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Space Force and NASA Sign Momentous Collaboration Agreement
The United States Space Force announced that an agreement committing it and NASA to “broad collaboration” had been signed by both the organizations’ chiefs at a virtual Mitchell Institute event on Tuesday.
These areas of broad collaboration, as mentioned in Tuesday morning’s USSF press release, include: “human spaceflight, U.S. space policy, space transportation, standards and best practices for safe operations in space, scientific research, and planetary defense.”
This extraordinary agreement between the two premiere U.S. aerospace organizations replaces another one signed 14 years ago by NASA and the U.S. Air Force Space Command. Under this previous accord, the two organizations committed themselves to sharing research and development information with each other, reducing the duplication of system development, and cooperating in the long-term planning of their respective game plans for space.
“Space Force looks forward to future collaboration, as NASA pushes farther into the universe for the benefit of all,” USSF Chief Of Space Operations Gen. John ‘Jay’ Raymond
This new collaboration, according to the press release, will advance NASA’s plans “for unprecedented lunar exploration under the Artemis program” while also “building on a longstanding partnership with the Department of Defense” that it has had since the late 1950s.
“NASA and the military share a long history dating back to the late 1950s; there is power in our partnership,” USSF Chief of Space Operations Gen. John “Jay” Raymond said. “A secure, stable, and accessible space domain underpins our nation’s security, prosperity and scientific achievement. Space Force looks forward to future collaboration, as NASA pushes farther into the universe for the benefit of all.”
“NASA’s partnerships are vital to ensuring America continues to lead the world in the peaceful uses of outer space,” NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said. “This agreement with the U.S. Space Force reaffirms and continues our rich legacy of collaboration with the Defense Department and provides a critical foundation to investigate areas of mutual interest for our distinct civil and defense roles in space.”
Additionally, this new agreement follows the creation of the USSF back in December 2019 and further defines the role that this new branch of the military will play in aerospace policy and endeavors.
Two of the key plans of the Artemis program are, before 2024, to place the first woman and the next man on the Moon while also setting up a sustainable presence there before 2030. All of this is part of the agency’s plan to use the Moon as a stepping stone to its ultimate goal: a manned mission to Mars.
You can follow Douglas Braff on Twitter @Douglas_P_Braff.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) said Wednesday that he will “fully cooperate” with the state attorney general’s independent review into sexual harassment allegations made against the currently scandal-ridden governor, saying, “I fully support a woman’s right to come forward.”
Last Wednesday, Lindsey Boylan, who served in his administration for over three years, accused Cuomo of suggesting to her on a 2017 flight that they play strip poker, inappropriate touching, and kissing her on the lips without her consent.
RELATED: ‘Let’s play strip poker’: Fmr. Cuomo aide accuses NY governor of sexual harassment
Following Boylan’s accusations, 25-year-old Charlotte Bennett alleged the governor indicated interest in having an affair with her while she was serving in his administration as a health policy adviser. In a Saturday New York Times report, Bennett told the newspaper that Cuomo asked her if she had “ever been with an older man,” adding that “age doesn’t matter” in relationships.
At Wednesday’s press briefing, the Empire State governor addressed the accusations leveled against him over the past seven days by three women and New York Attorney General Letitia James’ (D) independent review into those claims, which she announced on Monday was formally proceeding.
RELATED: De Blasio ‘sickened’ by Cuomo sexual harassment claims
“As you probably know, the attorney general is doing an independent review, and I will fully cooperate with that review,” Cuomo said at the beginning of his statement. “Now, the lawyers say I shouldn’t say anything when you have a pending review until that review is over. I understand that, I’m a lawyer, too. But, I want New Yorkers to hear from me directly on this.”
“First, I fully support a woman’s right to come forward,” the governor began. “And I think it should be encouraged in every way. I now understand that I acted in a way that made people feel uncomfortable. It was unintentional and I truly and deeply apologize for it. I feel awful about it, and frankly I am embarrassed by it, and that’s not easy to say. But that’s the truth.”
This echoes what Cuomo said in a Sunday statement about the allegations, in which he stated he “may have been insensitive” during his tenure but charged his accusers of misinterpreting his actions, saying, “I acknowledge some of the things I have said have been misinterpreted as an unwanted flirtation… I am truly sorry about that.”
RELATED: Cuomo responds to sexual harassment claims, saying he ‘may have been insensitive’
During his Wednesday remarks, Cuomo iterated “I never touched anyone inappropriately,” repeated that sentence, then said “I never knew at the time that I was making anyone feel uncomfortable” and repeated that one too.
“And I certainly never, ever meant to offend anyone or hurt anyone or cause anyone any pain. That is the last thing I would ever want to do,” he continued. “I ask the people of this state to wait for the facts from the attorney general’s report before forming an opinion. Get the facts, please, before forming an opinion.”
“I also want you to know that I have learned from what has been an incredibly difficult situation for me as well as other people, and I’ve learned an important lesson,” the governor said at the end of his statement. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry for whatever pain I caused anyone, I never intended it, and I will be the better for this experience.”
Amid Boylan and Bennett’s allegations, another report of Cuomo sexually harassing a woman has cropped up. On Monday, a woman named Anna Ruch accused the governor of placing his hands on her cheeks—without her consent—at a 2019 wedding reception and asking if he could kiss her. A photograph of the two together at the event has also been circulating on social media.
RELATED: ‘Eat the whole sausage: Gov. Cuomo in hot water for resurfaced video
Asked at Wednesday’s briefing about the pictures that have resurfaced of him being touchy with people, particularly that of him and Ruch, the governor claimed that it is his way of greeting people.
“I understand the opinion of—and feelings of—Ms. Ruch,” Cuomo said. “You can find hundreds of pictures of me making the same gesture with hundreds of people—women, children, men, etc. You can go find hundreds of pictures of me kissing people. […] It is my usual and customary way of greeting.”
Moreover, the governor said that his father, former Gov. Mario Cuomo, would do the same thing.
“By the way, it was my father’s way of greeting people,” Cuomo said, explaining, “You’re the governor of the state, you want people to feel comfortable, you want to reach out to them.”
He also mentioned that he kisses and hugs legislators and noted that at an event in Queens the other day he hugged pastors and state assembly members.
Furthermore, the governor said that his intent “doesn’t matter,” saying, “What it matters is if anybody was offended by it.”
“But if they were offended by it, then it was wrong,” he added, going on to say that if they were offended or hurt by it, he apologizes.
MORE ON CUOMO: NY dem says state legislature is ‘inching toward’ Cuomo impeachment probe
You can follow Douglas Braff on Twitter @Douglas_P_Braff.
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