| Issue 8 | Volume 147 | Tuesday, March 28, 2017 | theavion.com | AVIOFF INSIDE
AVIOFF INSIDE
Photo Courtesy: Michael Weinhoffer
Students Spend Spring Break Lobbying for Space in D.C.
Michael Weinhoffer Senior Reporter
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Over spring break, instead of partying and going to the beach like the typical college student, four Riddle students traveled up to frigid Washington D.C. to lobby on Capitol Hill for what they believe in – a sustainable future in outer space. This research trip was supported by Dr. Howard of the Commercial Space Operations program and sponsored by the Office of Undergraduate Research. The group will be presenting a poster on the experience at Discovery Day on April 12, but I believe that this trip warrants a noncurricular discussion. The lobbying effort is entitled the "March Storm Legislative Blitz," and is organized by the Alliance for Space Development, the National Space Society, and the Space Frontier Foundation; it is also supported by several other space advocacy groups. Although there are many legislative blitzes conducted each year, the March
event certainly produces the most data, and it was a very productive week. After a long training day on Sunday, we had several meetings every day for four days, from 9:00-5:00. We met with congressional staffers, who advise Representatives and Senators from all over the country. A lot of walking was involved going in between the various House buildings and Senate buildings. We even walked underneath the Capitol itself through the labyrinth of tunnels to get to the respective buildings. Going through the same tunnels and riding the same private subway as the members of Congress was very enlightening, as we saw the inner workings of a system most people do not get to see. Feeling like a member of Congress was supplemented by lobbying to senior advisors, and it was through lobbying that we expressed our passion for the field. The main goal of the blitz was to promote the 2017 "Cit-
izen's Space Agenda," which was drafted by the Alliance for Space Development, to congressional staffers. All four objectives included a specific request to the staffer, and while most were unsurprisingly noncommittal (as they cannot speak for the member), we did get great feedback. The first item was promoting the introduction of the ULCATS Act into the House of Representatives. ULCATS (Ultra-Low-Cost Access to Space) encourages the continued development of reusable launch vehicles and development of fully reusable vehicles with rapid-turnaround capabilities. This act encourages aerospace companies to develop launch vehicles like those currently being tested by SpaceX and Blue Origin. The goal is to create airline-like operations for rocket launches, whereby rockets can repeatedly be used and require little to no maintenance in between launches. The second item was a
letter that we wanted Congress members to sign. The letter asks NASA to include additional items in its report to Congress on a post-ISS strategy since the ISS is losing funding in 2024 and no transition plan exists. The third item was the Cis-Lunar Commercialization Act of 2017, which promotes the commercialization of the area in between the Earth and the Moon and on the Moon by private companies. The final request was asking Congress members to support the Space Settlement and Development Act of 2017. The bill is currently sponsored by Representative Rohrabacher and makes development and settlement of outer space an official part of NASA's mission. Many staffers seemed very interested in our objectives,
and the attendees were confident that the members of Congress would consider the proposed items. Amador Salinas, a junior in the CSO program and a cadet of the Air Force ROTC, was one of the four Riddle students that attended, and he helped manage the blitz along with other Alliance for Space Development volunteers. When asked about his experience, he said, "This was my second time on the hill with March Storm, and I oversaw scheduling meetings with congressional offices and training new advocates. I originally inquired to Dr. Howard about attending March Storm as an externship for credit. Instead, it was turned into a research trip." She also stated that "As a space policy wonk and political junkie, I was having a
good time lobbying on the hill." It seems that Amador thoroughly enjoyed the trip, as did the two other students. I personally enjoy space law over space advocacy, but it was an excellent first step into a dynamic field. Anyone who has an interest in space policy and space advocacy should seriously consider doing this trip. Just talk to Dr. Howard to get started! It was a great experience to see the inner workings of our government while advocating for a strong passion of mine. It was the first time that I felt I made a positive contribution to the field of space policy, and it was very satisfying to establish a connection with government officials with the same magnitude of enthusiasm for space policy as myself.
Exclusive Interview with Nick Offerman! Scan this QR code for the interview with the woodworker and award-winning Blue & Gold Week comedian. Michael Weinhoffer/The Avion Newspaper Amador Salinas, a junior studying Commercial Space Operations, and another volunteer prepare for meetings.