http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vn5ZcSzfHrI Great video... we can learn a lot from what JFK has to say.  The TEA Party in Space proudly supports the Commercial Spaceflight Federation and their endeavors.  Only through fiscal responsibility and the free market can we achieve our destiny in space.  

The U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations released their markups for NASA.  TEA Party in Space (TPIS) applauds the hard choices made during this time of austerity.  TPIS has repeatedly said that 2008 levels were a very real possibility.  Appropriators in this congress blew right by the 2008 funding level of $17.3 billion and released appropriations totaling $16.8 billion.  However, two themes stem from today's initial mark-up remain clear: the SLS Earmark survives a second congress after promising to end earmarks and this congress wants to fly astronauts on Russian rockets. The fiscal responsibility shown throughout every portion of the NASA budget was lost when they did not show that same fiscal responsibility with the Space Senate Launch System (SLS).  Moreover, it is evident that lobbyists are afraid of NewSpace infringing on their fiefdoms.

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On Friday three more senators joined the bi-partisan effort to bring competition to the Space Launch System (SLS).  This now brings the total number of senators to six, four democrats and two republicans.  These two letters only strengthen the TPIS position of engaging the free market with competing SLS contracts.  Competing the SLS contracts eliminates the 11 billion dollar earmark  in the NASA appropriations act. Writing on his own behalf, Senator Mark Warner (D-VA), wrote in strong support of competition with the propulsion system and not just the boosters:

I am writing to encourage NASA to initiate a competitive bidding process for the propulsion component of the new Space Launch System (SLS).

For those of us who have been following space activities for years or more, we know that International Traffic in Arms Regulations, or "ITAR", is crushing America's ability to engage in commerce worldwide.  In the TEA Party Space Platform, the very first plank calls on congress to reform the law.  And there is good reasoning behind why the first plank is what it is. ITAR is destroying America's ability to compete in the free market.

Plank – Congress must reform International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), easing restrictions on U.S. private enterprise from engaging in commerce with friendly countries in the sale of goods and services.  Specifically, and among other things, satellites should be removed from the munitions list.

The ITAR regulation can be found here.  The purpose of ITAR is to limit exporting sensitive defense related technologies to our enemies.  However, the law of ITAR also has the law of "unintended consequences".  ITAR is destroying America's ability to engage in the global space economy with our most trusted allies.  The United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia must go through extensive paperwork to procure American designed and built satellites. Why?

While the Space Senate Launch System and NASA struggles through congressional requests and threats of subpoenas, capitalism, American exceptionalism, and the free market keeps on chugging.  NASA released its mandatory 60 day report on Commercial Crew Development 2 entitled NASA's Return on Investment Report.  While the bureaucracy is behind schedule with SLS, CCDev-2 contractors have all met their first milestones. Surprise. Surprise. CCDev-2 are Space Act Agreements (SSAs) which are fiscally responsible, limits the governments over-site, and allow NASA to tap the free market.  SSAs are the preferred way to conduct the nation's business in this economy.  While SLS contractors receive money up front, the CCDev-2 contractors just received payment for meeting the first milestone.  This is capitalism at work. NASA's investment is a good one.

[caption id="attachment_1541" align="alignleft" width="150" caption="JWST won't be ready in 2013."][/caption] According to Keith Cowing at NASA Watch, the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is in more trouble.  This time, it is one of the sensors, the "Optical SIMulator" which you can read about here.

OSIM is a full field, cryogenic, optical simulator of the JWST Optical Telescope Element (OTE). It provides simulated point source/star images for optical performance testing of the JWST Integrated Science Instrument Module (ISIM). OSIM is currently being assembled at the Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC).

Ok, the telescope is already delayed until 2018 with additional delays to 2020 now highly possible.  The monstrosity that is JWST has not even passed Critical Design Review (CDR) and now here is an additional delay.  At what point does NASA and congress pull the plug?  It is time for some soul searching on the 9th floor and in congress.