Public Input

https://www.nasa.gov/content/nationalspace-council-users-advisory-group

To submit a question, comment, or idea to the 

UAG, please use the contact email 

below. Please note: anything sent to this email 

account may be subject to future public release 

under applicable Federal laws and regulations. 

As such, please do not send information or 

documents that are classified, proprietary, trade 

secrets, contain personally sensitive information, 

or are otherwise inappropriate for public release.

contact@spacecounciluag.org

AGENDA for 5th NSpC UAG Mtg
Fifth Public Meeting 

July 30, 2020

USERS’ ADVISORY GROUP 

EDUCATION AND OUTREACH 

SUBCOMMITTEE REPORT

To submit a question, comment, or idea to the UAG, please use contact@spacecounciluag.org 
EDUCATION AND OUTREACH MEMBERSHIP

Chair: Col. Eileen Collins (USAF, Ret.)

DFO: Barbara Adde, John Gaine

Members:

• Homer Hickam 

• Fred Klipsch 

• Pamela Vaughan 

• Mandy Vaughn 

• Stuart Witt

New Members:

• Dr. Bruce Jakosky 

• Lieutenant Governor Jeanette M. Nuñez

To submit a question, comment, or idea to the UAG, please use contact@spacecounciluag.org 
EDUCATION AND OUTREACH SCOPE

The UAG Education & Outreach Subcommittee has a twofold mission:

• To explore and recommend ways to improve our country’s education system in an 

effort to strengthen technical expertise which will allow the United States to retain 

its preeminent global space programs.

• To collaborate with space program stakeholders to ensure the National Space 

Council has access to the information and conditions that contribute to strong 

United States leadership in space. The subcommittee will chronicle the interactions 

between its members and the stakeholder community. 

To submit a question, comment, or idea to the UAG, please use contact@spacecounciluag.org 
EDUCATION AND OUTREACH 

SUMMARY OF ACTIVITIES

March 20 National Science Foundation (Dr. Karen Marrongelle, NSF Director for 

Education and Human Resources)

April 21 STEM Corp Bill (U.S. Representatives Jim Banks and Andy Kim)

May 7 Arizona State University (President Dr. Michael Crow)

June 3 Space Camp (Dr. Kay Taylor, VP Education & Dr. Kim McCain, VP Sales, 

Marketing, Strategic Development)

July 15 American Astronautical Society: Glenn Symposium (Col. Collins 

represented the Education and Outreach Subcommittee, panel discussion 

on aerospace workforce)

July 16 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs): (Dr. Victor 

McCrary, Vice Chair, National Science Board and Vice President for 

Research, University of the District of Columbia)
EDUCATION AND OUTREACH 

We recommend the National Space 

Council write a Space Policy Directive 

concerning STEM education in the United 

States with the intent to prepare the future 

space industry workforce.

PREVIOUS RECOMMENDATION (Oct 21, 2019)

To submit a question, comment, or idea to the UAG, please use contact@spacecounciluag.org 
EDUCATION AND OUTREACH 

Critical issues with STEM education and 

with the space workforce are matters of 

national security.

EDUCATION AND OUTREACH OBSERVATION (July 30, 2020)

To submit a question, comment, or idea to the UAG, please use contact@spacecounciluag.org 
EDUCATION AND OUTREACH 

National Science Foundation

The National Science Foundation presented results of the 2020 National 

Science Board Science and Engineering Indicators: The State of U.S. 

Science and Engineering. It showed the number of women and 

underrepresented minorities (URMs) in the U.S. science and engineering 

(S&E) workforce has grown. However, these groups remain underrepresented 

in the S&E workforce relative to their overall presence in the workforce and 

the population.

Finding:

• There is a lack of trained employees to fill current available 

workforce positions in the space industry (NSB Sept. 2019 Report)

Finding:

• There are opportunities to increase diversity in the workforce.

To submit a question, comment, or idea to the UAG, please use contact@spacecounciluag.org 
EDUCATION AND OUTREACH 

STEM Corp Bill

The bill establishes a STEM Corps to enhance the STEM and computer 

science workforce of the Department of Defense (DOD) and defense 

industry. In exchange for tuition coverage for two years, participants 

will serve four years with the DOD, to include an internship with an 

industry sponsor and the option to serve the fourth year of the program 

with an industry partner. 

Finding:

• DOD has a critical need for computer and engineering 

degrees and personnel trained in cyber ops.

To submit a question, comment, or idea to the UAG, please use contact@spacecounciluag.org 
EDUCATION AND OUTREACH 

Arizona State University

ASU has a five-year graduation rate of 64.8% for engineering majors, 

while the national average for colleges ranges between 47% and 49%. 

(source: Arizona State University and American Society for Engineering Education)

Finding:

• A university has many opportunities to retain its engineering students, by 

using creative learning methods, incentivized faculty involvement, 

internships and graduate projects at earlier opportunities, aerospace 

company involvement, and mentoring.

To submit a question, comment, or idea to the UAG, please use contact@spacecounciluag.org 
EDUCATION AND OUTREACH 

Space Camp

Space Camp inspires future space workforce:

• 96% of Space Camp graduates say camp increased their interest in STEM topics

• 61% of Space Camp graduates are studying for or are now in a field related to 

aerospace, technology, biotech, energy, or defense. 

• 50% claimed Space Camp inspired their decision to enter a STEM field

Finding: 

• Surveys and data show that experiences like Space Camp have long term positive 

effects on the overall quality and quantity of space program employees 

To submit a question, comment, or idea to the UAG, please use contact@spacecounciluag.org 
EDUCATION AND OUTREACH 

HBCUs and STW

Historically Black Colleges and 

Universities (HBCUs) 

America’s Underutilized Resource 

for Strengthening the STEM 

Workforce.

Skilled Technical Workforce 

(STW) 

HBCUs and community colleges provide opportunities 

for training in specific technical skills that are in high 

demand by today’s aerospace companies.

To submit a question, comment, or idea to the UAG, please use contact@spacecounciluag.org 
EDUCATION AND OUTREACH 

NEXT STEPS

• Potential speakers

• The Council on American Workers

• The Reagan Institute

• Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC)

• Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS)

• Purpose: To better define and build the rationale for a Space Policy 

Directive supporting the future space workforce.

To submit a question, comment, or idea to the UAG, please use contact@spacecounciluag.org 
EDUCATION AND OUTREACH 

Critical issues with STEM education and 

with the space workforce are matters of 

national security.

EDUCATION AND OUTREACH OBSERVATION (July 30, 2020)

To submit a question, comment, or idea to the UAG, please use contact@spacecounciluag.org 
Fifth Public Meeting 

July 30, 2020

USERS’ ADVISORY GROUP 

TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION 

SUBCOMMITTEE REPORT

To submit a question, comment, or idea to the UAG, please use contact@spacecounciluag.org 
TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION MEMBERSHIP

Chair: Col. Pamela Melroy (USAF, ret)

DFO: Taylor Weeks

Members:

• Dean Cheng

• Tim Ellis

• The Honorable Kay Ivey 

• General Lester Lyles (USAF, ret)

• Fatih Ozmen

• Harrison “Jack” Schmitt

• Dr. David Wolf 

New Members:

• The Hon. John Culberson

To submit a question, comment, or idea to the UAG, please use contact@spacecounciluag.org 
TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION SCOPE

•Reviewing new technologies and new applications of 

technology, as well as business innovation practices and 

new business models, and...

• Making recommendations relevant to these topics on 

national policy, technology and operations architectures, 

and inter-department and agency coordination.

To submit a question, comment, or idea to the UAG, please use contact@spacecounciluag.org 
TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION TOPICS OF FOCUS

• Lunar technology roadmap review. Review NASA lunar technology 

roadmap for gaps and... 

• Space data as a US government capability vs buying as a service. Evaluate 

and recommend best practices for US government on owning data 

capability vs buying data commercially (Earth Observation, Space 

Situational Awareness, weather). Discussion initially focused on Space 

Situational Awareness (SSA) to support SPD-3, National Space Traffic 

Management Policy. Discussion has evolved to focus on trust in 

commercial and international SSA data.

To submit a question, comment, or idea to the UAG, please use contact@spacecounciluag.org 
TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION 

SUMMARY OF ACTIVITIES

• Held 9 administrative/preparatory telecons to receive expert briefings, 

identify potential topics of focus, and develop a work plan.

• Received briefing from STMD on lunar roadmap January 2020. Follow 

up briefings have occurred on xEMU status. No specific 

recommendations at this time.

• Partnered with Aerospace Corporation and GW School of Policy to host 

a panel on trust in SSA on March 9, 2020.

• Discussed potential recommendations to bring to full UAG regarding 

SSA data standards and architectures.

To submit a question, comment, or idea to the UAG, please use contact@spacecounciluag.org 
TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION SSA TOPIC

• Space Policy Directive-3 (SPD-3) issued on June 18, 2018.

• First goal in SPD-3 is to advance Space Situational Awareness (SSA) and 

Space Traffic Management (STM) Science and Technology. “Activities 

include....advancing the S&T of critical SSA inputs such as 

observational data, algorithms, and models necessary to improve SSA 

capabilities, and developing new hardware and software to support data 

processing and observations.” 

• The T& I Subcommittee has been studying some of the technical issues 

related to SSA data by consulting a number of experts in government 

and industry. 

To submit a question, comment, or idea to the UAG, please use contact@spacecounciluag.org 
TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION SSA TOPIC

• United States Space Command (USSPACECOM) operationally tracks earth-orbiting space 

objects for the Department of Defense (DOD) using its own sensors

• USSPACECOM is also responsible for maintaining a space data catalog of locations of space 

objects, and of notifying commercial, government, domestic and international spacecraft 

operators of impending potential near misses or collisions

• Rapid growth in the number of space objects such as large commercial constellations, dynamic 

capabilities such as rendezvous, satellite servicing, and other satellite maneuvering activities has 

increased the challenge of providing collision avoidance support services

• The DOD will need to incorporate more multi-sourced information, data science, and 

analytics to provide meaningful and timely situational awareness. Trust in the reliability of the 

data from non-DOD sources has been identified as an obstacle to incorporating these 

additional sources of data.

To submit a question, comment, or idea to the UAG, please use contact@spacecounciluag.org 
TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION SSA TOPIC

• The DOD has a number of activities to evolve its own command and 

control system and learn how best to build trust and incorporate nonDOD SSA data

• Experimentation with rapid prototyping is underway

• New commercial software service cloud architectures are evolving options for 

data distribution, storage, and analytics

• Activities to bring international partner data into USSPACECOM operations 

centers are also occurring in DOD

• DARPA’s Orbit Outlook Program culminated in a demonstration in 2016 

that showed that it is technically feasible to do real-time reliability 

analytics on SSA data from non-traditional sources; one lesson learned 

was how important data architecture is for scaling to operational needs

To submit a question, comment, or idea to the UAG, please use contact@spacecounciluag.org 
TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION SSA TOPIC

• SPD-3 states that the Department of Commerce (DOC) should be the 

focal point for administering an open architecture data repository and 

providing space collision avoidance support services while DOD focuses 

on maintaining access to and freedom of action in space. 

• Interoperability will remain key as there will be overlapping data 

requirements, and a need for communication and coordination.

• The goals of this SPD have not progressed to a large extent due to a lack 

of agreement on execution in the federal government

• DOC has been coordinating with the DOD, but does not have the resources to 

significantly progress its own SSA open data architecture

To submit a question, comment, or idea to the UAG, please use contact@spacecounciluag.org 
TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION SSA TOPIC

• The DOD and DOC will be significant customers of the emerging 

commercial SSA industry.

• DOD and DOC must work together to avoid incompatible approaches 

so industry can organize around the products needed by both 

organizations. American taxpayers should not be paying twice for 

substantively the same data in different forms due to incompatible 

approaches within the US Government.

• The long-term viability of a commercial marketplace for SSA data is still 

uncertain and could be at risk if DOD and DOC do not define their 

needs in a timely manner.

To submit a question, comment, or idea to the UAG, please use contact@spacecounciluag.org 
TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION RECOMMENDATIONS

Recommendation 1: 

The Departments of Defense and Commerce should work to create an 

interoperable approach on multi-sourced space data modeling, data 

sharing, and curation architectures. Both departments should study 

lessons learned and fund studies and research around technical solutions 

and processes that allow incorporation of properly vetted international 

and commercial data into the space object catalog for military, civil and 

commercial uses. We further recommend that the Departments should 

report to the National Space Council regularly on their progress.

To submit a question, comment, or idea to the UAG, please use contact@spacecounciluag.org 
TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION SSA TOPIC

• The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) and others in the 

Intelligence Community (IC) have already experienced some of these issues 

with remotely sensed earth observational data; the advent and growth of 

commercial entities (many international) has required the issue of trust to be 

addressed.

• As a regulator, NGA requires a data security plan for safety of operations; as 

a customer, the government increases rigor to require a data protection plan 

which documents the “supply chain” of the data to include networks, network 

owners, encryption, and analytics, and other information.

• It has been a challenge to NGA to communicate these requirements; 

attempting to build in compliance after the fact can delay contracting efforts 

for critical data.

To submit a question, comment, or idea to the UAG, please use contact@spacecounciluag.org 
TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION SSA TOPIC

• Experts also commented on the need for a standard method for 

quantifying SSA sensor uncertainty.

• Although there has been relevant research, clarity on all aspects of data 

vetting must be agreed to by DOD and DOC to establish thresholds for 

accepting the data for inclusion into the space object catalog. Standards 

for sensor uncertainty provides certainty for SSA businesses and 

international partners alike.

• The Consultative Committee for Space Data Standards (CCSDS) is a 

multi-national forum for the development of communications and data 

systems standards for spaceflight (including some SSA data standards). 

DOC and DOD should leverage NASA’s long expertise so as not to 

preclude harmonization of DOC and DOD emerging standards with 

existing global standards. 

To submit a question, comment, or idea to the UAG, please use contact@spacecounciluag.org 
TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION RECOMMENDATIONS

Recommendation 2: 

The Department of Defense, Department of Commerce, 

and NASA should work to jointly develop standards for 

space data protection and security plans, space data 

verification, and space data uncertainty quantification.

To submit a question, comment, or idea to the UAG, please use contact@spacecounciluag.org 
TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION SSA TOPIC

• Potential future discussion topics:

• Other relevant research such as sensitivity of SSA data to types of errors, and the 

value of new types of sensors in data fusion

• The impact of frequent observation re-visit rates on trust/verification in SSA 

data

• Different use cases for SSA data, and determining accuracy vs urgency for each 

use case, can impact the need for trust/verification

• Because of the lagging quality of the current space object catalog, many others 

are pursuing development of their own catalog capability.

• The USG should scope its needs and communicate clearly to commercial SSA 

industry what is needed to ensure entrepreneurs and investors clearly understand 

the size of the USG market.

To submit a question, comment, or idea to the UAG, please use contact@spacecounciluag.org 
Fifth Public Meeting 

July 30, 2020

SPACE POLICY AND INTERNATIONAL 

ENGAGEMENT SUBCOMMITTEE 

REPORT

To submit a question, comment, or idea to the UAG, please use contact@spacecounciluag.org 
SPACE POLICY AND INTERNATIONAL ENGAGEMENT

Membership

Chair: David Wolf, M.D.

DFO: Dr. Ben Ashman

Members:

• Col. Buzz Aldrin (USAF, Ret.)

• David Calhoun

• Dean Cheng

• Dr. Mary Lynne Dittmar

• Adm. James Ellis, Jr. (USN, Ret.)

• Fred Klipsch

• Col. Pamela Melroy (USAF, Ret.)

• Eric Stallmer

To submit a question, comment, or idea to the UAG, please use contact@spacecounciluag.org 
SPACE POLICY AND INTERNATIONAL ENGAGEMENT

Scope (per Terms of Reference)

• The Space Policy and International Engagement subcommittee 

considers how the United States can most effectively continue to lead 

international space efforts to advance both U.S. and partner interests. 

• The subcommittee focuses on how the United States should respond 

to growing international space capabilities, especially those that are 

potentially adversarial.

To submit a question, comment, or idea to the UAG, please use contact@spacecounciluag.org 
SPACE POLICY AND INTERNATIONAL ENGAGEMENT

Summary of Activities

Four fact gathering/preparatory telecons since the 4th UAG meeting (10/21/19)

• NASA on evolving international relationships, Artemis Accords, and space resource 

commercialization

• 2/18/2020 – Mr. Michael Gold, NASA Assoc. Administrator for International and Interagency 

Affairs (acting) and Special Advisor to the Administrator 

• Dept. of State on National Security and Civil-Commercial Space Norms of 

Responsible Behavior, U.N. treaties, U.S. stakeholders

• 4/24/2020 – Mr. Dave Turner, Office of Space and Advanced Technology, Dept. of State

• 5/21/2020 – Mr. Eric Desautels, Office of Emerging Security Challenges, Dept. of State

• 6/25/2020 – Both Mr. Turner and Mr. Desautels

• Reviewed Space Policy documents and Treaties (~15)

To submit a question, comment, or idea to the UAG, please use contact@spacecounciluag.org 
SPACE POLICY AND INTERNATIONAL ENGAGEMENT

Topics of Focus

• Promoting U.S. global leadership

• Norms of Responsible Behavior in Space

• Deterrence, Attributability, and Stability in the Space Domain

• Unique considerations for China, Russia (Iran, North Korea)

To submit a question, comment, or idea to the UAG, please use contact@spacecounciluag.org 
SPACE POLICY AND INTERNATIONAL ENGAGEMENT

Observations

The role of space in the national security, commercial, and civil sectors is rapidly 

evolving

• Allies and adversaries rapidly advancing in all sectors

• NATO recognized space as a new operational domain in its 2019 Space Policy

• China and Russia are actively weaponizing space

• High competition to attract global commerce

• Many new emerging participants

• Multiple diverse stakeholders of “Norms of Responsible Behavior” (NRB)

• NRBs are mature in maritime and arctic domains

• U.N. voluntary measures include Transparency and Confidence Building Measures (Nat. Sec.) and 

Guidelines for the Long-term Sustainability of Outer Space Activities (civil-commercial) – heavy 

overlap

• U.N. curated norms are necessarily slow and of limited scope to get agreement (E.U. 2015 attempt)

• U.S./NASA Artemis Accords beginning to address Deep Space issues (e.g. mineral right claims)

• This Monday, in Vienna, 1st U.S. bilateral Space Security Exchange (SSE) with Russia to advance 

NRBs in the Space warfighting domain to avoid misperceptions and miscalculations

• U.S. Space Warfighting Doctrine about to roll out from DOD

• State Dept., Office of Emerging Security Challenges (Nat. Sec.) and Office of Space and Advanced 

Technology (civil-commercial) coordinate U.S. stakeholders and represent NRBs to U.N.
SPACE POLICY AND INTERNATIONAL ENGAGEMENT

Discussion (Norms of Responsible Behavior)

• An opportunity exists for the U.S. to lead by establishing Norms of Responsible 

Behavior in space

• Promote Security, Transparency, Stability, Sustainability, and Trust in Space

• Reduce misperceptions and miscalculations of intent

• U.S. government and industry have historically served as examples of best practices 

across the global space enterprise

• U.N. Space treaties did not contemplate scope and scale of activity

• China (CCP) aggressively attracting relationships via favorable terms (subsidies)

• U.S. supports free market driven global space economy

• Current U.S. EXIM Bank activity can level international playing field

• U.S. relaxation of export restrictions to the degree possible

• Other methods?

To submit a question, comment, or idea to the UAG, please use contact@spacecounciluag.org 
SPACE POLICY AND INTERNATIONAL ENGAGEMENT

Discussion (Norms of Responsible Behavior)

• Establishing U.S. consolidated Norms of Responsible Behavior in Space 

to Promote Security, Stability, and Sustainability across the National 

Security, Civil, and Commercial Space sectors

• Coordinate the multiple U.S. stakeholders

• NSpC just released, “New Era for Deep Space Exploration and Development”

• “Roles of the Departments of State, Defense, Commerce, Transportation, Energy, and 

Homeland Security in space exploration and development are among the major reasons the 

U.S. takes a ‘whole-of-government’ approach”

• Consolidated norms embraced by the U.S. whole-of-government could encourage 

trust in the U.S. and broader global adoption

• Special cases could be accommodated

• Unique National Security sections

• Peacetime effectivity

• Confidential or classified sections

• Some terms may be dependent on mutual agreement between states

To submit a question, comment, or idea to the UAG, please use contact@spacecounciluag.org 
SPACE POLICY AND INTERNATIONAL ENGAGEMENT

Discussion (Norms of Responsible Behavior)

• Questions for us to consider;

• Is such a baseline U.S. set of “Consolidated Norms” of value?

• Several U.S. agencies already producing “Norms”

• Allow expression of U.S. position unburdened by necessity of 100% U.N. consensus

• State Dept. expresses value of retaining multiple approaches within U.N. 

• Could nicely support U.S. led (multilateral and bilateral) negotiations

• Where would these be administered/curated?

• Suggest Dept. of State, Office of Emerging Security Challenges and Office of Space and 

Advanced Technology (directors see value if done correctly)

• Voluntary (Dept. of State position) vs. Mandatory?

• Are there special considerations for China and Russia (Iran, North Korea)?

• Or should norms evolve separately in an ad hoc manner? Recommendation?

To submit a question, comment, or idea to the UAG, please use contact@spacecounciluag.org 
• Recommend “policy” priorities to National Space Council for 2021 and 

beyond

• Implement civil Space Domain Awareness plan (e.g., in Dept. of Commerce)

• Norms of Responsible Behavior in Space

• “Mineral Rights” claim regime

• Recommend “space” priorities for 2021 and beyond

• e.g., DOE/NASA space fusion reactor power system

• Recommend priority bilateral topics with Russia and China

• Reduce potential for active conflict

• Confirm effective means of “deterrence, denial, attribution, defeat” in place

• Promote long term positive relationships

• Identify “small” areas of cooperation (space weather, science data sharing, SDA)

SPACE POLICY AND INTERNATIONAL ENGAGEMENT

Forward Work
Fifth Public Meeting 

July 30, 2020

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND 

INDUSTRIAL BASE

SUBCOMMITTEE REPORT

To submit a question, comment, or idea to the UAG, please use contact@spacecounciluag.org 
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & INDUSTRIAL BASE SUBCOMMITTEE

Membership

Chair(s):

• Dr. Mary Lynne Dittmar

• Mr. Eric Stallmer

DFO:

• Nate McIntyre

Members:

• Tory Bruno 

• Tim Ellis 

• Homer Hickam

• Fred Klipsch

• Gwynne Shotwell 

• Dr. Bob Smith

New Members:

• Eileen Drake 

• Lt Gov Nuñez

To submit a question, comment, or idea to the UAG, please use contact@spacecounciluag.org 
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & INDUSTRIAL BASE SUBCOMMITTEE

Summary of Activities

• Regular Consultation with National Space Council staff

• Co-chairs have participated in in Bi-weekly telecon with UAG 

Executive Committee discussing subcommittee issues / COVID-19 

situation.

• Information gathering with several stakeholders

• Discussed committee work with members most recently during 

telecon on 2 June, which also featured NASA Commercialization 

update that was recently reviewed by the NAC

• Sought input from members on Strategic Propellent Reserve Paper 

• Followed up with UAG Chair Admiral Ellis on 8 July and 24 July to 

finalize approach with SPR Paper

To submit a question, comment, or idea to the UAG, please use contact@spacecounciluag.org 
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & INDUSTRIAL BASE SUBCOMMITTEE

Stimulating Economic Development of Space 

• Held 3 exploratory telecons with members to discuss issues and 

identify scope regarding economic development of low Earth orbit 

and cislunar space, and the region between them.

• Our focus has been largely in three areas: 

• Economic development/commercialization of low Earth orbit (LEO) 

with strategic consideration of extension to cislunar space, 

• Formulation of approaches to facilitate each.

• Identified several areas of concern for within the Industrial Base due to 

COVID-19 concerns. 

• Discussed plan with subcommittee members most recently during 

telecon on June 2, 2020.

• Focused on USG initiative to stimulate space economy

• Discussed final edits for Space Strategic Propellant Reserve Paper

To submit a question, comment, or idea to the UAG, please use contact@spacecounciluag.org 
Economic Development and Industrial Base Subcommittee 

TOPIC OF FOCUS: Commercialization of LEO

• With regard to the commercialization of LEO, discussions are ongoing 

within the committee regarding enabling factors to support 

commercialization

• This focus was deferred in April-early June in light of the discussion 

about COVID-19 impacts. The committee appreciates the offer of help 

made by NSpC staff to arrange future briefings across agencies and 

other entities to support the committee’s work in this regard.

To submit a question, comment, or idea to the UAG, please use contact@spacecounciluag.org 
Economic Development and Industrial Base Subcommittee 

TOPIC OF FOCUS: Economic Development of LEO and beyond

• With regard to economic development of the LEO to cislunar space 

“corridor”, a recommendation was brought forward by the committee to 

the UAG in October, 2019 (4th meeting) to develop a white paper to 

address the development of a plan for a strategic space propellant 

reserve. This recommendation was accepted by the UAG at that meeting 

and subsequently by the National Space Council.

• The ED&IB committee has completed a pre-decisional draft of the 

paper which has been forwarded to the UAG. 

To submit a question, comment, or idea to the UAG, please use contact@spacecounciluag.org 
Economic Development and Industrial Base Subcommittee 

TOPIC OF FOCUS: Strategic Propellant Reserve (Background)

• USG Investment In Infrastructure can enable space commerce

• Leverage NASA investments and programs such as SLS, Orion, and the ISS

• Overarching enabler for commercial activity is Affordable Transportation

• Earth To Cislunar transportation costs $10,000 To $50,000 per kg today

• Driving cost of in-space transportation is Propellant

• The majority of a rocket’s mass is fuel

• Propellants sourced in space avoid cost of lifting from Earth’s gravity well

• 60% to 70% of energy required to a reach cislunar destination is spent on Earth-to-LEO

• USG can stimulate a large space economy by facilitating in-space 

propellant availability

• Ice Mining

• Propellant Manufacture

• Storage

To submit a question, comment, or idea to the UAG, please use contact@spacecounciluag.org 
Economic Development and Industrial Base Subcommittee 

TOPIC OF FOCUS: Strategic Propellant Reserve (Approach)

• The USG maintains strategic reserves to sustain and grow 

economy and protect citizenry and commerce

• Strategic Petroleum Reserve

• Defense Logistics Agency Strategic Materials (Industrial Metals)

• Strategic National Stockpile (Medicines)

• Strategic Helium Reserve

• Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust (Grain)

• The USG can establish a requirement to create and maintain Strategic 

Reserve of Propellant sourced in space

• Modeled on the US Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR)

• Creation of the Reserve would establish propellant production and 

storage infrastructure

• Also protects future economic activity from supply interruptions
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & INDUSTRIAL BASE SUBCOMMITTEE

Finding 

• Finding (presented during 4th meeting of the UAG, October 2019)

• LEO and cislunar space are regions of strategic vital interest to the United States. 

Development of a space economy requires a whole-of-government approach 

together with investment in infrastructure to enable commerce and economic 

development. While NASA plays an early and critical role, the nature of 

economic development and assurance of the strategic interests of the United 

States fall outside the purview and budget of any one agency. The overarching 

enabler for space commerce is affordable transportation. . The USG can 

stimulate development, ensure stability, and assure global leadership of the space 

economy for decades to come by facilitating the availability of in-space 

propellant.

To submit a question, comment, or idea to the UAG, please use contact@spacecounciluag.org 
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & INDUSTRIAL BASE SUBCOMMITTEE

Finding 

• Finding: Development of an in-space strategic propellant reserve would 

enable three key outcomes:

• (1) It would stimulate economic development by reducing uncertainty 

regarding availability of propellant, enhancing confidence for 

governments and private interests alike. 

• (2) It would buffer U.S. future in-space economic interests from 

temporary interruptions in supply. 

• (3) It would also provide a significant means to help stabilize a future 

space commodities exchange, in which forward purchases (futures) of 

commodities such as water, oxygen, hydrogen, metals, and propellant, 

could be traded

To submit a question, comment, or idea to the UAG, please use contact@spacecounciluag.org 
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & INDUSTRIAL BASE SUBCOMMITTEE

Opportunity for Discussion

To submit a question, comment, or idea to the UAG, please use contact@spacecounciluag.org 
Economic Development and Industrial Base Subcommittee 

TOPIC OF FOCUS: COVID-19 Actions 

• COVID-19 impacts to the industrial base were discussed at length as 

part of committee fact-finding – a process that is still ongoing

• Four findings emerged, phrased here as an effort to preserve the 

aerospace and defense industrial base, with special attention to NASA

• These were offered for consideration at the time – some have seen 

progress, but we would like to understand any other issues, or issues with 

implementation

To submit a question, comment, or idea to the UAG, please use contact@spacecounciluag.org 
Economic Development and Industrial Base Subcommittee 

TOPIC OF FOCUS: COVID-19 Actions 

1) Designate the nation’s entire aerospace and defense workforce and its 

suppliers as essential to national security, enabling work to proceed, 

and providing necessary Federal guarantees during the crisis and postcrisis recovery.

2) Authorize payment to workers furloughed as a result of COVID-19 or 

workers who cannot tele-work or access facilities closed as a result of 

COVID-19, in order to maintain capabilities and critical workforce, 

akin to that provided in natural disasters

To submit a question, comment, or idea to the UAG, please use contact@spacecounciluag.org 
Economic Development and Industrial Base 

Subcommittee TOPICS OF FOCUS: COVID-19 Actions (cont.)

3) Establish an A&D Supply Chain Stabilization program. One example of 

actions under this program would be to back lines of credit with Federal 

guarantees to provide for payroll under circumstances where payment is 

stopped or delayed. Another would be providing for refunds for R&D tax 

credits so that companies may immediately access this liquidity.

4) Designate critical NASA mission activities, contractors, and supply chain 

as essential industry. Critical NASA missions to be determined by the NASA 

Administrator.

To submit a question, comment, or idea to the UAG, please use contact@spacecounciluag.org 
Fifth Public Meeting 

July 30, 2020

USERS’ ADVISORY GROUP 

EXPLORATION AND DISCOVERY 

SUBCOMMITTEE REPORT

To submit a question, comment, or idea to the UAG, please use contact@spacecounciluag.org 
EXPLORATION AND DISCOVERY MEMBERSHIP

Chair: General [USAF, Ret.] Les Lyles

DFO: James J. Miller

Members:

• Dr. Buzz Aldrin (USAF, Ret.)

• Tory Bruno 

• David Calhoun

• Dr. Mary Lynne Dittmar 

• Homer Hickam 

• The Hon. Kay Ivey 

• Fatih Ozmen

• Gwynne Shotwell 

• Eric Stallmer

• Pamela Vaughan 

• Kathy Warden 

• Stuart Witt

New Members: 

• The Hon. John Culberson 

• Eileen Drake

• Dr. Bruce Jakosky

• James D. Taiclet

To submit a question, comment, or idea to the UAG, please use contact@spacecounciluag.org 
EXPLORATION AND DISCOVERY SCOPE

TOR :

• Assess current efforts and identify areas for further work by NASA on defining a lunar 

exploration architecture and the organizational and technical means mechanisms for 

architectural trades. Depending on information provided by NASA, consider 

recommending an independent evaluation of risk factors and potential mitigations for 

the lunar exploration architecture[s].

APPROACH :

• Conduct extensive discussions with the NASA Space Architects

• Establish an “UAG Task Force” to conduct detailed reviews of NASA’s proposed 

Lunar Architecture. The Task Force was made up of the UAG Executive Committee: 

Adm. (USN, Ret.) Jim Ellis, Dr. Mary Lynne Ditmar, Col. (USAF, Ret) Eileen Collins, 

Col. (USAF, Ret.) Pam Melroy, Dr. David Wolf, Gen. (USAF, Ret.) Les Lyles

• Report results of reviews/assessments to the E&D Subcommittee and to the full UAG

• Consider follow-on activities based on results

To submit a question, comment, or idea to the UAG, please use contact@spacecounciluag.org 
EXPLORATION AND DISCOVERY 

SUMMARY OF ACTIVITIES

• Conducted detailed “Artemis Overview” and Architecture discussion with 

NASA/HEOMD (Attended/Joined via WebEx by E&D Subcommittee or 

their representatives)- 28 January 2020

• NASA addressed notional 2024 Lunar Architecture / Missions / Vision / 

Trade space considerations / previous architectures / Sustainable Lunar 

presence / Reusability / Risks / Acquisition approaches.

• Held a ‘Strategic Overview’ meeting with the NASA Administrator to 

discuss NASA’s “Lunar-to-Mars” sustainability and reusability planning.

• Continuing ongoing dialogue with NASA HEOMD

• Reviewed NASA plans to charter a “Program Status Assessment” of the 

Artemis Program (architecture, schedules, organization, acquisition approach)

• Reviewed PROGRAM STATUS ASSESSMENT results - 16 June 2020

To submit a question, comment, or idea to the UAG, please use contact@spacecounciluag.org 
EXPLORATION AND DISCOVERY OBSERVATIONS

28 January 2020 Artemis Review:

• NASA has conducted a detailed, thorough review of options and trades 

required to return to the Moon as quickly as possible

• The elements of the Lunar Architecture appear to be appropriate for the 

missions planned.

• NASA’s architecture addresses both sustainability for future lunar 

missions and reusability for subsequent missions to Mars.

• (Note : The E&D reviews did not address cost realism)

To submit a question, comment, or idea to the UAG, please use contact@spacecounciluag.org 
EXPLORATION AND DISCOVERY OBSERVATIONS

16 June 2020 Program Status Assessment: 

• Briefed by Maj. Gen. (USAF, Ret.) Mitch Mitchell PSA Chairman

Key Findings:

Systems Engineering: 

• Current cross–program / Artemis enterprise SE 

processes do not support needed decision velocity to 

achieve Artemis 2024 timeline.

• Artemis CONOPS is not developed. There is not a 

detailed plan to manage mission level analysis 

(increases risk to crew and mission)

• Artemis Program does not have an integrated V&V 

plan

Program Organization:

• There is not a single, formal Artemis Program 

organization

Schedule Risks:

• Artemis Phase I and AES do not have an Integrated 

Master Schedule.

• Assessment shows that Artemis Phase II has low 

likelihood of making April 2023 launch date.

• HLS aggressive schedule is the critical path for the 

Artemis III (2024) mission. 

To submit a question, comment, or idea to the UAG, please use contact@spacecounciluag.org 
EXPLORATION AND DISCOVERY 

NEXT STEPS

• Review NASA responses to PSA Findings and Recommendations

• Continue to review, assess, and comment on Artemis program status 

To submit a question, comment, or idea to the UAG, please use contact@spacecounciluag.org 
Fifth Public Meeting 

July 30, 2020

USERS’ ADVISORY GROUP 

NATIONAL SECURITY

SUBCOMMITTEE REPORT

To submit a question, comment, or idea to the UAG, please use contact@spacecounciluag.org 
NATIONAL SECURITY SUBCOMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP

Chair: ADM James O. Ellis, Jr., (Ret.) 

DFO: Ms. Jolene Meidinger, NASA

Members:

• Tory Bruno 

• David Calhoun

• Dean Cheng 

• Tim Ellis 

• Gen. Lester Lyles (USAF, Ret.)

• Col. Pamela Melroy (USAF, Ret.)

• Fatih Ozmen

• Harrison Schmitt 

• Gwynne Shotwell 

• Dr. Bob Smith 

• Mandy Vaughn 

• Kathy Warden

• Stuart Witt

New Member: 

• James D. Taiclet

To submit a question, comment, or idea to the UAG, please use contact@spacecounciluag.org 
NATIONAL SECURITY SUBCOMMITTEE SCOPE

The UAG National Security Subcommittee focuses on national security space issues by:

• Reviewing national security considerations relevant to National Space Policy and 

National Security Space Strategy including:

– Space systems, space capabilities, and space architecture

– Future national security space requirements

– System resiliency, robustness, and interoperability

– Interagency collaboration/cooperation

– The evolving national security space threat environment

• Making recommendations on national security considerations to the UAG affecting 

coordination, cooperation, and technology and information exchange among the 

civil, national security, commercial, and international space sectors.

To submit a question, comment, or idea to the UAG, please use contact@spacecounciluag.org 
NATIONAL SECURITY SUBCOMMITTEE SUMMARY 

OF ACTIVITIES

• Developed Subcommittee Terms of Reference, identified potential topics 

of focus, and developed a work plan.

• Held three classified information gathering sessions with the Department 

of Defense focused on planning for the creation of the United Stated 

Space Force, implementation of the plan, and concepts for addressing 

areas such as organization, operations, personnel policy, and 

procurement initiatives.

• Have been asked to continue to monitor progress and, if appropriate, 

provide observations, findings, and recommendations to the NSpC for 

consideration by the DoD.

To submit a question, comment, or idea to the UAG, please use contact@spacecounciluag.org 
NATIONAL SECURITY SUBCOMMITTEE POTENTIAL 

FUTURE TOPICS OF FOCUS

With Space Policy and International Engagement Subcommittee:

• How should the U.S. foster the creation of norms of behavior in space that 

contribute to deterrence and improved crisis stability? 

• What topics should have the highest priority for discussion?

With the Exploration and Discovery Subcommittee:

• How should the U.S. better align and coordinate its national security and civil space 

activities across the entire space enterprise? 

• Where should there be clear separation between national security and civil space 

activities?

Independently:

• While the U.S. is currently seeking to consolidate space acquisition and architecture 

activities within the U.S. Space Force, how should DoD-wide space architecture, 

operations, and procurement activities be managed?

To submit a question, comment, or idea to the UAG, please use contact@spacecounciluag.org 
Public Input

https://www.nasa.gov/content/nationalspace-council-users-advisory-group

To submit a question, comment, or idea to the 

UAG, please use the contact email 

below. Please note: anything sent to this email 

account may be subject to future public release 

under applicable Federal laws and regulations. 

As such, please do not send information or 

documents that are classified, proprietary, trade 

secrets, contain personally sensitive information, 

or are otherwise inappropriate for public release.

contact@spacecounciluag.org

AGENDA for 5th NSpC UAG Mtg