FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 28, 2009
MEDIA CONTACT: Jeff Sadosky
Sen. Hutchison: Closing Gap in Human Space Flight, Utilizing ISS are our Challenge and Responsibility
Houston Meeting of Augustine Commission Hears Hutchison’s Charge for NASA’s Future
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, at a Houston meeting of the Augustine Commission, a panel charged with reviewing the future prospects for manned spaceflight, a statement by Sen. Hutchison was read, outlining her vision for NASA.
The following statement was submitted by Sen. Hutchison and read by Panel Chairman Norm Augustine:
“Chairman, and members of the Human Space Flight Review Panel, I want to thank you for the opportunity to provide a statement in this hearing to underscore the importance of NASA to Texas and the need for minimizing the space gap. You have a huge challenge and a critical responsibility, and I appreciate your willingness to hold a hearing in Texas.
“The possible five-year gap in manned U.S. space launches between the planned retirement of the space shuttle program next year and the earliest possible inauguration of the new Ares rocket and Orion crew capsule in 2015 could have potentially devastating effects on Texas. NASA has long been a central component of my state’s growing tech industry. The Johnson Space Center (JSC) in Houston is the premiere NASA center for the International Space Station (ISS) and human space flight, scientific and medical research efforts. The JSC directly employs over 3,400 civil servants and more than 13,000 contract employees. In total, the JSC supports the Houston area by generating an economic impact of over $4 billion and 35,000 jobs. The potential loss of this workforce’s skills during the transition has long-term implications for Texas and its continued support of space flight programs. This was outlined clearly in the “Rising Above the Gathering Storm” report to Congress.
“The 2005 and 2008 NASA Authorization Acts reflect broad, bi-partisan, bicameral support for the U.S. human spaceflight programs. More specifically, both bills express support for the goal of returning to the Moon to conduct the kind of sustained human exploration that was not possible in the Apollo program.
“They express support for completing the International Space Station and making the maximum possible use of its laboratory facilities for microgravity research across a broad range of science disciplines. The 2005 Act designated the space station as a National Laboratory, and began its evolution to a facility that can not only meet NASA’s research needs, but those of other government agencies, educational consortia, and private research and development concerns as well. In Fiscal Year 2008, NASA worked with 63 universities and educational centers in Texas to provide grants, contracts and commitments valued at approximately $51 million.
“Beyond the looming space gap, one of the questions the panel has been charged with addressing is the question of continuing space station operations beyond 2015. I want to be very sure that the panel understands that the Congress has expressed itself clearly in the reauthorization law passed last year, that it considers full and extended utilization of the space station to be a critical necessity. In the 2008 Act, the Congress directed NASA to take no action that would preclude operations of the space station beyond 2015 for at least five years—to 2020.
“We then required NASA to provide a report to the Congress, due July 15th, 2009—two weeks ago—outlining the specific plans and requirements needed to support operations, maintenance and full utilization of the ISS as a National Laboratory through at least 2020. I am advised that the required report has been completed and the final draft has been under review at NASA Headquarters for the past two weeks. It then must be reviewed by the Office and Management and Budget, and my office has been assured that OMB has agreed to expedite their review. I underscore the pending availability of this report today because it should contain—if it is responsive to the requirements of the law—the type of information this panel must have if it is to adequately address the issue of space station operations beyond 2015. My staff has advised NASA that the information comprising the content of this report should be provided to the panel, and I believe this could—and should—be done immediately, regardless of whether the report has been finalized prior to formal presentation to the Congress.
“Congress, in turn, needs the information in this report to help us craft a new NASA Authorization bill, which we have been working on the past several months. A portion of that bill will address the space station utilization issue by taking the evolution of the National Laboratory concept to the next steps of formal organizational development and providing the authority necessary for it to effectively operate. I will continue to press for the timely submission of the formal report, but bring it to the attention of the panel as something I believe they need access to now, if they have not already been provided all of the factual data used in preparing that report.
“Finally, I want to stress my belief that you must be able to consider any and all possible options and alternatives to ensure the continuation and future success of the US human spaceflight programs. I believe it is essential for your review to be unconstrained by any binding consideration, whether budgetary or programmatic. We in the Congress and, I believe, the Administration, must be given a clear picture of what is attainable and what resources would be required. We will then be in a position to make the judgments necessary to achieve the best possible and most affordable result for the American taxpayer.
“Again, I want to thank you for coming to the Great State of Texas and your commitment to this enormous task. I look forward to seeing the result of your efforts. I commend you for joining with the Administration and my colleagues in the Congress to derive the best possible path forward to sustain an essential national asset and preserve our country’s leadership in space.
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