2013 D.C. Trip Report

May 20-23, 2013Washington, D.C.

The Trip’s Success by the Numbers

• 22nd Annual Trip• 97 Travelers• Representation from 28 States AL, AZ, CA, CO, CT, FL, GA, IL, IN, KY, LA, MA, MD,

MI, MN, MS, MO, NJ, NY, NC, OH, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, WA and WI

• 340 meetings • (281 House/59 Senate) • With members from 47 states

• 80 meetings in February• 500 Astronauts on the Hill

Travelers Briefing Monday Night

• Formed 24 teams, with team’s focus on Congressional office visits based on the student’s school or home state

• Keynote Speaker, JSC’s Dr. Tara Ruttley, Associate Program Scientist for the Space Station Program

• Hill update presented by J.T. Jezierski, from the House Science Space and Technology Committee

• Quote heard: “It was the best Travelers briefing ever!”

Our Students Delivered the Message

• 30 University Students / Educators • Message: Space Exploration promotes STEM

Education and Technical Careers• Special recognition at the Congressional Reception• Students Tweeted pictures and messages throughout the trip

• International Space Station (ISS)Continue to utilize this world-class laboratory and extend

its mission beyond 2020

• Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle Complete this next-generation spacecraft that will send human deep space missions beyond Low-Earth orbit

• Space Launch System (SLS)Complete this heavy-lift rocket capable of propelling

America’s space explorers throughout the solar system

• Commercial Space SystemsNew systems for crew and cargo support to the ISS,

helping to reduce the U.S. dependence on Russia

What was the Message We Shared?

• Overall there was strong continued bi-partisan support for human space exploration

• Major drivers:• STEM Education• America’s Leadership in Space• High Technology– Economy• National Security

• Impacts of Sequestration? Funding for all programs will be closely scrutinized

• Many offices expressed a desire for NASA to develop a bold mission

What was the Congressional Response?

• 12 Representatives attended: Olson (TX-22), who emceed the event, Weber (TX-14) Stockman (TX 36) Foster (IL-11) Jackson Lee (TX-18) Flores (TX-17) Alexander (LA-5) Gohmert (TX-1) Palazzo (MS-4) Posey (FL-8) Hall (TX-4) and McIntyre (NC-7)

Congressional Reception Tuesday Night

Special Thanks to Our Sponsors• Trip Sponsor / Organizer

BAHEP’s Aerospace Advisory Committee

• Student Sponsors BAHEP’s Aerospace Advisory Committee Jacobs Lockheed Martin The Boeing Company San Jacinto College District Stinger Ghaffarian Technologies (SGT) National Space Club-Huntsville Chapter Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of

Commerce Foundation

Special Thanks to Our Sponsors

Reception Sponsors• Boeing• BAHEP’s Aerospace Advisory Committee• Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce• Partners for Stennis• Cocoa Beach Regional

Chamber of Commerce

Next Year’s Trip, Save the Date

Next Year’s Trip is Scheduled for May 20- 23, 2014• New Host Hotel

L’Enfant Plaza Hotel Directly atop a major METRO Station

• New Trip Format (Tuesday-Thursday)

Best Picture of the Year

Our Astronaut was asked to speak before the U.S. Senate!