New Bill Tells NASA To Do Things With No Mention Of Funding
New Cornyn, Peters Bill Will Usher in New Era of Space Exploration,
“U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Gary Peters (D-MI) today introduced the Advancing Human Spaceflight Act, which would extend the International Space Station (ISS) through 2030, direct NASA to develop a next-generation spacesuit to enable human exploration beyond low earth orbit, and establish the goal of permanent human presence beyond Earth as national policy. “The only way to continue learning about the universe around us is to aim high and dream big,” said Sen. Cornyn. “I’m grateful for the continued work of and input from Houston’s space community as we drafted this bill, which sets the stage for a new era of space exploration and to reassert American leadership in space discovery.” “Investing in space exploration helps solidify our leadership in the global economy, uncover new discoveries and inspire the next generation of scientists and astronauts,” said Senator Peters. “This bipartisan legislation would ensure that the servicemen and women of NASA can continue their cutting-edge research and exploration missions, and I look forward to seeing the pioneering solutions that drive the next era of innovation.”
Let’s Go Back To The Moon With Less Money, earlier post
I laughed when I read this part. I think it was fcrary who pointed out a few days ago that the Johnson Space Center people really wanted to keep on doing Space Station stuff, and now we’re seeing that reflected in legislation pushed by Cornyn.
Although to be honest, extending ISS probably would be a better use of funding that the Gateway as currently planned.
Just the way government budgets; authorizations and appropriations are different things.
Join the servicemen and women at NASA?
That phrasing was a bit odd. Maybe someone’s taking the Space Force idea to literally.
Does anyone have any ideas or opinions about Senator Peters co-sponsoring this bill? I don’t know why a Michigan Democrat or his constituents would especially interested in the US space program. A Senator from Texas has some obvious concerns, but Michigan? Without intending to insult anyone in that state, I wouldn’t think this is a hot topic for even one percent of the voters.
It may just be something he believes in space since he is on the Space Subcommittee.
Sure and I was probably being cynical. Stranger things have happened, like Mr. Culberson’s interest in Europa. But I had a fair feel for why Culberson was interested in Europa. I don’t have that for Senator Peters. What, exactly, is he interested in? American activities in space is a fine thing to be interested in and support, but it’s a pretty broad topic. I don’t think there is a general consensus on the whys or hows. So I’m curious about Mr. Peters’ views on the subject. And his co-sponsoring this bill doesn’t tell me as much as I’d like to know.
A quick google shows a number of videos of Senator Peters talking about space and the economy, including one will Bill Nye interviewing him. I also ran across a couple of articles in which he is visiting small businesses in Michigan that are space contractors. Maybe he is hoping that showing an interest will attract Old Space firms to expand into Michigan, just like they do in Huntsville to make the local Congress Critters happy.
You might find that this speech that Senator Peters made at the Gerald Ford Library in 2016 will answer some of your questions on Senator Peters. He believes in space.
https://www.youtube.com/wat…
It could be quid pro quo for Cornyn supporting something of his later on, although I have no idea what that would be.
Because…bipartisanship!
ISS through 2030?!?!?
To everyone who thought Congress would kill ISS in order to provide funding for SLS/Orion to actually, you know, do something: What now?
The ISS will stay in orbit until a critical system fails and there is a major crisis over fixing it so it will be able to do a safe re-entry. Like the Shuttle, its just another example of NASA playing Technological Russian Roulette.
Exactly so, as this will provide the needed political cover.
You may only be half-right about that. Skylab was left up until a problem (well, several, unrelated problems) cause an uncontrolled reentry. Tiangong-1’s reentry also was not controlled. It is a little hard for me to believe, but the Russians are the only people who have made a controlled disposal of a space station. What makes you think NASA will manage a controlled reentry this time?
I don’t, not if they wait until something breaks. It’s why I like the idea of pushing it into a higher more stable orbit while that option still exists.
The good news is that only about 5% of the surface of the Earth has any real levels of human habitation for it to hit.
Honestly, crashing into some of the relatively unpopulated surface can provide some harmless fun. After the Skylab reentry, the local government in Esperance, Western Australia, did fine NASA A$400 for littering. (And I’m surprised you made a comment that is not too far off from the phrase, “flyover country”, which you’ve previously criticized.)
In any case, the eventual end of ISS is about balancing future use against an uncontrolled end of mission. That’s true of many spacecraft. If you’re still in control of it, there is more use you can get from it. But you can’t safely dispose of it after you’ve lost control. And loss of control isn’t predictable, so “We’ll do it a few minutes before that” isn’t a viable disposal plan.
The flyover country is for the most part well populated in terms of the rest of the Earth’s surface, and easily falls in that 5% with farms, ranches and small towns. Over 70% of the area under the ISS is ocean, and then you have the high latitude subarctic regions (Canada, Siberia, Asia), the Eurasian deserts, Amazon rain forest and the Australian outback accounting for most of the rest of the 25%. Urban areas only account for about 1% of the Earth’s surface, which brings a new meaning to the phrase “the one percenters”.
I’ve never believed ISS will be deorbited, in a planned fashion anyways.
Tell congress you made it all happen the same way you got the money. By using your imagination!!!!!………