Author Topic: Subcommittee Hearing on NASA's FY14 Budget Proposal (Read 18378 times)

Political Hack Wannabe · « **on:** 04/24/2013 01:36 pm »

Brought to you by the House Space Subcommittee

Topics to be discussed can be found in your invite, which if you forgot it, can be found here

Guests will include the distinguished Charlie Bolden, and your hosts will be the Space Subcommittee.

Dress is formal, and the festivities will begin at 2 pm sharp, today (April 24)

Bring the kids, and have all kinds of fun....

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #1 on:** 04/24/2013 03:14 pm »

Heh! This could be fun indeed. Coverted the thread title into something we could potentially turn into a "live" thread. Will aim to be around for this.

PS "innumerate space cadet fantasy" <---HA, that's totally me!

deltaV · « **Reply #2 on:** 04/24/2013 04:34 pm »

The chairman represents south-east Mississippi (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steven_Palazzo). Stennis space center is in that district. I therefore bet he likes J-2X and SSME.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #3 on:** 04/24/2013 06:06 pm »

Just jumped in and there's talk of concern for sustained funding for SLS/Orion and Commercial Crew.

Wants to hear about potential milestone's being stretched to align with the funding.

Says the asteroid mission came out of the blue (it did)

Prober · « **Reply #4 on:** 04/24/2013 06:09 pm »

Ms Edwards gives a thumbs up to Orbital

gave a strange look about the asteroid program

Dept of Energy seems to be a major topic (NASA hit with a 50Millon dollar bill)

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #5 on:** 04/24/2013 06:09 pm »

Ms Edwards notes Congress has not provided NASA with enough support to achieve the goals (funding).

Big angle so far is "budget vs goals".

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #6 on:** 04/24/2013 06:13 pm »

"20lbs of mission in a 10lb budget".

Ms Edwards notes the money needed for EM-2's Asteroid mission, when NASA's trying to find cash for commercial crew, and space technology.

Pleased NASA has been managing schedule and cost better over the past two years.

GAO: "If JSWT, SLS, Orion, Commercial Crew etc, suffer a hiccup, there's no room to deal with that situation."

Again asking about where this asteroid mission came from.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #7 on:** 04/24/2013 06:17 pm »

Mr Smith excited about Kepler discoveries, as he should be.

Not happy about SLS/Orion's exploration roadmap (lack of content). Not happy about no Moon landing.

Thinks the money for the EM-2 mission would detract for other HSF missions.

Wants good support for the ISS. Not happy about paying Russia for seats to the ISS.

Notes Orion as the "back up" option to commercial crew - uh oh!

Wants stepping stone approach to Mars.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #8 on:** 04/24/2013 06:18 pm »

Here's General Bolden. Opening statement.

Sounds a bit like the one for the FY14 reveal.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #9 on:** 04/24/2013 06:18 pm »

By the way, you can all chip in. Don't mind duplicates. I might get something wrong on tone and context, so a spread helps the balance.

Prober · « **Reply #10 on:** 04/24/2013 06:19 pm »

Witnesses out to lunch?

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #11 on:** 04/24/2013 06:21 pm »

Confident start from Charlie Bolden.

Now the questions! Seat belts on!

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #12 on:** 04/24/2013 06:24 pm »

Q) Confidence levels for SLS to be ready for 2017.

A) Confident, cause it's an evolving system. Notes Shuttle hardware already ready to be used - well proven tech. Orion has been through two programs. Confident with cost estimates.

Doesn't have a confidence level percentage. Not at that point yet. If the number came out really bad, the program could be cancelled

- but he doesn't expect that. KPDC ( or something like that, is the percentage level).

Wanted to give a guess percentage, but then decided not to.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #13 on:** 04/24/2013 06:25 pm »

Pretty clever of Charlie Bolden to keep mentioning RS-25s and Stennis, in response to Mr Palazzo! And now the test stands!

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #14 on:** 04/24/2013 06:27 pm »

Whoa, hang on. He just intimated they need Block 2 SLS by 2025. That was either a mistake or.....need to check my ESD CONOPS for Block 2 requirement for BEO NEA.

Prober · « **Reply #15 on:** 04/24/2013 06:28 pm »

1st question out of the box He can't answer.....fluff

But he has confidence in numbers.

now we have a guess answer, no we don't
=================

a 60mil dollar SLS expense is now moved to other areas but doesn't have detail where the money goes.
However lots of talk of Stennis

Airbone Orion abort test is put off for some years.

Prober · « **Reply #16 on:** 04/24/2013 06:33 pm »

This budget is based on a sequester removal

If the sequester continues all bets are off.

Asteroid mission might be dropped

Same Commercial Crew numbers and tests delay....give us money.
==============

Goal alter the path of an Asteroid approaching earth?

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #17 on:** 04/24/2013 06:33 pm »

Ms Edwards asking about the budget and if there was a continued sequester.

Bolden: If it lasted "say 10 years" all bets are off. Commercial crew would have to slip. The asteroid mission would probably have to go away.

Ms Edwards "There's little support in the science community for an asteroid mission".

Bolden: Talks about increasing the number of rocks we can find that threaten Earth and demo we can alter the path of one coming towards Earth.

Ms Edwards: "So the goal is the capture, or an interim step to Mars?"

Bolden: "The goal is to be the leader in space exploration (Chris: Putin said that when added $50b to his program!), and Mars in 2030s - the ultimate destination. Asteroid is an intermediate destination.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #18 on:** 04/24/2013 06:36 pm »

Mr Smith going after the EM-2 mission too.

Bolden not aware of advisory group saying the mission is a bit fluffy (my paraphrase).

Moon Landing interest?

Bolden: "I'd agree with anyone who would say a moon landing is good. We've done it six times already. But we can only do so much"

What would be better for Mars, Moon or NEA?

"Both would be good, but we're going with asteroid."

Mr Smith "Did you get any expert advice?"

Bolden: "We get expert advice all the time."

Mr Smith "At some point you're going to have to listen to expert advice".

Friendly battle there!

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #19 on:** 04/24/2013 06:38 pm »

Mr Smith on JWST being a year behind?

Bolden: "That is not correct. We're 14 months ahead. I've not heard anything...."

Mr Smith: "But I read it was 11 months behind!"

Bolden: "I'd appreciate a source on that. It's a serious news break if that's true".

(Who reported they are 11 months behind? My article yesterday said they are on schedule)

Bolden: 2017 for SLS/Orion is "very good". Want to see successful EFT-1, but we're well on the way.