(Space Politics) It’s commercial space week

By , Posted 03/15/10

Link: http://www.spacepolitics.com/2010/03/15/its-commercial-space-week/

Well, not really, but it’s close. On Thursday afternoon the space subcommittee of the Senate Commerce Committee is planning a hearing titled “Assessing Commercial Space Capabilities”. The witness list and other hearing details haven’t been published on the committee web site as of midday Monday, but this appears to be the hearing Sen. Nelson referred to in his floor speech last week “to look at the commercial rocket competitors and whether they need the $6 billion the President has recommended over the next 5 years in order for them to get humans to and from the International Space Station.”

It’s not the only event this week with implications for commercial space and related policy issues. The local AIAA chapter is hosting a luncheon Thursday with George Nield, associate administrator for commercial space transportation at the FAA, as the speaker. Also this week is the Satellite 2010 commercial satellite industry trade show at National Harbor, just south of the District. Among other events at the conference is a session titled “ITAR 2010 and Beyond: Will Obama Make Changes?” on Wednesday afternoon, exploring the prospects for export control reform. On Tuesday the Washington Space Business Roundtable will be hosting a luncheon at the conference with NASA administrator Charles Bolden as the keynote speaker.