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June 13, 2002

Letter to NASA Requesting Information on Plans to Support the International Space Station

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June 21, 2002

The Honorable Sean O'Keefe
Administrator
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Washington, D.C.  20546

Dear Administrator O'Keefe:

I have received the June 13, 2002 letter from Mr. Charles Horner, III of NASA's Office of Legislative Affairs regarding your intention to pursue an "orderly shutdown" of the X-38/Crew Return Vehicle (CRV) program.  Adds you know, I have been concerned about the failure to date to commit to a restoration of the crew size needed to make the International Space Station (ISS) a productive facility consistent with our longstanding international commitments on this program.  This latest notification does nothing to allay these concerns.

the letter states that "NASA has determined the pursuit of a multipurpose vehicle, which could include both crew transport and crew return capabilities is a more optimal use of NASA's resources than pursuit of a single-purpose vehicle, such as the X-38 project."  Congress will need answers to a number of important questions in order to assess the credibility and wisdom of NASA's proposed approach....

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