    [Senate Hearing 114-178]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]

      COMMERCE, JUSTICE, SCIENCE, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS FOR
                                FISCAL YEAR 2016

                                  ----------

                            THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 2015

                                           U.S. Senate,
               Subcommittee of the Committee on Appropriations,
                                                        Washington, DC.
        The subcommittee met at 2:38 p.m., in room SD-192, Dirksen
    Senate Office Building, Hon. Richard C. Shelby (chairman)
    presiding.
        Present: Senators Shelby, Cochran, Capito, and Mikulski.

                 NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

    STATEMENT OF HON. CHARLES F. BOLDEN, JR., ADMINISTRATOR

                 OPENING STATEMENT OF SENATOR RICHARD C. SHELBY

        Senator Shelby. The meeting will come to order. We have
    just had a Senate vote. I believe we will be joined by Senator
    Mikulski and some others in a few minutes. General, your time
    is valuable, and I thought I would get started.
        Again, welcome to the subcommittee. This subcommittee has
    been very supportive, General Bolden, of NASA and its work to
    maintain a healthy funding level for NASA while preserving a
    balanced and I believe a productive space program.
        NASA's work is exciting, as you well know, inspiring, and
    educational. From the photos of galaxies captured by the Hubble
    Space Telescope to the future of humans traveling to Mars, NASA
    has captured the imagination of school children and citizens
    across the globe, and inspired generations of scientists and
    engineers.
        This country has limited resources, however, which requires
    us to prioritize our spending. NASA spending is not an
    exception. The NASA budget proposes a total funding level of
    $18.5 billion, an increase of $519 million above the 2015
    level. Such a significant increase should represent balanced
    funding for NASA's priorities. Perhaps not enough.
        Instead, there is a sizeable growth in programs like
    Commercial Crew and Space Technology, while other programs,
    such as science missions and Exploration Systems Development
    have significant reductions. The cuts to Exploration are
    especially concerning to the subcommittee. The successful test
    of the Orion capsule last December showcased NASA's innovative
    plans for the future.
        This budget could have been an opportunity, I believe, for
    NASA to boldly support human exploration after years of budget
    requests, in which I believe it was short changed.
        Instead, NASA's budget cuts funding to Orion and the Space
    Launch System, or SLS, limit our reach in human exploration. A
    20 percent cut to SLS during its critical phase of development
    risks important investments that have been made in communities
    across the country. It also risks the success of the program.
        The budget makes it impossible, a lot of people believe,
    for NASA to make efficient and cost effective decisions for the
    long-term development of a launch system that is being built to
    achieve the Nation's human exploration goals.
        While NASA is good at creating charts and talking about
    moving human exploration beyond our current capabilities, NASA
    has yet again failed to propose a budget that can accomplish
    what the agency claims is one of its top priorities.
        General Bolden, a lot of us are troubled by the overall
    priorities included in this budget, requiring key development
    programs to operate with insufficient funding is irresponsible.
    While the proposed funding level of $18.5 billion is a good
    start, there is much work to do and it must be done to develop
    a balanced budget that achieves NASA's core missions and its
    future goals.
        I look forward to working with you to address some of these
    concerns. At this point, I want to recognize Senator Mikulski,
    the vice chair of the full committee.

                    STATEMENT OF SENATOR BARBARA A. MIKULSKI

        Senator Mikulski. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.
    Administrator Bolden, we welcome you. I apologize for being
    late. We actually had a tremendous victory in the Senate, the
    Elementary and Secondary Education Act passed 21-0 out of the
    committee. We were kind of doing a victory lap.
        Today, I know we are here to examine the NASA budget
    request of $18.5 billion. It is $0.5 billion more than what was
    enacted in fiscal year 2015.
        As I look at this budget request, I have very deep
    concerns. I am concerned that we could be having a threat to
    the balanced space program that we have all worked together on
    an bipartisan basis on and said yes to human space flight. We
    need a reliable transportation system both for our astronauts
    to go where they have not had a chance to go before and can do
    important servicing missions.
        I am concerned, of course, about what is about to happen to
    the Goddard Space Flight Center, which I do not think gets a
    fair shake in this particular appropriations. The Goddard
    request for science missions is $3.0 billion, it is $324
    million below fiscal year 2015.
        The Goddard is currently operating 35 on orbit missions. It
    also is absolutely key to the Hubble Space Telescope and the
    James Webb Telescope and others. I want to know why Goddard was
    cut $300 million.
        Of course, we are deeply concerned about other efforts, one
    of which is the whole issue of satellite servicing. Satellite
    servicing is absolutely important to our national interest. It
    was cut by $65 million. It was $130 million in fiscal year
    2015.
        The whole idea of satellite servicing as we know, is that
    our country and our private sector have satellites. We do not
    want them to just die in space and be space junk. They can be
    re-serviced. There is technology and workforce at Goddard that
    knows how to do it. Somehow or another, we do not seem to want
    to invest in it or if we do, we short change it.
        Of course, there is the Wallops Flight Facility. We put
    money into the Federal budget in terms of fixing Wallops after
    the terrible storm. We know there was $20 million, Mr.
    Chairman, you worked with us on, and I know in a recent
    conversation with Senators Warner and Kaine, they do not feel
    that Wallops is on track, and if they do not feel Wallops is on
    track, neither do I.
        I have some questions about all this. I really need to hear
    these answers, because I feel, do we have a balanced space
    program or not.
        Mr. Chairman, I know we want to move on. I am through with
    my remarks.
        Senator Shelby. Thank you. Senator Cochran, do you want to
    be recognized?

                       STATEMENT OF SENATOR THAD COCHRAN

        Senator Cochran. Mr. Chairman, just to join you and Senator
    Mikulski in welcoming our witness. We appreciate very much your
    assistance in helping us identify the priorities of NASA and
    related activities. We are pleased about the development of the
    Space Launch System.
        As you know, the Stennis Space Center located in my State
    is very important, not just for the work that it does in the
    scientific area, in research, but also rocket testing and the
    infrastructure at Stennis is a very important asset for the
    entire system and our Nation's goals in space.
        Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
        Senator Shelby. Thank you. General Bolden, again, welcome
    to the subcommittee. Your full statement will be made part of
    the record, as you know. Proceed.

                SUMMARY STATEMENT OF HON. CHARLES F. BOLDEN, JR.

        Mr. Bolden. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. At the
    outset, Chairman Shelby, with your permission, I would like
    your indulgence to say a few words of thanks for Ranking Member
    Mikulski.
        Senator Mikulski, it is safe to say that all of us at NASA
    and across the space community were saddened at your recent
    announcement that this will be your last Congress. You have
    been a champion for America's space program.
        This week and next week, we celebrate the 25th anniversary
    of the Hubble's mission, and there is no question that we would
    not have reached this milestone were it not for your unwavering
    support.
        Of course, there is still 2 years of work ahead of us in
    the Congress, and we look forward to continuing to work with
    you, Chairman Shelby, and the other members of this
    subcommittee.
        Mr. Chairman and members of the subcommittee, 5 years ago
    yesterday, President Obama came to the Kennedy Space Center and
    laid out what I believe is a bold transformative agenda for
    NASA. He challenges us to embark on a journey to Mars.
        He spoke of extending the life of the International Space
    Station (ISS), and increasing earth based observation. He
    called for investments in new advanced technologies that will
    not only take Americans farther into space than ever before,
    but also will provide spin off benefits and create high paying
    jobs here at home.
        Five years later, we have made landmark progress toward
    those goals. SpaceX's successful launch this week is a shining
    example.
        The budget you consider today furthers the goals that we
    share of extending our reach into space while strengthening
    American leadership here at home. It is an $18.5 billion
    investment that represents a leap into a future of greater
    discovery, job creation, and economic growth, as well as a
    healthier planet.
        Thanks to the hard work of our NASA team and partners all
    across America, we have made a lot of progress on our journey
    to Mars. In fact, we have now progressed farther on this path
    to sending humans to Mars than at any point in the history of
    NASA, and this budget will keep us marching forward.
        The support of this subcommittee and the Congress are
    essential to this journey. The International Space Station is
    the critical first step in this work. It is our springboard to
    the rest of the solar system, and we are committed to extending
    space station operations to at least 2024.
        Thanks to the grit, determination, and American ingenuity,
    we have returned ISS cargo resupply missions to the United
    States, insourcing these jobs and creating a new private market
    in low-Earth orbit.
        Under a plan outlined by the administration earlier in its
    term, we have also awarded two American companies, SpaceX and
    Boeing, fixed price contracts to safely and cost effectively
    transport our astronauts to the space station from U.S. soil.
        This will end our sole reliance on Russia. It is critical
    that we receive the funding requested in the 2016 budget so
    that we can meet our 2017 target date and stop writing checks
    to the Russian Space Agency.
        Our newest, most powerful rocket ever developed, the Space
    Launch System or SLS, has moved from formulation to
    development, something no other exploration class vehicle has
    achieved since the agency built the Space Shuttle.
        The Orion spacecraft performed flawlessly on its first trip
    to space this past December. The SLS and Exploration Ground
    Systems are on track for launch capability readiness by
    November of 2018, and the teams are hard at work on completing
    technical and design reviews for Orion.
        Our budget also funds a robust science program with dozens
    of operating missions, studying our solar system and the
    universe. New Horizons is preparing for its arrival at Pluto in
    July, and Dawn has entered into orbit around the dwarf planet
    Ceres.
        Before we send humans to Mars, robots are paving the way.
    We are at work on a Mars rover for 2020, and have begun
    planning a mission to explore Jupiter's fascinating moon,
    Europa.
        NASA is a leader in earth science and our constantly
    expanding view of our planet from space is helping us better
    understand and prepare for these changes. NASA has 21 research
    missions studying earth, and in the last year alone, we
    launched an unprecedented five more.
        We also are at work on humanity's first voyage to our home
    star, a mission that will repeatedly pass through the Sun's
    outer atmosphere. NASA's Hubble, Chandra, and Kepler Space
    Telescopes explore the universe beyond our solar system.
    Hubble's successor, the James Webb Space Telescope, is taking
    shape right now out in Maryland, and a new mission is in
    development to extend Kepler's pioneering work in finding
    planets.
        Technology drives science, exploration, and our journey to
    Mars. With the President's request, NASA will continue to
    maintain a steady pipeline of technology, to ensure that we
    continue to lead the world in space exploration and scientific
    discovery.
        NASA is also with you when you fly, and we are committed to
    transforming aviation by dramatically reducing its
    environmental impact, maintaining safety in more crowded skies,
    and paving the way toward revolutionary aircraft shapes and
    propulsion systems.
        Mr. Chairman, America's space program is not just alive, it
    is thriving. The strong support we receive from this
    subcommittee is making that happen. I particularly appreciate
    the generous fiscal year 2015 appropriations that you
    generated.
        The President said at the Kennedy Space Center, and I quote
    ``For pennies on the dollar, the space program has improved our
    lives, advanced our society, strengthened our economy, and
    inspired generations of Americans.''
        NASA looks forward to working with the Congress to continue
    making this vision a reality.
        I would now be pleased to respond to your questions.
        [The statement and the President's budget request summary
    follow:]
               Prepared Statement of Hon. Charles F. Bolden, Jr.

        Mr. Chairman and members of the subcommittee, I am pleased to have
    this opportunity to discuss NASA's fiscal year 2016 budget request. The
    President is proposing a fiscal year 2016 budget of $18.5 billion for
    NASA, building on the significant investments the administration has
    made in America's space program over the past 6 years, enabled through
    the strong and consistent support by this subcommittee and the
    Congress. This request will allow NASA to continue to lead the world in
    space through a balanced program of exploration, science, technology,
    and aeronautics research. NASA is an outstanding investment for our
    Nation not only because we uncover new knowledge, but because we raise
    the bar of human achievement, inspiring the next generation of
    scientists, engineers and astronauts.
        The fiscal year 2016 request includes $4,505.9 million for
    Exploration with $2,862.9 million for Exploration Systems Development,
    $1,243.8 million for Commercial Space Flight, and $399.2 million for
    Exploration Research and Development. This funding, with critical
    investment from each of NASA's mission directorates, supports NASA's
    plans to, as the President said in his State of the Union speech,
    continue our journey to Mars and push ``out into the solar system not
    just to visit, but to stay[.]'' NASA has made tremendous progress on
    this journey, and we will continue to progress, with building momentum,
    through the years to come.
        As part of our strategic, stepping stone approach to deep-space
    explorations, NASA is facilitating the development of a U.S. commercial
    crew transportation capability with the goal of launching NASA
    astronauts from American soil in the next couple of years. This
    initiative to facilitate the success of U.S. industry to provide crew
    transportation to low Earth orbit will end our sole reliance on Russia
    and ensure that we have safe, reliable and cost-effective access to the
    ISS and low-Earth orbit. The Commercial Products Contracts allowed
    potential providers to better understand and align with NASA human
    spaceflight requirements and gave NASA early insight into vehicle
    designs and approaches. NASA has now entered the development and
    certification phase with the award of two FAR-based, fixed-price
    Commercial Crew Transportation Capability (CCtCap) contracts to
    American companies to transport our Astronauts to and from the ISS.
    SpaceX and Boeing have laid out milestones with the goal of certified
    commercial crew capability in 2017. The contractors are committed and
    at work. Our approach has emphasized competition and redundancy to
    ensure that NASA's human safety and certification requirements are met,
    we achieve the best value for the American taxpayer, and we end our
    sole reliance on Russia for transportation services. Now, we need the
    funding necessary to execute this plan to completion. With continued
    support from the Congress, crews will again launch to the ISS from
    American soil by the end of 2017.
        Technology drives science, exploration and economic opportunity.
    NASA will continue to maintain a steady pipeline of technology to
    ensure that we continue to lead the world in space capabilities. NASA's
    fiscal year 2016 request includes $724.8 million for Space Technology,
    to conduct rapid development and infusion of transformative space
    technologies that enable NASA's missions and advance our country's
    dynamic aerospace industry. Over the next 2 years, NASA will execute
    several in-space demonstrations including: a deep space atomic clock
    for advanced navigation, green propellant, and four small spacecraft
    demonstrating pioneering new technologies. This summer, NASA plans to
    again test our Low Density Supersonic Decelerator off the coast of
    Hawaii to continue proving in flight the new technologies critical for
    landing larger payloads on the surface of the Red Planet. Informed by
    the results of fiscal year 2014 testing of solar array and thruster
    designs, NASA continues development of a high-powered solar electric
    propulsion capability to enable future exploration missions and meet
    needs of U.S. aerospace industry. This capability will be demonstrated
    on the Asteroid Redirect Mission. We will continue to progress toward a
    2019 demonstration of space-to-ground laser communications, a
    capability that both American industry and NASA mission teams are eager
    to explore and harness. But the most exciting piece of our technology
    investments is the broad portfolio of research grants and other early
    stage investments, where the new technologies that will change the way
    we operate in space have a chance to move from ideas to components, to
    demonstrations of new systems and capabilities. These early stage
    investments are building stronger links between NASA and academia, and
    providing unique opportunities for the NASA workforce to innovate.
        In December, NASA completed the first orbital test flight of the
    Orion crew vehicle, including a successful high speed reentry through
    the atmosphere. The Exploration Flight Test 1 (EFT-1) mission of Orion
    was nearly flawless. For the first time in a generation, a deep-space
    U.S. exploration vehicle has splashed down in the Pacific, and what we
    are learning from this test gives us increasing confidence in the
    systems we are designing.
        Just as we have recently tested Orion by sending it on a shorter
    version of its future missions, we are continuously testing and
    experimenting on the International Space Station (ISS) in preparation
    for long-term missions in deep space. The administration has committed
    to extending operation of the International Space Station to at least
    2024. The fiscal year 2016 request includes $4,003.7 million for Space
    Operations, including $3,105.6 million for ISS. Two commercial
    providers are now under contract to supply cargo to this critical
    asset, making the extension possible and giving us increasing
    confidence in our long-term strategy. On March 27, astronaut Scott
    Kelly began a 1 year mission aboard the ISS to learn more about how to
    live and work in space for the long term. We will compare his vital
    signs to those of his twin brother, Mark, here on Earth in a first-ever
    experiment using identical twins to learn more about the effects of
    living in space. This is just one example of the vital knowledge and
    technology that our outpost in space will provide over the coming
    decade. The Space Station is the cornerstone of our exploration
    strategy, a nearby outpost in space where humanity is taking its early
    steps on its journey into the solar system.
        For the next step on the journey, NASA is developing the required
    deep-space exploration infrastructure while we plan for the earliest
    missions. NASA has established Agency Baseline Commitments for the
    Space Launch System (SLS) and Exploration Ground Systems (EGS), each of
    which supports a launch capability readiness date for Exploration
    Mission 1 (EM-1) of November 2018. EM-1 is the first mission for SLS
    and Orion. NASA remains on schedule for this EM-1 launch readiness date
    for SLS and EGS. Baseline cost and schedule for Orion are now being
    developed. NASA's budget request provides the funding needed to keep
    SLS, Orion, and EGS on track. NASA will determine the integrated launch
    date for the EM-1 mission after all critical design reviews are
    complete, later this year. SLS and Orion are critical to human
    spaceflight beyond low-Earth orbit as part of an evolvable,
    sustainable, and affordable exploration program.
        The journey to Mars runs through cis-lunar space. NASA's initial
    deep-space mission, EM-1, will launch to a ``Distant Retrograde Orbit''
    around the Moon. NASA will use this region of space to test and
    demonstrate flight and mission operations and staging of human-rated
    vehicles farther from Earth than ever before. Crewed Orion missions
    launched on the SLS in the 2020s will establish our capability to
    operate safely and productively in deep space. In this `proving ground'
    of cis-lunar space, we will prepare for future deep space missions that
    will lead us to Mars. In late 2020, NASA plans to launch an advanced
    solar electric propulsion (SEP) based robotic spacecraft to approach an
    asteroid and remove a multi-ton boulder. After removing the boulder,
    the SEP spacecraft will redirect the asteroid in a demonstration of
    slow push deflection, a technique relevant to potential future
    planetary defense missions, and take the asteroid boulder to a stable
    Distant Retrograde Orbit around the moon. In 2025, launched by SLS,
    Orion will carry a two person crew on a 24-25 day mission to rendezvous
    and dock with the robotic SEP spacecraft in cis-lunar space. NASA will
    maneuver the integrated Orion and robotic vehicle stack in lunar orbit
    for about 5 days. The crew can then conduct Extra Vehicular Activities
    (EVA) to examine the asteroid boulder and collect samples before
    returning to Earth. NASA's plan leverages development efforts from
    existing programs across NASA mission directorates, and provides a
    critical opportunity to exercise our emerging deep space exploration
    capabilities.
        As NASA strives to achieve the goal of sending humans to Mars, it
    is important to remember we are already there. For 40 years,
    increasingly advanced robotic explorers have studied the Red Planet.
    This has dramatically increased our scientific knowledge and helped
    pave the way for astronauts to travel there. Our latest Mars
    spacecraft, MAVEN (Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN), arrived
    last September to study the upper atmosphere and joined a fleet of
    orbiters and rovers on the surface. Next year, we will send the InSight
    (Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat
    Transport) lander to study the planet's deep interior. In 2020, a new
    rover, building on the incredible success of Curiosity, will help us
    prepare for the arrival of humans at Mars. The Mars 2020 rover will
    address the highest priority Mars science objectives recommended by the
    Planetary Decadal Survey and will carry exploration technology
    investigations focused on capabilities such as in-situ resource
    utilization that will help in our planning for future human missions.
        Mars is a key destination, but only one point on humanity's journey
    of discovery. Ours is a journey of understanding reaching through our
    Earth system, across our solar system, and beyond, deep into the
    universe. The fiscal year 2016 budget request includes $5,288.6 million
    for Science to continue that mission, with $1,947.3 million for Earth
    Science, $1,361.2 million for Planetary Science, $709.1 million for
    Astrophysics, $620.0 million for the James Webb Space Telescope, and
    $651.0 million for Heliophysics.
        NASA's Planetary Science program continues to expand our knowledge
    of the solar system, with spacecraft in place from the innermost planet
    to the very edge of our Sun's influence. After 9 years and 3 billion
    miles of travel, the New Horizons spacecraft awakened and began to
    prepare for its arrival in the Pluto system in July. Right now, Dawn
    has entered into orbit around the dwarf planet Ceres. Juno is speeding
    toward Jupiter where it will not only send back unprecedented data from
    a first ever polar orbit of our giant neighbor, but will also
    demonstrate how solar power can work at great distances from the Sun.
    With the fiscal year 2016 request, NASA will continue development of a
    robotic asteroid rendezvous and sample return mission, dubbed OSIRIS-
    REx, planned for launch in 2016. OSIRIS-REx will approach the near-
    Earth Asteroid Bennu, map the asteroid, and collect a sample for return
    to Earth in 2023. Looking further to the future, NASA is planning a
    mission to explore Jupiter's fascinating moon Europa, selecting
    instruments this spring and moving toward the next phase of our work.
        The most important planet we study is the one on which we live--
    Earth. Today, 21 NASA-developed research missions orbit Earth and
    provide a quantitative understanding of our complex planet, its origins
    and its future. In the last year, we have launched an unprecedented
    five Earth science missions, starting with the Global Precipitation
    Measurement Core Observatory (GPM) that already has observed Hurricane
    Arthur's brush of the East Coast last July. The Soil Moisture Active
    Passive (SMAP) mission, launched in January, will give us for the first
    time ever, a picture of soil moisture on a global scale, allowing
    scientists to monitor droughts and predict flooding caused by severe
    rainfall or snowmelt. New research missions in formulation include
    PACE, the Pre-Aerosol, Clouds and ocean Ecosystem continuity mission,
    that observes ocean color, aerosols, and clouds; NISAR, the NASA-ISRO
    Synthetic Aperture Radar mission, being developed in partnership with
    the Indian Space Research Organization to measure complex processes
    such as ecosystem disturbances and ice-sheet collapse; and CLARREO, the
    Climate Absolute Radiance and Refractivity Observatory Pathfinder that
    will begin pre-formulation this fiscal year.
        The Landsat series of satellites is a cornerstone of our Earth
    observing capability. The world relies on Landsat data to detect and
    measure land cover/land use change, the health of ecosystems, and water
    availability. The President's fiscal year 2016 request recognizes
    Landsat's critical importance and sets out a multi-decadal plan for an
    Earth-observing architecture that ensures data continuity and
    reliability. The Sustainable Land Imaging program partnership with the
    Department of the Interior's U.S. Geological Survey will include flight
    of a thermal-infrared free flyer and an upgraded Landsat-9 mission,
    while infusing new technological developments for future missions and
    ensuring consistency with the existing 42-year Landsat data record.
        Twenty-five years ago this April NASA deployed the Hubble Space
    Telescope. Hubble is still doing amazing science, and the last textbook
    that will have to be revised because of its discoveries has not yet
    been written. In just slightly over 3 years, NASA plans to launch the
    James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), Hubble's successor, and continue to
    reveal the unknown with the largest observatory ever put into space.
    This amazing telescope is taking shape right now in suburban Maryland,
    where this year the mirrors will be installed on the telescope
    backplane. The ``heart'' of the telescope that holds its instruments
    successfully completed a nearly 4-month test in a cryogenic thermal
    vacuum chamber. NASA's Astrophysics program operating missions include
    the Hubble, Chandra, Spitzer, and Kepler telescopes, the Stratospheric
    Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) airborne observatory, and
    other missions that together comprise an unrivaled resource for the
    study of our universe. With the fiscal year 2016 request, NASA will
    continue development of the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite
    (TESS). TESS will extend the pioneering work of the Kepler Space
    Telescope, which showed us that virtually every star in the sky has a
    planetary system. TESS launches in 2018 and will discover rocky
    exoplanets orbiting the nearest and brightest stars in the sky in time
    for Webb to conduct follow-up observations. NASA will also continue
    pre-formulation of the Wide-Field Infrared Survey Telescope (WFIRST),
    the top priority for large-scale missions of the most recent National
    Academy of Science Decadal Survey in Astronomy and Astrophysics.
        Just as the most important planet that we study is the Earth, the
    most important star that we study is our own. NASA's Heliophysics
    Program is monitoring the Sun, near-Earth space, and the space
    environment throughout our solar system, with 29 spacecraft making up
    18 missions. These missions work toward one goal: to better understand
    the Sun and its interactions with the Earth and solar system, including
    space weather. The fiscal year 2016 request supports development of
    NASA's Solar Probe Plus (SPP) mission, planned for launch in 2018. SPP
    will be humanity's first voyage to our home star and will repeatedly
    pass through the Sun's hot outer atmosphere. NASA will also begin
    science operations of the Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) mission to
    investigate how magnetic fields around Earth connect and disconnect,
    explosively releasing tremendous amounts of energy in a process called
    magnetic reconnection.
        NASA's Aeronautics research is making air travel cleaner, safer,
    and more efficient. Every U.S. aircraft and U.S. air traffic control
    tower has NASA-developed-technology on board. NASA's fiscal year 2016
    budget request includes $571.4 million for Aeronautics to fulfill the
    Agency's strategic research agenda, addressing the most critical
    challenges facing the aviation sector. NASA is improving safety and
    reducing development costs of new aviation technologies, developing
    integrated air traffic management tools to expand airspace capacity
    with more fuel-efficient flight planning and diminish delays, and
    researching next generation aircraft configurations, efficient engines,
    and low carbon propulsion systems such as hybrid electric technology
    systems. NASA is enabling the future of unmanned and autonomous flight
    by providing technical data and analysis to directly inform FAA
    rulemaking related to Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), funding
    technology development to address emerging needs for UAS integration,
    and initiating fundamental research in autonomous systems for aviation.
    Also in fiscal year 2016, NASA is initiating a series of flight
    demonstrations focused on environmental performance, and expanding our
    portfolio of rapid-turnover feasibility demonstrations to infuse new
    ideas into our research program. NASA's aeronautics research continues
    to play a vital leadership role to air travel and commerce by enabling
    game-changing technologies and innovation that allow the U.S. aviation
    industry to continue to grow and maintain its global leadership role.
    NASA is truly with you when you fly.
        NASA's spacecraft are voyaging beyond the solar system, we are
    developing a mission to pass right through the Sun's atmosphere, and
    our spacecraft are exploring the planets in between. The venerable
    Hubble Space Telescope is looking back into deep time, Kepler is
    demonstrating the prevalence of planets around other stars, and the
    James Webb Space Telescope is on the way. An early version of Orion
    splashed down in the Pacific, Astronaut Mark Kelly is preparing for a 1
    year mission in space, and the Space Launch System is on track for a
    November 2018 launch capability. NASA is embracing its mission as never
    before. NASA looks forward to working with the subcommittee and the
    Congress to make this vision a reality.
        Mr. Chairman, I would be pleased to respond to your questions and
    those of other members of the subcommittee.
                                     ______

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                        SPACE LAUNCH SYSTEM TEST LAUNCH

        Senator Shelby. Thank you, General Bolden. The Government
    Accountability Office (GAO) found that NASA's cost estimates
    for the SLS and Orion projects do not extend beyond the first
    flight for the combined system, and the 2016 budget before us
    bears this out.
        GAO states that NASA's budget estimates do not include
    production costs for the second test flight scheduled for 2021,
    the development costs for upper stage development for SLS, or
    production operations and sustainment costs for Orion beyond
    the first test flight. GAO further states that NASA has
    continued to request funding that does not meet requirements.
        In the case of SLS, I cannot agree more with GAO's
    assessment of NASA's inadequate funding proposal. My question,
    General, is this: considering NASA will have to conduct
    multiple test flights for SLS, which require additional
    development and production, why does the 2016 budget only
    account for the first test launch of SLS?
        Mr. Bolden. Mr. Chairman, the 2016 request supports what we
    project in the budget horizon as required over the next 5 years
    to get us to a sustained program, of deep space exploration
    using SLS and Orion.
        You mentioned or I think you mentioned charts and graphs,
    and we are not about charts and graphs. We are talking about
    hardware. The barrel for the engine section of SLS was welded
    together at Michoud Assembly Facility, and other hydrogen and
    oxygen tanks are being done. We launched Orion in December. We
    hot fire tested the RS-25 engines down in Mississippi at
    Stennis, as Senator Cochran has said. We fired the next
    milestone test on the five segment solid rocket booster.
        I would say our budget as we have run it out has us on the
    path that we think is necessary to get humans back to deep
    space and then onto Mars.

                               UPPER STAGE ENGINE

        Senator Shelby. In the detailed portion of the 2016 budget
    for SLS, NASA only proposes development funds, as I understand
    it, through 2018 for an upper stage engine with no funding
    beyond that date. There is a known need to develop a human-
    rated upper stage engine for the second test flight. The upper
    stage, it is my understanding, is on the critical path to the
    second test flight of SLS in 2021, yet it is my understanding
    there is no mention beyond preliminary planning for an upper
    stage required for a mission that is expected to launch say 6
    years hence.
        The question is this: why are no funds identified for the
    anticipated development for an upper stage when that
    development must be worked on in earnest during 2016?
        Mr. Bolden. Mr. Chairman, in prioritizing the work that we
    need to do over this next budget horizon, we recognize that an
    exploration upper stage is something that will be necessary.
        You are absolutely correct in that if we had unlimited
    funds, we would begin development of the exploration upper
    stage today. We are given a budget that is no longer flat, I
    will say, people used to say flat was the new ``up,'' but the
    new up is starting to look like you are going to let us work
    inflation in, so it is no longer flat. I think the budget that
    we submitted presents a balanced portfolio of missions for the
    agency that show us on a time line to get to Mars in the 2030s.

                        NASA'S RELATIONSHIP WITH RUSSIA

        Senator Shelby. I am on my last area that I will get into
    momentarily, the International Space Station. When we discussed
    the budget here last year, I asked about our relationship with
    the Russians in regard to the space station and what would
    happen if they were to end the partnership.
        At that time, you said, and I quote ``Should we or the
    Russians choose to pull out, the International Space Station as
    we know it no longer exists.'' Those were your words, General.
        The Russians have indicated that their intent is to
    separate their portion of the station in 2024. We know that is
    down the road. That essentially gives the facility an
    expiration date.
        My question is this: has Russia formally notified you that
    this is their intent, to separate their portion of the space
    station in 2024?
        Mr. Bolden. Quite the contrary, Mr. Chairman. In my
    meetings with my counterpart, Mr. Komarov, in Baikonur on the
    periphery of Scott Kelly's launch about 3 weeks ago, he made
    what I would not call a startling announcement, but he made a
    very encouraging announcement that contrary to what we heard,
    the rhetoric from the Russians, that they were committed to the
    International Space Station through 2024, and they did not
    intend to pull pieces off and start their own space station.
        Senator Shelby. Did he indicate that would be a hard
    commitment or a soft one?
        Mr. Bolden. Mr. Chairman, it is no harder a commitment than
    ours. I think if everyone will remember, when the President
    allowed me to propose that we go to 2024, we said at least
    2024.
        The only hard date we know about the space station today is
    2028 because that is as far as the engineering analyses of all
    the partners say that 2028 is about as long as we can keep the
    space station flying, but we do not want to keep the current
    space station flying forever.
        We want to get NASA and other agencies out of low-Earth
    orbit and onto exploration. The vision that we see----
        Senator Shelby. The space station was never constructed to
    be there in perpetuity, was it?
        Mr. Bolden. Mr. Chairman, that is absolutely correct. We
    have never built anything intended to be there in perpetuity. I
    am smiling at Senator Mikulski. We did not build the Hubble
    Space Telescope to be there as long as it has been, but thanks
    to her shepherding the program. we are getting ready to
    celebrate 25 incredible years.

                       JAMES WEBB SPACE TELESCOPE (JWST)

        Senator Shelby. We are also moving to another stage, past
    the Hubble, because of what we found in the use of having the
    Hubble.
        Mr. Bolden. Again, I think you are helping me to emphasize
    the critical importance of your ranking member.
        Senator Shelby. She did a great job.
        Mr. Bolden. She chewed me out and I appreciated it when I
    became the NASA Administrator. It was not really chewing me
    out.
        Senator Shelby. Appreciated years later.
        Mr. Bolden. She told me she wanted me to straighten out the
    James Webb Space Telescope, and we relooked at the program. I
    came in, and I went to the President. I came to Senator
    Mikulski and said we are not going to make it, and we need to
    redo this program, and we are now on schedule on cost to launch
    the James Webb Space Telescope in 2018, and that is primarily
    because of the work and the encouragement of Senator Mikulski.

                             INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS

        Senator Shelby. Thank you. What is the level of commitment
    from some of our other international partners to operate the
    space station beyond 2020?
        Mr. Bolden. Now that we have the Russians on record saying
    they are with us through at least 2024, other partners are
    beginning to feel better. That is what they were waiting for,
    to see the two primary partners get on board with each other. I
    expect that over the coming year or two, just as it was to get
    everybody to go to 2020, I think in the next couple of years,
    you will see that all the partners will agree that 2024 is the
    horizon for the International Space Station now.
        Senator Shelby. Is it even possible to operate as you know
    it the space station without the Russian segments should we
    choose to operate the station on our own?
        Mr. Bolden. Yes, sir.
        Senator Shelby. Okay. Senator Mikulski.

                       GODDARD SPACE FLIGHT CENTER BUDGET

        Senator Mikulski. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Administrator
    Bolden, first of all, thank you for your kind words about me
    and what I have done and the Hubble Telescope.
        I think also it is a tribute to really bipartisanship, and
    I know really very early in my Senate career, I became the
    chairman of the Subcommittee on VA/HUD, of which NASA was part
    of. My colleague at the time and vice chairman was Senator Jake
    Garn. I cannot say enough about the appreciation I had for
    Senators Garn and John Glenn. Bill Nelson was not here. It
    showed how the astronaut senators and I with Goddard Space
    Flight Center really worked on the whole idea of a balanced
    space program.
        What we did initially to fix Hubble was because we worked
    on a bipartisan basis, and the efforts of Senator Garn and with
    Senator Garn, we had the credibility, although I had the gavel,
    they had the credibility, and then NASA had the know-how.
        That is really kind of the spirit of the way it is, and I
    wanted to just acknowledge the role that others have played. We
    have kept that going with Senator Shelby.
        Now, as we also look, and you commented on the New
    Horizons, yes, the press is reporting as is JPL, that we are
    really now pretty close to that Pluto thing, and by all
    accounts and reports, technological reports, we are absolutely
    on target for its arrival at Pluto on target.
        I want to be sure that our best days are not behind us, and
    we are committed to a balanced space program. The human space
    flight, a reliable transportation system for our astronauts to
    go where they have not, and also to do the kind of servicing
    that will be necessary, along with space science.
        Of course, you know I am going to ask you about Goddard.
    When I saw the President's budget, in which Goddard was funded
    at $324 million below fiscal year 2015, when they have 32 on
    orbit missions, when they make sure that Hubble is targeted and
    maximizing its use in its current age and stage, and then
    managing the satellite construction for two of the major
    National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
    projects, along with the James Webb, they have a full plate,
    and yet you cut them $300 million.
        Can you tell me, number one, why, and what are the
    consequences of that? I am very apprehensive that they are
    doing all this great work and they have been cut roughly 10
    percent.
        Mr. Bolden. Senator, our projection for this year, for this
    fiscal year, at the end of the year, because we do not
    formalize some projects until we are well into the fiscal year,
    but as a result of that, our estimate is that the Goddard Space
    Flight Center will end up with about $2.6 billion, their
    portion of the NASA budget.
        The projection for fiscal year 2016 is given the work they
    are about to do, that they are embarking on, an example would
    be if you told me today in this hearing to go ahead and
    authorize the beginning on the tiers for continuous land
    imaging, Goddard would start tomorrow morning. That is not in
    their portfolio right now.
        We anticipate that Goddard will again in fiscal year 2016,
    when all is said and done, end up managing $2.6 billion of
    projects. It is actually a preliminary look at what we have
    based on the programs we have directed----
        Senator Mikulski. Are you saying you are going to give them
    more work during the year and then as the year goes on, you are
    giving them more money?
        Mr. Bolden. They get more work as the year goes by.
    Subsequently, they get more money. They get responsibility for
    more money.
        Senator Mikulski. In other words, if they get more
    responsibility, does the resource follow the responsibility?
        Mr. Bolden. Yes, ma'am; it does. Yes, ma'am. I was going to
    get cute, but I will not.
        Senator Mikulski. No, do not.
        Mr. Bolden. I am not.
        Senator Mikulski. In terms of time, we have a lot of ground
    to cover, but space to cover.
        Mr. Bolden. Yes, ma'am.

                              SATELLITE SERVICING

        Senator Mikulski. Which then takes us to an area called
    ``satellite servicing.'' To my colleagues who are also
    interested in national security, I know we are worried about
    our satellites, number one, not for the purposes of this
    hearing, it would be inappropriate, but we worry about the
    Chinese and what they are doing in terms of any satellite
    technology, so that is one dimension not for this hearing, and
    of course, across committees.
        Also, we have satellites that our Government has,
    particularly science satellites, and our private and even non-
    profit sector have. Goddard has been developing a technology
    and workforce to satellite servicing, so they do not end up
    space junk. That was funded at $130 million in fiscal year
    2015, and they have been cut by 50 percent to $65 million.
        Could you tell me the rationale for that, or do you not
    want to do satellite servicing?
        Mr. Bolden. Senator, we sincerely--I think we are all on
    the same sheet of music. No one is more dedicated, for example,
    to SLS and exploration than I. I share your enthusiasm there.
        I share the enthusiasm for making sure that this Nation is
    second to none when it comes to being able to maintain and
    secure our satellites. With that in mind, I would request that
    you allow me to come and have a conversation with you, and I
    can bring staff members or some of your staff, so we can talk
    about satellite servicing and the challenges that we face
    there.
        It is my belief that with industry, companies like
    MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. (MDA), like Alliant
    Techsystems Inc. (ATK), who already have hardware in hand that
    does some of the functions we know we are going to need, and
    working with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
    (DARPA) collaboratively----
        Senator Mikulski. You come and talk to me.
        Mr. Bolden. Yes, ma'am. I would really appreciate that. To
    be quite honest, I want to be in sync with the subcommittee,
    and I will admit, I am the one person in this room who is
    probably not in sync with you all, because for 4 years I have
    pleaded with people to tell me who the customer is going to be,
    and the potential customers keep telling me they would much
    rather have me be their customer.
        I want to make sure that we are not at odds with American
    industry. I need to talk to you, if that would be good. I think
    we can get in sync.
        Senator Mikulski. My time is up. I have another question
    about Wallops. I say to my chairman of this subcommittee and
    the chairman of the full committee, satellites are on my mind,
    and they are really a big budget, not only in the NASA
    committee.
        Whether it is NOAA or the Department of Defense (DOD), I am
    worried that we do not know how to build them and maintain them
    and service them. We often run into satellite boondoggles.
        Mr. Bolden. Yes, ma'am.
        Senator Mikulski. That is one thing. The second thing is
    then when they are up there, what do we do with them when they
    are no longer functional and can they be rescued. And third,
    the national security protection of key satellites from those
    nation states or others that would have a predatory intent.
        I have satellites on my mind. I would like it in the
    budget.
        Mr. Bolden. Yes, ma'am.
        Senator Mikulski. Mr. Chairman, I have used up a lot of
    time.
        Senator Shelby. It is okay. Senator Cochran.

                           SPACE EXPLORATION PROGRAM

        Senator Cochran. Mr. Chairman, thank you. Welcome again to
    our hearing. We appreciate the cooperation that we have
    received over time in helping to share our views with the
    Administration officials who have come before our subcommittee
    requesting funding for the programs and activities. It is a
    pleasure to work with you on all these challenges.
        As NASA continues to work on development of the space
    launch system, are you satisfied that the Administration and
    the Congress are constructively working together to help reach
    our goals of our space exploration program?
        Mr. Bolden. Senator Cochran, because I am a part of the
    Administration, I will say I am not satisfied that I have
    sufficiently worked with this subcommittee, and I pledge I will
    do better.
        It is like I mentioned to Senator Mikulski, I have pledged
    that I will be here much more than I have been, communicating
    with members of the subcommittee. I am pleading for the Senate
    to confirm Dr. Dava Newman as my deputy because I need the
    help. I think that will free me up to be able to spend more
    time with members of the subcommittee.
        As I said in my opening statement, together, the
    Administration and this Congress have done an incredible job
    over the last 5 years. I want the members of the subcommittee
    to take credit for what you have done, to be quite honest. It
    is like trying to get the Administration to take credit. It
    seems like we are in the middle, and we are really happy about
    what has been done. We are not fooling ourselves that we have
    done everything. We think we are the best in the world at what
    we do, but that is not good enough.
        I know that is a jumbled answer to your question, but I do
    not want you to think I am satisfied. I am not. I will do
    better.

                         ENGINE TESTING INFRASTRUCTURE

        Senator Cochran. Specifically--thank you for that. The
    budget request provides information for us that is very
    helpful. We want to be sure we are doing the right thing, too.
    I want to know what your reaction is to whether we are
    providing adequate resources for the engine testing
    infrastructure to support the development of the Space Launch
    System, that would be a credit to our country.
        Mr. Bolden. Senator, this subcommittee and the Congress
    have provided everything that we have asked for. I do not have
    any complaints about that. I would point out when you talked
    specifically about Stennis, the fact that we have had testing
    done by SpaceX, Aerojet Rocketdyne, DOD is now talking to us
    about doing testing at Stennis, Blue Origin is now doing
    testing at Stennis.
        That in itself says we are being successful at capitalizing
    on the ability of American industry to augment what NASA does,
    so that we can utilize the funds that this subcommittee gives
    us to get on with the business of going into deep space.
        Getting to Mars is our main objective right now. In order
    to do that, we need other things. We need the International
    Space Station to be viable and sustainable. We are comfortable
    we are okay there. We keep taking little bits of money away
    from the station to do other things in space operations that
    make me nervous sometimes.
        We have to have the money we requested for commercial crew
    because that will finish off NASA getting out of low-Earth
    orbit access, and we will have successfully turned that over to
    American industry, and that puts us one step farther to being
    Earth independent. Not there, but one step farther.
        We then need to move out into what we call the ``proving
    ground,'' going back to space, to orbit around the Moon for
    about a 10-year period of time to develop the technologies that
    we need to move onto Mars.
        We have a lot of work to do, but this subcommittee, I
    cannot complain. I thank you for the funding you have given us.
        Senator Cochran. We appreciate that. We want to continue to
    do what is necessary to ensure a robust engine testing
    infrastructure as Stennis, and if we think they have earned the
    right to continue to contribute up to date military
    intelligence capabilities that would be a credit to our
    country, and we are looking to develop and test even new rocket
    engines in the future.
        What is your reaction to that? Is there a future?
        Mr. Bolden. Senator Mikulski said she wanted to make sure
    that our best days were not behind us. Our best days are in
    front of us, I can promise you that. I am not smiling and
    sounding optimistic because I am trying to look good or
    something. I am excited about the future.
        When I travel around to college campuses or high schools
    around the country or around the world, young people are really
    excited about what we are doing. They see this is their future.
    It is not ours. We are passing through. There is no doubt in my
    mind, Senator, all of you, that our best days are ahead of us.
        Senator Cochran. It looks like we have a new city there,
    Stennis.
        Mr. Bolden. It is the Federal city.
        Senator Cochran. As well as the testing facility.
        Mr. Bolden. Yes, sir.
        Senator Cochran. We appreciate the fact that it has grown
    to become a Federal city due to the multiple Federal tenants
    that are there and seemed to be happy with what is going on,
    access to people, a beautiful view along the Mississippi Gulf
    Coast to boot.
        Mr. Bolden. Yes, sir.
        Senator Cochran. Thank you very much.
        Mr. Bolden. Yes, sir.
        Senator Shelby. Senator Capito.

         INDEPENDENT VERIFICATION AND VALIDATION (IV&V) FACILITY

        Senator Capito. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you to the
    Administrator. General Bolden, we are really proud of the work
    that NASA does in West Virginia with the IV&V Program in
    Fairmont. The employees there are making a great contribution
    to our State, and I think to your agency, and to our country.
    It seems to me the service they provide is critical to complete
    your agency's objectives, both for the manned and unmanned
    missions. Can you share some thoughts about IV&V and what you
    think the future is for that part of NASA?
        Mr. Bolden. The facility in West Virginia, but IV&V in
    general, in the broadest sense, because a lot of its work is
    not just done there, but done other places around the country.
    The work that is done for NASA is incredible. Again, the
    measure of your success or the measure of respect people show
    for you is to have outside organizations come to you and ask
    for assistance. We finished off the work we were doing for
    Homeland Security, for folks in New York City, so there have
    been other outside organizations that have asked for help that
    IV&V has been able to provide for them. They provide a very
    necessary capability to this agency.
        Senator Capito. Thank you. They also in their program, as
    you probably know, are inspiring students and educators in West
    Virginia, have over 100 educator workshops that they
    participated in, and have had a good impact.
        One of the areas that I am interested in and because I am
    the co-chair of the recently formed Diversifying Technology
    Caucus, you know, we all have a caucus in a different name, I
    am a science major myself, and there is a great concern, and I
    share this concern, and you spoke about young people, a lot of
    the STEM education is not as diversified, both by females and
    minorities, what does NASA look like? You have a lot of science
    majors over there. I know you do not have this at the tip of
    your fingers. I am just curious.
        Mr. Bolden. Unfortunately, I have it at the tip of my
    finger because I am not happy.
        Senator Capito. Okay; good.
        Mr. Bolden. We at NASA feel we should be the model for
    every other agency in the Federal Government, and as I said
    before, we have been the best place to work in Government for
    the past 3 years based on the Employee Viewpoint Survey, but we
    are worried. I am worried about the inability to maintain, to
    retain women and minorities in senior levels of leadership in
    the STEM fields.
        The Deputy Associate Administrator, my chief scientist,
    Center Director Ellen Ochoa, Astronaut Cady Coleman, I have
    people all over trying to figure out what we are not doing
    right. We are probably better than most other Federal agencies,
    but that is not satisfactory.
        Senator Capito. If you have the figures, since you
    mentioned it----
        Mr. Bolden. Let me get it to you, so I do not guess.
        [The information follows:]

                   Diversity of NASA Scientists and Engineers

                                As of April 2015

    Explanation of terms and acronyms:

    AAPI = Asian American and Pacific Islander. The percentage of Native
    Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islanders in the science and engineering
    civilian labor force is so small that meaningful comparisons with
    NASA's workforce could not be made if they were reported in a separate
    category (i.e., everything rounds to zero); they are therefore combined
    with Asian Americans for the purpose of comparing NASA with the RCLF.

    AIAN = American Indian/Alaska Native

    AST = Aerospace Technologist. AST is a special designation approved by
    OPM for the types of scientists and engineers hired by NASA. It is
    NASA's main mission critical occupational category.

    RCLF = Relevant Civilian Labor Force (the portion of the 2010 civilian
    labor force that most closely matches the science and engineering
    workforces at NASA. There is one RCLF calculated for NASA Engineers and
    one calculated for Physical Scientists because the demographic
    diversity for these occupational categories is quite different. The
    RCLF is the benchmark used to compare NASA's diversity with that of the
    available technical labor pool. Note: for senior level positions, a
    different benchmark is used, namely the total NASA AST workforce. The
    logic is that, for example, if 8 percent of NASA's AST workforce is
    African American, then approximately 8 percent of NASA's senior AST
    positions should be African Americans. This is an internal benchmark,
    as opposed to the RCLF, which is an external benchmark.

    RNO = Race/National Origin

    SES = Senior Executive Service

    SL = Senior Level

    ST = Senior Technologist

    [GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]

                            DIVERSIFYING TECHNOLOGY

        Mr. Bolden. I can tell you the mix of women in the STEM
    field marries what it is in society, and that is why I say that
    is unacceptable.
        Senator Capito. It is unacceptable.
        Mr. Bolden. We have 51 percent women in the population and
    we are in the low teens of percentage of women in STEM. That
    does not say 51 percent of the STEM workforce ought to be
    women, but it ought to be better than 13 or whatever it is.
        Senator Capito. I would suggest, and I think the IV&V
    Program has done this by doing educator outreach--for some
    reason, it is probably the same thing Senator Mikulski and I
    have, we get the question all the time, why are there not more
    women in the Senate, why are there not more women in public
    service.
        It is one of these things that the numbers have to feed on
    one another and one another, and it is a slow progress. I think
    by starting early, K through elementary, K through three, you
    really do have to start there, because when you see what is
    coming at our young people in terms of how they can get a lot
    of knowledge from their phones and everything else, their minds
    are forming, I think, earlier on what direction they want to
    go.
        I would love to partner with NASA in this endeavor on
    diversifying technology. I think it is a natural spot. Since we
    have a good presence in Fairmont, that might be a good jumping
    off place for some kind of pilot programs to be able to inspire
    our young women and more minorities to join this exciting field
    that can be very, very lucrative at the same time and very
    stable.
        Mr. Bolden. Yes, ma'am.
        Senator Capito. I thank you for your service. Thank you.
        Senator Shelby. Senator Mikulski.

                           JAMES WEBB SPACE TELESCOPE

        Senator Mikulski. Mr. Chairman, just one question and one
    comment. The James Webb Space Telescope, you are exactly right,
    Administrator, that we were deeply troubled about the Webb,
    that there were cost overruns, could we meet both the
    technological targets as well as the fiscal targets.
        Could you tell the subcommittee the status of the James
    Webb and have you also addressed the GAO questions about
    schedule reserves and the cryocooler to make sure it--as you
    know, there is the GAO report, some press reports, and flashing
    yellow lights.
        Could you tell us are you on target, and have you addressed
    these concerns raised by these outside oversights?
        Mr. Bolden. Senator, I would venture to say we are on
    target, and we are on target for one primary reason, and that
    is after I promised you, the responsibility for the James Webb
    Space Telescope came into the Office of the Administrator.
    First, we had Chris Scolese as the Associate Administrator, and
    now Robert Lightfoot, and in their respective roles, they were
    representing me in James Webb almost every day.
        Chris Scolese is now at the Goddard Space Flight Center
    that has primary responsibility for it. Chris is in it every
    single day. I now have a monthly tag up with Wes Bush, the CEO
    of Northrop Grumman, because we both agree on the critical
    importance of the James Webb Space Telescope, not just to this
    Nation but to the world, but also it is critical for both him
    and me to demonstrate we know what the heck we are doing.
        If we cannot deliver it on time and on budget or under
    budget, then it says there is something wrong. We are concerned
    about the technological challenge of the cryocooler, but we
    think that is getting back on track.
        We still have about a 10 month cushion in the schedule, but
    I caution people----
        Senator Mikulski. What does a cryocooler do?
        Mr. Bolden. It is actually what enables the telescope to go
    down to almost absolute zero. It takes it to really cold. It is
    going to operate a million miles away from Earth, and it is an
    infrared imaging telescope. The reason why it is so phenomenal
    and that it is going to dwarf the capability of Hubble is
    because although it only operates in the infrared range,
    keeping it as cold as we do, it is going to be able to look
    into the atmosphere of distant planets around the billions of
    distant stars, some that are not even in our own Galaxy. That
    is what is going to make it really, really good.
        It would still be phenomenal without it, but that is not
    what we----
        Senator Mikulski. Presuming this actually happens, do you
    believe the completion and successful launch and operation of
    the James Webb will secure America's preeminence in astronomy
    for the next 30 or 40 years?
        Mr. Bolden. Senator, there is no question. Now that we are
    on the Hubble anniversary, I tell people about our crew before
    we launched on the deploy mission, we knew, we absolutely knew
    that Hubble was going to do something great. We had no clue. If
    anybody had asked us if it was going to have taken its place in
    the pantheon of great scientific instruments, we did not know
    that. We are very confident that James Webb will further
    revolutionize the fields of planetary science, astrophysics. We
    will know more about this universe as a result of James Webb
    after 2018 than anybody ever imagined.
        Senator Mikulski. I am glad I went into orbit.
        Mr. Bolden. You and me both.
        Senator Mikulski. Thank you very much.
        Senator Shelby. Thank you, Senator Mikulski. I think
    Senator Mikulski knew it. She knew what the potential was or
    she would not have pushed so long and so hard and successfully,
    and we should all be grateful. She must be akin to her cousin,
    Copernicus, in looking ahead in some way.

                   COMMERCIAL CREW MILESTONE SCHEDULE DELAYS

        General, I have a couple more questions. NASA entered into,
    in my understanding, two milestone based contracts worth up to
    $6.8 billion in September of this last year to finish the
    development and testing of crewed vehicles.
        Aside from five milestones that NASA required, the
    contractors were able to add milestones and time lines of their
    own, with payment only given when a milestone is achieved. NASA
    has already publicly stated that a significant number of the
    milestones are being altered. In other words, they have not met
    them, some with delays of 6 months or more.
        A lot of us are concerned by the potentially large number
    of changes and delays so soon in the program. My question is
    this: the subcommittee has seen the first quarter report on the
    Commercial Crew Program. Who asked for the changes to the
    milestones, and how will altering the milestone schedules delay
    the expected date for taking our astronauts to the space
    station?
        Mr. Bolden. Mr. Chairman, I will get you specific answers
    for the record.
        [The information follows:]

               Commercial Crew Program Milestone Schedule Delays

        As reported to the Committee, both Commercial Crew Transportation
    Capability (CCtCap) companies updated their schedules to reflect
    additional design maturation and to allow sufficient time to complete
    system development and certification. NASA anticipated a number of
    these types of changes during this timeframe because the original
    contract milestones were established when the companies submitted their
    CCtCap proposals, over a year ago. Such changes are not indicative of
    poor company performance, but are viewed by NASA to be the normal
    evolution of refining subcontract schedules and finalizing development
    plans after contract award. Accordingly, the companies requested the
    milestone date changes, and NASA has reviewed and approved them. We
    will continue to work with the companies to adhere to the new overall
    schedule. We will identify any possible changes quickly making minor
    milestones adjustments only as required. This will protect overall
    schedule while maintaining a safe configuration for our crews.
        As reported in the first Quarterly Report, the Certification Review
    milestone date (i.e., the expected date for NASA certification of the
    companies systems to transport NASA personnel to the ISS) for Boeing
    was changed from August 2017 to October 2017; the SpaceX Certification
    Review milestone date was changed from April 2017 to October 2017. The
    Commercial Crew Program is a large, complex development effort whereby
    the partners are expected to conform to a set of requirements in a
    fixed price contract.

        Mr. Bolden. I will tell you how it works. Frequently, we
    ask for the slip in the milestone because we do not have the
    money to pay it. That is why it is critically important. We now
    have two contracts, so we are contractually obligated to Boeing
    and SpaceX to pay them up to $6.8 billion. We have guaranteed
    them two missions each minimum, and up to six.
        Senator Shelby. You want to meet those obligations.
        Mr. Bolden. I want to meet those obligations, and the only
    way for me to meet them----
        Senator Shelby. Will they meet their obligations?
        Mr. Bolden. They will meet their obligations. Mr. Chairman,
    I do not have any doubt. I have the utmost confidence in both
    Boeing and SpaceX that they will meet their obligations if we
    meet ours to pay the bill.
        Our obligation is to provide oversight and insight, and
    make sure that we know what they have to do to provide us a
    safe vehicle. I have to have the money to pay them.
        Senator Shelby. Will you get this information for the
    subcommittee to evaluate?
        Mr. Bolden. I will.

                           RUSSIAN SEAT SOLICITATION

        Senator Shelby. My last question has to do with the Russian
    seat solicitation. The Commercial Crew Program is intending to
    replace our reliance on the Russians for transport to and from
    the space station as early as 2017.
        NASA has put a solicitation out, is my understanding, to
    purchase six more seats on Russian vehicles at a time when
    seats on the commercial crew vehicles should be available. I
    said ``should.''
        Mr. Bolden. Yes, sir.
        Senator Shelby. It appears NASA is already purchasing its
    own insurance policy in case the crew providers are not ready.
    I do not know that. The current cost of a seat from the
    Russians, I understand, is about $76 million, and it will
    likely be even more for those additional seats.
        The question I have for you, General, and for the record,
    too, what has NASA seen so far in the continued development of
    our own crewed vehicles to justify paying Russia hundreds of
    millions of dollars for seats that should already be covered by
    the U.S. providers if the U.S. companies meet their milestones?
        I do not know the situation. Could you explain?
        Mr. Bolden. Yes. The primary we have seen is the lack of
    commitment on the part of the Congress to fund the program at
    the amount requested by the President, and the President's
    request was to meet the contractual price that we negotiated
    with Boeing and SpaceX. That is not an estimate.
        Senator Shelby. The bottom line is you need more money; is
    that right?
        Mr. Bolden. We always need what we ask for in the budget. I
    would be more than happy to take more. We really need $1.2
    billion in 2016 because this is a critical time for us to make
    the 2017 launch date. We need $1.2 billion so they can complete
    the milestones that we have both agreed to.
        Senator Shelby. If they can complete them, we would not
    need to spend that money with Russia; right?
        Mr. Bolden. When we have an American capability, then we do
    not spend any more money with the Russians. We do not pay them
    for seats any more. We definitely will not pay them for seats
    any more once we have an American capability.

         COMMERCIAL CREW TRANSPORTATION CAPABILITY (CCTCAP) CONTRACTS

        Senator Shelby. Let me share this with you. It is my
    understanding that in the Commercial Crew Program, NASA
    initially decided to spread, General, the limited funding
    resources across five companies. It took NASA 5 years and $1.9
    billion to finally pick two companies.
        Mr. Bolden. Yes, sir.
        Senator Shelby. That will share $6.8 billion to develop a
    commercial crew capability. However, NASA continues to blame
    Congress for lack of resources, when it was NASA that chose to
    spend nearly $2 billion on a competition.
        While I agree as we all do that competition is important,
    prudent decisions in constrained fiscal environments such as
    this, are very important.
        My question here is this: in your view, has the decision to
    fund multiple companies during the initial competition delayed
    the delivery of a viable commercial crew capability? You spent
    a good deal of money doing that.
        Mr. Bolden. Senator, it is my belief that spending that
    money did not delay it at all. In fact, it gave us assurance
    that the two systems that we finally selected would in fact be
    the absolute best. We are still investing money in some of the
    companies that were in competition initially because they are
    still getting milestone payments under the original Space Act
    Agreements that we had, because they are bringing us benefits
    that we do not have to develop ourselves or the two contractors
    do not.
        If you look at Blue Origin, for example, as a result of the
    work that they have been doing with engines, we may have a new
    launch system by an American company with American engines.
    That remains to be seen.
        Some of the development that they did in the area of
    engines was as a result of collaborating with NASA, some of the
    test of components, as Senator Cochran mentioned, was done at
    Stennis. They do not test the full engine but they are where
    they are today, perhaps 2 years away from being able to develop
    a heavy lift engine of American origin, and that is because of
    the work that we supplemented.
        Senator Shelby. We appreciate that. We will continue to
    look at that. It is incumbent upon this subcommittee, as
    Senator Mikulski has said many times, that we are accountable
    to the American people and to our colleagues, and you are
    accountable to us. We are going to have to ask the right and
    tough questions.
        Mr. Bolden. Yes, sir.

                         ADDITIONAL COMMITTEE QUESTIONS

        Senator Shelby. Thank you very much, General. This will
    conclude our hearing. We may have some follow-up questions for
    the record.
        Mr. Bolden. Yes, sir. Mr. Chairman, I will get you the
    information.
        [The following questions were not asked at the hearing, but
    were submitted to the Department for response subsequent to the
    hearing:]

               Questions Submitted to Hon. Charles F. Bolden, Jr.

              Questions Submitted by Senator Christopher A. Coons

                             spaceport launch pad 0

        Question. What is the status of funding to complete repairs to
    launch Pad 0-A (Spaceport) in order to return to flight the Antares
    Rocket from the Wallops Flight Facility?
        Answer. NASA is strongly committed to maintaining a small/medium
    class launch vehicle capability at the NASA Wallops Flight Facility
    (WFF) in support of cargo resupply for the International Space Station
    (ISS), and is pleased at the progress of repair activities at pad 0A.
    NASA intends to ensure the needs of the ISS are met through the
    Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) contract between NASA and Orbital
    Sciences Corporation (now Orbital ATK). In fiscal year 2015, consistent
    with NASA's communications with the House and Senate Committees on
    Appropriations, NASA has provided a total of $5.0 million for
    commercial launch site services at WFF. Orbital ATK has made clear they
    intend to recover the capability to launch resupply missions again from
    Wallops, and has allocated funding in this regard. The Mid-Atlantic
    Regional Spaceport (MARS) has allocated funding from their annual
    maintenance budget for site cleanup and environmental remediation
    activities, site and engineering damage assessments, disassembly of
    damaged pad infrastructure, and repair of pad systems. NASA is
    continuing to work with all the parties--MARS, Orbital ATK, and the
    Commonwealth of Virginia--to ensure a small/medium class launch
    capability is restored to Wallops under the terms of the existing
    contracts and agreements. In sum, MARS continues to make good progress
    towards Pad 0A repair and return to service. All required demolition
    work has been completed, and all concrete structures have been repaired
    or replaced. In addition, all damaged fueling and pressure system
    piping have been identified, and fabrication and installation of new
    items is proceeding well. MARS, Orbital ATK, and NASA WFF are currently
    (end of July) in the replacement, cleaning and testing stage of the pad
    recovery. Environment monitoring is continuing to ensure there is no
    lasting impact to the launch pad area. Funding allocated to date
    supports the schedule for Pad 0A turnover to Orbital-ATK as planned.

                          national space access needs

        Question. What is NASA's plan to upgrade the range capabilities at
    Wallops Flight Facility, NASA's only launch range and one of the few
    active commercial spaceports to meet emerging national space access
    needs?
        Answer. NASA missions use a number of launch sites, including the
    Agency's facilities at Kennedy Space Center in Florida and Wallops
    Flight Facility in Virginia.
      --The Wallops Range Control Center expansion and upgrades are
            continuing, and the remote range support systems in Bermuda are
            being upgraded and hardened. Bermuda support is required for
            Orbital-ATK Antares Commercial Resupply Services (CRS)
            launches. The work being done in Bermuda includes:
        --Instrumentation formerly in mobile command and telemetry trailers
                will be housed in a concrete building originally built by
                NASA;
        --Radomes will be installed to protect sensitive antennas,
                previously subject to extreme corrosion; and
        --Upgrades and hardening will significantly reduce annual funding
                requirements for personnel and maintenance associated with
                Bermuda activities.

                              SUBCOMMITTEE RECESS

        Senator Shelby. Thank you very much. The subcommittee is
    adjourned.
        [Whereupon, at 3:30 p.m., Thursday, April 16, the
    subcommittee was recessed, to reconvene subject to the call of
    the Chair.]