An Idea Whose Time Has Come - Again

摘要

In the past two weeks two high profile statements regarding the future of U.S. national space policy and its organization have been released and both contain the same core recommendation: revive the White House National Space Council (NSC). The National Security Space (NSS) Independent Assessment Panel mandated by Congress and known by the name of its primary congressional sponsor, Sen. Wayne Allard (R-Colo.), reported Aug. 13 that "there is no National Space Strategy," "no one is in charge," and "no mechanism (exists) to assure funding and implementation of National Space Policy." As a remedy to this condition they recommend a reinstitution of the White House National Space Council "to implement the National Space Strategy, assign roles and responsibilities, and adjudicate requirements and resources."