Space and Science

The Subcommittee on Space and Science has jurisdiction over national and civil space policy; legislation and oversight of science, technology, engineering, and math research, development, and policy; and standards and measurement. The subcommittee conducts oversight on the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Office of Commercial Space Transportation, the Department of Commerce Office of Space Commerce, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the National Space Council, the National Science Foundation (NSF), the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), and the United States Arctic Research Commission.

Committee Members

Majority

Minority

Related Press Releases & Hearings

Press Releases 02/16/2023
Cantwell, Hickenlooper and Colleagues Reintroduce Bill to Reduce Orbiting Junk That Endangers the Future Space Economy
This week, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, joined U.S. Sens. John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.) and Diane Feinstein (D-Calif.) to reintroduce the Orbital Sustainability (ORBITS) Act, a bipartisan bill to establish a first-of-its-kind demonstration program to reduce the amount of space junk in orbit.
Press Releases 02/1/2023
On this 20th Anniversary, Sens. Cantwell, Cruz Introduce Bipartisan Resolution Honoring Crewmembers Who Lost Their Lives Aboard Space Shuttle Columbia on February 1, 2003
On the 20th anniversary of the Space Shuttle Columbia tragedy, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, and Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas), incoming Ranking Member of the Commerce Committee, introduced a Senate resolution honoring the seven crewmembers who lost their lives on February 1, 2003. The resolution is co-sponsored by Sens. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Mark Warner (D-Va.) and Dick Durbin (D-Ill.).
Hearings 12/1/2022
Subcommittee: Landsat at 50 & the Future of U.S. Satellite-based Earth Observation
U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Chair of the Subcommittee on Space and Science, will convene a subcommittee hearing titled “Landsat at 50 & the Future of U.S. Satellite-based Earth Observation” at 10:30 a.m. ET on Thursday, December 1, 2022. This subcommittee hearing will highlight critical Earth Observation (EO) data provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the United States Geological Survey (USGS), which recently celebrated Landsat’s 50th Anniversary. The hearing will also discuss the rise of commercial providers and improving access to EO data to spur economic growth. Finally, the hearing will highlight EO value-added services enabling precision agriculture, improved city planning, water management, wildland fire prevention and detection, and disaster response.
Press Releases 11/22/2022
Cantwell, Bipartisan Group of Senators Tell Appropriators: America’s Competitive Future Depends on Fully Funding CHIPS & Science Act
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, led a bipartisan letter to Senate Appropriators underscoring that Congress must fully fund the CHIPS and Science Act in the Fiscal Year 2023 Appropriations Bill to ensure U.S. global economic and technological leadership.
Press Releases 11/17/2022
Cantwell Honors Eddie Bernice Johnson on 40 Years of Service and Shaping the Next Generation of Women in STEM
Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, honored Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX-30), Chair of the House Space, Science and Technology Committee, at a ceremony unveiling Chair Johnson’s official portrait. Chair Johnson is retiring this year after 40 years in public service. She was the first African American and first woman to chair the House Science Committee and was a key negotiator with Sen. Cantwell in passing the historic CHIPS and Science Act. In honor of Chair Johnson’s commitment to STEM, the legislation honors her with the “Eddie Bernice Johnson INCLUDES Initiative” to help increase diversity and opportunities in STEM careers.
Press Releases 11/16/2022
Artemis Blasts Off Toward the Moon – With Contributions from 42 WA Companies and Funding Spearheaded by Cantwell
Today, NASA’s Artemis I mission successfully launched from Kennedy Space Center. This is the first uncrewed test flight of the Artemis program, which is designed to return humans on the Moon and prepare for human exploration of Mars. It is also the first flight of the agency’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, led by Boeing, and the second spaceflight of the Orion crew capsule, led by Lockheed Martin.
Press Releases 11/16/2022
Wicker Celebrates the Launch of Artemis I Flight Test
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, today released the following remarks as the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) launches the Artemis I uncrewed flight test. The flight test was launched today at 1:47 a.m. EST from the Kennedy Space Center and is scheduled to return to Earth in four to six weeks.
Hearings 09/29/2022
Securing U.S. Leadership in Emerging Compute Technologies
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, will convene a full committee hearing titled: “Securing U.S. Leadership in Emerging Compute Technologies” on Thursday, September 29, 2022, at 10 a.m. EDT.
Press Releases 09/29/2022
Cantwell Says CHIPS and Science Act Key to Advancing U.S. Computing Technologies & Building the Workforce to Drive it
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, underscored the need to fully fund the CHIPS and Science Act STEM education programs and build a competitive, highly-skilled workforce – the workforce needed for American leadership in key areas like artificial intelligence, quantum science, distributed ledger technologies and the semiconductors that power the computer industry.
Press Releases 09/29/2022
Wicker Remarks at “Securing U.S. Leadership in Emerging Compute Technologies” Hearing
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, today delivered remarks at a full committee hearing titled, “Securing U.S. Leadership in Emerging Compute Technologies.” Senator Wicker discussed the impactful provisions in the Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors (CHIPS) and Science Act, which was recently signed into law, and the importance of American leadership in technology.