Options and Issues for Nasa's Human Space Flight Program
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
OPTIONS AND ISSUES FOR NASA’S HUMAN SPACE FLIGHT PROGRAM: REPORT OF THE ‘‘REVIEW OF U.S. HUMAN SPACE FLIGHT PLANS’’ COMMITTEE HEARING BEFORE THE COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ONE HUNDRED ELEVENTH CONGRESS FIRST SESSION SEPTEMBER 15, 2009 Serial No. 111–51 Printed for the use of the Committee on Science and Technology ( Available via the World Wide Web: http://www.science.house.gov U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 51–928PDF WASHINGTON : 2010 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office Internet: bookstore.gpo.gov Phone: toll free (866) 512–1800; DC area (202) 512–1800 Fax: (202) 512–2104 Mail: Stop IDCC, Washington, DC 20402–0001 COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY HON. BART GORDON, Tennessee, Chair JERRY F. COSTELLO, Illinois RALPH M. HALL, Texas EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON, Texas F. JAMES SENSENBRENNER JR., LYNN C. WOOLSEY, California Wisconsin DAVID WU, Oregon LAMAR S. SMITH, Texas BRIAN BAIRD, Washington DANA ROHRABACHER, California BRAD MILLER, North Carolina ROSCOE G. BARTLETT, Maryland DANIEL LIPINSKI, Illinois VERNON J. EHLERS, Michigan GABRIELLE GIFFORDS, Arizona FRANK D. LUCAS, Oklahoma DONNA F. EDWARDS, Maryland JUDY BIGGERT, Illinois MARCIA L. FUDGE, Ohio W. TODD AKIN, Missouri BEN R. LUJA´ N, New Mexico RANDY NEUGEBAUER, Texas PAUL D. TONKO, New York BOB INGLIS, South Carolina PARKER GRIFFITH, Alabama MICHAEL T. MCCAUL, Texas STEVEN R. ROTHMAN, New Jersey MARIO DIAZ-BALART, Florida JIM MATHESON, Utah BRIAN P. BILBRAY, California LINCOLN DAVIS, Tennessee ADRIAN SMITH, Nebraska BEN CHANDLER, Kentucky PAUL C. BROUN, Georgia RUSS CARNAHAN, Missouri PETE OLSON, Texas BARON P. HILL, Indiana HARRY E. MITCHELL, Arizona CHARLES A. WILSON, Ohio KATHLEEN DAHLKEMPER, Pennsylvania ALAN GRAYSON, Florida SUZANNE M. KOSMAS, Florida GARY C. PETERS, Michigan VACANCY (II) C O N T E N T S September 15, 2009 Page Witness List ............................................................................................................. 2 Hearing Charter ...................................................................................................... 3 Opening Statements Statement by Representative Bart Gordon, Chairman, Committee on Science and Technology, U.S. House of Representatives ............................................... 29 Written Statement ............................................................................................ 30 Statement by Representative Ralph M. Hall, Minority Ranking Member, Committee on Science and Technology, U.S. House of Representatives ......... 31 Written Statement ............................................................................................ 33 Prepared Statement by Representative Jerry F. Costello, Member, Committee on Science and Technology, U.S. House of Representatives ............................. 34 Prepared Statement by Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson, Member, Com- mittee on Science and Technology, U.S. House of Representatives ................. 35 Prepared Statement by Representative Gabrielle Giffords, Chairwoman, Sub- committee on Space and Aeronautics, Committee on Science and Tech- nology, U.S. House of Representatives ............................................................... 35 Prepared Statement by Representative Harry E. Mitchell, Member, Com- mittee on Science and Technology, U.S. House of Representatives ................. 37 Panel I: Mr. Norman R. Augustine, Chair, Review of U.S. Human Space Flight Plans Committee Oral Statement ................................................................................................. 37 Written Statement ............................................................................................ 39 Biography .......................................................................................................... 42 Discussion Constellation Program Status ............................................................................. 43 Future Options for NASA .................................................................................... 45 Closing the Shuttle/Ares Gap .............................................................................. 45 Evaluating Crew Safety ....................................................................................... 46 Viability of the Commercial Sector to Support NASA Human Space Flight .. 48 Importance of Funding Human Space Flight .................................................... 50 Should the Columbia Accident Investigation Board Findings Apply to All Human Space Flight? ....................................................................................... 50 Concerns About Commission’s Findings ............................................................ 52 Finding Extra $3 Billion for NASA .................................................................... 54 Implications of Canceling Ares I ......................................................................... 56 Consequences of Not Increasing NASA’s Budget .............................................. 56 ISS and Mars ........................................................................................................ 57 Comments on Commission’s Findings ................................................................ 59 Determining the $3 Billion Increase .................................................................. 60 Risks of Commercial Ventures ............................................................................ 61 NASA Skills and R&D ......................................................................................... 62 Workforce Sustainability ..................................................................................... 64 Space Shuttle Recertification .............................................................................. 65 Possibilities Without $3B Increase ..................................................................... 66 Inspiring Students With NASA’s Current Budget ............................................ 66 Serving President Kennedy’s Vision for the Space Program ............................ 67 (III) IV Page Has NASA Ever Been Fully Funded? ................................................................. 69 International Cooperation for Human Space Flight ......................................... 70 American Leadership in Space ........................................................................... 71 Current State of NASA ........................................................................................ 72 Panel II: Vice Admiral Joseph W. Dyer, USN (Ret.), Chair, Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel, NASA; President, Government & Industrial Robots Division, iRobot Corporation Oral Statement ................................................................................................. 74 Written Statement ............................................................................................ 76 Biography .......................................................................................................... 79 Dr. Michael D. Griffin, Eminent Scholar and Professor, Mechanical and Aero- space Engineering, University of Alabama, Huntsville Oral Statement ................................................................................................. 79 Written Statement ............................................................................................ 81 Discussion Shuttle Extension ................................................................................................. 87 Constellation Program With Budget Augmentation ......................................... 87 Effect of NASA Budget Cuts ............................................................................... 88 Commercial Transportation to the ISS .............................................................. 90 Transforming NASA Expertise to Private Industry .......................................... 92 Continuation of Constellation Development ...................................................... 93 Budget Limitations and Miscalculation ............................................................. 94 Methodology of Cost Assessments ...................................................................... 96 Completion Dates for Constellation .................................................................... 96 Appendix 1: Answers to Post-Hearing Questions Mr. Norman R. Augustine, Chair, Review of U.S. Human Space Flight Plans Committee 100 Vice Admiral Joseph W. Dyer, USN (Ret.), Chair, Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel, NASA; President, Government & Industrial Robots Division, iRobot Corporation 110 Dr. Michael D. Griffin, Eminent Scholar and Professor, Mechanical and Aero- space Engineering, University of Alabama, Huntsville 113 Appendix 2: Additional Material for the Record Letter to The Honorable Gabrielle Giffords from Gary P. Pulliam, Vice Presi- dent, The Aerospace Corporation, dated March 19, 2010 119 OPTIONS AND ISSUES FOR NASA’S HUMAN SPACE FLIGHT PROGRAM: REPORT OF THE ‘‘REVIEW OF U.S. HUMAN SPACE FLIGHT PLANS’’ COMMITTEE TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2009 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, Washington, DC. The Committee met, pursuant to call, at 2:00 p.m., in Room 2318 of the Rayburn House Office Building, Hon. Bart Gordon [Chair- man of the Committee] presiding. (1) 2 3 HEARING CHARTER COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Options and Issues for NASA’s Human Space Flight Program: Report of the ‘‘Review of U.S. Human Space