Keith’s note: According to a press release “U.S. Science Leadership Survives Existential Threat From Trump Budget as Cantwell Rallies Colleagues to Reject Gutting NASA, NSF, & NIST“ from Senator Maria Cantwell: “America’s leading science agencies have survived an existential threat thanks to bipartisan rejection of massive budget cuts proposed by the Trump Administration, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and senior member of the Finance Committee, announced today.” (Full text below)

Keith’s note: NASA issued a release moments ago: “The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation today reported favorably on the nomination of Jared Isaacman to serve as Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, advancing the nomination to the Senate Floor for consideration by the full legislative body. During his confirmation hearing on Wednesday, December 3rd, Isaacman received strong bipartisan support for his swift confirmation. … The committee’s favorable report allows Isaacman to advance for consideration of full Senate confirmation.”

Keith’s note: the following report was issued today: “The Destruction of NASA’s Mission” Whistleblowers reveal OMB’s Unconstitutional Plot to Gut the Agency – U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation Maria Cantwell, Ranking Member Full report . — Excerpt below.

Cruz, Nelson: Congress, And Only Congress, WIll Decide When To End Funding For ISS, Space Policy Online “Cruz grilled Bill Gerstenmaier, NASA’s Associate Administrator for Human Exploration and Operations, on why NASA missed the statutory deadline to submit the ISS Transition Report. He also demanded to know why NASA had not provided all drafts that were sent from NASA to the White House and rejected as he and Nelson requested […]

8 Dumb Quotes About Science From New NASA Overseer Ted Cruz, Gizmodo “The new Republican-led Congress is currently busy picking people to chair its many committees and subcommittees. Guess what! Tea Party hero Senator Ted Cruz is the new chair of the Subcommittee on Space, Science and Competitiveness. That means he will oversee NASA. Yep – the climate-denying Tea Party hero who tried to defund NASA is now in charge […]

Senate Passes H.R.6586 — Space Exploration Sustainability Act “Section 203 of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 18313) is amended by adding at the end the following: `(c) Sense of Congress Regarding Human Space Flight Capability Assurance- It is the sense of Congress that the Administrator shall proceed with the utilization of the ISS, technology development, and follow-on transportation systems (including the Space Launch […]

House Appropriations Committee Releases Fiscal Year 2013 Commerce, Justice, and Science Appropriations Bill (NASA) “National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) – NASA is funded at $17.6 billion in the bill, which is $226 million below fiscal year 2012 and $138 million below the President’s request.” Fiscal Year 2013 Senate Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations Subcommittee Mark (NASA Section) “The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is funded at $19.4 billion, an […]

America’s space act is about to lift-off to a spectacular new future, Bill Nelson and Kay Bailey Hutchison “If we are to move forward, we must avoid a false competition between our long-range space exploration goals – the moon, Mars and beyond – and commercialized ferrying of cargo and crew members to the space station. In fact, both programs are essential.Assisting development of commercial space capabilities will eliminate America’s reliance […]

Senate Passes Budget With Full Funding for James Webb Space Telescope “The Senate today passed its Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS) 2012 Appropriations Bill, which includes full funding for the embattled James Webb Space Telescope, the Hubble successor that will be run largely out of the Space Telescope Science Institute (STscI) in Baltimore.” NASA Acknowledges JWST Replan Will Delay Science Missions, Space News “Saving the James Webb Space […]

Statement by SpaceX CEO Elon Musk on Senate Funding to Restore American Human Spaceflight Capability “NASA’s Commercial Crew Development Program is the most fiscally responsible means to rapidly advance human spaceflight. It has protected taxpayer dollars with fixed-price, pay-for-performance contracts. It fosters competition that forces companies to compete on reliability, capability and cost. And it leverages private investment – making taxpayer dollars go further. “SpaceX applauds Chairwoman Mikulski, Ranking Member […]