Let A Thousand Space Policy Bills Bloom (Update)
Keith’s note: There’s more than NASA Authorization Acts being introduced in Congress. As always, it is Spring time, and all of the new space legislation is starting to bloom. Here’s a selection. There will be more. Some will pass, others will merge, most will disappear – only to pop up again next year. Regardless, they will be mostly ignored – by NASA, future administrations – and Congress. And that is most unfortunate given what these bill might otherwise spark.
Keith’s update: House Science Committee Markup
H.R. ____, the “Spurring Private Aerospace Competitiveness and Entrepreneurship Act of 2015;”
H.R. 1508, the “Space Resource Exploration and Utilization Act of 2015;”
H.R. ____, the “Commercial Remote Sensing Act of 2015;”
H.R. ____, the “Office of Space Commerce Act.”
Rep Culberson Introduces Space Leadership Preservation Act
“The Space Leadership Preservation Act creates a 10-year term for the NASA Administrator to ensure decisions are made based on the best science available and to minimize the politics of changing administrations. It also establishes a Board of Directors similar to the National Science Board that governs the National Science Foundation. The board would consist of former astronauts and respected scientists appointed by Members of Congress who would help shape the agency’s annual budget request. They would also create a candidate pool from which the President would select the NASA Administrator.”
Proposed Legislation Would Make Space Settlement a National Goal
“Legislation that one congressman plans to introduce in the near future would make space settlement a national goal and require NASA to take action to support it. The Space Exploration, Development, and Settlement Act of 2015, drafted by Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Calif.), would mark the second time in the last three decades that Congress has directed NASA to support efforts for permanent human settlements beyond Earth orbit.”
H.R.1508 – Space Resource Exploration and Utilization Act of 2015 (Rep. Posey)
“To promote the development of a United States commercial space resource exploration and utilization industry and to increase the exploration and utilization of resources in outer space.”
H.R.2036 – To direct the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to plan to return to the Moon and develop a sustained human presence on the Moon. (Rep. Posey)
“As of 05/04/2015 text has not been received for H.R.2036 – To direct the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to plan to return to the Moon and develop a sustained human presence on the Moon.”
S.976 – Space Resource Exploration and Utilization Act of 2015 (Sen. Murray)
“To promote the development of a United States commercial space resource exploration and utilization industry and to increase the exploration and utilization of resources in outer space.”
Details apart, the strangely titled “space leadership preservation act” looks like to be in the right direction: to depoliticize NASA.
I was left wondering how the “Board of Directors” would differ from the existing NASA Advisory Council.
Basically the NASA Administrator can ignore the NAC. The NSF Director can’t ignore the NSB.
“depoliticize NASA”
which is a nice goal but I fear objective is to depoliticize NASA in the form to meet their political objectives.
“The board would consist of former astronauts and respected scientists appointed by Members of Congress who would help shape the agency’s annual budget request. They would also create a candidate pool from which the President would select the NASA Administrator.”
This is depoliticizing?
NASA has to be insulated FROM congress.
And yet only Congress can do that. I think Joseph Heller wrote a book about a similar sort of thing.
Thats a constitutional issue the congress may not appoint to executive branch departments, they(the senate) can approve or disprove a presidential appointment
a far better idea would be to require peer review of all engineering plans by NASA …………………….
Rather than bills, how about more money so diverse missions of NASA don’t have to fight each other over scraps?
I wonder how much $$ would be needed to achieve that particular goal? 🙂
Why not?
NASA is trying, very trying 😉 After more than 50 years of NASA attempting to develop Space why will this year be different?
Because NASA is not connected to the commerce dept and doesn’t regulate.
NASA is not a part of the department of transportation either and is not a regualtory agency..
NASA should not be having anything to do with the responsiblities of commerce and transportation departments.
I’ll drink to that!
Drinks a BEER and burps in approval