Space policy Archives - The Enterprise Orbit

NSS optimistic about Pence’s call for constant LEO presence

National Space Society, a nonprofit organization that promotes (among other things) space settlement, has happily endorsed a few key pieces of U.S. vice president Mike Pence’s recent July 6 speech at Kennedy Space Center. The group is particularly hopeful about Pence’s call for constant human presence in low Earth orbit, which the group sees as a key milestone in future space settlement. “To the best of my recollection, this is

New alliances emerge in the space race to the Moon

The Moon could get a little busy in the 2030s. The world’s biggest nations are all now working on developing lunar missions, thrusting the Moon once again to the center of a new global space race. Last week, US vice president Mike Pence reiterated the Trump administration’s desire to see American astronauts back on the Moon. “Here from this bridge to space our nation will return to the moon, and

Commercial space could play a bigger role in new space council

In a much-anticipated signing ceremony, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on 30 June reauthorizing the National Space Council, an advisory body that, though a driving force behind many of that country’s most significant forays in space exploration, has been defunct for 24 years. The council will work closely with several federal agencies to foster cooperation “in order to provide a coordinated process for developing and monitoring the

VP Mike Pence announces re-formed National Space Council in speech to new astronauts

In a speech to the graduating class of astronauts and NASA, Vice President Mike Pence announced that the National Space Council would be re-formed by the Trump administration, and that he himself would serve as chair. The self-described “lifelong NASA fan” said he was especially privileged to de delivering the speech on his birthday. While in Congress, Pence requested to serve on the subcommittee that oversees the U.S. space program,