[Senate Hearing 116-]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
COMMERCE, JUSTICE, SCIENCE, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS FOR
FISCAL YEAR 2021
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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2020
U.S. Senate,
Subcommittee of the Committee on Appropriations,
Washington, DC.
The subcommittee met at 2:02 p.m., in room SR-325, Russell
Senate Office Building, Hon. Jerry Moran (Chairman) presiding.
Present: Senators Moran, Boozman, Shaheen, Manchin, and Van
Hollen.
NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION
OPENING STATEMENT OF SENATOR JERRY MORAN
Senator Moran. The Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice,
Science, and Related Agencies will come to order.
Good afternoon. I am happy to call this hearing to order,
and we are pleased to be able to hear from the Administrator
today. Welcome to the Commerce, Justice, Science Subcommittee
hearing with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
Our witness today is the NASA Administrator, James Bridenstine.
I thank you for being here in these difficult times. I can
almost see you across this room, but we are delighted that you
are with us here in the old Senate Russell Building in this
historic room.
Before we get into details, I just want to take a moment to
acknowledge last week's dedication of a presidential memorial
to President Eisenhower. It occurred here in Washington, D.C.
It was dedicated last Thursday, and it was President Eisenhower
that made a recommendation in 1958 for the Nation's space
agency to be a civilian-based entity. Congress responded by
taking activities of the National Advisory Committee for
Aeronautics and transforming them into NASA. I pay tribute to
this native Kansan and appreciate the decision that was made
then.
Since that time, since 1958, NASA has become known around
the world as the leader in innovation and exploration,
inspiring generations of engineers, developers, and explorers.
And I want to commend you, Administrator Bridenstine, Vice
President Pence, and the Trump administration for continuing
that inspiration with bold vision, historic accomplishments,
and focus on returning astronauts to the Moon with the Artemis
program.
On Monday, NASA released their Lunar exploration program
overview, which integrates the elements needed to return our
astronauts to the surface of the Moon with the science goals we
hope to achieve. I look forward to that announcement being
discussed, learning more details. I am glad you are here and
the timing that your presence here lends importance to this
hearing.
I plan on today's hearing being the first in an ongoing
dialogue with NASA and others to explore the Artemis program
and the impact it will have on our country. In my view, it goes
without saying the significant impact the Apollo program had on
our Nation, and we continue to reap benefits of those missions,
and I anticipate that Artemis will do the same for years to
come. Much like Apollo, Artemis has the potential to influence
our daily lives from the advancements in science and technology
to inspire the next generation of leaders.
The fiscal year 2021 budget request for NASA contains a
total of $12 billion associated with the Artemis program
efforts toward landing astronauts on the Moon in 2024. This
plan includes the building and testing of rockets, capsules,
and the development of lunar landers that will deliver a crew
to the surface of the Moon. I am excited about the potential of
the first woman being on the Moon.
However, our world has been significantly altered since the
initial release of the budget, and I look forward to discussing
how NASA is adapting our new and unprecedented environment
while pushing forward with Artemis. Although we face many
challenges, including COVID-19, I am interested in hearing your
testimony today and discussing the value of the Artemis program
and what it will bring to our Nation and to the world. These
are unique times, and I look forward to hearing how NASA is
planning to address them, and I again thank you, Mr.
Administrator, for being with us here today.
I now recognize the Ranking Member of our subcommittee,
Senator Shaheen, for her opening remarks.
OPENING STATEMENT OF SENATOR JEANNE SHAHEEN
Senator Shaheen. Well, thank you very much, Chairman Moran.
Thank you to Administrator Bridenstine for being here this
afternoon.
I have a little longer statement than usual as an opening,
and while I would echo your positive comments about former
President Eisenhower and his commitment to the space program
and making sure that was a civilian agency, I want to express
my concerns about where we are with respect to the
appropriations process, Mr. Chairman.
Next week is the end of the fiscal year. You and I worked
together on a bipartisan bill. We had that ready to move
forward in June. But when the fiscal year ends, the Senate
Appropriations Committee will not have held one single markup.
No bills will have been reported to the Senate.
We have already gone 4 months--more than 4 months--since
the House sent us the HEROES Act without really addressing the
needs of Americans who are suffering from this pandemic and the
economic consequences of COVID-19. We have so many who have
lost jobs that are directly linked to the inaction of this
government and delays in the Senate.
For example, in 2 weeks, the State Department will
eliminate nearly 200 jobs from the National Passport Center in
Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and these cuts are the result of
lost revenue from fees during the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet, the
administration and Majority Leader McConnell refuse to move
forward with any comprehensive legislation that can help
restore these jobs and others.
I think we should finish the continuing resolution.
Obviously, all of us want to keep this government open, but we
should also have enough capacity to work together to pass a
comprehensive bipartisan COVID-19 relief package. I think that
is long overdue. We should have done it before we left in
August. We should do it before we leave for the election.
Now, turning to the subject of today's hearing, the last
time I was with the Administrator was a virtual roundtable that
we held to help small businesses in New Hampshire take part in
NASA's programs. As I said to you, Administrator, I very much
appreciated your willingness to join us on that, and we had a
lot of enthusiasm and support from small businesses in the
State who I hope will continue to be able to work with NASA.
We heard on that Zoom some of the excitement of the shared
vision of returning humans to the Moon, and I was really
pleased to hear that. I have heard a lot of excitement among
young people in particular about that.
Of course, we know that NASA needs to be about more than
just a single Moon shot, that it should also support science
that teaches us about the Earth, our solar system, the Sun, and
the universe. NASA should develop technologies that further not
just human exploration but also NASA's other important
missions. Most of all, NASA should inspire and teach students.
However, while the budget before us includes a generous 12
percent increase, it is focused on achieving one Moon landing
by 2024. In order to do so, it proposes to eliminate NASA's
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math engagement program.
It also cuts NASA's next generation transportation systems and
science, canceling, among other projects, a telescope that NASA
had renamed earlier this year to honor pioneering scientist,
Nancy Grace Roman.
To me what is so frustrating is that these proposals are
not new. Congress on a bipartisan basis has rejected these
efforts to cut science programs in NASA for the last 3 years.
The administration has ambitious plans to return to the
Moon rely on having a technically literate science and
engineering workforce. That is why I believe that this
subcommittee is not going to eliminate NASA education programs.
The New Hampshire Space Grant is inspiring a love of science in
K through 12 students and helping to support undergraduates and
graduate students through scholarships, fellowships, and
internships. Research grants and education programs like Space
Grant and EPSCoR help make every State a space State.
New Hampshire, I am pleased to say, is a space State. Since
the first American in space, Alan Shepard, who came from New
Hampshire, and of course, our teacher in space, Christa
McAuliffe who died tragically in the Challenger accident, to
today's New Hampshire companies and universities who supply
NASA with technology to improve both low-Earth orbit and deep
space exploration and design, build and operate major
instruments on NASA satellites to study space and solar
physics, the Moon, and the Earth.
I look forward to working with you, Chairman Moran, and to
ensure that we can pursue sending humans to the Moon and Mars
without sacrificing other important NASA missions.
Again, Administrator Bridenstine, thank you for being here
today.
Senator Moran. Senator Shaheen, thank you for your opening
statement. I would indicate to you and to others that it is a
privilege to be able to work with you on this subcommittee and
many other things in the United States Senate.
I certainly share your views in regard to getting us out of
a continuing resolution and completing our work on 12
appropriations bills. You are right. You and I have attempted
to--we have actively pursued that goal in the past and continue
to do so this year. We are in a circumstance in which the CR is
now necessary. I have indicated so many times I am never voting
for a CR again, but then the alternative becomes shutting down
government, and that is a worse alternative.
Senator Shaheen, I pledge to you--I have indicated to those
who ask me about our work on this subcommittee and the
Appropriations Committee I am convinced that you and I can
present, with the work of our Committee Members on this
subcommittee, a CJS Committee report, a subcommittee report,
that would be accepted nearly unanimously by our colleagues,
Republicans and Democrats, and would receive broad support on
the Senate floor. We have the capability of delivering that
product. We just need to be given the opportunity to do so.
I am certainly interested in seeing that we take the
necessary steps to meet the needs of those who continue to
suffer both from a health perspective and from an economic
perspective from the consequences of COVID-19.
I appreciate you pointing out the importance of us as a
subcommittee doing our work, the importance of the Senate and
Congress and the White House reaching agreement so that we can
complete 12 appropriation bills in an appropriate way.
I now recognize Administrator Bridenstine for his
testimony, and then we will have a round of questions and
answers thereafter. Administrator Bridenstine, thank you very
much. Thank you for joining Senator Shaheen and I and other
Members of the subcommittee, and we look forward to your
testimony.
STATEMENT OF HON. JAMES F. BRIDENSTINE, ADMINISTRATOR,
NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE
ADMINISTRATION
Mr. Bridenstine. Chairman Moran, Ranking Member Shaheen, it
is great to be back here at the subcommittee. I know it has
been a long time since we--and other Members of the
subcommittee, it is good to see you. It has been a long time
since we have had the ability to get together, and I know we
are definitely distanced right now, but I feel very safe and I
appreciate having the opportunity to come and testify before
the subcommittee.
To start, I want to say thank you to everybody in this room
for the CARES Act. This was a piece of legislation that was
critically important for NASA to be able to continue its
missions. I know everybody in the country watched with great
interest as we launched American astronauts from American soil
for the first time since 2011 just a few short months ago, and
of course, we launched the Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover to
Mars. Those things were available to us because of monies that
helped us have personal protective equipment, monies that
helped us as an agency continue to move forward with IT
requirements to work remotely and do all of those things that
are necessary in the COVID-19 era. Without the CARES Act, we
could have probably done the missions but not nearly as safely
as we were able to because of the CARES Act so, number one,
thank you.
Second of all, the dialogue that I just heard is very
important to the NASA workforce. The idea, I think Chairman
Moran that you said, you know, CRs are not optimum, but they
are better than the alternative. On behalf of 70,000 employees
at NASA, civil servants, and contractors, we wholeheartedly
agree with that assessment. We are grateful for acknowledging
that and working to come to a resolution on a CR.
I will tell you that when we think about the value that
NASA brings to the United States of America, we think about the
economic value. I know a lot of people are maybe watching this
on C-SPAN or maybe NASA TV or whatever the case is. They are
probably watching maybe online. We think about Internet
broadband from space. We think about satellite television. We
think about XM radio. These are all space-based communication
capabilities, and this type of capability was born from this
little agency called NASA.
It is not just the way we communicate. It is the way we
navigate, which has transformed how we live. It is the way we
produce food, the way we produce energy, the way we understand
climate, the way we predict weather, the way we do national
security and defense, and of course, the way we do disaster
relief. So the benefit to the United States Government from an
agency like NASA leading the way I think is, quite frankly,
immeasurable.
I will also tell you that the budget that we have before
the House and the Senate today is a very strong budget, and I
think it is a budget that ultimately enables us to continue to
push forward humanity into the solar system in a way that we
have never done before.
We think about going to the Moon, going sustainably, being
able to stay and live and work on another world for long
periods of time, using the resources of that world, the
hundreds of millions of tons of water ice that were discovered
back in 2009 and 2010, using that water ice for life support,
and of course, the hydrogen, which is part of that water ice,
for fuel. These are opportunities that are available to us
today that we were not even thinking about back in the 1960s
and 1970s. The idea that we are going to use the Moon as a
proving ground, we learn how to live and work for long periods
of time on the surface of another world, and we take all of
that knowledge ultimately to Mars.
I think this is very exciting time at NASA. We think about
the Science Mission Directorate at NASA and the value that the
Science Mission Directorate is going to receive from the
surface of the Moon and from orbit around the Moon.
Heliophysics is a critical component of that. Astrophysics,
planetary science, the Gateway which ultimately is going to
enable us to travel with humans all the way to Mars.
I think the budget that is before the House and Senate
appropriators right now is a very strong budget. Certainly,
like any budget, we have to make difficult decisions when we go
through the budget process, but I think that this is a budget
that meets the requirements of the decadal surveys and it is a
budget that I think all of America can be very proud of. Of
course, as always, we stand ready to work with the lawmakers
that appropriate the funds for the agencies like NASA that
ultimately need to accomplish the objectives of our country.
With that, Mr. Chairman, I will yield back and avail myself
to questions.
[The statement follows:]
Prepared Statement of Hon. James Bridenstine
overview
Chairman Moran and Members of the subcommittee, I am pleased to
have this opportunity to discuss NASA's fiscal year 2021 budget
request. We are proposing a budget of $25 billion, an increase of 12
percent over our request for fiscal year 2020. This budget both
reinforces our innovative human space exploration program and maintains
strong support for NASA science, aeronautics, and technology research.
This investment, coupled with the unmatched talent of NASA's workforce,
will enable America's continued leadership in space, propelling the
United States toward a new era of technical achievement and scientific
discovery.
Regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, I would like to assure you that
keeping the NASA workforce safe has been our highest priority during
this challenging period. Since mid-March, more than 90 percent of our
workforce has been in a telework status, and our employees have
continued to perform NASA's important missions with distinction. Only a
limited number of employees performing mission-essential work for the
protection and safe operation of critical Agency infrastructure and a
few select missions (e.g., Commercial Crew Program Demo-2 launch and
Mars Perseverance launch preparations) were authorized to be on site.
The amazing productivity of our workforce during the pandemic has
proven that more work could be done remotely in the future. We will use
lessons learned in our ``Future of Work'' planning.
NASA's fiscal year 2021 request funds Artemis, the Agency's plan to
land the first woman and the next man on the surface of the Moon in
2024 as part of a Moon to Mars campaign of exploration. Most urgently,
the fiscal year 2021 request includes more than $3 billion for the
development of a Human Landing System (HLS). The budget fully supports
the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, Orion spacecraft, the Gateway,
the ground systems, infrastructure, space technologies, and science
needed for Artemis. The Moon to Mars campaign includes efforts from
across the Agency funded at $12.37 billion in fiscal year 2021. This
budget provides the resources we need in fiscal year 2021 to send
humans to the Moon in 2024. There, we will prove the technologies and
systems for long-term exploration and utilization required to
accomplish the great, national goal of sending humans to Mars. The
Artemis missions are a key step to supporting human missions to Mars,
and funding for Artemis at the levels requested is the best way to
advance the timeline for these missions.
human exploration and operations
The request provides the fiscal year 2021 resources NASA's Human
Exploration Operations Mission Directorate needs to support a robust
exploration program. The fiscal year 2021 request includes $8.76
billion for Deep Space Exploration Systems, and $4.19 billion for Low-
Earth Orbit and Spaceflight Operations, including the ISS and Space
Transportation--both commercial crew systems development and ongoing
crew and cargo transportation services that resupply the ISS.
NASA is building a deep space launch and crew system--the Orion
spacecraft, the heavy-lift SLS launch vehicle, and the related
Exploration Ground Systems (EGS)--to support the Artemis effort. NASA's
plan to send the first woman and the next man to the surface of the
Moon begins with two test flights: Artemis I and Artemis II. Artemis I
will use the SLS rocket to send an uncrewed Orion spacecraft around the
Moon to test the system and reduce risk. Artemis II will be the first
crewed mission and will serve to demonstrate the crewed system.
Following these test flights, Artemis III will launch a crew of four
using SLS and Orion on a mission to the surface of the Moon. Earlier
this year, NASA completed a detailed cost and schedule assessment for
the launch of Artemis I, which included a joint cost and schedule
confidence level analysis of the SLS and EGS programs. Based on these
results, NASA intends to target a November 2021 launch date for Artemis
I. NASA is actively managing impacts to Artemis II based on the Artemis
I schedule changes, and is currently planning to an August 2023 launch
readiness date.
The Gateway in lunar orbit will be capable of supporting visiting
vehicle docking, deployments, and operations. It will initially consist
of the Power and Propulsion Element and the Habitation and Logistics
Outpost. Once Gateway is launched and becomes operational in lunar
orbit, the Gateway Logistics Element will deliver supplies for
outfitting and surface expeditions. International partnerships in the
Gateway will allow NASA to leverage habitation, robotics, and
communications capabilities. The Gateway is a key aspect of the
sustainability of the Artemis effort and future missions to Mars.
On April 30, 2020, NASA announced the selection of three U.S.
companies to design and develop human landing systems for the Artemis
program: Blue Origin of Kent, Washington; Dynetics (a Leidos company)
of Huntsville, Alabama; and SpaceX of Hawthorne, California. NASA's
partners will refine their concepts through the contract base period
ending in February 2021. NASA will later select firms for development
and maturation of sustainable lander systems followed by demonstration
missions. NASA intends to procure commercial transportation services to
the lunar surface.
At the lunar South Pole, NASA and our partners will develop an
Artemis Base Camp to support longer lunar expeditions on the surface.
The three proposed primary mission elements of Artemis Base Camp are:
the Lunar Terrain Vehicle (unpressurized rover) to transport suited
astronauts around the site; the habitable mobility platform
(pressurized rover) that can enable long-duration trips away from
Artemis Base Camp; and the foundation surface habitat that will
accommodate four crew on the lunar surface and anchoring Artemis Base
Camp and the U.S. presence at the South Pole. The Artemis Base Camp
will demonstrate America's continued leadership in space and prepare us
to undertake humanity's first mission to Mars.
As part of the Artemis effort, NASA will leverage interagency
partnerships, expanding relationships with other U.S. Government
agencies to take advantage of their expertise, create mutually
beneficial synergies, and ensure ongoing coordination in the pursuit
and achievement of the Nation's space goals. NASA will maintain and
grow mutually beneficial international partnerships to lead a global
community dedicated to expanding peaceful exploration and use of the
Moon and then Mars.
The budget request continues support for the ISS, humanity's
premier home in space over the last 20 years, and commercial cargo
resupply services. NASA and our international and commercial partners
are conducting critical research on ISS to support our future
exploration plans while also supporting basic and applied research that
exploits the unique microgravity environment in orbit. ISS supports
cutting-edge research on the effects of spaceflight on the human body,
as well as research in fluid physics, combustion, and other research
areas.
NASA's Commercial LEO Development program will continue to leverage
its resources and capabilities to further expand the commercial market
in LEO. The program's first solicitation award, announced in January
2020, will support the development of a new commercial LEO platform
that will initially be attached to the ISS Node 2 forward port. NASA
also is seeking proposals from industry for partnerships that will
demonstrate free-flying commercial destinations. Furthermore, NASA has
opened the ISS for commercial activities, is encouraging private
astronaut missions to the ISS, and is seeking other opportunities to
partner with industry to stimulate demand for products and services in
LEO. It is critically important for NASA to receive the full budget
request for this program to ensure that there is no gap in U.S.
presence in LEO and also to ensure NASA can continue meeting its
microgravity research requirements after ISS retirement.
Through NASA's Commercial Crew Program, American astronauts have
resumed launching to ISS from American soil for the first time since
the Space Shuttle was retired in 2011. The May 30 launch of SpaceX's
Dragon Endeavour Demo-2 marked the beginning of the second spaceflight
test of the Crew Dragon craft and its first test with astronauts
aboard. Astronauts Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley conducted a
successful mission to the ISS and returned safely to Earth on August 2.
This was SpaceX's final test flight and is providing data on the
performance of the Falcon 9 rocket, Crew Dragon spacecraft and ground
systems, as well as in-orbit, docking, splashdown, and recovery
operations. NASA's SpaceX Crew-1 mission is slated for launch from the
U.S. to ISS later this year. The crew for this historic mission will be
comprised of three NASA astronauts, as well as an international partner
astronaut from Japan.
Boeing is currently targeting no earlier than December 2020 for
launch of the uncrewed Orbital Flight Test-2 (OFT-2) of its CSD-100
Starliner spacecraft, pending hardware readiness, flight software
qualification, and launch vehicle and space station manifest
priorities. Over the summer, Boeing's Starliner team focused on
readying the next spacecraft for its upcoming flight tests as well as
making improvements identified during various review processes
throughout the beginning of the year. After a successful OFT-2, Boeing
and NASA will fly Starliner's first crewed mission, the Crew Flight
Test, currently targeted for no earlier than June 2021, with the first
post-certification mission, called Starliner-1, tentatively scheduled
for no earlier than late December 2021.
exploration technology
NASA's fiscal year 2021 request includes $1.58 billion for
Exploration Technology. NASA is enabling technology research and
development needs for human space exploration and Artemis, with a near-
term prioritization of sustainable lunar surface exploration and
exploration of Mars in the long-term. The Space Technology Mission
Directorate (STMD) rapidly develops, demonstrates, and infuses
revolutionary, high-payoff technologies through transparent,
collaborative partnerships. These transformative technologies enable
NASA's lunar and deep space exploration missions to meet human space
exploration needs, as well as foster commercial expansion in LEO,
cislunar space, and beyond.
In direct alignment to Artemis and NASA mission needs, investment
decisions are driven by the following Technology Thrusts: (1) rapid,
safe, and efficient space transportation, emphasizing reusable in-space
transportation between Earth, the Moon, Mars and beyond; (2) expanded
access to diverse surface destinations, routinely landing crew and
cargo on the Moon and eventually Mars; safely and efficiently returning
large payloads to Earth; and delivering robotic payloads to challenging
new destinations; (3) sustainable living and working farther from
Earth, routinely conducting crewed operations beyond LEO working toward
a sustainable human presence on the Moon and eventually Mars;
technologies to survive and operate through the lunar night; production
of propellant and consumables from local resources; and (4)
transformative missions and discoveries to reach challenging sites and
resources on the Moon, Mars and beyond, and enable rapid, low-cost
missions to the Moon, Mars and beyond.
STMD is funding an array of efforts to accelerate NASA's broader
Moon-to-Mars campaign: autonomous landing and hazard avoidance;
advanced cryogenic fluid management capabilities; rapid and efficient
transit propulsion; high-performance spaceflight computing; and
advanced materials, and in-space manufacturing and assembly
technologies. In the first year of the Lunar Surface Innovation
Initiative, NASA kicked off the Polar Resources Ice Mining Experiment
project by down-selecting a drill targeted for early lunar surface
demonstration. STMD is also investing in an advanced Navigation Doppler
LiDAR technology for precision landing on the Moon and other planets
that will directly benefit future human and robotic landers. This
technology will be demonstrated on the first two of NASA's robotic
Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) missions. In addition, STMD
will make strategic surface technology investments critical for future
Moon and eventually Mars human missions.
The integrated Space Nuclear Technologies portfolio sets a new path
forward to enable long-duration surface missions on the Moon and
eventually Mars. This program places a high priority on lunar surface
power, but also will continue to make progress on propulsion
capabilities to meet the power and propulsion needs for the future
exploration of Mars.
Upcoming early-stage innovation activities will investigate areas
such as breakthrough propulsion, challenges in deep space human
habitation, space-optimized energy systems, radiation protection, and
materials. These areas are part of a comprehensive approach to
efficiently support innovative discovery, progress toward important
goals, and the development of exciting new capabilities.
science
NASA's Science Mission Directorate funds ongoing discovery and
exploration of our planet, other planets and planetary bodies, our star
system in its entirety, our galaxy, and the universe beyond with
domestic and international partners. The fiscal year 2021 budget
supports Decadal Survey priorities identified by the science community,
including history's first Mars sample return mission, the Europa
Clipper, and more advanced Earth observation missions. The request
supports more than 110 space missions and approximately 10,000 U.S.
scientists, and includes partnerships with 12 other Federal agencies
and 60 other nations. The fiscal year 2021 budget request provides
$6.31 billion for Science, including: $2.66 billion for Planetary
Science; $831 million for Astrophysics; $414.7 million for the James
Webb Space Telescope (JWST); $633.1 million for Heliophysics; and $1.77
billion for Earth Science. The budget request will enable NASA to
continue advancing a world-class, balanced science portfolio while
accelerating our exploration goals for the Moon and Mars.
NASA's Lunar Discovery and Exploration Program is working with
several American companies to deliver science and technology to the
lunar surface through the CLPS initiative. Under the Artemis program,
early commercial delivery missions will perform science experiments,
test technologies and demonstrate capabilities to help NASA explore the
Moon and prepare for human missions. The first two CLPS launches are
targeted for July 2021. This past June, NASA announced that it had
selected Astrobotic of Pittsburgh to deliver NASA's Volatiles
Investigating Polar Exploration Rover (VIPER) to the Moon's South Pole
in late 2023. By searching for water ice and other potential resources,
VIPER will help pave the way for astronaut missions to the lunar
surface beginning in 2024 and will bring NASA a step closer to
developing a sustainable, long-term presence on the Moon as part of the
Agency's Artemis program.
In Planetary Science, the Mars 2020 Perseverance rover mission
launched on July 30, and is on its way to the Red Planet to continue
NASA's leadership in the international community and search for signs
of ancient life and collect samples to send back to Earth. When it
lands in February 2021, it will collect rock and soil samples at the
landing site, Jezero Crater. As part of the mission, NASA will deploy
the Ingenuity helicopter from the rover in the first demonstration of
rotorcraft on another planet. Perseverance will cache samples to be
collected by NASA's Mars Sample Return mission in partnership with the
European Space Agency (ESA).
Planetary Science also supports: the next Discovery missions, Lucy
and Psyche; the Europa Clipper mission, which will conduct over 40 fly-
bys of this icy moon; and Dragonfly, a mission to Saturn's moon Titan,
currently planned for launch in 2026. A new Near-Earth Object (NEO)
Surveillance Mission--a follow-on to NEOWISE--will help NASA complete
the Congressional goal to find NEOs at least 140 meters in diameter
approximately 10 years after the mission begins on-orbit operations.
The Double Asteroid Redirection Test, which will launch in July 2021
and deliberately crash into an asteroid moon in fall 2022, will conduct
a planetary-defense-driven test of the kinetic impactor technique for
preventing an impact of Earth by a hazardous NEO in the future; and
NASA's first asteroid sampling mission, the Origins, Spectral
Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security-Regolith Explorer
(OSIRIS-REx), will touch the asteroid Bennu's surface during its first
sample collection attempt, with return to Earth expected in 2023.
Astrophysics takes on the challenge of understanding the vast
universe, using new technologies to look back in time to its origins
and learn about the evolution of galaxies and stars. The fiscal year
2021 request will enable NASA to follow the decadal-survey-recommended
cadence of Astrophysics Explorers; add a new small mission component
(Pioneers) to this storied program; support competed missions and
research; and continue the development of JWST, which is slated for
launch in October 2021. The Hubble Space Telescope, launched and
deployed 30 years ago this past April, is still producing incredible
science. The Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite continues planet
hunting as part of its extended mission, providing a growing list of
worlds around nearby stars.
The next Decadal Survey on Astronomy and Astrophysics, Astro 2020,
is currently underway and is scheduled for release by the National
Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine in 2021. NASA looks
forward to the final recommendations and working to implement them.
In order to maintain a balanced science program that optimizes
overall scientific return, the fiscal year 2021 budget request again
proposes termination of the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, given
its significant cost and the need to prioritize spending. This request
also includes $12 million to begin closeout of the Stratospheric
Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA), which has annual operating
costs of about $80 million. SOFIA's annual budget is the second most
expensive operating Astrophysics mission, and it is less scientifically
productive than other missions with similar operating costs.
Heliophysics studies the fundamental properties of our star, the
Sun, and how its behavior impacts Earth, our solar system, and the
nature of space. This research helps scientists identify the causes and
impacts of space weather phenomena, which threaten spacecraft and
astronauts, including future explorers of the Moon and Mars, and which
can affect technology on and around the Earth. The fiscal year 2021
budget request supports the Heliophysics Space Weather Science and
Applications Program and continued coordination with other agencies to
enhance space weather prediction capabilities. Also supporting science
in Artemis, Heliophysics is developing a space weather instrument suite
for the Gateway.
Missions in the Heliophysics System Observatory continue to provide
vital information about our Sun, including: Parker Solar Probe, which
has now completed four trips close to the Sun; the Ionospheric
Connection Explorer, and Global-scale Observations of the Limb and Disk
instruments, which are providing comprehensive observations of Earth's
ionosphere; and Solar Orbiter, a mission led by ESA, that is orbiting
the Sun, looking at different regions from our other instruments.
Earth Science develops and operates a wide array of space-based and
airborne missions seeking to improve our understanding of Earth. The
fiscal year 2021 budget request supports a variety of missions,
including the Orbiting Carbon Observatory-3 on ISS; the ECOsystem
Spaceborne Thermal Radiometer Experiment on Space Station instrument;
and the Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation instrument. NASA also
continues progress on Landsat 9, a part of the Sustained Land Imaging
Program, planning for a launch in 2021.
In November 2020, NASA plans to launch Sentinel 6A Michael
Freilich, a 10-year Earth observation mission, which partners with
NOAA, ESA, the European Commission, and the European Organization for
the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites. Sentinel 6A Michael
Freilich will measure Earth's changing oceans, providing valuable and
long-running data on sea level, ocean circulation and key drivers of
our weather, like El Nino and La Nina. In a remarkable gesture earlier
this year, the partners renamed the mission after Michael Freilich,
NASA's former director of Earth Science.
Consistent with the fiscal year 2019 and fiscal year 2020 budget
requests, the fiscal year 2021 request does not support the Plankton
Aerosol Cloud Ocean Ecosystem (PACE) and Climate Absolute Radiance and
Refractivity Observatory Pathfinder (CLARREO-PF) missions. The PACE
mission builds on the legacies of NASA missions currently on orbit and
several international efforts. Several instruments set to operate in
the timeframe of CLARREO-PF will obtain data on the Earth's radiation
budget that are similar to those that would be collected by CLARREO-PF,
which was designed as a 1 year technology demonstration.
aeronautics
NASA's fiscal year 2021 budget requests $819 million for
aeronautics research, managed by the Aeronautics Research Mission
Directorate, to support continued U.S. global leadership in aviation
technology. The Agency conducts aeronautics research to bring
transformational advances in the safety, capacity, and efficiency of
the air transportation system and to enable breakthroughs in the speed
and efficiency of transport aircraft that are the backbone of today's
aviation system as well as innovative new aircraft concepts and
technologies that will enable new aviation markets. The fiscal year
2021 request will enable NASA to continue developing and maturing new
technologies such as advanced configurations like truss-braced high-
aspect-ratio wings, small core turbine engines, high-rate composite
manufacturing, and electrified aircraft propulsion that the U.S.
aviation industry will use in next generation of subsonic aircraft.
NASA is also continuing our investment in critical fundamental
technologies for hypersonic flight, including systems analysis,
hypersonic propulsion, reusable vehicle technologies, and high-
temperature materials.
The budget for aeronautics supports the development of X-planes,
including NASA's X-59 Low Boom Flight Demonstrator mission, which will
fly a quiet supersonic airplane to demonstrate the community
acceptability of low-boom technology. In fiscal year 2021, NASA will
prepare the X-59 for first flight, and prepare for community overflight
tests and deployment. By 2021, NASA will be flying the X-57 Maxwell
aircraft to better inform standards development for smaller, all-
electric aircraft.
In fiscal year 2021, NASA expects to complete transition of NextGen
airspace management tools and data to the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA) for operational integration. NASA will work with
FAA to develop a long-term vision for a transformed National Airspace
System based on service-based architectures to enable achieving safe,
scalable, routine, high-tempo airspace access for all users.
Future generations will utilize flight in new ways to carry out
their day-to-day activities through our exciting vision for Advanced
Air Mobility (AAM), building on NASA-developed Unmanned Aircraft System
(UAS) Traffic Management and UAS capabilities. In fiscal year 2021,
NASA will lay the groundwork for AAM through research into concepts and
technologies for safe AAM operations, and developmental testing for
National Campaign events where industry will demonstrate AAM vehicle
and airspace management technologies.
office of stem engagement
The functional office at NASA Headquarters will continue to oversee
Agency-wide strategic direction and coordination of NASA's STEM
engagement efforts. Through Mission Directorate activities, NASA would
continue to create unique opportunities for a diverse set of students.
mission support
NASA must have the enabling technical and professional expertise
and facilities necessary to efficiently and effectively support its
programs. The fiscal year 2021 request funds capabilities and
infrastructure needed to safely operate and maintain NASA Centers and
facilities, along with the independent technical authority required to
reduce risk to life and program objectives for all NASA missions. To
address the significant risk to mission success posed by aging
facilities and an increasing maintenance backlog, the 2021 budget
includes funding critical to infrastructure renewal and divestment of
unneeded, costly facilities. In fiscal year 2021, NASA will strengthen
cybersecurity capabilities, safeguarding critical systems and data,
while also providing funding to modernize NASA's IT systems.
conclusion
The fiscal year 2021 budget proposed is one of the strongest in
NASA history. The reinforced support from the President comes at a
critical time as we lay the foundations for landing on the lunar South
Pole with the first woman and the next man on Moon by 2024. This budget
keeps us firmly on that path.
Senator Moran. Administrator, thank you.
Let me begin with questions and we will make the rounds of
our subcommittee Members who are participating today.
NASA has been challenged with an ambitious goal to return
astronauts to the Moon 4 years ahead of what was previously
planned. It is an ambitious goal and timelines--they serve a
purpose. They can spur motivation, as well as a mechanism to
incite decisiveness in decisionmaking.
It is a little over a year since the Vice President's
announcement of the accelerated timetable. Concisely can you
tell the subcommittee why--and the public--returning to the
Moon by 2024 is the right goal and why today is the right time,
if that is true?
Mr. Bridenstine. Yes, sir. When we think about the Vision
of Space Exploration, there is a lot of history. When we go
back to the 1990s, we had the Space Exploration Initiative of
the 1990s, and that was a plan to go to the Moon and then on to
Mars. The problem was that program took too long, and the
longer it takes, the more it costs and the bills add up. It got
canceled.
In the early 2000s, we had the Vision for Space
Exploration, and that program, of course, again took too long.
It cost too much, and it eventually got canceled.
This time we said how do we go to the Moon sustainably in a
way that has not been done before, so we can go to the Moon and
stay, and not have a program that gets canceled.
Well, we have a lot of benefits today that we did not have
even in the 1990s. We have international partners. For example,
in November, we are celebrating 20 years of American astronauts
and Russian cosmonauts and our European partners and our
Japanese partners, our Canadian partners flying, living, and
working in space continually for 20 years, which is an amazing
accomplishment on the International Space Station. We have
international partners today that want to help us accomplish
these missions.
We have commercial partners that are driving down costs and
increasing access to space, making their own, in many cases,
billion dollar investments into these programs.
We really believe that with international partnerships,
commercial partnerships, the ability to utilize the resources
of the Moon, and moving with alacrity--again, the faster you
go, the less it costs. I know that sometimes does not make a
lot of sense, but the way budgets work--you know, development
programs follow a bell curve. When you try to flatten budgets--
when a development program follows a bell curve, it actually
takes longer and costs more.
We said, look, we need to compress the timeline. We need to
go faster and retire as much risk as possible. That risk, of
course, is to cost and to schedule and then bringing in our
international and commercial partners, driving down costs,
increasing access, and moving with alacrity. I think we have
had a lot of success doing that, Mr. Chairman.
Senator Moran. Let me raise a topic that was raised earlier
by Senator Shaheen. In order to achieve our Nation's goals in
space, we need a workforce that will rise and meet the future
demands. Explain to me the importance of inspiring what I would
call the Artemis generation and then NASA's STEM education
programs that have been zeroed out for the fiscal year 2021
budget, on the one hand and on the other hand.
Mr. Bridenstine. Yes, sir.
Inspiring the Artemis generation is critically important,
and I think there is broad agreement on that. I am the first
NASA Administrator in history that was not alive when we had
humans living and working on another world. We go back to the
cancellation of programs in the past and my generation has this
clamoring to actually see people living and working on another
world and then taking people on to Mars. The Moon represents
that best opportunity to achieve that goal.
Regarding the Office of STEM Engagement at NASA, just so we
are absolutely clear, education is critical to what we do, and
inspiring that next generation to get involved in STEM is
necessary for us to achieve the objectives that we have been
given. From that perspective, we are committed to making sure
we do that. There are a lot of ways to do that.
Within the Science Mission Directorate, for example, we are
very involved in robotics. We call it FIRST Robotics, which is,
of course, founded in New Hampshire, for example. We invest
about $4.5 million every year into FIRST Robotics because there
is a direct, an absolute direct, return on investment for NASA.
If you go out to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory or a lot of the
universities that do work for NASA, what you will find is a lot
of those folks, the young people, that are doing that work, the
brightest minds that we have in this country--a lot of those
folks were involved in FIRST Robotics whether in high school or
even before. We see a direct return on that.
We think attempting to align as much as possible NASA
mission with that education and inspiration effort is the best
way to go forward.
It is absolutely true--and I want to be clear about this as
well--the Office of STEM Engagement is doing great work, and
when we do receive appropriations from the House and the
Senate, we move forward on that and they continue to deliver in
a great way for the Agency.
It is both. As we go through making budgetary decisions, we
look at what is the way to optimize every dollar, and that is
how we came to the conclusion we came to. Again, if the Senate
appears--you know, sees it a different way, we will follow the
law, as we have, and right now OSTEM is doing great work on
behalf of the United States of America.
Senator Moran. Administrator, thank you for your comments,
your response to my questions. I think the Senate will see it a
different way as we have in previous years.
Senator Shaheen.
Senator Shaheen. Well, thank you, Mr. Chairman. I think
that is maybe is the case as well.
I would like to applaud NASA's commitment to FIRST
Robotics. It has been significant in helping to promote the
success of that program. It is nice to hear that the young
people who are excited about STEM as the result of FIRST
Robotics then take that interest and many of them are involved
with NASA later.
Mr. Bridenstine. Yes, ma'am.
Senator Shaheen. The Heliophysics Division has been very
important in providing data on the inner workings of the Sun
and its influence on Earth, including space weather events.
Those are valuable not just for their scientific potential but
for the direct consequences that they could have on our space
exploration efforts, on our ability to safeguard our
satellites, on national security assets, on other critical
infrastructure.
NASA's progress in these areas' rests on the strength of
the Heliophysics Division and the successful implementation of
the priorities that have been articulated by the scientific
community and the National Academies' decadal survey.
Last year, Congress appropriated $724.5 million for
Heliophysics to continue meeting these recommendations. The
administration's request for 2021 would cut funding to
Heliophysics by 13 percent. What is the suspected impact of
these cuts?
Mr. Bridenstine. A great question. Heliophysics, as you
correctly identified, is very important to NASA's missions, as
well as national security and even commercial operations in
space. It is important that we make sure that we do not fall
behind in that area.
Let us see. I think the way to think about this, think
about the missions that we have recently launched, even since I
have been the NASA Administrator. We had the Parker Solar
Orbiter, which was an amazing capability. It has been flying
through the corona of the Sun, in other words, through the
Sun's atmosphere, if you will.
We just recently this year launched Solar Orbiter, it is a
European Space Agency satellite, but it was launched by the
United States of America, launched by NASA, which was a huge
part of that effort.
We think about the MMS mission which, of course, all of
these missions have very important ties to the University of
New Hampshire, and I am well aware of the great work that is
being done there for NASA's missions. There are others that are
important.
I would say this, Senator Shaheen, as those projects have
been launched, what happens is the amount of dollars necessary
to operate to fund them goes down, and as time goes on--if you
look, for example, at the out-years, look at the year 2022, you
will see the Heliophysics budget of NASA not just go down, you
will see it go right back up. As some projects are coming to a
down spending era, we have got other projects that are ramping
up. For example, we just recently announced that we are
actually going to fly the HERMES mission on the Gateway, which
will be an orbit around the Moon, which that drives down the
cost for Heliophysics. We are able to do more Heliophysics than
ever before. Currently the University of New Hampshire is
involved in five other proposals, even right now, that are
Heliophysics-centric that are being considered by NASA.
If you look beyond 2021, you will see the budget goes right
back up. We do not have any intent to reduce the amount of
capability that we are getting from Heliophysics, and I would
also say that our goal is to meet the requirements set forth in
the decadal survey by the National Academy of Sciences, and I
am confident that we are doing that.
Senator Shaheen. Well, I have a follow-up question for
that, but I am going to go on to another topic and come back to
that because NASA has requested $150 million for low-Earth
orbit commercialization activities. I appreciate that it is
helpful to be able to think about what kinds of
commercialization can yield additional funding that can help
NASA do its work.
One of the things that I have to say raised my eyebrows was
when NASA announced that it will send up to 10 bottles of Estee
Lauder Advanced Night Repair face cream to the International
Space Station so that NASA astronauts can shoot videos of the
face cream in the microgravity environment.
Now, I am a fan of Estee Lauder's Advanced Night Repair, so
like anybody else who might want to benefit from its
antigravity properties. However, I guess I am having trouble
understanding how Estee Lauder's effort is going to support the
commercialization efforts of NASA because, as I understand,
they are expected to reimburse NASA about $128,000, which is a
fraction of what the project will cost. NASA has also sent
Adidas soccer balls and Boost shoes to the station.
Can you talk about how shooting a cosmetics commercial
advances NASA's mission, and what else could we be doing in the
time that sending that face cream to space and following up the
time that that is taking?
Mr. Bridenstine. Yes, ma'am. I do not think that shooting a
cosmetics commercial is the intent of that particular mission,
although that might be something that is added to it.
We reserve about 5 percent of the International Space
Station really for commercial activities because we do want to
have a demand for activities in low-Earth orbit that goes
beyond just what NASA does.
Senator Shaheen. I get that. Let me interrupt you for a
minute.
How was the $128,000 determined as the cost to Estee Lauder
for this project?
Mr. Bridenstine. I would have to take that for the record
and get back to you. I do not know the details on that
particular issue. I can tell you that as an Agency, you know,
for example, we have flown--Nickelodeon has Slime, for example.
We have flown Slime to the International Space Station. We have
used the International Space Station to actually brew beer, for
example. These are all specifically selected for scientific
purposes, but they also have commercial opportunities as well.
Again, we reserve about 5 percent of the International Space
Station for those activities.
Senator Shaheen. For something like the face cream, are
there any provisions that would say if that is the work that
was done on the International Space Station is then used in a
commercial that NASA would get some percentage of those costs,
or are they prohibited from using the information in an ad? It
seems to me that using our tax dollars in that way to support a
private company to benefit from the dollars of research is
something that we ought to think about.
Mr. Bridenstine. Yes, ma'am. I do not know the details on
the Estee Lauder mission, for example. I could certainly ask
those questions, and I can get something back to you. I do not
know the details on how it was selected, whether it went
through the ISS National Laboratory or it might have gone
through the Johnson Space Center specifically. I am just not
sure about that particular mission, but I will look into it and
get you the details.
Senator Shaheen. Thank you. As I said, I am not aiming that
necessarily at Estee Lauder but just in general, how are we
choosing the projects that we are looking at commercializing
the low-Earth orbit activities. Is there a bidding process? How
is the cost determined? The details around how this is being
done.
Mr. Bridenstine. Yes, ma'am. I can tell you that everything
goes through a very competitively selected process and that
scientists are the ones that are making these decisions. I will
get back to you with those details.
[The information follows:]
commercializing the low-earth orbit activities bidding process and how
cost is determined
Future operations in low Earth orbit (LEO), whether on the ISS or
future platforms, will be more affordable if they can regularly attract
customers other than NASA. Because a robust commercial market using LEO
space platforms does not yet exist, NASA has been working to enable and
stimulate commercial activity on the ISS. In June 2019, NASA announced
plans to expand the scope of activities that could be performed on the
ISS, to include commercial business opportunities. Up to 5 percent of
NASA's utilization resources were allocated to U.S. entities to conduct
commercial activities. Details associated with this policy, along with
pass/fail criteria, were documented in the NASA Interim Directive (NID)
8600-121, ``Use of International Space Station (ISS) for Commercial and
Marketing Activities'' and are summarized below:
1. Evidence that the entity requesting resources meets the
criteria of a U.S. entity
2. Compliance with one or more of the following:
--Require the unique microgravity environment; or
--Have a nexus to NASA's missions; or
--Supports a sustainable LEO economy.
3. Conformance with NASA Interim Directive governing commercial
activities on the ISS
4. Reasonableness of the amount of resources requested
Proposals were received under the NASA Research Announcement (NRA)
NNJ13ZBG001N, Focus Area 3, and reviewed by the Commercial LEO Panel
(CLP) to determine if the proposals met the criteria listed above and
were consistent with NASA's other policies and regulations. The CLP is
a management forum delegated by the Human Exploration and Operations
Mission Directorate (HEOMD) with the express purpose to enable,
evaluate, and implement Commercial LEO projects, economic development,
and competitive strategy policies and agreements with the goal of
enabling a robust LEO economy and commercial LEO destinations by the
ISS end of life. The CLP serves as a working forum to coordinate with
Commercial LEO stakeholders across NASA. The Commercial LEO Development
Program Manager serves as the chair and the panel membership includes
the ISS Program, various technical authorities at the Johnson Space
Center (JSC) such as the Flight Operations Directorate (FOD) and
Engineering, and a number of NASA Headquarters Offices such as
Procurement, General Counsel, Safety, and Communications. There are
also ad hoc members that participate when topics require their
expertise, such as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and
Commercial Crew Program (CCP). Panel members evaluate proposals and
provide recommendations to HEOMD for approval and implementation.
As part of the NASA Interim Directive 8600-121, NASA developed a
pricing policy that subsidized the overall value of the indirect costs
associated with cargo and crew time to support these activities. The
pricing policy posted in June 2019 included an 85 percent subsidy. In
late 2020, based on industry comments and future capability to purchase
similar services from a Private Astronaut Mission, NASA began
formulating an update to the pricing policy to decrease the subsidy to
50 percent in January 2021, with plans to move to a 0 percent subsidy
after the first Private Astronaut Mission demonstration flight.
Senator Shaheen. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Senator Moran. Senator Manchin.
Senator Manchin. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Thank you, Mr. Bridenstine, for being here.
While many of us here today have focused on the Artemis
program and our return to the Moon, I would like to go back a
little bit further and talk about the Apollo program, our first
mission to the Moon.
Every NASA mission relies on a team of scientists,
engineers, and others to design, manufacture, and verify that
these spacecrafts can, indeed, reach their intended target. You
cannot just point a rocket into the sky and light a fuse. You
have to verify that your trajectory reaches your destination
and validate through complex calculations that will work.
In the 1960s, those were done by hand, and for our most
important flights, it was Katherine Johnson, a West Virginia
native, that did those. Today we use software to make those
calculations. NASA Independent Verification and Validation
(IV&V) Facility in Fairmont, West Virginia bears her name and
proudly carries on the tradition by ensuring the software is
safe, reliable, and can be trusted to ensure our missions are
completed and get home safely.
Now, I am pleased that you have committed to utilizing IV&V
for our return to the Moon. However, this is an incredibly
complex, expensive mission, and yet IV&V's total budget is just
$39 million for next year. Just like its namesake, Katherine
Johnson once validated IBM's work on the Apollo program, it is
critical that IV&V has the funding to maintain its independent
analysis of these programs.
Can you commit to providing the funding and workforce
necessary for the IV&V to do the critical job and ensure that
we return safely to the Moon?
Mr. Bridenstine. Yes, sir. The Katherine Johnson IV&V
facility in West Virginia is absolutely critically important to
NASA's mission, and it is necessary to keep our astronauts
safe.
Senator Manchin. The budget process. Do you feel confident
you will have the necessary budget to do it?
Mr. Bridenstine. Yes, sir, I do. I think the IV&V facility
is well resourced now, and of course, the budget request that
we have before the House and the Senate I think is a strong
budget request for the requirements that we have for the Orion
crew capsule, for example.
Senator Manchin. Do you remember that? What is that amount
that you are asking for there?
Mr. Bridenstine. You said it was in the $39 million range.
Senator Manchin. $39.1 million.
Mr. Bridenstine. $39.1 million.
Senator Manchin. Just down the road from the Katherine
Johnson IV&V facility, the West Virginia Robotics Technology
Center has been the lead academic partner for NASA's Restore-L
satellite servicing mission since 2009. Last year, NASA made a
decision to combine the Restore-L satellite servicing mission
with a Space Infrastructure Dexterous Robot, SPIDER, which will
demonstrate manufacturing assembly of a communications antenna
in space. Both of these programs will be launched On-Orbit
Servicing, Assembly and Manufacturing OSAM-1, spacecraft. I
applaud NASA and its industrial partners like Maxar for
thinking outside the box to achieve cost savings and ensure
these critical programs move forward. NASA's goal of returning
to the Moon and beyond will require the continued development
of robotics technology like this and a workforce to support
these endeavors.
Can you tell me how that program is progressing?
Mr. Bridenstine. Yes, sir. The OSAM-1 mission--a number of
the instruments and robotics have gone through critical design
review. Others are still in front of us, but that overall
mission is progressing very well. We are very grateful to the
West Virginia Robotic Institute. We are also very grateful to
the Goddard Space Flight Center for the great work being done
on the OSAM-1 mission.
I will tell you that our goal as an agency is to not only
be able to do this as a technology demonstrator, but we see a
day in the future where satellites in low-Earth orbit and even
geostationary orbit eventually can not only be serviced but
maintained, so refueled and, of course, maintenance can
robotically. That future of course--right now, it is NASA
developing the capabilities and the technologies.
The future that we see is that those technologies will be
commercialized, and we can see a day in the future where there
would be dozens of satellites in low-Earth orbit operated by
numerous companies a the profit motive ultimately to service
and do maintenance on satellites in orbit, which would be a
huge cost benefit to satellite operators and even prevent
orbital debris from--you know, when these satellites come to
the end of their lives, they become orbital debris in many
cases.
Senator Manchin. Your current budget of $227 million--is
that going to be sufficient to launch on track for 2023?
Mr. Bridenstine. I believe it is, sir. We are committed to
that mission, as you know.
Senator Manchin. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Senator Moran. Senator Van Hollen.
Senator Van Hollen. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and I thank
the Ranking Member--I know she had to leave--as well. And to
Administrator Bridenstine, it is great to see you again.
Mr. Bridenstine. Always.
Senator Van Hollen. This hearing is obviously an
opportunity to compare notes on priorities. As you know--and
thank you for mentioning NASA Goddard. We are proud to have
them in the State of Maryland, along with the Wallops Flight
Facility, which of course straddles the Virginia/Maryland line,
as well as Johns Hopkins-APL, the Hubble Space Telescope and
other things. We consider ourselves a very active State when it
comes to space exploration and the Earth sciences. Obviously,
also home to NOAA.
In the last couple years, I pointed out what you know,
which is that you are not ultimately responsible for the budget
that comes to us from the Office of Management and Budget, but
I want to reaffirm with you the merits of some of the programs
and then with the Chairman and the Ranking Member of this
subcommittee, we will make decisions with respect to our
priorities.
In the last 2 years when you have come before the
subcommittee for this hearing, I have asked you about the
importance you place with respect to the guidance of the
decadal survey.
Mr. Bridenstine. Yes, sir.
Senator Van Hollen. As you have said in the past, it is
very important that NASA be guided by the recommendations of
that decadal survey. That is what you said for the last 2
years. I want to confirm that that remains the case. Does it?
Mr. Bridenstine. Absolutely, 100 percent.
Senator Van Hollen. One of the programs--in fact, the
program that was ranked number one by the 2010 decadal survey
with respect to astronomy and astrophysics, was the WFIRST
program, recently renamed the Roman Telescope. It had the
highest scientific priority space astrophysics mission rating.
Mr. Administrator, would you agree that that remains an
important priority for our country?
Mr. Bridenstine. I do.
Senator Van Hollen. Thank you.
I know because you and I have talked about so many of the
important aspects of NASA, but would you agree that if we do
not move forward with this mission, it will lead to long-term
costs for the project in the future?
Mr. Bridenstine. It absolutely will. The longer a program
goes, the more it costs.
Senator Van Hollen. We would lose important knowledge of
the decadal survey to prioritize our understanding. Is that
right?
Mr. Bridenstine. I think that is true. I would also add
just as a point of reflection, that the WFIRST is really a
complement to the James Webb Space Telescope. Obviously, we
have had some delays with the James Webb Space Telescope
although we now have that on track for an October launch of
next year, and that is moving along very well even in the midst
of the COVID-19 crisis.
I do believe the WFIRST is important to the Nation. I
believe it is a mission that is obviously not just important in
my view but also the National Academies who put together the
decadal survey. Yes, we are committed to that mission, and it
has been appropriated, we are building it right now. In fact,
we are past Critical Design Review. In fact, I think it was
February of this year we did the Critical Design Review, and
now it is, in fact, being built.
Senator Van Hollen. I appreciate that. As I am sure you
know, GAO came out with its assessments of major projects and
talked about the progress being made.
Mr. Bridenstine. Yes.
Senator Van Hollen. We compliment you on those advances.
The PACE program and CLARREO programs have also been
mentioned and referred to in the decadal surveys, and I just
want to reaffirm with you now the importance of those projects
to our scientific endeavor.
Mr. Bridenstine. Yes. Both of those are important to
understanding oceans. It helps us understand how our climate is
changing, and that is what PACE is all about. CLARREO
Pathfinder--that is basically a radiation instrument, so we
know how much energy is coming from the Sun and how much is
being absorbed by the Earth compared to how much is being
reflected back out to space. That is a mission that is going to
really help us understand the climate change that we are
seeing. Both of those missions are important to our
understanding of the Earth, which is why they were a high
priority in the decadal survey.
Senator Van Hollen. Got it.
Finally--and you discussed this a little bit with Senator
Manchin and may have with other Members. The Restore-L program
I know you see as essential robotics servicing capability as we
go forward. Again, you have a 100 percent commitment to go
forward with that. Is that right?
Mr. Bridenstine. We are, in fact, going forward very
rapidly with that. The first mission we are going to service a
Landsat 7 satellite, which is operated by USGS, and then we are
going to move forward from there. All of those technologies are
hugely important for the Nation because ultimately if we can
service satellites in orbit, it drives down costs, it enables
us to do more than we could otherwise do, and at the same time,
it prevents the orbital debris challenges that we are seeing.
A lot of people saw even last night, we had to maneuver the
International Space Station. That is the third time in 2020 we
have had to maneuver the International Space Station, and the
last time we had to maneuver it was 2015. The orbital debris
problem is getting worse, and I think OSAM-1 is going to be
very helpful in mitigating that challenge.
Senator Van Hollen. I appreciate it. I have some additional
questions for the record, but that is all for now. Thank you
again.
Mr. Bridenstine. Yes, sir.
Senator Van Hollen. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Senator Moran. Thank you, Senator Van Hollen.
Mr. Administrator, let us reassure me or highlight for me
the challenges you face, NASA faces, in meeting that 2024
mission to the Moon. What are the benchmarks that you need to
see accomplished today--or let me start earlier. In the past,
what are the checkmarks that say we have accomplished this? It
allows us to proceed and we are on track. What are the
benchmarks we should be watching to see if you are able to meet
that would give greater assurance that 2024 is a realistic
option?
Mr. Bridenstine. That is a great question.
Right now, we are doing the Green Run tests on the SLS
rocket, which is the only rocket that has any chance of being
able to take our astronauts to the Moon by 2024. That Green Run
test--we have completed five of the eight tests. In November,
we intend to actually fire the rocket engines, all four RS25
rocket engines, at the same time for the Green Run test down at
the Stennis Space Center. That is a big, big milestone. Once
that is accomplished, that rocket is going to be moved to the
Kennedy Space Center to be assembled with the solid rocket
boosters, which have already been delivered, and with the Orion
crew capsule and the European Service Module, it will be
stacked down at Kennedy for a launch in November of 2021.
Meeting the Green Run tests and then a launch in November
of 2021 for Artemis-I, which is uncrewed, orbit around the
Moon--those I think are key milestones. That is on the rocket
side.
Now, if we are able to achieve that, we will be on track
for Artemis-II in 2023. If that Artemis-I mission pushes too
far from the end of 2021, it starts to encroach on Artemis-II,
which would happen in 2023. Then it creates a crescendo where
once one starts getting pushed, the others start getting
pushed. We got to make sure that we stay on track there.
I would also say the other big challenge for us is the
Human Landing System. Now, I would say this is the biggest risk
because this is a brand new Human Landing System. We have not
built a Human Landing System since 1972, and now we are doing
it again for the first time. Right now, we have a Human Landing
System funded for the first time since 1972. That has not
happened since 1972. It has not happened in my lifetime, which
puts it in perspective, and I am 45 years old.
I think getting that Human Landing System funded was a huge
step. We got that last year. We are currently funded at $600
million. The House Appropriations Committee passed their own
appropriation bill that had $600 million for that human landing
system, which we are very grateful for, and that is for 2021.
We are grateful for that. I want to be clear.
I will also tell you that that is not enough to achieve the
2024 Moon landing. I am glad that they did it. It shows strong
bipartisan support that we all agree we need to go to the Moon.
Again, the longer the program goes, the more I worry that it
becomes at risk. Accelerating it to 2024 requires a $3.2
billion budget for 2021 for the Human Landing System, which is
in the President's budget request. Anything this subcommittee
can do to help us get those resources is critically important.
Now, I will also say that even right now, as we go through
this first period with the Human Landing System, we have three
companies under contract. Again, that is a good milestone, and
they are all meeting their objective, which is we want to be
able to--in this first phase, we want to be able to, by
February of next year, declare which of the three we are going
to go forward with. Depending on what they come back with as
far as their proposals, we might select two. We might even keep
three in the game. It just depends on what they come back with.
We are anxiously anticipating how the companies propose what
their solution set is to get to the Moon, but we are doing this
differently than we have ever done it before. We are doing it
commercially. We are giving them a lot of leeway. We are not
being prescriptive. We are giving them freedom to create
solutions that are going to be in their interests that go even
beyond NASA, so for commercial activities, for example, on the
surface of the Moon.
I guess the big thing is the SLS rocket needs to be
complete and then the Human Landing System. We have got to get
it funded and then we got to make sure we are meeting our
milestones, but as of right now, we are meeting all the
milestones necessary to achieve a 2024 Moon landing.
Senator Moran. Would you attach dates or years to--would
you attach points in time to those two events? By when do each
need to happen?
Mr. Bridenstine. Yes. As an Agency, we need to select the
Human Landing System by February of 2021, and again, depending
on what their proposals are, their proposals will have
milestones that we will be able to measure them against, and we
will be tracking those very, very diligently and even providing
our own feedback as to what we think those milestones should be
as well. It is a true public-private partnership. We will be
looking for those milestones come February of next year on the
human landing system.
As far as the SLS rocket, by November of 2021, we need to
have Artemis-I launched and then we need to be prepared for
Artemis-II by 2023. Those are the two big milestones.
Senator Moran. For this mission to be successful to meet
its goal of 2024, does NASA have the personnel and the
leadership now in place? There have been some changes at NASA
in the last year. The leadership now in place you would expect
to be able to meet the goals?
Mr. Bridenstine. Yes, sir. I will tell you Kathy Lueders is
now the head of Human Exploration and Operations. That is the
Mission Directorate responsible for getting our first woman and
next man to the south pole of the Moon by 2024. She has run two
very successful programs, the first one being Commercial
Resupply of the International Space Station and now Commercial
Crew of the International Space Station, and because of her
monumental efforts and achievement, we have placed her in
charge of the entire Mission Directorate to achieve this
objective.
Senator Moran. Administrator, you said something that
caught my attention about the potential. We have three teams
that are competing for the landers, really for the business to
utilize their plan, their equipment to land on the Moon. The
competition is still ongoing. I understand that. The way I
understood it was that the three would be narrowed to two and
ultimately narrowed to one. You indicated you might keep the
three in longer, if I understood you correctly.
Is there any thought that you can go from three to one and
skip the second expense of two in competition?
Mr. Bridenstine. Yes, sir. There are discussions about
this. What we need to see is at the end of this what we call
the base period, which ends in February of 2021, we need to
look at how robust their proposals are and what they are
suggesting in terms of dollars. Some of these providers are
investing a lot of their own money. We really do not know what
they are going to necessarily put forward for NASA to fund and
what they are going to do in a public-private partnership. It
is premature to say, sir, I think at this point whether it is
going to be three or two or one.
I will tell you--and this is a concern to me--I worry about
going down to one, and I will tell you why. When you eliminate
the competition, you end up with programs that inevitably get
dragged out and you end up with cost overruns and schedule
delays. I can give you lots of--I am not going to dime anybody
out right now, but I can give you lots of examples where that
is the case, both at NASA, the Department of Defense, and other
places.
If we are going to the Moon commercially and we keep two
providers in the mix, what happens is there ends up being this
virtuous cycle where they are making their own investments,
they are committing their own resources to achieve the goal
that is the goal of the United States of America. I think that
is a positive development that is good for the American
taxpayer. We have seen the success of that with the Commercial
Crew Program, which was a fraction of the cost of the Space
Shuttle program, for example.
Senator Moran. Is an uncrewed flight demonstration a
requirement before sending a crew to the Moon?
Mr. Bridenstine. It is not necessarily a requirement, but
of course, when NASA evaluates proposals, we will be looking
for what are they doing to retire risk and the processes and
procedures that they have. I do not want to say what is in the
proposals or anything, but there is a lot of interest. I will
just say that. There is a lot of interest in making sure that
there is a precursor mission that is uncrewed.
Senator Moran. There have been, over the history of NASA,
lots of mission delays. We have seen GAO reports that are
regularly published on NASA's projects that show major delays
in missions across the Agency.
What is NASA doing now to reduce the likelihood of that
being an occurrence during the Artemis program?
Mr. Bridenstine. Right now, I mean, if you look at how NASA
is dealing with COVID-19, we have prioritized missions based on
whether they are mission-essential or mission-critical.
Mission-essential functions are high priority for the Nation,
and those functions have been going forward. We saw that with
Commercial Crew. We saw that with Mars Perseverance, and of
course, we are seeing that with the Green Run test right now on
the SLS rocket.
It is also true that in any program that NASA does, we
always make sure that we have reserves, the reserves being both
in schedule and cost, because when we do things, we do things
for the first time ever, and we always learn what we do not
know in the process of development and then testing.
We do have reserves. I will tell you with COVID-19, those
reserves on all of our programs are being eaten up because
people just do not have access to facilities. We have suppliers
that are not going to work. We have suppliers that are very
strained financially. These things have an effect. As of right
now, I will tell you the reserves are being eaten up rapidly
for pretty much all of our programs.
On the Artemis program, most of that work is mission-
essential, and so it has continued to go forward. We are making
sure that everybody has their personal protective equipment
that we are keeping social distancing, we are keeping our
people safe. We have also said that if people do not feel safe
going to work, they ought not go to work. Everybody's
circumstances are different. People have different medical
conditions, different conditions at home. People have mother-
in-laws that live with them, for example. I say that because I
have a mother-in-law that lives with me, and she has got
Multiple Sclerosis, for example. She is not somebody that we
can risk getting COVID-19. Different families have different
circumstances. We want to make sure we get the right people on
the right projects, people that we can protect by having them
not involved in the project we protect. We have been very
successful in keeping our people safe on these mission-
essential functions, and we will continue to do that for the
Artemis program.
Senator Moran. Let me run through a couple of items
somewhat quickly, but they are important.
What should Americans know the value to them of going to
Moon, returning to the Moon? Let me start by saying what
scientific advancements related to the Moon would you see
occurring as a result of being back on the Moon?
Mr. Bridenstine. Oh, there is so much.
First of all, we discovered in 2009 that there are hundreds
of millions of tons of water ice on the south pole of the Moon
and a lot on the north pole of the Moon as well. There are
things happening at the Moon that we do not understand. You
know, a couple of weeks ago, we discovered rust on the Moon
which means there is oxygen there, if you can imagine that. Now
we are doing scientific experiments to understand how the
oxygen is getting to the Moon because it is not being
originated at the Moon. Maybe it is coming from the Earth. Now
we are learning new things about whether or not oxygen from the
Earth is actually getting to the Moon. Those are little things.
When we think about Heliophysics, for example, the study of
the Sun, the Moon represents a body in space that does not have
an atmosphere. It does not have a hydrosphere. It does not have
an active geology. Anything that impacted the Moon billions of
years ago is today right where it was billions of years ago.
That includes subatomic charged particles that have been coming
from the Sun. It includes asteroids from deep space. Of course,
we see all of the pock marks on the Moon. Those pock marks are
there specifically because it does not have an atmosphere that
eats up those asteroids when they come in contact with the
Moon. Our atmosphere eats them up, and when they do hit the
Earth, the Earth, because of its active geology, it chews them
up. We have an active hydrosphere. When we find those metals--
we call them rare Earth metals--they are very trace. There
could be large deposits on the Moon that would give us a lot of
knowledge and information about our own solar system.
I would also say imagine an orbiter around the Moon that
cannot only see the first light in the universe after the Big
Bang, but could actually see back into the Cosmic Dark Ages,
after the Big Bang and before first light occurs. From the far
side of the Moon, it is so quiet from an electromagnetic
spectrum perspective that we are going to be able to see and
make assessments as to the physics of the early universe, which
of course is going to transform how we think about energy, for
example. These are missions that I think are critically
important for science.
On the far side of the Moon, we can put very simple wire
antennas that will pick up very low frequency signals that--you
know, back in the early universe, those very low frequency
signals would have been light. As the universe has expanded,
those waves have expanded as well, and now we can pick them up
as radio frequencies. Again, we can see and make assessments as
to the early universe.
Also on the Moon, we could put optics. We could actually
detect from the Moon planets orbiting other stars in a way that
we cannot do from the Earth and we cannot do it from a free-
flying satellite. We can do it from the Moon because it is so
stable. Imagine having the most stable satellite in the history
of satellites ever. Well, it is a natural satellite. It is
called the Moon. We can put optics on the Moon and see tiny
little flickers of a star that are routine and make assessments
as to whether or not that is a planet.
Once we know that there are planets around these other
stars, which at this point we have discovered something like
9,000 planets around other stars, and all of these are new
discoveries. Now we are going to have the James Webb Space
Telescope. We can train it on those planets specifically. We
can see the light coming from those stars through the
atmospheres of those planets, and we can make assessments as to
whether or not those planets have life.
We could even make assessments as to whether or not those
planets have industrialized life, if you can imagine that. I am
not suggesting that that exists. I do not have any idea. But it
is just fascinating to think about we are going to be able to
see those things, and the Moon is a critical piece of that.
It is about Heliophysics, the study of the Sun, because the
regolith represents those impacts of subatomic charged
particles. It is about astrophysics, the study of deep space.
It is about planetary science because when we go to the Moon,
we are learning how to live and work on another world so that
we can go to Mars. Of course, it is about Earth science. We are
making new discoveries all the time.
Dr. Thomas Zurbuchen, who runs the Science Mission
Directorate at NASA, ordered the opening of Apollo samples that
we have had preserved now in a vacuum for 50 years. He wanted
to open those samples because now we have new technology to
assess those samples. From that assessment, we are able to see
how the Earth and the Moon formed. Did we form together and
then separate? Did we form separately? Now we are understanding
that in fact we actually were, obviously, part of the same
system, and we were formed about the same time. These are
fascinating discoveries. It is because of the Moon.
Now when we go to the Moon, unlike the 1960s and 1970s, we
have so much more technology that we can apply to what we
discover. It is going to revolutionize our understanding of the
universe.
Senator Moran. Administrator, I was trying to decide
whether I needed to cut you off.
Mr. Bridenstine. Sure.
Senator Moran. No, based upon your enthusiasm and the long
list of things that can be accomplished scientifically with a
visit to the Moon.
What can I tell universities in my State that they might be
able to do to participate in this mission?
Mr. Bridenstine. We love it when universities get involved
in these missions for a number of reasons. When a university,
for example, puts together a science instrument, the
researcher, the scientist, for example, and the engineer are
together, and they make trades early in the process. When we
give them a schedule and a budget, the scientist and the
engineer get to work. When the engineer says, you know, hey,
this is going to cost this much. What if we did this? They are
sitting there with the scientist and the scientist can make
determination quickly as to whether or not the new solution is
going to work for the science that they are trying to achieve.
It helps us as an Agency keep projects on budget and on
schedule, and it works like magic.
Even better with the university, we get the students
involved, and those students, whether they are graduate
students, undergraduate students--they get hands-on experience.
They graduate not just with chemistry, calculus, and physics,
but they are graduating with hands-on experience building
satellites and robots for NASA so that they can get to work
right away in the workforce.
I would say if we look at in the next--as we look at going
to the Moon specifically, we are going to have missions on
every single one of those Artemis missions. Some of those
missions are going to be cubesats that are going to maybe
remain in orbit around the Moon. Some of them might go off into
deep space. That is for Artemis-I, II, and III. Universities
can maybe participate there and make proposals on Artemis-II
and III, for example, in the new future. Artemis-I--we have got
13 satellites already committed with universities from across
the country.
We think about when we go for Artemis-I, when we land on
the surface of the Moon. We are going to have science on the
surface of the Moon for the first time since 1972. There are
opportunities there.
The Gateway. Tremendous opportunity for science. We just
recently announced that we are going to have the HERMES mission
on the Gateway, which is a Heliophysics capability. That HERMES
mission has a lot of researchers from universities across the
country.
The best thing for a university to do is go to the NASA
website and look for solicitations, and then make proposals for
this particular project.
I will also tell you--and you know this, Senator--Wichita
State University is critically important to NASA's mission.
That is true in aeronautics.
The aeronautics industry right now has been devastated. We
have had the Max-8 issue. We have now had the COVID-19 issue.
We need to be making the investment into the aeronautics
industry in a way that makes sure that when we come out of
COVID-19, we remain the world's leader in exports in
aeronautics. That means we need to have the resources for new
designs of aircraft, a truss-braced wing for higher aspect
ratio wings, for example, to get us more efficient
aerodynamics. We need smaller core engines to get higher bypass
and more fuel efficiency. We need advanced composites, high
rate composites. There is no place better than Wichita to work
on high rate composite manufacturing, and we have had a number
of partnerships with Wichita State University. Now we are
starting a new high rate composite program, and I would imagine
Wichita State University is going to be part of that consortium
yet again.
I think there is no shortage of opportunities for
universities. We love their involvement. We need their
involvement. Of course, the best thing to do is figure out what
are the niche areas that the university has competencies and
then how do we apply those to NASA's missions, and let us get
them involved.
Senator Moran. Thank you for that answer.
You did participate in a panel with academia and industry
at Wichita State last summer, and I very much appreciate that.
One of the things that that panel was charged with discussing
is how interconnected national security and space have become,
and anything we should know about the capabilities or the
enhancement of our national wellbeing, our national security
wellbeing that comes from space, particularly the Artemis
program.
Mr. Bridenstine. Absolutely. A couple of things that are
important to note.
Number one, the United States of America has amazing
international partners. When we think about the tools of
national power, in the military we talk about DIME, diplomatic
power, information power, military power, and economic power.
NASA plays on the diplomatic side very strongly. Fifteen
partners on the International Space Station. Astronauts from 19
different countries have flown on the International Space
Station. Experiments from 103 different countries. We currently
have over 700 active agreements with countries all around the
world for experiments not just on the International Space
Station but into deep space with science and other
capabilities. It is a tool of diplomacy.
As far as a tool of information power, there is going to
come a day when humans land on the Moon again. That day is
going to happen. The question is, will it be the United States
of America leading a coalition of international partners or
will it be somebody else? In my view, it ought to be the United
States of America that leads that coalition.
We think back to the Apollo era when Neil Armstrong and
Buzz Aldrin walked on the Moon. Everybody on the planet saw it,
and it was a magnificent moment to demonstrate America's
political and economic system was superior to that of the
Soviet Union at the time. Those tools of information power and
demonstrating the strength of the United States of America are
very strong.
Of course, on the economic side, we are constantly building
the American economy and all of our activities on the
International Space Station and commercial efforts have
demonstrated. For example, we had 0 percent of the commercial
launch market in 2012. Zero. Today we have got over 70 percent,
and it is because of investments made by NASA into our
commercial resupply and commercial crew partners. That
percentage is going to grow as time goes on.
I think we play in all of these spheres of national power.
We are not a military organization, but diplomacy, information,
and economic power--we play very strongly there.
Senator Moran. Administrator, thank you. It is a good thing
you did speak so long, otherwise we would not be able to hear
the questions from Senator Boozman. We would have concluded
before he arrived.
Senator Boozman. Thank you, and I apologize for being late.
Here I am in Senator Shelby's place.
Senator Moran. Of course, you wish you were.
Senator Boozman. Exactly.
But anyway, we appreciate you. Thanks for all the great
work that you do. Again, those of you that work with you, your
organization is something that our country is very, very proud
of and has been for many, many years. You have adhered to that
great tradition and moving us forward.
Again, I apologize for being late, but I am going to ask
you about something that has probably already been mentioned
but it really is important.
Arkansas' Space Grant Consortium continues to lead the way
on educating undergraduate and graduate students on aerospace
fundamentals, research, opportunities offered by NASA, the
aerospace industry, and the list goes on and on.
Additionally, they familiarize and motivate K through 12
students with STEM-related courses. This has been a huge thing
that Governor Hutchinson is doing and doing in a very, very
good way so that we can get people into aerospace programs and
related industry. With critical funding from NASA, this
association produces the next generation of scientists and
engineers, educators, astronauts that the country needs to
continue to keep us ahead of the rest of the world.
Once again, this year's budget request proposes eliminating
NASA's Office of STEM Engagement and the Space Grant, EPSCoR,
and other programs. This would put an end to organizations like
Arkansas' Space Grant Consortium, which would hurt educators
and students from all walks of life who have a passion for
space and strive to one day work in the aerospace industry and
for NASA.
I guess in your testimony on this issue, it was kind of a
little bit brief, a little bit vague on how NASA would continue
to create opportunities for those students. Additionally, in
the fiscal year 2021 budget, it mentions that NASA will
continue to support internships, fellowships, and the
administration's STEM priorities but does not say how that is
going to be represented.
I guess my question is, how will your agency continue to
support and fund programs like Arkansas' Space Consortium and
students without the Office of STEM Engagement and its funding?
You know, I have had the opportunity to get to know you through
the years with your service in the House and now again working
with you with the great job you are doing. Being from Oklahoma,
you know, very similar States, very similar challenges. Tell us
exactly how that is going to work.
Mr. Bridenstine. Yes, sir. A couple of things.
Number one, the Office of STEM Engagement at NASA is doing
amazing work. I can say that with a very clear conscience. I
can also tell you that a lot of that work, EPSCoR and other
contracts--I have seen the fruits of that work at the
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, for example. I was just
there not too long ago, and they have this amazing capability
at the University of Arkansas to replicate the atmospheres of
planets, which is fascinating. Of course, that is, of course,
because NASA has made investments through EPSCoR and other
processes.
It was great talking to the researchers there because they
are students. They are the students that are actually
benefiting from this laboratory where they replicate the
atmospheres of other planets and then determine what could we
do on that planet when we land there. I think it really is
great work there at the University of Arkansas.
I will also say the way we see it is we want to align the
mission directorates specifically to--I should say the missions
that NASA has specifically to the educational initiatives. If
we can do that, I think it would be even more beneficial. I
gave an example earlier about FIRST Robotics, which is an
amazing capability where young people get involved in building
robots for competitions. NASA, through the Science Mission
Directorate, funds that to the tune of about $4.5 million every
year.
The reason the Science Mission Directorate does that is
because they need people that can build robots, and if you go
to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory out in Pasadena, California or
other NASA centers where they are involved in robotics, you
will often find those engineers were involved in FIRST Robotics
when they were in high school or even before. There are ways
for us to invest in that education STEM effort that are not
necessarily from the Office of STEM Engagement.
I can tell you this. If the Senate appropriates and the
House appropriates those resources, we will continue to use
them as we have, and they do provide fruits that are very
valuable to the Agency.
With that, I will leave it there. We are committed to STEM
engagement.
Senator Boozman. We appreciate that. Again, I know it has
been discussed. Anytime anyone is around you from the
subcommittee, it is going to be discussed at length. We
appreciate you going over it again.
Very quickly, with your permission, Mr. Chairman----
Senator Moran. [inaudible.]
Senator Boozman. Right. I will take advantage of that then.
Tell us. You know, we have asked you a lot of questions and
shared our concerns. What is your concern with the agency? What
do we need to be doing to help you? I know you have got your
budget and things like that. Not necessarily certainly from a
money standpoint, but also just how can we provide the support
that you need to continue supporting this great agency that I
think I can speak for all of us we are very, very proud of?
Mr. Bridenstine. Yes, sir. I will tell you one thing that
has me very concerned and that is that a day is coming when the
International Space Station comes to the end of its useful
life. In order to be able to have the United States of America
have a presence in low-Earth orbit, we have to be prepared for
what comes next.
We have requested in the budget requests $150 million for
low-Earth orbit commercialization. We have built commercial
resupply to resupply the International Space Station where we
buy a service from commercial companies. Those commercial
companies go get customers that are not NASA and that drives
down our costs. We have done that with a commercial crew now
which has now been successful.
The next big thing is we want to see a public-private
partnership where NASA can team with commercial Space Station
providers so that we can keep a permanent, uninterrupted human
presence in low-Earth orbit. I do not think it is in the
interest of the Nation to build another International Space
Station. I do think it is in the interest of the Nation to
support commercial industry where NASA is a customer as we can
then stay in low-Earth orbit and then go on to the Moon with
the resources that we need to get to the Moon.
I do have a concern. China is rapidly building what they
call the Chinese International Space Station, and they are
rapidly marketing that space station to all of our
international partners that we as a nation have invested in to
build their capacities for space flight. I think it would be a
tragedy if, after all of this time and all of this effort, we
were to abandon low-Earth orbit and cede that territory.
The value of the low-Earth orbit is microgravity where we
can compound pharmaceuticals and create immunizations for
salmonella and pneumonia and other things. We can print human
organs in 3D. We are proving that we can do that right now. You
cannot do that on the Earth. We can create artificial retinas
for the human eyeball so people with macular degeneration do
not have to lose their eyesight.
All of these are commercial efforts that are tremendously
valuable to the future, but without NASA as a partner,
commercial companies are not going to invest. We need to do
those public-private partnerships to have commercial low-Earth
orbit, which will drive down our costs, and we can be a
customer there, and then ultimately not cede that territory to
another country that does not have our interests at heart.
Senator Boozman. Very good.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you.
Mr. Bridenstine. Yes, sir.
Senator Moran. Senator Boozman, thank you.
Administrator, anything that you would like to add,
augment, correct?
Mr. Bridenstine. Yes. I was corrected on one thing that I
said earlier. I think Senator Moran asked me if Restore-L would
be ready to launch in 2023, and I responded, yes, I believe so.
I was just corrected. It is scheduled to launch in 2025. I
wanted to make sure that that was clarified.
Senator Moran. Administrator, thank you. Anything else?
Mr. Bridenstine. Oh, Senator Manchin. I am sorry.
Senator Moran. I knew the right name.
ADDITIONAL COMMITTEE QUESTIONS
If there are no further questions this afternoon, Senators
may submit additional questions for the subcommittee's official
hearing record. We would request that NASA respond to those
questions within 30 days.
[The following questions were not asked at the hearing, but
were submitted to the Agency for response subsequent to the
hearing:]
Questions Submitted to Hon. James Bridenstine
Questions Submitted by Senator Lisa Murkowski
review of the fiscal year 2021 budget request for the national
aeronautics and space administration
Question 1. The U.S. Federal Government and State of Alaska have
jointly invested over $100 million in capital improvements at the
Pacific Spaceport Complex--Alaska (PSCA), formally known as the Kodiak
Launch Complex, on Kodiak Island, Alaska. As one of only two U.S.-based
spaceports that can launch into high-inclination and polar orbits, PSCA
is positioned to ensure the United States maintains leadership in
space. This FAA-licensed commercial spaceport is a low-cost operation,
capable of launching solid- and liquid-fueled rockets and has supported
numerous government orbital, suborbital, and test missions since 1998.
However, NASA has only used PSCA once, in 2001, for the Kodiak Star
mission which, along with the other Starshine satellites, was
inspirational and educational to students throughout the world.
a. What are NASA's plans to increase launches from PSCA?
b. What roles does NASA expect PSCA to play in the agency's
return of U.S. astronauts to the moon?
c. What legislative considerations should congress consider to
facilitate NASA's regular use of PSCA?
Answer. For the lifetime of NASA's acquisition of launch services
for its payloads, we have maintained a position of launch site
agnosticism in our contract mechanisms, allowing the needs of the
particular mission as well as the concept of operations of our
commercial partners to dictate which range we utilize. We have launched
from the Eastern and Western ranges, from Kwajalein Atoll, Wallops
Flight Facility, Spaceport Mojave, and Kodiak. While NASA intends to
continue this approach, it is worth noting that one of our small launch
providers, Astra Space, does routinely utilize Kodiak in its launch
operations.
Question 2. Alaska's unique northern latitude and remote areas rely
upon polar-orbiting and high-inclination orbiting satellites for a
variety of key functions, including communications, disaster assessment
and emergency response, and natural resource management. Rapid and
responsive development and launch of small satellite technology holds
promise to significantly improve and protect Alaskans' lives. NASA's
CubeSat Launch Initiative is an exciting program to provide
opportunities for small satellite payloads built by universities, high
schools and non-profit organizations to fly on upcoming launches.
a. What are NASA's plans to use the CubeSat Launch Initiative to
address Alaska challenges?
b. How will NASA ensure Alaska's satellite technology needs and
Alaskans (e.g., universities, high schools and non-profit
organizations) are included in the CubeSat Launch Initiative and
similar programs?
Answer. In 2015 NASA selected and subsequently launched the ARC1
(Alaska Research Cubesat1) cubesat (1U) through a collaborative
partnership with the National Reconnaissance Office. This Cubesat was
designed and built by the University of Alaska Fairbanks. A follow on
ARC2 was selected by CSLI in 2017 and was also selected as a
participant in the USIP program in 2016. Unfortunately, COVID impacts
to the project necessitated their request to withdraw from the CSLI,
which we granted. Later this year, we will issue the 14th call for
interested schools and universities to participate in CSLI. We would
welcome entries from Alaska based institutions as we strive for diverse
geographical representation in our Initiative.
Question 3. Space Debris has become an ongoing issue, costing the
United States more money to monitor and track large debris in our low
earth orbit. According to the Organization of Economic Cooperation and
Development (OECD), almost 10 percent of costs related to managing and
debris mitigation measures have been associated with space debris. What
is NASA's plan to combat the debris issue as we increase our
development in space and will this be set as a priority in future
projects to develop new technology allowing for more sustainable
practices?
Answer. Active Debris Removal is a technologically challenging
endeavor with a high risk of failure given currently available
technology and expertise. The challenge of orbital debris must be
addressed by a whole of government approach based on three strategic
pillars:
--Mitigate creation of orbital debris generation by design,
operational controls, and end-of-life disposal and also through
the development, dissemination, and adoption of orbital debris
mitigation standard practices, guidelines and policies for
domestic and international operators
--Improve our ability to detect and track debris too small to track
with current technology;
--Support the development of Active Debris Removal (ADR) technologies
and provide incentives and/or demand signal to commercial
entities to develop ADR solutions to meet future government and
commercial interests in space.
The ongoing work conducted under NASA's Orbital Debris Office is
highly relevant to the whole of government approach. In coordination
with other government agencies, NASA is funding early-stage research to
focus on identifying concepts and approaches to de-spinning non-
cooperative debris (e.g., how to capture tumbling debris), drag-
enhancement devices, and deorbit of large objects. NASA is currently
working on concept studies to identify remediation approaches,
technology gaps and their prioritization, and to quantify the costs and
benefits of ADR to aid planning on next steps. These studies are
important because an unsuccessful ADR mission poses a serious risk of
creating further orbital debris and could place other spacecraft at
risk. While these studies are ongoing, NASA resources focused on ADR
relevant technology are targeting applied to low- to mid-TRL technology
research directed to reduce the risks and costs associated with ADR.
Many important technologies continue to be funded by NASA Space
Technology, including:
--proximity operations;
--sensors and instruments;
--efficient propulsion;
--guidance and navigation;
--autonomy;
--robotic manipulation;
--propellent refueling; and
--others through many funded projects and missions.
Each of these investments will go a long way toward identifying and
creating a long term, sustainable approach to bulk remediation, which
is needed to fully address the problem and to spur commercial
investments.
Question 4. American leadership in space exploration and
spaceflight relies on a capable, skilled, and well-trained STEM
workforce to support NASA's work and the development of robust public-
private partnerships in exploration. STEM Education is vital for the
future of NASA and space-related jobs. The National Science Foundation
found that the overall number of STEM bachelor's degrees awarded to men
and women of almost all racial/ethnic groups has increased since 1977,
with the exception of American Indian and Alaska Native men, for whom
the numbers remain largely unchanged. How will NASA support and expand
its STEM education efforts to support a skilled space workforce,
especially for people of color, women, and indigenous Americans? How
will you continue to make sure that space careers are accessible to
young Alaskans, including Alaska Natives?
Answer. NASA EPSCoR works with Alaska through the offices of the
Alaska NASA EPSCoR, located at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks.
EPSCoR is actively funding eight Alaska research projects. Funding for
three of the eight Alaska research projects was added in fiscal year
2021:
1. Cryogenic Solid Particle Erosion of Advanced Materials for
Lunar Mission Applications (R3 award for $100,000 for a 1-year period
of performance)
2. Data assimilation and modeling to improve snow water equivalent
assessment in Alaska (Research NOFO for $750,000 for a 3-year period of
performance)
3. Alaska Research Infrastructure Development (RID award for
$1,000,000 for a 5-year period of performance)
In fiscal year 2021 the University of Alaska-Fairbanks received
$800,000 in Space Grant funding to continue work within the State to
deliver NASA content and student-centric programming to approximately
500 students and educators.
Within Next Gen STEM, a TEAM II Community Anchor award ($25,000)
was made to the Challenger Leaning Center of Alaska to explore NASA's
ongoing research into sustainable food production for space exploration
and how the methods mirror and contribute to efforts toward Food
Security in Alaska.
MUREP recently awarded the University of Alaska-Fairbanks an OCEAN
award in fiscal year 2021 for $250,000/per year for 3 years to focus on
Earth Science efforts in collaboration with NASA SMD.
______
Questions Submitted by Senator John Kennedy
Preface to Questions 1 through 6:
The NASA Michoud Assembly facility in New Orleans is NASA's
``Rocket Factory.'' Michoud has been a part of NASA Human Space Flight
since the beginning of NASA. It has weathered budget ups and downs, as
well as the natural disasters of Hurricanes Betsy in 1965 and Katrina
in 2005, and an EF3 (136-165 mph) tornado in February 2017.
Nevertheless, Michoud hasn't missed a beat, in spite of NASA's lack of
commitment to invest in repairs at the Michoud Assembly Facility. This
is a testament to the working spirit of the Louisiana people who work
at Michoud. Despite this performance record, the facility is in need of
repairs and improvements. For example, in Building 103, space flight
hardware is placed to dodge water from the leaking roof while billions
are spent on less essential, new buildings at other centers. This is
baffling because if rockets aren't built at Michoud, launches cannot
occur at the Kennedy Space Center. Consequently, I am concerned about
the disparity in infrastructure investment between manufacturing
facilities like Michoud and Stennis versus other test and launch
facilities.
Question 1. What is the facility and assembly plant 5-year budget
plan to ensure Michoud is modernized and can handle the throughput of
the Space Launch System (SLS) to remain NASA's Rocket Manufacturing
Plant for decades to come?
Answer. At the Michoud Assembly Facility (MAF), Building 103
required investment due to hurricane damage. Public Law 117-43 (H.R.
5305) Extending Government Funding and Delivering Emergency Assistance
Act, provided $321,400,000 in supplemental funding to be used for
facilities damaged by Hurricanes Zeta and Ida. Approximately
$241,800,000 of this funding was directed to MAF for facilities repair
including repairs to Building 103 Roof, other buildings and critical
infrastructure. Approximately $48,200,000 was directed to repair Flight
Hardware damaged during the Hurricanes.
Question 2. How does that compare to NASA's investments over the
last 5 years in launch facilities?
Answer. NASA programs provide programmatic funding for Construction
of Facilities to meet mission requirements. Over the 5-year period
(fiscal year 2019-fiscal year 2023) ESDMD and the emergency funding
referred to above, provided $382.9M for MAF. In the same 5-year period
ESDMD provided $232.3M to KSC which also included other nonlaunch
facility specific funding.
Question 3. How many of the Space Launch System (SLS) core stages
are under contract to be built at Michoud and what is the delivery
schedule?
Answer. Contract is definitized and provides scope for the
following:
--Core Stages 1 (delivery to KSC January 2021) (CS 1 actual delivery
date to KSC April 2021)
--Core Stage 2 (contract delivery schedule is March 2022 with a
forecast NET March 2023)
--Forecast delivery date driven by impacts of COVID/Hurricanes 5
months and Performance of 7 months
--Exploration Upper Stage 1 (delivery to KSC February 2025)
--Long Leads for Core Stage 3
Question 4. What is the completion schedule for the Space Launch
System (SLS) core stages to be manufactured and assembled at Michoud?
Answer. The completion schedule for Core Stage 3 and beyond are
subject to definitization of the Stages Production and Evolution
Contract (SPEC). In October 2019, a Letter Contract was issued for the
SPEC (Flights Sets 3-12) and in April 2020 a Request for Proposal (RFP)
was issued (Flights Sets 3-12). At this time, all necessary work to
allow continued production is authorized under-the letter contract and
there is no delay relative to core stage production for Artemis
missions. The RFP definitizes the letter contract from a pricing
perspective. The RFP proposal submission was received in March 2021.
While there have been Government driven requirement changes, the
contractor requested to descope the RFP, essentially reducing the order
quantity for this negotiation due to uncertainty in things such as out-
year commodity pricing. The current scope of the negotiations includes
CS 3-4 and materials for CS 5-6 and EUS 2-3. In order to complete the
technical evaluations, 70 Request For Information (RFIs) were issued to
support closure of the Government's evaluation. NASA and Boeing have
been actively engaging to negotiate an agreement throughout this period
of time, while the Agency also engages at the corporate level to help
facilitate ongoing negotiations.
Question 5. Has NASA placed any emphasis on partnering with
Louisiana companies to promote hiring locals who possess generational
knowledge of Michoud to ensure NASA's success over the long haul? If
so, how is NASA emphasizing partnering with Louisiana?
Answer. Yes, MSFC/MAF have been promoting the local Universities
and Technical Collages to Tenants at MAF as a resource for hiring
technicians and engineers. They have also provided local University job
placement point-of-contact information to the NASA Prime Contractors
and facilitated introductions. NASA/MAF has partnered with IRG Corp. to
lease land for a manufacturing complex. An Enhanced Use Lease was
signed for that piece of real estate, although the company has not yet
started construction. Also, NASA/MAF partnered with GNO Inc. and
Louisiana Economic Development (LED) for new MAF Tenant opportunities.
Although a lease has not been agreed to at this time, collaborative
partnerships with Louisiana companies on local and State initiatives,
MAF greenspace development, and regional development opportunities
could support the NASA/MAF and surrounding community.
Question 6. NASA's fiscal year 2021 proposed budget is NASA's
highest budget ever to support the mission to the moon and on to MARS,
but it essentially eliminates funding, by delaying funding, for the
Exploration Upper Stage (EUS). I understand your need to balance
resources, but why isn't this in your list of highest priorities over
other projects and programs elsewhere in the NASA budget?
Answer. EUS funding has been at levels appropriate for the planned
work. The fiscal year 2021 and fiscal year 2022 appropriated levels
were $400,000,000 and $600,000,000, respectively.
Preface to Question 7:
As I understand, your Headquarters and Marshall Space Flight Center
have been briefed on ongoing discussions between the State of
Louisiana, local officials, and NASA leadership at Michoud about
potential State, local and/or private partnerships to upgrade and
provide state of the art administrative and office facilities for NASA
as well as commercial and other tenants at Michoud. These talks include
possible solutions to a new facility and spaces for USDA's National
Finance Center (NFC) that has been a tenant at Michoud for decades and
whose buildings were essentially destroyed by a tornado in February
2017. I believe these improvements are necessary to the Space Launch
System (SLS) as well as the work of the National Finance Center.
Question 7. What is the most effective way to get these
improvements done for the benefit of NASA, the taxpayers, as well as
NASA's current commercial and government tenants including the National
Finance Center?
Answer. The possible development of state-of-the-art administrative
and office facilities at MAF are not necessary for the SLS program.
NASA has modified a large amount of space in the Building 102 and
Building 103 complex and can easily accommodate any increase in the
Boeing workforce at MAF for the SLS program should that become
necessary. It is important to note that future growth in workforce at
MAF for NASA programs may not be necessary.
We are not informed of the latest planning by USDA for the National
Finance Center occupancy needs beyond their current arrangements with
NASA.
The private investment in office space at MAF will be most
effectively accomplished with a Real Property lease arrangement and
then letting private investment with market forces drive the effort.
Question 8. NASA's fiscal year 2021 proposed budget redirects funds
from lower priority programs to fulfill the President's promise to get
Americans back to the Moon. Please describe which major programs loss
funding and the extent to which these programs have been impacted.
Answer. Major Exploration and Space Operations programs, projects
and activities contribute to the overall success of the Artemis
Missions and are sufficiently funded. No major programs were
decremented in order to redirect funding to ``higher'' priority
programs.
______
Questions Submitted by Senator Marco Rubio
Question 1. (Exploration Ground Systems) I'm concerned with the
more than $200,000,000 decrease in funding for the Exploration Ground
Systems (EGS) in the fiscal year 2021 budget proposal. This would have
a significant negative impact on the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) and
could cause delays in the Artemis program such that a 2024 target date
for landing on the moon may have to be pushed back. Can you please
reaffirm your commitment to ensuring the EGS gets the proper funding it
needs to ensure the 2024 target date remains in place?
Answer. The EGS program is funded at levels appropriate for the
planned work. The fiscal year 2021 Appropriation was within 1 percent
of the previous two fiscal years.
Question 2. (Civil Aerospace Competition with China and Russia).--
According to the 2019 Report to Congress of the U.S.-China Economic and
Security Review Commission, ``China is taking steps to establish a
commanding position in the commercial launch and satellite sectors,
relying in part on aggressive state-backed financing that foreign
market-driven companies cannot match.'' Furthermore, the report adds
that, ``China has already succeeded in undercutting some U.S. and other
foreign launch and satellite providers in the international market,
threatening to hollow out these countries' space industrial bases.''
NASA rightly makes a priority of supporting a robust space industrial
base and working with the domestic commercial space industry. Do you
agree that Chinese government efforts to drive competitors out of the
market are of significant concern to the strength and long term health
of the American space industrial base and commercial space industry?
Answer. NASA supports robust domestic commercial space activities.
The Agency invests in U.S. Space Technology Research and Development
that will support new technologies to strengthen the U.S. commercial
space industry, enhance mission capabilities, create good-paying jobs,
and reduce costs. These investments are key to ensuring American
leadership and bolstering against international competition.
Question 3. (Continued) What additional steps can NASA take to
incentivize the growth of the U.S. commercial space sector to counter
this threat?
Answer. NASA is using competitive services contracts for efforts
related to Artemis where appropriate. For example, NASA's Commercial
Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative allows rapid acquisition of
lunar delivery services from American companies for payloads that
advance capabilities for science, exploration, or commercial
development of the Moon. In addition, NASA will utilize competitive
services for such items as spacesuits and support services for
spacewalks during Artemis lunar surface missions, as well as for Deep
Space Logistic Services and is exploring purchasing services for
communications and sustaining lunar transit services. In addition, NASA
is partnering with industry to achieve commercial economy in Low Earth
Orbit (LEO).
Question 4. (Continued) What steps can we take to further include
small businesses working in partnership with NASA?
Answer. NASA's Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP) primary
mission since its inception has been to increase the representation of
small businesses in NASA's contracting efforts. Our efforts encompass
all federally recognized socio-economic small business categories and
we work hard to make sure each type of business gets a fair opportunity
to work with NASA. https://www.nasa.gov/osbp
OSBP uses the following tools to increase participation of small
business in procurement at NASA:
--The NASA Vendor Database (NVDB) is open to all vendors, both large
and small, who wish to do business with NASA. Interested
businesses register online; and the current vendor list is
uploaded to the OSBP website at the end of each month. Members
of the NVDB community receive an easily navigable Microsoft
Excel file containing a vendor registration list monthly, which
enables them to conduct market research, a vendor search,
Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) search and capability
statement viewing. https://www.nasa.gov/osbp/nasa-vendor-
database
--The OSBP Learning Series are monthly webinars that provide in-depth
training relevant to small businesses. These webinars allow
companies the opportunity to ask questions directly to subject
matter experts who provide knowledge on how to obtain Federal
Government contracts. https://www.nasa.gov/osbp/learning-series
--NASA OSBP is committed to ``promoting small business awareness and
participation, utilizing innovative techniques at
nontraditional venues in geographically targeted areas, to
enhance all categories of small business.'' NASA OSBP
participates in and hosts outreach event(s) which includes
supporting congressional outreach events. https://www.nasa.gov/
osbp/regional-outreach
--NASA OSBP oversees the NASA Mentor Protege Program (MPP) which is
one of five MPPs that the U.S. Small Business Administration
(SBA) allowed to continue functioning apart from the SBA's
``All Small MPP''. This was done primarily because of the
special emphasis NASA places on diversity and inclusion among
all small businesses eligible to participate as proteges in the
program (i.e., Small Business (SB), Small Disadvantaged
Business (SDB), Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB), Historically
Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone), Veteran-Owned Small
Business (VOSB), Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business
(SDVOSB), and MSIs/Historically Black Colleges and Universities
(HBCU)). https://www.nasa.gov/osbp/mentor-protege-program
--The NASA Acquisition Forecast identifies future procurement
opportunities at the agency over the Simplified Acquisition
Threshold that could potentially be set-aside for the SBA's
8(a) Business Development Program, WOSB, HUBZone, VOSB, or
SDVOSB. https://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/procurement/forecast/
--The Active Contract Listings (ACLs) are unique to NASA. The ACLs
provide vendors interested in doing business with the agency
with a list of recurring requirements. This list provides
vendors with the pertinent contract information which allows
interested parties to compete for the follow-on contract.
https://www.nasa.gov/osbp/active-contract-listings
--The NASA OSBP Mobile App is designed as a user-friendly tool and
has information to assist companies in how to do business with
NASA. Key features allow users to easily contact NASA Center
Small Business Specialists, view Active Contract Listings, and
find out when upcoming networking events are taking place.
https://www.nasa.gov/osbp/mobile
Question 5. (Continued) China and Russia have made clear that they
view space as important to modern warfare and see counter space
capabilities as a means to reduce U.S. and allied military
effectiveness. Both of these nations have made efforts to militarize
their space operations. How is NASA prepared to navigate this climate
to continue its critical focus on civil space?
Answer. NASA is focused on enabling missions on and around the Moon
through Artemis while preparing for Mars exploration. NASA investments
in deep space exploration through the Artemis missions will land the
first woman and first person of color on the lunar surface, demonstrate
American leadership, deepen and broaden America's international
partnerships, increase the scientific understanding of the Moon, and
test technologies that will prepare for human exploration of Mars.
Question 6. (Continued) Does this impact NASA's lunar mission as a
whole, or any portion of the timeline?
Answer. NASA is cognizant of the counter space capabilities of
China and Russia but remains focused on our civil space exploration
plans. Specifically, Artemis is the first step in the next era of human
exploration. Together with commercial and international partners, NASA
will establish a sustainable presence on the Moon to prepare for
missions to Mars. NASA is on track to launch Artemis I, the first
integrated test of NASA's deep space exploration systems: the Orion
spacecraft, Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and the ground systems,
later this summer from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral,
Florida. The first in a series of increasingly complex missions,
Artemis I will be an uncrewed flight test that will provide a
foundation for human deep space exploration and demonstrate our
commitment and capability to extend human existence to the Moon and
beyond.
Question 7. (Continued) How important is the establishment of the
Space Force to ensuring the safety of our space programs?
Answer. NASA strongly supports establishment of the Space Force as
a needed response to the counter space capabilities of China and
Russia.
Question 8. (Continued) Can you speak to the Artemis Accords and
the importance of an international agreement to the peaceful use of
space for scientific research?
Answer. On October 13, 2020, the United States was joined by seven
countries (Australia, Canada, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, the United Arab
Emirates, and the United Kingdom) in signing the Artemis Accords. These
nations, and those that have since signed (Bahrain, Brazil, Israel, New
Zealand, Mexico, Poland, Romania, South Korea and Singapore and
Ukraine--a total of 18 to date), demonstrated their commitment to a
common set of principles to govern the civil exploration and use of
outer space. NASA and the Department of State believe that the Accords
play an important role in achieving a sustainable and robust presence
on the Moon while preparing to conduct a historic human mission to
Mars. As such, we continue to engage multiple countries on the Artemis
Accords, and anticipate the list of signatories to continue to grow.
Question 9. (Indian River Bridge).--The Indian River Bridge
provides the main route to KSC and its Visitors Complex and offers the
only route to launch pads for national security, science and commercial
spacecraft. However, the nearly 60-year-old bridge has significantly
aged and a NASA engineering study in 2017 determined the bridge needs
to be replaced. Can you speak to the importance of infrastructure at
KSC, such as Indian River Bridge, to our domestic space industry?
Answer. NASA is committed to the stewardship and maintenance of the
Indian River Bridge (IRB) on KSC to ensure that the Nation can continue
to have unfettered access to space for civil, national security and
commercial launches.
Question 10. (Continued) What steps has NASA taken to ensure that
KSC is aware of NASA's commitment to replacing the bridge?
Answer. NASA funded a Federal Highway managed, Florida Dept of
Transportation (FDOT) design and environmental study to enable the IRB
replacement bridge to be able to compete for other Federal and State
fund sources.
Question 11. (Continued) What steps has NASA taken to work with
relevant State and local agencies to ensure critical infrastructure
needs are met?
Answer. NASA has engaged with multiple Federal and State agencies
to determine a multi-party funding solution for replacement of the IRB.
NASA is in negotiations with the State of Florida to utilize a USDOT
INFRAGrant to construct a new bridge to access the spaceport. The Grant
was awarded in 2019 and construction of a new bridge is expected to
begin in the fall of 2021.
______
Questions Submitted by Senator Chris Van Hollen
Question 1. The James Webb Telescope launch date has been postponed
from March 2021 to October 2021, and the agency had cited COVID-19 as
the reason behind the delay. How has COVID-19 impacted missions, and
what steps is the agency taking to ensure that missions are not missing
crucial launch windows?
Answer. COVID impacts to integration and test activities for the
James Webb Space Telescope (Webb) led, in part, to a launch delay past
October 2021. However, NASA worked closely with its U.S. commercial
partners, the European Space Agency, and Arianespace to ensure a
successful launch on December 25, 2021. Webb is currently undergoing
commissioning at its final location in space and is expected to produce
the first scientific images in summer of 2022.
Question 2. The NASA Science Mission Directorate recently shared
with the research community that in order to protect graduate students
and early career researchers from pandemic job impacts, it will need to
reduce approximately 15 percent of funding available for new awards in
fiscal year 2021. This reflects a significant cut to future activities
supporting NASA Science.
If Congress wants to reverse this cut to new research and analysis
(R&A) activity, what amount of emergency funding would be necessary?
Additionally, do you share concerns about the pandemic's impact on the
future NASA science and engineering workforce and our national
competitiveness in these areas?
Answer. In response to the pandemic, each science division within
the Science Mission Directorate (SMD) increased their support to
graduate students and early career researchers in fiscal year 2021 by
doing special solicitations and extensions specific to the needs of
their communities. NASA SMD continues to monitor the impact of COVID on
all our programs and projects. SMD has been intentionally engaging the
early career demographic via round table discussions and other forums
to maintain and grow a strong NASA science and engineering workforce
despite disruptions from the pandemic on careers, focusing especially
on women and traditionally underserved communities that have been hit
disproportionately by COVID impacts.
Question 3. In early August, Wallops Flight Facility contract
worker, Anthony Selby, sadly passed away from COVID-19. What steps is
the agency taking to ensure the safety of workers, including contract
workers, during the COVID-19 pandemic?
Answer. The Agency has a senior level task force for COVID that
meets several times per week. The Agency has followed all CDC, White
House Safer Federal Workforce Guidance. The Agency has implemented
controls and safeguards recommended by OSHA, CDC, and the WH Safer
Federal Workforce Task Force to include public health controls,
promoting vaccination, masking, social distancing, and air quality
control measures when such measures were warranted based on case rates
and hospitalizations. The Agency continues to make efforts to provide a
safe workplace in order to protect employees.
Question 4. In 2017, PFAS were detected in Wallops Flight Facility
and the Town of Chincoteague drinking water wells. NASA has stated that
it is conducting groundwater testing and had been installing a
groundwater treatment system for the Town of Chincoteague, but there
was a suspension of this work because of COVID-19. What is NASA doing
to make progress on this?
Answer. NASA resumed this work during COVID-19, completing the
groundwater treatment system for the Town of Chincoteague, which began
operations at the end of April 2021. As of February 28, 2022, the
system has treated over 34 million gallons of water, and ongoing
testing continues to show the system is effectively removing PFAS to
below detection levels.
Question 5. The CARES Act Section 3610 granted contract flexibility
to agencies. As the pandemic's impact continues, how important is this
contract flexibility for the agency? What would happen if the authority
were not extended regarding the timeline of missions and the impact on
the NASA workforce?
Answer. As of September 30, 2021, when the CARES Act expired, NASA
no longer uses any of the existing authorities afforded by the CARES
Act Section 3610. The agency shifted its approach and continued to
leverage current laws, regulations, and policies that would enable the
Agency to preserve the Readiness of the Space industrial base and
Mission Operational Readiness during this COVID-19 pandemic. The NASA
Office of Procurement and Office of General Counsel, identified the
following authorities, prior to the CARES Act; and these authorities
were included in our March 24, 2020 notification issued to the NASA
Contractor Community, both on-site and off-site:
--Stop Work Clause. FAR 52.242-15 Stop Work Order (Offsite), when a
contractor informs us that they cannot safely perform work at
their facilities, either because of State guidelines or their
own internal assessment; and or applicable clause such as
52.212(4) T&C for Commercial Items; and
--Denied Access Clause. NFS 1852.242-72 Denied Access, when a NASA
Facility is closed and there is no work that a Contractor or
their employee can accomplish from a remote location.
These authorities instruct contractors on the authorities that NASA
used/is using to Preserve the Readiness of the Space Industrial Base
and to maintain Mission Operational Readiness and continue to be used
today in our contracts.
CONCLUSION OF HEARINGS
With that, the subcommittee stands in recess.
[Whereupon, at 3:21 p.m., Wednesday, September 23, the
hearings were concluded, and the subcommittee was recessed, to
reconvene subject to the call of the Chair.]