The Europa lander is almost certainly dead. I think that Europa Clipper will survive, but I also think that it's launch date might move back by ~2 years (depends on if the remaining SLS crowd believe that they need it to launch sooner rather than later to help with the initial flight rate).
Sorry to see Rohrabacher and Culbertson go. Johnson (D) as chairman would be bad news. She was consistently against commercial crew in the past (which she called: a joy ride for the rich...).
Johnson (D) as chairman would be bad news. She was consistently against commercial crew in the past (which she called: a joy ride for the rich...).
Quote from: yg1968 on 11/08/2018 12:03 amJohnson (D) as chairman would be bad news. She was consistently against commercial crew in the past (which she called: a joy ride for the rich...). Rep. Johnson's recent statements have been supportive of Commercial Crew, but have indicated that she would rather have a gap on the ISS than fail to address safety analysis. The fact that Commercial Crew has been properly funded for the last several years is proof that she isn't the only member of Congress that has changed her opinion of the program.Even if you are to ignore everything from the last six years, her statement was supportive of NASA in general and the Science Mission Directorate in particular, strongly questioning cuts to Planetary funding. She was not suggesting the cancellation of the Commercial Crew Program, but rather disagreeing with the degree of its prioritization in the Administration's FY13 budget request, in light of budget constraints on NASA overall. Here is the recording of the hearing if you wish to see it (Rep. Johnson's statement begins at 6:40):I suppose that if you want to lament someone coming to power who is supportive of NASA because you dislike a position she held on a single topic, half a dozen years ago, it is your prerogative.
This is crazy:"Scott sues Broward elections head as Florida Senate race spirals toward recount"https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/415852-scott-sues-broward-supervisor-of-elections-as-florida-senate-race-spirals
Are there any other congressional changes that are meaningful to space policy?
IMHO, Orrin Hatch's (R-UT) retirement is possibly more significant than Nelson's loss. Hatch was president pro tempor of the senate, the highest ranking position in that body, higher actually than McConnell.
Quote from: TomH on 11/09/2018 03:03 amIMHO, Orrin Hatch's (R-UT) retirement is possibly more significant than Nelson's loss. Hatch was president pro tempor of the senate, the highest ranking position in that body, higher actually than McConnell.The Senate pro tem has no meaningful power.
John Culberson's loss is huge for planetary science. The Europa lander is almost certainly dead. I think that Europa Clipper will survive, but I also think that it's launch date might move back by ~2 years (depends on if the remaining SLS crowd believe that they need it to launch sooner rather than later to help with the initial flight rate).