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Congress

Today's Hearing: Where is the SLS Selection?

By Keith Cowing
NASA Watch
July 12, 2011
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House Science, Space, and Technology Committee Hearing: A Review of NASA’s Space Launch SystemHearing Charter
“The original intent of the hearing was to examine NASA’s selection of a heavy-lift launch system (“Space Launch System”) that will be used to launch future crew and cargo flights beyond low Earth orbit. Members would have had an opportunity to ask questions regarding cost, schedule, capabilities, and justification for the selected design. However, on July 7, a senior NASA official publicly stated that a final decision on SLS won’t be announced until “late this summer.” In light of NASA’s continuing delays (the NASA Authorization Act of 2010 required a decision and report by mid-January 2011), the hearing will instead provide an opportunity for NASA to explain why it has failed to reach a decision, what analyses still need to be completed, and when the Space Launch System decisions will be forthcoming.”
Keith’s note: Rep. Hall opended the hearing by telling Bolden that not getting SLS documentation the committee had requested from NASA “is almost an insult to this committee and to Congress”. Rep. Johnson said that Bolden can “expect to be on the receiving end of some frustration from members – including me.”
Opening Statement: Rep. Ralph Hall Chairman Committee on Science, Space, and Technology A Review of NASA’s Space Launch System
“As a preface to the formal portion of my statement, I want to first congratulate all the men and women at NASA and its contractors for the successful launch of STS-135. The Shuttle launch was viewed by tens of thousands on hand in Florida and millions more around the world, including a packed crowd in this hearing room, and it was a bittersweet moment to watch the last flight of the Shuttle Atlantis lift off from Kennedy Space Center.”
Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) Hearing on “A Review of NASA’s Space Launch System” Opening Statement
“Administrator Bolden, as you know, you have been called to testify on NASA’s plans to develop the vehicles that will enable future human exploration beyond low-Earth orbit–vehicles that have been authorized and funded by Congress. However, as you also know–and will testify today–you still don’t have an approved plan to share with us. As a result, I expect that you will be on the receiving end of a lot of unhappiness and irritation expressed by many Members here today. That’s unfortunate, because the fault doesn’t lie with you. It’s my understanding that you have had a plan ready to announce for some time, but you haven’t been able to get the final okay to make it public.”
Science Democrats Urge Administration to Let NASA Get On With Developing The Nation’s Future Human Space Exploration Vehicles
“Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology held a hearing entitled, “A Review of NASA’s Space Launch System.” The purpose of the hearing was for the NASA Administrator to explain why the agency has failed to reach a decision on the architecture for the Space Launch System, what analyses still need to be completed, and when final acquisition decisions will be made.”
Rocket decision still weeks away, NASA chief says, Orlando Sentinel
“NASA Administrator Charlie Bolden told Congress on Tuesday that it could be weeks — or longer — before the agency unveils the design for its next big rocket, a timeline that prompted lawmakers to threaten an investigation into the delay. “We have waited for answers that have not come. We have pleaded for answers that have not come,” said U.S. Rep. Ralph Hall, the Texas Republican who chairs the House science committee. “We have run out of patience.”
Congress Grills NASA Chief Over Next Big Rocket Design, space.com
“NASA maintained at various times that a decision was coming in the spring, then in June, then in early July. NASA associate administrator Lori Garver said last week the agency hopes to make an announcement by late summer.”
On NASA and Houston: Sheila Jackson Lee succeeds where I have failed, Houston Chronicle
“I have requested an interview with Charlie Bolden, NASA’s administrator, at least half a dozen times since Feb. 2010, the last time I had the opportunity to speak with him. Fact is, Bolden is been all but inaccessible to the media since an initial around of interviews after President Obama released his plan for human spaceflight in early 2010. His predecessors frequently attended pre- and post-launch shuttle news conferences. Bolden rarely if ever does. It’s weird. It’s not like he’s not in Florida for the launches. He is. Anyway, to her credit, Sheila Jackson Lee got a few Houston-related questions in during a House science committee hearing on NASA’s Space Launch System. She takes a lot of grief for being too interested in getting in front of cameras, but in this case I’m glad she did.”

NASA Watch founder, Explorers Club Fellow, ex-NASA, Away Teams, Journalist, Space & Astrobiology, Lapsed climber.