Here is our list of space policy events for the week of March 13-17, 2017 and any insight we can offer about them. The House and Senate are in session (the Senate for only the first half of the week).

During the Week

After last week’s meeting extravaganza (stay tuned for more SpacePolicyOnline.com stories), this week is a welcome respite. As of this morning (Sunday), at least, we are not aware of any space-related congressional hearings or major space conferences in the United States. [UPDATE: We forgot to mention that the White House is expected to release its FY2018 Budget Blueprint on Thursday. We do not have a time or place for that, though. We’ll add it to our “Events of Interest” list when we do.]

There are two especially interesting seminars, though, both in Washington, DC. First, a word of warning to anyone in DC or planning to come here. Mother Nature decided to save the winter weather till now and there is a storm that could bring a significant snowfall Monday night into Tuesday. The forecasters are hedging their bets — this area is notoriously tough to forecast because the rain/snow line often goes right through here so it’s hard to know which we’ll get until the last minute — but even a small amount of snow (or worse, ice) could snarl things. If you plan on attending any events in DC early this week, check first to make certain they are taking place.

That said, on Tuesday, the National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA) and the University of Arizona are holding an afternoon discussion on “Congested, Contested, and Competitive: The Future of Security and Commerce in Space.” Among the speakers are Rep. Jim Bridenstine (R-OK), DOD space policy advisor Josef Koller, FAA/AST Associate Administrator George Nield, and Lockheed Martin’s Robie Samanta Roy. That’s at the Army & Navy Club on 17th Street, NW (not to be confused with the Army Navy Country Club across the river in Arlington, VA where NDIA is holding a breakfast meeting featuring Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Goldfein on Thursday).

On Wednesday, the Satellite Industry Association (SIA) is holding a lunchtime meeting on Capitol Hill (2325 Rayburn) on “Commercial Remote Sensing Regulatory Reform: How Changes Can Enable Growth in the U.S. Commercial Satellite Industry.” Rep. Brian Babin (R-TX) and Rep. Ami Bera (D-CA), the chairman and top Democrat, respectively, on the Space Subcommittee of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee, will speak along with representatives of Planet and DigitalGlobe. Be sure to RSVP in advance (light refreshments will be served).

Those and other events we know about as of Sunday morning are shown below. Check back throughout the week for others we learn about later and add to our Events of Interest list.

Monday, March 13

NASA Advisory Council (NAC) STEM Task Force, NASA HQ, Washington, DC, 9:30 am – 3:00 pm ET (WEbEx/telecon)

Monday-Tuesday, March 13-14

NAC Institutional Committee, NASA HQ, Washington, DC (WebEx/telecon)

Tuesday, March 14

Future of Security and Commerce in Space (NDIA/UA), Army & Navy Club, 901 17th St., NW, Washington, DC, 2:00-5:00 pm ET (followed by reception to 7:30)

Tuesday-Wednesday, March 14-15

Wednesday, March 15

Commercial Remote Sensing Regulatory Reform (SIA), 2325 Rayburn, 12:00-1:30 pm ET

Thursday, March 16