Aerospace Industries Association
AIA Space Council Discusses Space Policies of New Administration
Critical decisions facing the Obama Administration, ranging from civil to national security space issues, were recently laid out by AIA’s Space Council.
The Council’s Civil Space Committee began with a look at the activities of NASA’s Human Space Flight Committee, also known as the Augustine Committee after its chairman, former Lockheed Martin CEO Norman Augustine.
Announced by the Obama Administration in May, the panel is expected to issue a report this month to meet the president’s goal of “ensuring the nation is on a vigorous and sustainable path to achieving its boldest aspirations in space.”
AIA’s Space Council is following the activities of this group closely as they will provide important options to the president on the future of U.S. human space flight efforts.
In addition, the Civil Space Committee discussed space-borne Earth observation issues, ways to advocate for reaching out to the next generation of aerospace engineers and building interest in Earth observation systems that will help evaluate climate change challenges.
The committee heard from Damon Wells, senior policy analyst on space issues for the President’s Office of Science and Technology Policy.
Also, the Space Council discussed national security space and export control issues with a congressional roundtable panel made up of staff representatives from the offices of Sen. Mel Martinez (R-Fla.), and Reps. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Calif.) and Doug Lamborn (R-Colo.). AIA’s National Security Space Committee discussed the importance of reforming the U.S. export control system for commercial satellites and related components. A bill, H.R. 2410, has passed the House with a provision intended to modernize the export control system for commercial satellites.
The administration has endorsed a review of export controls for commercial satellites and related components, and AIA continues to educate members of Congress and staff on the importance of modernizing the system.
AIA Source: jp.stevens@aia-aerospace.org