we would be orbit the space station that there would be the commercial stations ready to go. >> thank you. i yield back. >> the time is expired. we are down to just a few minutes to go vote, and so if it's okay with you mr. administrator, we will reconvene as soon as we get through the last vote. >> how many votes you have? >> seven. >> oh my. too many votes. okay? >> yes sir. >> you make too many votes. you've done a miracle more than i've ever seen. >> we are going to try. now i'm going to run there in two minutes. >> thank you. thanks.

[inaudible conversations]

[inaudible conversations] i'd like to reconvene the committee. thank you for indulging us while we had to cast nine votes mr. administrator, so thank you. good to see you on the floor. i hope that it brought back good old memories. okay. well, we are going to resume the fiveth minutes of questioning by our members, and let's see. the gentleman from new york you are first for five minutes of questioning. >> thank you. >> thank the chair and ranking member for this important hearing today and to the administrator for thehe work you do to ensure the success of the world's preeminent civil space agency and your leadership that

you provide. in my district the capital region i am deeply proud of the critical research and development being done at world-class academic institutions such as polytechnic institute. particularly thinking about the rmd and the funding for the biological and physical science division within nasa's science mission directorate. the division funding provides novel opportunities to better understand the impact of the space environment on both light and physical sciences. discoveries made on the international space station with funding of advanced understanding of quantum mechanics and helps facilitate the advancement of semi conductor base, electronics. it's also enabled advances in immunotherapy, regenerative medicine, osteoporosis treatments and neuro- degenerativese diseases. despite how important this research is, the mission

directorate remains severely underfunded and was acknowledge as such in the recent survey. in february, or excuse me, fiscal year 23 the budget was 84% less than it was in 2004. and as a result the number of investigators decreased by some 67% causing significant reductions in education and training and impacting the local economy. specifically polytechnic institute's the bps division currently funds approximately four and over 25 graduate and undergraduate students however just a few years ago the number was closerla to seven. without significant reinvestment it would no longer be sustainable as a number of grants awarded is reduced and it would be forced to change the research direction threatening the success of nasa as nasa's exploration goals. so how is nasa attempting to be

responsive to the ambitions of reinvestment from the biological and physical sciences community in this constrained budget environment? >> congressman, when johnbi glen first flew, we were not sure what was going to happen to the physical body. there was even concern with the eyeballs stay in the sockets. we had flown a chimpanzee prior. but you just think when you don't know what's going to be the physical, biological reaction and how far we now have advanced where we are realistically getting ready to go backon to the moon in order o prepare to go to mars, and so the function of the amount of grants that would go to a

university such as thehe very eminent one that you just mentioned in your district is a function of the amount of the budget that you give us. just in the sciences in this school year in 24, because of the constraints that are upon you in 24 and 25 as a result of the compromise to reach to be able to avoid the default of the full faith and credit of the united states government, for example, just in science it's a billion-dollar cut in 24. a similar cut in 25. once you get to 26, and you don't have the constriction that you had on the budget, which you would because the area that you

have specified bar areas that we have to know what is going to happen in order to send humans all the way to mars. the moon is four days away. mars is seven to eight months away unless we develop the new technologies such as propulsion of nuclear through modeling of nuclear electric that could get us there faster. if we go conventionally six, seven, eight months, then we are going to have to stay on the surface of a very long time until the planets realigned to get back in seven or eight months. so these are all a part of the challenges but they are also excitingar problems to solve. we will keep those grants going to universities because that is

a main source of the research that we do at nasa. >> i have another question that i was going to ask that i am out of time so i will forward that to the committee but it's my hope that through this budget process, congress will recognize the importance of this research to help fully realized its mission and with that i will yield back. >> thank you very much. i'd like to now recognize the gentleman from ohio. >> thank you mr. chairman. appreciate it. good to see you again, mr. administrator. a couple of weeks ago after the eclipse i appreciated you coming to cleveland into spending the afternoon with us. it means a lot to have you. while you were out there we had some great conversations including the importance of the research center which is located right in my district. administrator nelson, the space technology mission directorate funds a lot of significant priorities for nasa many of

which the research centerrt is involved in, however, funding has been relatively stagnant over the last five years. the budget request proposals ramping up funding for st gandy in large part to support the development of the power technology to create nuclear power systems that could operate on the moon. can you please talk about the importance of the surface power why we need to invest in it now andop not just further down the line and can you address the importance of one's role in the project? >> yes, congressman and it was great seeing you in cleveland. and before i forget, our commander going to the moon read wiseman on artemis to, he is a graduate of. so, congressman, we've got to have more power on the moon.

we go to mars we got to have more power particularly as you get further away from the sun and can't rely on all solar power, so efficient surface power is going to be a necessary element. we are going to start this with the moon. so this is part of the reason we go back to the moon in order to go to mars. the 25 request is 113 million. now do you want me to get into nuclear light and thermal as well or do you want to keep it to vision service'2 power. >> i'd like to keep it to vision. >> okay. while i certainly respectfully request that you all grant our 25 request of 115 million.

>> we will take a look at it. i understand. and i get it. you've already acknowledged it's been a tough year working with of the budget and the last thing we want to do is cut down but we have to make sure that we are being responsible but yes i'm with you 1000% and thank you for your answer. additionally, as you know, the research center leads the communication service project which leverages commercial capabilities to provide next-generation data for the satellites to ensure there is no data gaps as the communication satellites continue to age. can you speak to the importance of the work performed and do we have your commitment that you will provide the resources to the center that needs to complete this project quickly? >> you can't fly in deep space unless you can communicate. our deep space communication system ran into a problem because we needed to communicate

with the science instruments including the james webb space telescope bringing back all of that data from deep in space ad lo and behold, we had to have the capability of communicating to artemis one in the test flight of the rocket and we didn't have all of the bandwidth that we wanted, so we needed to improve that. and this is especially essential as we are going further and further out into space. right now in low earth orbit, we've got enough communications we can handle that and we need updated modernized et cetera. but deep space is a different thing. >> if there's anything we can do to work with you especially at nasa glenn getting the resources or getting the education and familiarizing with how to make it more efficient to get to the next step i would appreciate it

and what makes me glad to hear is your acknowledgment of how important nasa glenn is not only to the region but the country and more so the world in the capabilities we have there andi want to thank you for your time. it's been a pleasure to work with all of you and your staff. thank you again and anything we can do in the future to make sure we can continue to evolve and progress in the right way, you have a friend in me so thank you and i yield back. >> thank you. and mr. chairman, if i may, at another example of the deep space communications that we just reestablished with voyager one, which is outside of our solar system approaching interstellar space and it came back to life. lo and behold, we got it. where it's located so far away at the speed of light the transmission takes 22 hours and

we just reestablished to that. >> if you don't mind my asking, what caused that to come back? >> again, they does all kinds of things and this is a spacecraft, very old to spacecraft, voyager one i think it was launched back in the 70s. and so it is still perfect. >> while. that's great information to know. the gentleman from florida, mr. frost for five minutes. >> thank you, mr. chairman at administrator nelson. with of the goal of returning americans to the moon and aiming for mars, the artemis program has private partners in all 50 states and over 2,000 and the tenth congressional district which is my district. artemis is a significant contributor to nasa's $4.7 billion economic impact on central florida alone and partnered with of the university of central florida, go lights on

several research projects to support lunar living and landing. this is why we are leaving a bipartisan letter to the appropriations subcommittee calling for an additional artemis funding to overcome delays and technical complications. mr. administrator with all the challenges of such a complex and cutting edge program, what can nasa do to minimize further delays of the mission? >> first of all, we can have congressman like you to help us make an additional request. understand that we are not going to launch until it is ready. that is because safety is our first -- when we put humans on an explosive bomb called a rocket, we are going to do everything possible to make sure it's as safe as possible realizing that everything is

cutting the edge of the envelope that we do. but especially when humans are in the loop, we are going to make it that much more safe. so, we are on schedule next year to have four astronauts circle the moon and check out the artemis spacecraft space x for septemberr of 26 to have a landr of which we go into lunar orbit and that would transfer in and go down to the surface for six days. obviously if the lander is not ready, we are not going to fly it at that time. but that is the schedule and that is what the contract calls for. >> the success in the partnership of the private space

industry is a soft landing on the moon's south pole as a part of the commercial lunar payload to serve as this program how does the work of the commercial lunar payload services program complement the work of the artemis program? >> they are scouts for us, just like sending the scouts out into the wilderness, so for example one of them that is going on intuitive machines at the end of the year is going to start digging in the south pole to see if there is water underneath the surface. if there's water and it is in enough abundance then we have rocket fuel. >> and overall, what cane. we as members of congress to do to support the economic and scientific impact of the work especially when it comes to the artemis program and we know i think any day now china will be sending, we will do the first mission to bring back things from the far side of the moon and we know that this is funding

these programs is the best interest of our national security end of the work that we do but what can we as members of congress to do? >> .. and lastly, can you briefly describe some of the scientific highlights of the commercial missions in terms of the payload program? >> yes, sir. for example this last one, it was an intuitive machine. if caught its leg on iraq as it was coming down and it tipped over. [laughter] the fact that it tipped over it

did not have its antenna pointing in the right direction to receive. to get enough to know that it was alive. ththere were six nasa experimens on board. now, this is incredible story of the chairman of the full committee is university morgan state. mick support the commercial program. but, in this case was not able .to communicate. they did not have enough of power from their emotional locations. but morgan state was uniquely positioned that it could also

communicate with our government deep space communications that had the power in order to receive the weak signal. and therefore, most of the objectives of the mission were successful with a connection made through morgan state. that is an example of a daring dude that's certainly the nasa scientists in the commercial community and a university were able to figure it out real time. bucks thank you for your time mr. administrator and the yield back. >> thank you very much proud to recognize a gentleman from new york mr. williams. >> think it mr. chairman. mr. administrator, great to see you again. it's good to see you on capitol hill and testifying in these committee sits among your favorite things to do. so, we have a hometown hero that

is in orbit right now on the international space station. doctor janette is beloved by her hometown of syracuse. really has inspired a whole generation of young kids in school. she is the talk of the town and the toast of the town. she's only been up there now for almost two months. can you gives an insight in the importance of hersc work and her mission while she is up in space? >> jenness is an example of the extraordinary ability of our astronauts, their capability in her case she had to wait a long time to fly. and yet, she is there on orbit for six months performing great science. and maintenance of the

international space station. sometimes ourrf astronauts havea great disappointment. the best example i can think of sadik slayton he was one of the original seven jon glenn, alan, deke was one of them. they discovered a heart murmur. deke was not qualified to fly. and yet deke then took the role as chief of the astronaut office through all of those years of gemini and apollo. >> for doctor if i may, could you talk about how her mission is helping us get back to the moon specifically? >> oh well, everything we do on a low earth orbit is in preparation to have the understanding and the preparation so that we can go

further. that is what we are starting to doto to go back to the moon not just for the sake of going to the moon because if we did that a half-century ago but we are going back to thear moon to lean in order to go to mars. just like we are doing things in low earth orbit on the international space station to go further. in addition we are doing serious science on board the international space station. earlier in the committee hearing or testified about things going on with cancer research with construed and stem cell research. all of that is going on.d although i do not note jenness' specific science a project that she is working on today, she will be working on a lot of that science for. >> we look forward to having her back but not too soon she's got

a lot of work to do while she is there. i would like to spend the last little bit of our time talking about the draco project. in the cooperation between nasa and darpa with nuclear energy and propulsion. are we still on track for 2026 test launch? how is the project progressing? >> draco is primarily fate and darpa projects. we are working with them on nuclear thermal is a joint nasa project. yes, it is my understanding it is on schedule. it is testing out nuclear thermal propulsion. that is not the only nuclear propulsion there is nuclear electric propulsion. and i hope to get this cranked

up and going. why? we need to go faster to mars. chemical propulsion will get us there in seven or eight months. nuclear thermal, nuclear electric can get us there faster. the reason that it's important is important isif we can go fase to stay on the surface on the first time, second time, a year or two until the planets realigned boot have a chance of hagetting back we go for a short visit, test out what we needed to with all the systems, the equipment, the spacecraft, the landers, etha cetera. and get back. i think nuclear thermal and nuclear electric is a propulsion of the future. >> gratefully at nuclear propulsion time you would be happy to go pretty thank you very much i yield back because i want to also say congressman the end of the story about dick

slayton is, he ended up flying. he did an experimental medical procedure and it worked on a heart murmur. he was able to fly years later hen that was a good thing. but just think of all the time he had to wait. >> that's a very good thing. sure was. the gentleman from california for five minutes. thank you. >> think administrator nelson fear testimony today. as you know the international space station to operate through 2030. after which planto nasa plans ue commercially developed space stations toto support low earth orbit research and development. halfway through 2024 leaving five and half years to ensure commercial stations are ready and certified for nasa's use. particular concern about the risk of losing access to low

earth orbit for research. i have been developed nasa provided the platform to do it in space. could you just share with thepa committee at the risk might be with that gap and sustaining and how might a gap affect our preparedness for artemis and low earth orbit eco- system in general? >> we do not intend there to be a gap for the reasons you just articulated. it is sot important we keep the continued presence of being able to not only a research on fantastic things like pharmaceutical discoveries. that benefit us here on the face of the earth. but also in preparation for going further to the moon and to

marsat will be training in 0g ia space station before we would send them to the moon or to mars. tons of those are just a couple of examples of why it is important. we do not intend for them to be a gap. and thus all the more reason that is you all give us direction and the authorization bills. as you partner with your committees and the financial means in which to do this that we continue to have the development of this commercial space station oval may want to deorbit the space station

because it is getting old. and we want to deorbit it in 2031. >> think of her that i appreciate your optimism. think of your testimony withoutn a yield back. >> did not recognize mislead for five minutes. >> thank you, mr. chairman. lester had the pleasure of meeting deputy administrator and was really taken by her passion for expanding opportunities in space exploration. i chose to serve as a member of the state science and technology committee i envisioned opportunities to work with my colleagues to expand the realm of stem education and workforce be on those who have traditionally had access to them. i hope the work we do and the funding we advocate for from underserved areas. i think of trayvon martin before

he passed he wanted to be a astronaut to help the funding we advocate will like some of those dreams become a reality around our nation. nasa has physical infrastructure in my district pennsylvania's 12th the businesses are crucial to the work the administration does for fiscal year 231 over 50 million contracts including small and women owned businesses. 22% or more below fiscal year 23 is an attack on the brilliant minds and ourss innovative industrious business owners who fueled leadership and space in e exploration and technological development. extensive partnerships in western pennsylvania and western pennsylvania partnerships that it relies on to carry out its various missions and mandates. this current congress continue to find new innovative ways to

shortchange or take away the american people especially the scientist, students and workers in my district who are helping to fuel nasa as discoveries and technological developments that vastlyndwa improve conditions he on earth. i will continue to ensure my region thrives around thiss economy. administrator nelson i congratulate nasa for the payload service missions that affluent this year. these missions have fostered national prideth in our nation space program produced considerable momentum for the future. there are more on the way for this year end next including commissions it infrastructure for improved renewable energy. such as faith-based solar power. could you please discuss missions right from western wesn

pennsylvania, pittsburgh is a company that's asked robotic. >> i know them well. >> they are going to have a mission later thiss year with a huge instrument on it. called viper. it is scheduled upon landing to drill down in the south pole underneath maybe go down that far and see if there's water in abundance. we know there is ice because we've seen that in the crevices of rocks. so if there is water than there is rocket fuel hydrogen and oxygen.

the missions that are going as i described earlier are like scouts. they scout the wilderness before the humans get there. that is exactly what we are doing. characterized used with nasa instruments. we'll have that characterized much more in depth. the outset of the remarks you mentioned something about your admiration of pam melroy. she is the real deal she is the third woman in the air force to be a test pilot space shuttle commander. your recognition of talent

certainly right on the market for. >> thank you i appreciate what i do have two other questions i'm happy to yield back thank you. >> mr. administrator thank you think if you're available testimony and the members for the questions the record will remain open for 10 days for additional comments and written questions. this hearing is adjourned. >> thank you. [background noises] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations]

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