Congress

Continuing Resolution:  Lightfoot: No negative impact for NASA from new CR  NASA should be able to spend as needed to keep Exploration Mission-1 on track under the U.S. budget Continuing Resolution passed by the Senate late last week. Passed earlier by the U.S. House, the new CR remains in effect through April in lieu of a 2017 federal budget. The measure allows NASA to prepare for the launching of EM-1, the first unpiloted test flight of the SpaceLaunch System and Orion capsule, by November 2018. The three week milestone mission is to send Orion around the moon and back to Earth for a splashdown. SLS and Orion are cornerstones of U.S. human deep space explorationplans in the 2020s and beyond.

NASA Authorization Bill:  Senate passes NASA Authorization at last minute, too late for House action this year  The Senate passed the NASA Transition Authorization Act of 2016 that addresses a range of policy matters that may provide direction for a new Congress in 2017. Adopted by acclimation on December 9, though not addressed by the U.S. House, the authorization measure seeks more definition by NASA of its human Mars exploration plans and opens the door to intermediate destinations. The legislation seeks alternatives to the Asteroid Redirect Mission and urges a discussion of an International Space Station extension from 2024 to 2028. It also seeks an independent assessment of a Mars mission launched in 2033.

Senator Nelson on Space:  Senator Nelson discusses space travel future  Senator Bill Nelson of Florida envisions the U.S. regaining a human space launch capability within 18 months. Astronauts will reach the Martian environs in the 2030s, Nelson predicts in a wide ranging interview.

Citizens for Space Exploration – a pro-space, taxpayer, grassroots advocacy group (http://www.bayareahouston.com/content/c_s_e/c_s_e) – has traveled to Washington, D.C. the past 24 years to meet face-to-face with Members/staff of Congress to discuss the value of America’s investment in space exploration. In order to sustain that dialogue on a regular basis, Citizens distributes “Space Exploration Update” to Congressional offices on a weekly basis. The intent is to provide an easy, quick way to stay abreast of key human space exploration program and policy developments.