Reports
House Science, Space, and Technology Committee Hearing: “Advancing Scientific Discovery: Assessing the Status of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate”
U.S. House Science, Space, and Technology Committee
Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics Hearing
“Advancing Scientific Discovery: Assessing the Status of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate”
Thursday, March 21, 2024
Introduction
The U.S. House Science, Space, and Technology Committee (HSST) Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics held a hearing entitled “Advancing Scientific Discovery: Assessing the Status of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate” on Thursday, March 21, 2024. The purpose of the hearing was to review the capabilities, operational methodology, and policies associated with NASA’s scientific goals. During the hearing, witnesses discussed the funding allocations outlined in the Presidential Budget Request (PBR) for Fiscal Year 2025, as well as the costs and scheduling delays for the Mars Sample Return (MSR) program. Additionally, discussions touched upon upcoming Science Mission Directorate (SMD) projects outlined in the decadal surveys.
Witnesses
- Dr. Nicola Fox, Associate Administrator, Science Mission Directorate, NASA
- Mr. George A. Scott, Acting Inspector General, NASA
- Dr. Jonathan I. Lunine, The David C. Duncan Professor in the Physical Sciences, Cornell University
- Mr. A. Thomas Young, Former Director, Goddard Space Flight Center and Former President and COO, Martin Marietta Corp
Opening Statements
Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA)
In her opening statement, Ranking Member Lofgren referenced potential delays and cancellations due to the FY2025 budget request received by Congress. The budget request will impact not only new missions under development but also active missions. Ranking Member Lofgren then emphasized the importance of workforce acquisition and retention, stating that “skilled talent, once lost, may not be easily regained,” and that Congress and NASA “must consider the value of ensuring continuity of critical skills and talent.” Read the Full Statement.
Subcommittee Chairman Brian Babin (R-TX)
In his opening statement, Chairman Babin cited NASA’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) Mars Sample Return Audit, which identifies program challenges, including “project management challenges, including over-optimism on technology development, evolving architectural requirements, and underestimating costs.” Chairman Babin also noted the value of the MSR mission and expressed a desire to see the mission continue but cited previous instances of cost overruns and delays caused by other NASA programs, including the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) and the Psyche spacecraft. Chairman Babin then noted that recent decadal surveys have recommended ambitious missions and optimistic budgets but noted that the decadal process should recognize the current fiscal environment. Read the Full Statement.
Subcommittee Ranking Member Eric Sorensen (D-IL)
In his opening statement, Ranking Member Sorensen stressed the importance of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate (SMD) in earth science, notably in operational weather services. Ranking Member Sorensen then referenced limited funding to the science mission directorate, citing the need to balance funding to small, medium, and large missions.
Witness Testimony
Dr. Nicola Fox, Associate Administrator, Science Mission Directorate, NASA
In her testimony, Dr. Fox highlighted key missions and science undertaken by NASA, including the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), the OSIRIS-Rex mission, and two missions added to NASA’s Earth Science portfolio: the Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem (PACE) mission, and the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR). Dr. Fox also noted investments in the C in the Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program and requested funding for NEO Surveyor, set to launch in 2028. Dr. Fox noted that of the last 21 major missions NASA has launched, 11 came in under their development budget commitment, with the average cost variance of these missions being –1%. Read the Full Statement
Mr. George A. Scott, Acting Inspector General, NASA
In his testimony, Mr. Scott provided an overview of key challenges NASA faces in managing its science portfolio, including developing accurate and timely cost and schedule estimates, a culture of over-optimism, funding instability, and workforce issues. In particular, Mr. Scott noted issues caused by cost increases for the JWST and Psyche missions. Mr. Scott encouraged NASA to “redouble its efforts to ensure that its science projects are grounded in accurate estimates.” Read the Full Statement
Dr. Jonathan I. Lunine, The David C. Duncan Professor in the Physical Sciences, Cornell University
In his testimony, Dr. Lunine recounted the achievements of NASA’s space science program, including the Cassini and OSIRIS-Rex missions, the JWST, and the Parker Solar Probe. Dr. Lunine also emphasized the criticality of scientific missions centering on Mars, noting that “both planetary science Decadal Surveys identified Mars Sample Return as their highest priority.” Read the Full Statement
Mr. A. Thomas Young, Former Director, Goddard Space Flight Center and Former President and COO, Martin Marietta Corp
In his testimony, Mr. Young noted several accomplishments by NASA’s SMD, noting that projects like the JSWT and MSR originated from Decadal Surveys, which have extremely difficult development paths, and “push the boundaries of what is possible.” To navigate this difficult development path, Mr. Young argues for rigorous “hands-on” employee development. Regarding MSR, Mr. Young notes that “MSR is identified as the #1 priority in the last two Planetary Decadal Surveys.” Mr. Young noted recommendations for required improvements, including better cost estimating, improved systems engineering, employee development, a balanced SMD strategy, and better project management. Read the Full Statement
Question & Answer
In response to a question by Chairman Babin (R-TX), Dr. Fox stated that NASA’s results of the second independent review team’s assessment of the MSR program will be available this spring.
In response to a question by Chairman Babin (R-TX), Dr. Fox reported that NEO Surveyor is on track to launch in 2028, and adequately funded through the year.
In response to a question by Chairman Babin (R-TX), Mr. Young stated when NASA selects challenging opportunities that push technological limits, an accurate early understanding of costs is not plausible.
In response to a question by Chairman Babin (R-TX), Mr. Scott stated that a number of factors continue to drive the cost increases in large programs, including inaccurate initial baseline estimates, workforce issues, and lack of technological maturity, citing the OIG SMD Large Mission Study.
In response to a question by Rep. Bill Posey (R-FL), Mr. Scott referenced the Audit of NASA’s High-End Computing Capabilities, citing recommendations for a better understanding of the use of and updating the cybersecurity controls for NASA’s High-End Computing Capabilities.
In response to Rep. Posey (R-FL) ‘s question, Dr. Fox stated that NASA is in the process of responding to each recommendation from the Audit of NASA’s High-End Computing Capabilities.
In response to a question by Rep. Jennifer McClellan (D-VA), Dr. Fox stated that the FY25 Presidential Budget Request provides challenges in the funding of the Planetary Science Division. For the NASA Langley Research Center specifically, the largest impact will be in the Earth Science Division.
In response to several questions by Rep. Mike Garcia (R-CA) regarding the MSR program and subsequent layoffs at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), Dr. Fox stated a commitment to working closely with JPL to maintain the workforce needed to do missions. Dr. Fox cited the anti-deficiency act as the reasoning behind the budget and layoff decision at JPL. Rep. Garcia stated that “the damage here is tremendous. Not to just my district, but to all of Southern California… and the NASA workforce industrial base.”
In response to a question by Rep. Dale Strong (R-AL), Dr. Fox stated that MSR was the highest priority in the past two decadal surveys. NASA is assessing the recommended restructuring, and some elements of the MSR program are paused while the assessment is ongoing.
In a response to a question by Rep. Rich McCormick (R-GA), Dr. Fox stated that the neo-surveyor program is the next ‘thing’ in planetary defense at NASA, which will characterize and catalog potential threats. There are no plans to have additional DARTs in storage due to resource limitations. The OSIRIS-REx spacecraft is being reused to rendezvous with the asteroid Apophis and is renamed OSIRIS-APEX.
In response to Rep. McCormick (R-GA) ‘s question, Mr. Scott cited the annual OIG’s Top Management and Performance Challenges report as a guide for NASA leadership. In response to a question by Ranking Member Sorensen (D-IL), Mr. Young recommended that it be recognized that initial cost estimates given on projects are the lowest credible costs and that NASA incorporate perspectives that reevaluate the potential cost to provide the most probable estimate.