WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Commerce, Science, and
Transportation Committee today unanimously approved legislation cosponsored by
Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), Ranking Member on the Committee, to
safeguard America’s human spaceflight capabilities while balancing commercial
space investment with a robust mission for NASA. The bill was sponsored by
Committee Chairman John D. Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) and cosponsored by Senators
Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), David Vitter (R-La.) and George LeMieux (R-Fla.).
“I am extremely pleased that we have been able to work out a
bipartisan compromise on the NASA Authorization legislation. It has been a long and very hard road to get
here,” said Senator Hutchison. “We began
more than four months ago with a new proposal for NASA introduced by the
President which I believe would have ended the era of U.S. dominance in space
exploration, threatened the use of the Space Station, and jeopardized manned
space flight. This legislation approved today represents a strong balance
between the need for investment in new technology and the continued evolution
of the commercial market to take an increasing role in supporting our efforts
in low Earth orbit. This will allow for
greater emphasis on funding the next generation of launch technology needed to
allow us to resume our role as explorers.”
The NASA
Authorization Act of 2010 addresses the following areas:
International
Space Station (ISS)
The bill would extend full utilization of the ISS through at
least 2020 and ensure safe and effective operation, maintenance and maximum
utilization of ISS through a comprehensive report to Congress of essential
systems, components, elements, etc., on board or planned for delivery and
installation, including replacement parts needed through 2020.
Space Shuttle
Retirement and Transition
The bill would authorize and direct NASA to fly the space
shuttle Launch on Need (LON) flight pending results of a required assessment of
safe means of return for astronauts if the shuttle is damaged or unable to
return. The bill also would preserve
space shuttle capabilities through 2011 to complete the current manifest. It
would also prohibit termination of any contracts that would inhibit launching
of the space shuttle.
Commercial Crew
and Cargo Transportation Capabilities
The bill would direct NASA to continue the Commercial
Orbital Transportation Services Program (COTS) in support of providing cargo
services to the ISS and would establish a requirement for the definition of
milestones and minimum performance objectives to be achieved before procurement
authority is granted for crew development capability.
Expansion of Human
Space Flight Beyond the International Space Station and Low-Earth Orbit
The bill would direct NASA to initiate development of a
government-owned, NASA-designed and operated “ Space Launch System” (SLS) – a
heavy lift launch capability – as soon as practicable and would establish the
end of 2016 as the goal for full operational capability while allowing for
modification and/or extension of existing contracts. The bill would require NASA to develop a
multi-purpose crew transportation vehicle based on Orion for use with the Space
Launch System.
Rescoping and
Revitalizing Institutional Capabilities
The bill would require a study to identify an approach for
the most efficient use and maintenance of NASA facilities and infrastructure,
paying specific attention to eliminating unneeded duplication or infrastructure. It would also prohibit NASA from making any
movement or termination of contractors or civil servants or any reorganization
or Reduction in Force for reasons other than cause, until Congress receives the
required reports and legislative authority to make such changes.
# # #
You can view Senator Hutchison’s statement here.
Additional information on the bill can be found here.
You can view a press conference on the bill’s approval
by the Commerce Committee here.