Likely next NASA Administrator speaks at FAA CST-2017

[DocM]

Highlights of Rep. Jim Bridenstine's thinking from the 20th FAA Commercial Space Transportation 2017 conference, via Jeff Foust's tweets. Rep. Bridenstine is the leading candidate for NASA Administrator.

 

The full video of his presentation at bottom.

 

Quote

@jeff_foust

Awaiting the luncheon speaker at #CST2017, Rep. Jim Bridenstine (R-OK), widely considered a leading candidate for NASA Administrator.
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Bridenstine starts talking about growth of Chinese human spaceflight and lunar exploration plans. #CST2017
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Bridenstine: “I might say we’re being gouged” by Russia for flying astronauts to ISS on Soyuz vehicles for $80M+ each. #CST2017
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Bridenstine: it is our job to make America great again in space. We have a secret weapon: comm’l space industry. #CST2017
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Bridenstine reiterating calls for civil space situational awareness and regulatory certainty (opposite of what Babin said y’day). #CST2017
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Bridenstine: gov’t needs to work with comm’l sector in various ares, from wx data purchase to on-orbit servicing. #CST2017
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Bridenstine: critical for nat’l security interests and national power for the US to return to the Moon, with comm’l cooperation. #CST2017
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Bridenstine: FAA/AST is not being adequately funded, and your [comm’l launch] industry is paying the price. #CST2017
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Bridenstine: AST should be moved out of FAA back to under Sec. of Transportation; Trump could do this with exec action. #CST2017
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Bridenstine: should not be the Air Force’s job to be the “FAA of space” by tracking objects and providing collision warnings. #CST201
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Bridenstine: need clear reg. process with minimal burden to provide certainty for non-traditional comm’l space activities. #CST2017
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Bridenstine: will introduce a new version of American Space Renaissance Act space policy bill. Talk more about at Space Symposium. #CST2017
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The original bill
https://www.congress.gov/114/bills/hr4945/BILLS-114hr4945ih.pdf
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Bridenstine didn’t say what might happen to the bill if he were to, say, become NASA administrator. (Beyond “Oh, Jeff…”) #CST2017 #itried
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Bridenstine, on differing views with Rep. Babin on regulatory issues: we’ll eventually find agreement, not there yet. #CST2017
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Bridenstine: I care about space in part because of importance to my constituents; they rely on warnings based on weather data. #CST2017
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Bridenstine: SLS/Orion is absolutely critical to America’s future preeminence in space. Fully support them. #CST2017
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Bridenstine: We will soon have no privacy in low earth orbit. We have to be pre-eminent in beyond GEO and cislunar space.
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Rep. Bridenstine (R-OK) gave an outstanding speech at FAA Conf today. Very knowledgable on the issues and with a clear vision for space.

 

 

 

[+Mirumir Subscriber¹]

"We may be in a little bit of a pickle, Dick." 

 

He seems to be a decent, honest, down to Earth kind of a guy.

[+John. Subscriber¹]

very positive! Now get Nasa to fold SLS and use the spare change to help commercial crews and off we go!

[DocM]

He expressed support for SLS, but that may be pre-emptive messaging to keep Shelby at bay during his confirmation hearings.

[Jason S. Global Moderator]

"Highlights of Rep. Jim Bridenstine's thinking"

 

[Blue-Vision]

Yeah, if he were to even mention folding up SLS/Orion, Shelby would have kittens. Then puppies. Then more kittens. And then filibuster the hearing and show the veins in his forehead while he yells and turns that lovely shade of red we've seen before when he gets mad.