Hearings

Options for Assuring Domestic Space Access

July 16, 2014
09:30 AM Hart Senate Office Building 216

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and the Senate Committee on Armed Services’ Subcommittee on Strategic Forces will hold a joint hearing titled, “Options for Assuring Domestic Space Access,” on Wednesday, July 16, 2014, at 9:30 a.m. Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL), Chairman of the Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Science and Space, and Senator Mark Udall (D-CO), Chairman of the Armed Services Committee’s Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, will co-chair the hearing.

Maintaining affordable, reliable, and sustainable space access across agencies and missions is of critical national importance. The joint hearing will consider the current state of the U.S. launch enterprise and the risks posed to U.S. space operations by relying on the Russian RD-180 rocket engine. In assessing the full range of risk mitigation options, the joint hearing will also examine civil, commercial, and national security launch requirements, as well as the potential cost and schedule implications of developing launch systems. 

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Testimony

  • The Honorable Alan F. Estevez

    Principle Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics
    Download Testimony (67.33 KB)

  • General William L. Shelton

    USAF, Commander
    Air Force Space Command
    Download Testimony (318.61 KB)

  • Mr. Robert M. Lightfoot Jr.

    Associate Administrator
    National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Download Testimony (117.94 KB)

Witness Panel 2

  • Major General Howard J. Mitchell

    USAF (Ret.), Vice President, Program Assessments
    The Aerospace Corporation
    Download Testimony (201.68 KB)

  • Mr. Daniel L. Dumbacher

    Professor of Practice
    Department of Aeronautics and Aerospace Engineering, Purdue University
    Download Testimony (89.13 KB)

  • Dr. Yool Kim

    Senior Engineer
    RAND Corporation
    Download Testimony (163.43 KB)

  • Ms. Cristina Chaplain

    Director, Acquisition and Sourcing Management
    U.S. Government Accountability Office
    Download Testimony (697.95 KB)