JAMES WEBB SPACE TELESCOPE: PROGRAM BREACH AND ITS IMPLICATIONS HEARING BEFORE THE COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE, SPACE, AND TECHNOLOGY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ONE HUNDRED FIFTEENTH CONGRESS SECOND SESSION JULY 25, 2018 AND JULY 26, 2018 Serial No. 115–72 Printed for the use of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology ( Available via the World Wide Web: http://science.house.gov U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE 30–882PDF WASHINGTON : 2018 COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE, SPACE, AND TECHNOLOGY HON. LAMAR S. SMITH, Texas, Chair FRANK D. LUCAS, Oklahoma EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON, Texas DANA ROHRABACHER, California ZOE LOFGREN, California MO BROOKS, Alabama DANIEL LIPINSKI, Illinois RANDY HULTGREN, Illinois SUZANNE BONAMICI, Oregon BILL POSEY, Florida AMI BERA, California THOMAS MASSIE, Kentucky ELIZABETH H. ESTY, Connecticut RANDY K. WEBER, Texas MARC A. VEASEY, Texas STEPHEN KNIGHT, California DONALD S. BEYER, JR., Virginia BRIAN BABIN, Texas JACKY ROSEN, Nevada BARBARA COMSTOCK, Virginia CONOR LAMB, Pennsylvania BARRY LOUDERMILK, Georgia JERRY MCNERNEY, California RALPH LEE ABRAHAM, Louisiana ED PERLMUTTER, Colorado GARY PALMER, Alabama PAUL TONKO, New York DANIEL WEBSTER, Florida BILL FOSTER, Illinois ANDY BIGGS, Arizona MARK TAKANO, California ROGER W. MARSHALL, Kansas COLLEEN HANABUSA, Hawaii NEAL P. DUNN, Florida CHARLIE CRIST, Florida CLAY HIGGINS, Louisiana RALPH NORMAN, South Carolina DEBBIE LESKO, Arizona MICHAEL CLOUD, Texas (II) C O N T E N T S July 25, 2018 Page Witness List ............................................................................................................. 2 Hearing Charter ...................................................................................................... 3 Opening Statements Statement by Representative Lamar Smith, Chairman, Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, U.S. House of Representatives .................................... 4 Written Statement ............................................................................................ 6 Statement by Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson, Ranking Member, Com- mittee on Science, Space, and Technology, U.S. House of Representatives .... 8 Written Statement ............................................................................................ 12 Statement by Representative Brian Babin, Chairman, Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, U.S. House of Representatives .................................... 14 Written Statement ............................................................................................ 16 Statement by Representative Ami Bera, Ranking Member, Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, U.S. House of Representatives ..................... 19 Written Statement ............................................................................................ 21 Witnesses: Hon. Jim Bridenstine, Administrator, NASA Oral Statement ................................................................................................. 22 Written Statement ............................................................................................ 25 Mr. Tom Young, Chairman, JWST Independent Review Board Oral Statement ................................................................................................. 31 Written Statement ............................................................................................ 33 Discussion ................................................................................................................. 38 July 26, 2018 Opening Statements Statement by Representative Lamar Smith, Chairman, Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, U.S. House of Representatives .................................... 74 Written Statement ............................................................................................ 76 Statement by Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson, Ranking Member, Com- mittee on Science, Space, and Technology, U.S. House of Representatives .... 78 Written Statement ............................................................................................ 81 Written by Representative Brian Babin, Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, U.S. House of Representatives ....................................................... 83 Written Statement by Representative Ami Bera, Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, U.S. House of Representatives .................................... 85 Written Statement by Representative Barbara Comstock, Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, U.S. House of Representatives ..................... 110 (III) IV Page Witnesses: Mr. Wesley Bush, Chief Executive Officer, Northrop Grumman Oral Statement ................................................................................................. 86 Written Statement ............................................................................................ 89 Mr. Tom Young, Chairman, JWST Independent Review Board Discussion ................................................................................................................. 104 Appendix II: Additional Material for the Record Documents submitted by NASA ............................................................................. 134 Documents submitted by Northrop Grumman ...................................................... 135 JAMES WEBB SPACE TELESCOPE: PROGRAM BREACH AND ITS IMPLICATIONS 2018 AND THURSDAY, JULY 26, 2018 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE, SPACE, AND TECHNOLOGY, Washington, D.C. The Committee met, pursuant to call, at 10:05 a.m., in Room 2318 of the Rayburn House Office Building, Hon. Lamar Smith [Chairman of the Committee] presiding. (1) 2 lAMAR S. SMITH, Texas EDDlE BERNICE JOHNSON, Tex<Js CHAIRMAN RANKING MEMBER tt:ongrcss of thr tlnitrd ~tatrs ilousc of Rcprcscntatiucs COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE, SPACE, AND TECHNOLOGY 2321 RAYBURN HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON, DC 20515-6301 (202) 225-6371 www,sdence.house.gov James Webb Space Telescope: Program Breach and its Implications Wednesday, July 25,2018 10:00 a.m. 2318 Rayburn House Office Building Witnesses Panel I. June 25: Hon. Jim Bridenstine, Administrator, NASA Mr. Tom Young, Chairman, JWST Independent Review Board Panel 2. July 26: Mr. Wesley Bush, Chief Executive Officer, Northrop Grumman Mr. Tom Young, Chairman, JWST Independent Review Board 3 U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE, SPACE, AND TECHNOLOGY Charter TO: Members, Committee on Science, Space, and Technology FROM: Majority Staff, Committee on Science, Space, and Technology DATE: July 25,2018 SUBJECT: Full Committee Hearing: "James Webb Space Telescope: Program Breach and its Implications" On Wednesday, July 25, at 10:00 a.m., and Thursday, July 26, at 9:00a.m., in Room 2318 of the Rayburn House Office Building, the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology will hold a two-part hearing titled, "James Webb Space Telescope: Program Breach and its Implications." Hearing Purpose The purpose of this hearing is to focus discussion on the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) Independent Review Board (!RB) report and NASA's response, as well as the implications of the ongoing J WST program breach, especially to other NASA programs. Since the JWST program has now breached under 51 USC 30 I 04 notification conditions, the hearing discussion on July 25 will explore NASA program management effectiveness, program continuation and reauthorization, and budgetary implications across NASA's entire science portfolio, to include the WFIRST program. The second part on July 26 will explore contractor issues and recommended improvements regarding contractor accountability. Witnesses Panell, June 25: • Hon. Jim Bridenstine, Administrator, NASA 1 • Mr. Tom Young, Chairman, JWST Independent Review Board Panel2, July 26: • Mr. Wesley Bush, Chief Executive Officer, Northrop Grumman2 • Mr. Tom Young, Chairman, JWST Independent Review Board Staff Contact For questions related to the hearing, please contact Dr. Michael Mineiro, Staff Director, Space Subcommittee, Dr. Samuel Amber, Professional Staff Member, Space Subcommittee, or Ms. Sara Ratliff, Policy Assistant, Space Subcommittee, at 202-225-6371. 1 Mr. Bridenstine may have an assistant with him at the witness table to assist with technical questions, but a single statement will be submitted on behalf ofNASA. 2 Mr. Bush may have an assistant with him at the witness table to assist with technical questions. but a single statement will be submitted on behalf of Northrop Grumman. 4 Chairman SMITH. The Committee on Space, Science, and Tech- nology will come to order. Without objection, the Chair is author- ized to declare recesses of the Committee at any time. Good morning, and welcome to today’s hearing entitled ‘‘James Webb Space Telescope: Program Breach and its Implications.’’ I’ll recognize myself for an opening statement. Today, we will hear from Administrator Bridenstine on NASA’s plans to ensure that the James Webb Space Telescope is a success. We will also hear from Tom Young on the findings and rec- ommendations of the JWST Independent Review Board. Tomorrow, at the second part of the hearing, Northrop Grum- man’s CEO, Mr. Wes Bush, will testify. We will learn more about why Northrop failed to deliver JWST on budget and on schedule and what can be done about it. Welcome to Jim Bridenstine, who is testifying for the first time since leaving the Committee to become NASA’s Administrator. He began his job with our high expectations, and he has already ex- ceeded them. Jim, that’s the highest compliment I can pay