Guests: John Batchelor, Marcia Smith, Dr. David Livingston.  Topics:  Proposed NASA FY 2019 budget, space policy issues. Written Transcripts of Space Show programs are not permitted without prior written consent from The Space Show (even if for personal use) & are a violation of the Space Show copyright. We do not permit the commercial use of any Space Show program or part thereof, nor do we permit Space Show programs to be edited, placed on YouTube, or other private channels & websites. Space Show programs can be quoted in news articles, papers, academic & research work but must be cited or referenced in the proper citation format. Contact Dr. Livingston for questions about our copyright and trademark policies which we do enforce.  This program is archived on The Space Show website, podcasting, and blog sites with permission from John Batchelor. Please visit the John Batchelor Show website for more information about this fine program, www.johnbatchelorshow.com.  Remember, your Amazon Purchases Can Help Support The Space Show/OGLF (www.onegiantleapfoundation.org/amazon.htm.  Please note that audio and transition issues are a result of copying the John Batchelor broadcast & are not within my control as they originate in the Batchelor studio.

John Batchelor and I welcomed back Marcia Smith to discuss the proposed NASA FY 2019 budget.  Some of the topics and issues we talked about were budget caps for JWST, the Europa mission and the need for a lander, robotic missions, the need for more funding for what NASA says it will do, NASA technology Directorate termination, the Astrophysics section of NASA as impacted by JWST, the cancellation of WFIRST, the ISS, commercializing LEO and much more.  We talked about making our elected representatives know what we want with space,  the difference in national and strategic goals for say SLS as compared to corporate goals for a commercial launcher.  This led to a discussing about the ease of changing directions and objectives for the commercial sector when compared to making such changes in the public sector.  Marcia was also asked about the likelihood of an SLS cancellation. This was a two segment nearly 20 minute Hotel Mars program.

You can email Mr. Batchelor or Marcia Smith through me at drspace@thespaceshow.com.  Marcia can also be reached through her website at www.spacepolicyonline.com.