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WASHINGTON – The Senate Space Subcommittee Chair said he was working with colleagues on a new "bold" bill on NASA's authorization to guide the future of the human spaceflight program. the agency.
Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) said in an opening statement delivered at the 9th Senate Committee on Commerce Subcommittee hearing on the past and future of human space flight programs. NASA only on a 2017 bill that called for human exploration of Mars.
"The next 50 years could be even more decisive than the previous one," he said, explaining that this was why he was working with the committee's management "on another NASA licensing law aimed at to help keep NASA and space exploration alive so that America continues to lead the world in exploring space. "
Cruz does not go into detail about the contents of the bill nor when it will be presented, but suggests supporting the current efforts of the administration to return human beings to the moon. 39; here 2024 as a step towards human missions on Mars, but also commercial space activities. "We need a bold vision," he said. "A vision that sees the commercial space industry prosper."
Cruz stated that he was working with senior member of the subcommittee, Senator Kyrsten Sinema (D-Arizona), as well as detectives Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) And Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) , President and senior member. Committee of the Whole, on the bill.
At a luncheon delivered at the Future Space 2019 conference, held here on July 10, Ms. Cantwell said that one of the bill's top priorities was the "substantial funding" of space activities that were part of the program. ;he authorizes. She also called for "continued harmonization with NASA on the commercial side", but did not say what specific measures she was looking for.
She also said that NASA's permission could be used to resolve the issues that she and other members of Congress have regarding the use of a tape. of 24 GHz for 5G services. Both NASA and NOAA have warned that the use of this band for 5G terrestrial services could interfere with satellite measurements of atmospheric water vapor in a neighboring band, which they believe could compromise weather forecasts.
"We are trying to help NASA meet the challenge of not giving up the spectrum that allows them and NOAA to have the best forecasting information," she said.
Meanwhile, the Senate has introduced another draft law relating to space. The Senate Committee on Commerce welcomed Bill S.1694, entitled "Law for a step forward for the protection of the human heritage in outer space", intended to provide legal protection for Apollo 11 and other historic lunar landing sites. The committee favorably reported the bill at a vote by vote.
The bill requires any federal agency that authorizes lunar commercial activities to ensure that licensees comply with NASA's 2011 recommendations for the preservation of landing sites, as well as any updates to these guidelines. . It also allows these agencies to impose penalties on licensees who violate these guidelines, but does not give a specific amount for such fines.
"The Apollo landing sites are the types of historic places that would be preserved for future generations if they were on Earth." As we celebrate the 50th anniversary of this giant leap for humanity, we must do everything in our power to protect these sites – especially as more and more public and private entities seek to establish a presence on the moon, "said Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.), who co-sponsored the bill with Cruz, said in a statement.
"I urge my Senate colleagues to adopt and pass this common sense bill without delay in order to ensure the safeguarding of these important elements of history as we intensify our efforts to return to the moon." ", added Cruz in his joint statement.
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