House Science Committee Hearing on FY 2017 NASA Budget
House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittee on Space Reviews NASA Budget Challenges
“Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas): “There are some areas of agreement between the Committee and the administration in NASA’s Fiscal Year 2017 budget request. But this proposed budget continues to tie our astronauts’ feet to the ground and makes a Mars mission all but impossible.”
House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittee on Space Reviews the NASA Budget Proposal for Fiscal Year 2017
“Though generally supportive of the budget request, Democratic Members of the Subcommittee discussed a number of concerns, such as the need for funding stability for NASA; the proposed cuts in funding for the Space Launch System and the Orion spacecraft; the proposed reduction in spending on STEM education; potential risks of schedule pressure for Exploration-Mission 2; and the need for a roadmap for a manned mission to Mars.”
– Hearing: NASA Fiscal Year 2017 Budget
– Hearing charter
– Webcast
– Bolden Prepared statement
The problem with providing Congress with “a roadmap for a manned mission to Mars” is that every time NASA has done this in the past (for either a return to the moon or a manned journey to Mars), Congress wants to know how long it’s going to take and how much it’s going to cost. And in the past, Congress has never liked the answers, except that one time that the US was in a Space Race with the USSR.
It’s possible that Mr. Musk will help the agency with his Mars announcement later this year.
And by ‘help’ I mean kick in the ass.
At some point the SLS/FH comparisons will start coming.
Reporter: “Mr. Musk?”
Musk: “The lady in back. Yes?”
Reporter: “Thank you. Mr. Musk, why is your plan for establishment of a Mars colony so much cheaper than the $500 Billion we heard from NASA a few years ago? And how are you able to to beat NASA to Mars?”
Musk: “You’ll have to ask them!”
(Room erupts into laughter).
Reporter: “A follow up. What will you say to NASAs astronauts when they finally arrive at Mars? Won’t that be a bit awkward”
Musk: “Not at all! I’ll just hand them a flag- we will even drill a hole to make it easier to place the pole!- and a nice, undisturbed place to stand.”
(Room falls silent).