marcia Smith @SpcPlcyOnline 47s47 seconds agoSenate Approps THUD sbcmt approved FY2018 bill, but info released doesn't provide enuf detail to know how FAA space office fared.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) – $19.5 billion for NASA, $124 million below the FY2017 enacted level and $437 million above the budget request, to support the human and robotic exploration of space, fund science missions that enhance the understanding of the Earth, the solar system, and the universe, and support fundamental aeronautics research. This includes:• $2.15 billion for the Space Launch System (SLS), which is $212 million above the request. The funding continues the development schedule for SLS, and provides $300 million in critical funding for upper stage engine work for future crewed missions.• $1.3 billion for the Orion crewed spacecraft, $164 million above the request, to continue development of NASA’s next deep-space crewed capsule.• $5.6 billion for Science, $193 million below the FY2017 enacted level and $140 million below the request. • $732 million, the same as the request, to further develop a domestic crew launch capability.• $700 million for Space Technology, $14 million above the FY2017 enacted level and $21 million above the request. Funding is included to advance projects in early stages of development that are expected to eventually demonstrate capabilities needed for future space exploration.• $100 million is provided for the Education programs proposed to be eliminated in the budget request. NASA EPSCoR is funded at $18 million, Space Grant is funded at $40 million, the Minority University Research and Education Project is funded at $32 million, and STEM Education and Accountability projects is funded at $10 million.
The Senate put the money back into Earth sciences:http://spacenews.com/senate-restores-funding-for-nasa-earth-science-and-satellite-servicing-programs/
Nuclear Propulsion.—NASA is continuing its work to develop the foundational technologies and advance low-enriched uranium nuclear thermal propulsion systems that can provide significantly faster trip times for crewed missions than non-nuclear options. The Committee provides $75,000,000 for ongoing nuclear thermal propulsion technologies for space transportation and exploration. This funding is provided for NASA to work towards the goal of being able to conduct a propulsion subscale ground test by 2020.
Advanced Exploration Systems.—The amount provided for Advanced Exploration Systems enables NASA to continue current activities within NASA and with industry related to VASIMR propulsion technology, In Situ Resource Utilization, and Lunar CATALYST. The Committee also encourages NASA to continue to study and quantify potential exposure to cosmic rays through initiatives such as the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer. The Committee further includes the request level of $119,700,000 for habitat systems research and development. The Committee expects NASA to establish in fiscal year 2018 a habitat development program office at a center that holds proficiency and heritage in habitation, life support systems development, and science operations to oversee and support NASA’s current and future in-space habitat development activities.
The Committee is supportive of many of the technologies being developed within Space Technology, which will have wide ranging benefits for NASA missions and throughout the agency. Of particular note are the enabling technologies of Solar Electric Propulsion, the laser communications relay demonstration, and composite tanks and structural materials. These key supporting technologies will provide enabling capabilities for multiple robotic and human exploration missions.
“In the meeting, the president and congressional leadership agreed to pass aid for Harvey, an extension of the debt limit, and a continuing resolution both to December 15, all together,” Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said in a joint statement.