A Review of NASA's Exploration Program in Transition: Issues for Congress and Industry

Opening Statement By Acting Ranking Member Jerry F. Costello

U.S. Congressman Jerry Costello

Acting Ranking Member

 A Review of NASA’s Exploration Program in Transition:

Issues for Congress and Industry

 Mr. Chairman, thank you for holding today’s hearing to review the current status and the future of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) exploration program.

I would like to start by saying a few words about Congresswoman Giffords, my good friend and a true champion of our nation’s space program.  Ms. Giffords worked tirelessly during the 111^th Congress to ensure NASA’s human space exploration program remained the most innovative in the world.  I am honored to serve as Acting Ranking Member today as this Subcommittee continues her work.

Through the 111^th and 112^th Congresses, this Committee has held several hearings to discuss the future of NASA’s exploration program as it faced budget challenges and considered serious changes to its mission.  Despite these ongoing discussions, we still have not received concrete answers on how NASA plans to transition away from the Constellation Program and achieve the goals outlined by Congress in the 2010 Authorization Act. 

 Following your testimony, it is my hope to receive specific information about four key issues.  First, I would like to know the status of the General Counsel’s review of how existing Constellation contracts can be modified to carry out work on the crew capsule and heavy lift launch vehicles as Congress intended in the 2010 Authorization Act. 

Second, NASA has determined a baseline approach to developing a heavy-lift vehicle after completing several studies to select the most efficient and cost-effective design.  I would like to hear an exact timeline and date for when NASA will start work on the new vehicle.

Witnesses

Panel

0 - Mr. Douglas Cooke
Associate Administrator Exploration Systems Mission Directorate National Aeronautics and Space Administration Exploration Systems Mission Directorate National A
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0 - Dr. Scott Pace
Director Space Policy Institute George Washington University Space Policy Institute George Washington University
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0 - Mr. James Maser
Chairman Corporate Membership Committee The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Corporate Membership Committee The American Institute of Aeronaut
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