NASA On the Hill: Transition to Next Generation Human Spaceflight System

ASK OCE — May 29, 2007 — Vol. 2, Issue 3

The Senate Subcommittee on Space, Aeronautics, and Related Sciences held hearings on March 28, 2007, on NASA’s transition from the Space Shuttle to the Constellation program.

William Gerstenmaier, NASA Associate Administrator for Space Operations, told the committee that the Agency is “making substantial progress in managing a fundamental shift” from conducting operations in low-Earth orbit to developing a new system that will ultimately enable exploration across the solar system. Gerstenmaier characterized NASA’s transition planning activities in three categories: completion of the Shuttle’s planned flights, facilities, and workforce. He underscored that the scope of the transition, including the completion of the International Space Station (ISS), was unprecedented. “Never in the almost 50-year history of the Agency has a task of this magnitude been undertaken,” he said.

Allen Li, Director of Acquisition and Sourcing Management for the Government Accountability Office (GAO), noted that NASA is undertaking this transition in a political environment of skepticism and competing priorities, and that its performance will have a direct impact on its ability to secure support from Congress. “The need for NASA to implement the Vision in a fiscally prudent and effective manner cannot be overemphasized given the competing fiscal demands facing the federal government and an already troubling funding profile projected for human spaceflight activities,” Li said.

Read transcripts from the hearings.