White House Announces New Space Policy

President Obama announced a national space policy on Monday, which hopes to increase international cooperation and emphasizes U.S. plans to visit an asteroid by 2025. The 14-page strategy focuses on cooperating with other countries and private companies to remove orbital debris, develop climate change tracking systems and strengthen the U.S. industrial base. “It is clear to us now that our opportunities and responsibilities have changed,” said Barry Pavel, the senior director for defense policy and strategy at the National Security Council. “We recognize that space is now more important than ever for the economy and national security, but also for the environment.” The plan also confirms the administration’s desire for NASA to discontinue plans to return to the moon.