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Congress Has Questions for NASA

By Keith Cowing
NASA Watch
October 22, 2014
Filed under , ,

Letter from House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology to NASA
“On August 27, 2014, we wrote you to request an update on the Space Launch System (SLS) and the Orion crew vehicle shortly after NASA conducted its Key Decision Point C (KDP-C) review 1. We asked for a response by September 10, 2014. To date, we have only received an acknowledgement of the letter’s receipt. … Finally, on September 16, 2014, Subcommittee staff reached out to NASA in order to gain support for facilitating a briefing on the Commercial Crew Transportation Capabilities (CCtCap) contract source selection, as well as the source selection statement. After NASA issued the request for proposals (RFP) for the contract it declined to comment on the procurement so as to not influence the selection. Understanding the sensitive nature of the source selection process, the Committee decided to reserve questions regarding the procurement until after the selection. … Please provide responses to all of the previous requests by October 28, 2014.”

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

6 responses to “Congress Has Questions for NASA”

  1. dogstar29 says:
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    I have a question for Congress. Why are SLS, Orion, ISS, heliophysics, astrophysics, and the JWST all more important than aeronautics? Aeronautics can create sustainable jobs with high-value commercial exports. That’s what will determine our nation’s future. We as the public need to speak up. But when I call Senator Nelson, all I get is voicemail and form letters.

    • Matt Johnson says:
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      I think the answer is that civil applications take a back seat to weaponry, and DARPA has sort of taken over all of the real cutting edge work.

    • Michael Spencer says:
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      Just imagine what could be done with only a fraction of the ‘defense’ budget: bridges, railroads, airports, parks, schools, free college tuition…the list goes on and on. Similarly, a much smaller part of that trillion dollars spent building schools and roads in the third world would obviate many future crises.

      Similarly, a sane energy policy that gets the country off oil would eliminate th need for presence in the midEast.

      But what do I know?

  2. Ben Russell-Gough says:
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    So, basically, Congress is saying: “No more stalling, we want those reports now, please.” Should be interesting to see if NASA deigns to reply or if it tries to kick the can down the road until Charles Bolden is traditionally obliged by the change of President to resign/retire at the start of 2017.

  3. Joseph Mahma says:
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    I think it’s interesting that Lamar Smith and Steven Palazzo are pretending that they care about this issue, let alone that they have no predetermined opinion. This is a dog and pony show. It doesn’t take a genius to know that SLS and Orion are over budget and destined for a limited life.

    The statements between SLS and Orion vs CCtCap are very telling.

    ” As I am sure you are aware, the SLS and Orion programs are national
    priorities that will facilitate America’s return to preeminence in
    space. SLS recently passed KDP-C, and the Exploration Flight Test
    (EFT-1) of Orion is only weeks away. “

    “We assume the Administration will submit a budget proposal to Congress
    in the next few months that will include funding for the CCtCap program.
    Congresses’ ability to evaluate this budget request may be challenged
    by NASA’s uncooperative position. We hope that NASA will not expect
    taxpayers to blindly fund billion-dollar programs absent any information
    related to the procurement or contract”

    • hikingmike says:
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      “Congresses’ ability to evaluate this budget request may be challenged by NASA’s uncooperative position.”

      Sounds like – “It would be a shame if something bad were to happen.”