"Life in Space for Life on Earth" June 2010 Meeting Announcement

The European Space Agency (ESA), the International Society for Gravitational Physiology (ISGP), and the European Low Gravity Research Association (ELGRA) announce the ESA/ISGP/ELGRA Joint Life Sciences Meeting 2010 and invite international scientists to present investigative results in space and gravitational biology, physiology and experimental medicine at the meeting, June 13-18, 2010, Trieste, Italy. For more information, please visit: http://http://www.congrex.nl/10a09

Dr. Alex Dunlap is chairing a half day scientific session at the COSPAR meeting in Bremen, Germany July 18-25, 2010. The session is focused on animal related space flight research but talks could also be related to hardware topics. Please contact him at awdunlap@yahoo.com if you are interested in speaking. He is trying to firm up speakers by the end of 2009. Also, the deadline to submit an abstract to COSPAR is 19 February 2010. Each talk would be about 15 minutes (12 min of presentation + 3 min discussion). Abstracts need to be submitted on-line to http://cospar2010.org before 19 February 2010.

FY 2010 budget: House and Senate negotiators reached agreement Dec. 8 on a 2010 omnibus spending bill that includes $18.7 billion for NASA — a $942 million increase over the agency’s 2009 budget — $47M was included for microgravity research – which is life and physical science research. This reflects the same funding and subsequent levels of effort that we have seen this past year. HOWEVER, within the explanation language of the omnibus, with regards to the Augustine report, ”The committee's work raises issues requiring thoughtful consideration by the Administration and the Congress, before the Committees on Appropriations of the House and Senate can recommend detailed funding levels.” Congress “notes that the Constellation program is the program for which funds have been authorized and appropriated over the last four years, and upon which the pending budget request is based. Accordingly, it is premature for the conferees to advocate or initiate significant changes to the current program absent a bonafide proposal from the Administration and subsequent assessment, consideration and enactment by Congress..the conference agreement provides $3,466,400,000 for human exploration architecture development, the same level as the budget request. Changes in budgetary and programmatic requirements for fiscal year 2010 from the original budget request shall be submitted only in the form of a supplemental budget request for fiscal year 2010 and not through an initial operating plan or subsequent updates. Funds are not provided herein to initiate any new program, project or activity.. It is the expressed hope..that the Administration will formulate its formal decision soon, submit its recommendation for congressional review and consideration, and budget the necessary resources to meet U.S. spaceflight program funding requirements identified in the Administration's recommendation and congressionally-approved program for space exploration while maintaining a balanced portfolio of science and aeronautics programs.” My simple translation- standby, but nothing is going to take without the agreement of Congress that could take awhile depending on the Administration’s recommendations. It was acknowledged in the FY2010 omnibus that we are on a path to a non-viable human space exploration but a budget had to be approved in the meantime.

My observations from the Bolden speech at WIA/AIAA meeting the other day

Mr. Bolden said when he met with President Obama he told him specifically that he wants to see NASA become the inspirational agency that it was when he was growing up. Mr. Bolden stated that “NASA should be a developer of innovative technologies that drive our nation’s economy, not just a set of missions”. Mr. Bolden also sees more handoff to private sector. Bolden said that President Obama is also enthusiastic about international support and non-traditional partners, and there are plans to initiate conversation with China with regards to space. Mr. Bolden also stressed the importance of NASA developing its image to promote and encourage future scientists, engineers and the public in general. IMO, observing the nature of Mr. Bolden, President Obama and all the influences of today’s issues will mean some big changes for NASA. The fact that President Obama has not publicly responded with regards to the Augustine study does not mean he is not interested. Like the Afghanistan policies now set forth, he and his advisors take their time to craft a strategy and that is what I think we are seeing here. STEM and innovative technology were mentioned several times during Bolden’s talk, and the OMB memo from August 2009 will be also be guidance for NASA.

Just came from Women in Aerospace luncheon and met Charlie Bolden (NASA Administrator). Introduced him to ASGSB, and who we are. Very approachable, and actually came up and introduced himself to me. Also ran into George Whitesides, who is now chief of staff in the office of the Administrator.We met with George a couple times before and should revisit George once things settle down. Lastly met Nicole Campbell who is in charge of the Summer of Innovation program with NASA. We had a good conversation, and hopefully can do something together.

Looking at hotel sites in the Washington D.C. metro area for next year's ASGSB meeting. The meeting dates will be approximately the first week of November, either Nov 3-6th, 2010 or Nov 4th-7th, 2010. Looking at many nice hotels, but looking for the one with the best deal. Room rates may be a little higher than our last meeting at Raleigh, but maybe not! Also working with NASA Headquarters and local school systems to engage more student (e.g., HBCU, under-served) interaction at our annual meeting.

NASA RFI for Commercial Reusable Suborbital Research http://www.hobbyspace.com/nucleus/index.php?itemid=17279)
NASA Ames Commercial Reusable Suborbital Research Program (CRuSR) Office is requesting technical and programmatic input to improve the government‚s understanding of flight opportunities to aid potential science investigators in scoping and designing possible future suborbital investigations. Responses to this RFI are welcome from all interested parties, especially potential providers of suborbital spaceflight services. Please review the complete information at the CRuSR website.