1.06.2005
New Space Transport Policy is Official
The new national space transportation policy, officially authorized by President Bush on December 21, was finally released today. Here is the policy fact sheet, courtesy of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, via SpaceRef.
(Compare the old policy released August 5, 1994).
The new policy, which was well in the works but then sidelined in the wake of the Columbia accident, contains no surprises. It maintains the status quo with respect to the two EELV (Atlas 5 and Delta 4) programs, as well as the requirement that U.S. payloads fly U.S. launch vehicles. The policy also requires NASA and DOD come up with a plan for development of heavy-lift launch vehicles. Policy wonks, dig in.
(Compare the old policy released August 5, 1994).
The new policy, which was well in the works but then sidelined in the wake of the Columbia accident, contains no surprises. It maintains the status quo with respect to the two EELV (Atlas 5 and Delta 4) programs, as well as the requirement that U.S. payloads fly U.S. launch vehicles. The policy also requires NASA and DOD come up with a plan for development of heavy-lift launch vehicles. Policy wonks, dig in.
