we will look back 100 years to key battles of northeastern france were army soldiers and marines saw their first major combat. more than 10000 americans died or went missing in the area. watch a 1918 memorial day on "washington journal" and on c-span three. >> nasa administrator jim testified on the space agency 2018 budget request. topics included planned missions to mars in the james webb space telescope. this is 50 minutes.

>> my handle work at the gavel this afternoon. we'll start early, the voters at 315 and so this will be similar hearing where we had similar circumstances. good afternoon. i call this to order and senator shots i structured the subcommittee and i look forward to working with you. the administrator we're delighted to have you join us, in light of the time constraints i will forgo an opening statement.

i know turn to senator hawaii. >> thank you. it's good to be back with you. thank you for being here. i asked interval my statement into the record. >> without objection. >> we welcome your testimony. i think we have i think we'll have time to hear from you. i encourage you to to let us know. >> mr. chairman, it's an honor to be here. i have submitted my written statement for the record. i know because of the time constraint that were short on time and i be happy to forgo an

opening statement. i have been charged with leading the agency in the united states government. and find missions all over the world to deliver science and discovery not only on behalf of this nation but on behalf of the world. it's an honor. i look forward to answering your questions. >> let me encourage you to tell us as part of your statement the vision and direction of mass is reflected as its budget priorities. outline through us. >> you are aware of the policy directive which is from the

president of the united states. directing us to return to the moon and do it in a way that sustainable. the past we've had efforts to get back to the moon since 1972. in fact, we've been at the moon this president has said getting back with soft landings of the purpose is the objective to establish american leadership. but also to develop science capabilities on the moon and utilize resources. this new direction for this country has we utilize the resources of the moon to take us to mars and beyond. at the policy direction shift. i want to be clear that were still going to mars as well. one of my first lunches was the insight launch which is the

lander that's on its way to mars. were looking forward to doing a soft landing on mars from thanksgiving and delivering science for human trip to mars. were doing both, going to the moon and mars. we are not taken i the other critical import missions to include helio physics, astrophysics and planetary science with robotic landers and other things. one of the presidents objectives is to seek purpose. as we go from one to the next and doing these missions we are moving out and accomplishing similar objectives at the same time small shifts to reflect the priorities of this president.

>> thank you for joining us. i think this is your debut appearance. >> yes, sir. >> i welcome you to your new position and i look forward to developing a good working relationship as we try to pursue things that make sense. thank you very much. our committee is consistently looked at scientific studies to help guide us in making decisions. many budgetary pressures on agency but including nasa had a plan to maintain a balance of a scientific portfolio between

planetary missions, earth science, biophysics and astrophysics? how do you know what the right ratio us? >> is not an easy question to answer. ten nasa within the various divisions we have critically important science missions going forward. one example that is right now is the james webb space telescope. it's what nasa needs to do. we need to be at the leading edge of technology. will he take on a big projects like that and that's first

impact the other directorates. we need to look at historically have those missions can crowd out other missions. maybe we need to do it in a way where there is less risk involved. one way to do that will be to look at missions that are $200 million or less. instead of doing one flagship mission divided up in a fungus behind schedule or over cost it doesn't impact the other missions underway. that's one way to develop it

then they would have a massive impact on the balance of each one. >> maybe there's a question here. we visited in one of the things nasa provides that no other agency or federal program can do is to inspire people and often many times young people, young men and women to aspire science and mathematics and engineering and space. i have this goal from my own state to do some education. we need an inspiration to capture people's minds and hearts. and nasa cannot do so. we talked about the budget

request and it eliminates a significant portion of the stem education will is something i indicated to you and i find objectionable. he explained how this can be addressed in other ways. i would ask you what is efficient in view of how nasa can help educate and inspire another generation interested in science. in doing so help our nation economically and make certain that we are at the forefront of all scientific educational advancement globally. massa has that mission.

>> i cannot agree with your assessment on education. i'll say this about wildlife, i was a young boy in sixth grade and had the opportunity to go to a summer camp or i interacted with the wind tunnel for the first time. i learned about the theory of flight and how it works. and changing the shape of a weighing and earning about lift and drag. as the summer before my sixth grade year. it impacted my life in an amazing way. i knew when i grow up i was going to be a pilot. i've had that personal experience myself. there is a time in my life when i was the director of the space

museum and i saw firsthand the impact i had, fundamentally changing and the way they wanted to study when they grow. i can tell you this, there is no agency in the federal government that can do it nasa can do when it comes with inspiration as you have mentioned. i've spent time at your museum. a wonderful place in the scout ship that my son is a member of lived on up there studying street, the technology and the capabilities of nassau. i believe it's critical for nation. the 2018 omnibus spending bill obviously funded the nassau.

in its following the requirements of that spending bill. it is also true that we have had to make difficult decisions in times of challenging financial times. it's one area that has been trimmed. nasa has, and its dna, education. going back to the beginning. it has inspiration. every day nasa is making historical achievements. every day we are inspiring children and changing lives. and we want to. going forward, each one of the mission directorates has the

ability to affect education apart from that budget line. we will continue to do that. in fact just this week we started an internship program with over 1600 young folks who are going to determine if this is something they want. were committed to inspiration. i believe in at 100%. nasa will do that regardless of that particular budget line. >> thank you. i would point out that your budget was submitted prior to confirmation and prior to the fy 18 omnibus bill. i do want to make sure this is emphasized in the efforts. i look for to return to kansas.

i now recognize senator shots. >> to believe that greenhouse gases are the primary cause of climate change? >> yes. it includes the department of energy and noah, is extremely likely that human activity is the dominant cause of global warming. and i have no reason to doubt the science that comes from that. >> to agree with the scientific consensus that includes nasa researchers that the climate is changing on the human cost? >> yes. >> to commit to supporting the

funding, independence and climate science at nasa? >> without question. >> we've had conversations and since then impersonate over the phone i want to recognize this issue. and this is for you to abide by the science. you're the first nasa administrator that wasn't an elected official. and also a partisan confirmation vote. we needed to move through this ideological disagreement and political disagreement back to where the nasa administrator is the leader of the science agency. you cannot leave that if you're not grounded by the science.

thank you for that. it's not easy to come to that conclusion. what i've seen from you with my interactions is this is a true revolution they respect the people with whom he worked in the science. you want their respective there's no way to move forward if we can undermine the science. i'm pleased to see this change. i want to ask about earth science. they support resource managers and policymakers. want to talk to about the termination of the carbon monitoring grant that we talked about. first of all i object to the termination of those. but i understand nasa does numerous lines of efforts related to carbon monitoring.

so please talk about that in general. >> when you think about the carbon cycle of the earth, nasa has a number of different satellites currently taken into account how the earth is changing and how carbon plays into that. right now we're spending hundred million dollars annually on measuring carbon in the atmosphere and on the surface of the year and that's a critical piece. the carbon monitoring system was the grant program those $10 million every three years, about eight months ago we shoot

grants and they will go through the year 2020. that program in the 2018 budget request was not put in the president's budget request. it to not receive a line item in the appropriations process. nasa has a number of programs going forward, the orbital carbon observatory to will launch that in january. the geo carb is another satellite developing and will be launching to monitor carbon. the satellite called eco- stress that do similar things. and then jedi is another one. urinalysis 100% committed to understanding the carbon cycle which is a high priority that comes from the surveys and you

have my commitment that will follow the guidance of those surveys for the purpose of keeping it apolitical, bipartisan because the science must not be partisan. nasa is not a regulating body. we want to get the science, the data and provide the to decision-makers who can make sure that were doing the right thing. you have my commitment that nasa will continue to do that activity. >> yankee mr. chairman. i appreciate you being here. ledger taking charge. we talked about the facility in fairmont.

i know you've been aware and are supportive of that. what you vision for the future where the applications may be more beneficial to nasa and within the federal government. >> the facility is currently partnering with a number of agencies apart from nasa. i can think of the department of energy, some nongovernment partners as well so we do utilize nasa's facility to do governmental things that are broader than what nasa does. we want to continue doing that. we believe were national asset we want to make sure that when we do that were not impacting nasa's nation.

but certainly, we see ourselves as a partner to the federal government a large. >> last week they announced that a team was selected to test research and simulated microgravity. the be able to conduct their this for their spacewalks. as part of nasa's education program. i continue to be frustrated that they call for the elimination but i suggest you rename it for the office of inspiration. you are inspiring through this the next generation of science, technology and interest in space and lighting the fire among young people. will you work with me to emphasize the next generation?

>> we just had a long dialogue. what's interesting is you mention renaming at the office of information. we've been moving that direction. calling it the office of stem engagement. people get the idea were duplicating services of the department of education or other federal entities. while we believe that nasa is unmatched in its ability to inspire young folks, change lives and create the next generation of scientists and engineers. you mentioned you had folks the

university of west virginia is doing amazing things with robotic return capabilities. in all of those will be used for robotic return of materials. i remember right the university of west virginia won a massive prize and it leads to more and greater technologies is about $750,000. >> that's correct. they are working on the west virginia robotic technology center and working to refuel satellites. trying to inspire the next generation of women in the stem

area, i want to thank nassau. they came to two elementary schools and she really inspired a lot of young girls that such a rich resource. i was thinking does anybody want to get in public service and nobody wanted to work with me. to get up close and personal with such an inspirational figure. i hope that continues in the resources you have shares that with the next generation to inspire. >> congratulations. i appreciate the chance to get together with you yesterday.

i think you for the atonement you have taken ever since you are sworn in. i want underscored the comments of your with respect to your commitment there committed to focusing on the mission. i appreciate your enthusiasm about the nasa mission which is a great american success story. have someone underscore the importance of sending the message that we will focus on real science, not political science. especially when it's being driven by human activity. i also know that you are not

responsible for the budget submitted. a former colleague in the house. but i do want to echo concerns raised by her colleagues on a bipartisan basis. with respect to significant cuts in the budget. proud of the fact that the home and we also share with virginia region put on their sciences and we spoke about it there's proposals to eliminate the pace program another science program. if you could talk about what you see as the importance of the programs. >> a couple of things that i think are important.

this is a bipartisan issue and i want to keep it that way. it's important for country in the world. the president's budget request for 2019 on the earth science side was higher than three of the previous administrations budget. >> it's kind of rate there in the middle. i think it's a good budget. sometimes we made a determination there were not the highest priority. i know it's important and a brand-new survey came out in

that survey indicated that clary oh and as you mentioned pace are high priorities slapping the case, we are evaluating the survey we try to make sure were covering the science that calls for us to cover. what the senate in houston you mentioned pace, mention clary oh. were currently moving forward with those. when we get to the point and are ready to present how nasa sees

how this came out i'll be happy to come in brief you and make sure that were in agreement there were getting the science necessary. >> there's a number of programs where nasa is on a pathbreaking mission. a number of other programs including discover. if i could just use the remainder of my time to talk about wallops. if you could talk about why the flight facility is important for nasa. >> a few days ago we're preceding the launch the international space station. the space station resupplying. it's an amazing critical asset. it helps us maintain our leadership in the world.

of course a number of different sounding rockets launched from there for the purpose of weather and climate research. it's also true that there are a number of aircraft out there, p3 that is using -- to measure how thick are the eight sheets in the arctic on the north pole. just recently we had some brave pilots flying over greenland and alaska. measuring the thickness of the ice. the capabilities coming from the are helping us understand how

this chromosphere is changing. those missions are important. we have massive pilots taking great risk on themselves. on the restore l if i have time, like to address that if i have time. . . e to address that if it is okay, chairman. this is important. robotic servicing for our country is a critical capability that we need to have for a whole host of strategic reasons. very soon a number of commercial satellite operators will be launching into lower earth's orbit with thousands of satellites for medications. historically satellites, when they die, we either try to bring them out of orbit or supersede the meaning we put them into a deep orbit that gets out of the

>> me try to bring them out that on top of all that we have reports that indicate that collision that created 5000 pieces that they continue to have every five or nine years. make sure we don't do that robotic servicing and we want to make sure we do that to dynamically and robustly to mitigate that orbital degree problem. then to make use of that capability. immaculate for to working with you. >> to a modified second round of questions we welcome the

senatoru. from alaska and in the absence of new arrivals those who are here or remain here will have additional a questions until 315 i recognize senator murkowski. >> i appreciate it. you bring a refreshing view of operations to the floor to have those conversations about what can be done to increase capabilities from nasa and to use those capabilities and with the operations. we have had some opportunities in kodiak is operated by

alaska aerospace corporation. can you share with me how you view the potential to provide the orbital and suborbital capabilities that feature the programs and operations? >> nasa is committed to get more science and data and we have ever been able to have before because they are our commercial partners with imagery as well as communications and to provide all kinds of capabilities that have nothing to do that specifically. so we have the ability as an agency to purchase access to space and data from other

people accessing space from other reasons. so electronics the unprecedented access to space in the coming years. and a facility like kodiak will be beneficiary of that capability. when we do launch commercially and even those that build satellites on our behalf but the more we do that activity, the better data we will receive but we don't tell them where to launch from but a healthy small launch market is what we want as a nation

strategically. and of course kodiak can be a great player. >> you mentioned that there is a lot of potential with the small launch vehicle operators to have some great opportunities and to bring back what we have seen. so hopefully you share that same view of opportunity. let me ask about your plans with the federal and nonfederal entities with the satellite regulations that would help provide and improve broadband infrastructure with

the north in particular the a high north with that opportunity and some of those very remote high cost rural areas? >> it is my honor. historically when you stop one -- talk about c communications it has been done from geostationary orbit soro dish network even those communication satellites is done from geostationary orbit 33000 kilometers and with the relative of the moving to the earth and there is a time to go out to geostationary orbit so what is happening we have

antennas now that means that the notepad would be on somebody's house and you cannot just have your satellite dish to one satellite then to share that information and to have that huge technology breakthrough that is no commercialized so to take geostationary orbit know this isn't necessarily tied to nasa but it is to a robust commercial marketplace for communications to the point if i can get down to lower orbit it goes down and

that is a cell phone with potentially thousands of cell powers that any of us can access in you can have horrible bandwidth those descending on one part ofof the country. you can steer the bandwidth to make sure that nobody can be blocked off from using their cell phone. and to understand how we understand communicationsst on planted -- planet earth and to be in the middle of the pacific ocean with no conductivity now all of a sudden i have access immediately and instantaneously. that is transformative so that is a game changer absolutely. and a lot of my old

constituents in oklahoma and what senator van hollenve talked about, that is the capability will satellites come out of orbit and vibrant -- in five or ten years. and even change the technology on the satellites to improve capacity and those data rates are continuing with the more gigabits per second. there are a lot of opportunities here that is why robotic servicing is so important. >> exciting. thank you mr. chairman. >> raising the topic of

education at the university level the me do that by talking about the aeronautics aspect of nassau. so working on a low sonic boom aircraft expected to shorten flight times around the country. the more research that is done on traffic management and integration and defense material developments will be to safer and more fuel-efficient aircraf aircraft. it what we do for a living. i don't know your review will --dash view as to be a partner with nasa in regard to what

you expect to happen and how can i be of help to you in that regar regard? >> we see a great opportunity to help us do the research is aou very with composites and i knowp you are really big in the composite manufacturing with the aeronautics mission director and working through the advanced composite program there is the university of wichita in conjunction to put together a consortium of research and manufacturing. but that partnership with our brilliant engineers put it

together for us to stay ahead technologically when it comes to manufacturing with to improve aviation to make us more competitive. the partnership is solid and i support it. >> as i arrived one thing that captured my attention is the web telescope. and it's had its challenges and what you see more importantly as the future and by congress or gao or the contractor what do you see

forthcoming? >> it is a challenge that we have. and with the space telescope and other things that nasa does, what we ought to be doing is to say is a very leading edge, where the telescope launches it will see the beginning of the universe. that is an amazing capability of us are anxiously anticipating. that being said, as critical as that is to nasa and united states and the world, it has had its challenges because we are at that very leading edge of technology. the impact of course there has been a number of challenges you start with the fact one of

the issues that we have the thrusters were cleaned with a solvent that damaged some of the seals that required us to go back and develop new thrusters that set us back. the sunshield that was on it unfolded u and has proven more challenging than we anticipated that has set us back with time and budget but what i will say is looking at 2019i do think impact will be that significant because the budget for operations we will just use that for development. that is not a good thing i would rather use it for operations but the reality is

with the 2019 budget i don't think that is a big impact with the biggest challenge i have is probably a have to come back and talk to you there is a potential a funding limit on the james webb telescope said $8 million if the development cost go about that will have to come back to get reauthorized to complete the mission at this point we have spent so much money have come so far and are so close that it is important that we do that and i will testify that today but i'm here to tell you i don't know if we will hear that or not. i honestly don't know but we do have an independent review underway right now by a person was exceptionally good at this activity and he and his team will report to us and to you

on the status of james webb here in june and when that report comes out, we will have to come to a meeting of the minds to figure out how we go forward with thist program. if indeed we do need to go above the $8 million set by congress. >> thank you for your testimony. >> thank you mr. chairman checking if one of my questions on the web telescope and you talked about that yesterday mr. administrator. you are right we have had setbacks i hope independent review gets to the bottom of that but as i understand your are 100% you a committed to getting this program to completion and fulfilling the mission. >> without question. >> the other question related to the recommendations mentioning the importance of the recommendations the top

priority large project and the national research council survey of astronomy and astrophysics was the infrared survey telescope. can you talk about why that is a priority? >> talked about the james webb telescope and w first but these are opportunities for us and we are talking about programs with a finite lifetime. f so when james webb happens something to push the edge further than previously. i certainly understand that but when we see the flagship

programs that take a big chunk and if you take 60% of the budget that we have and that mission grows that puts us in a difficult spot for all of the other missions. p first of all we are following through on the omnibus of 2018 right now. we are looking at the cost going forward and we aree committed to not have the same thing happen to w first that happened to james webb. that's where we are on that going forward in the future we might want to consider redistributing the risk among smaller projects instead of one large project that can topple an entire division within the nasa budget.

>> i look forward to that conversation. >> senator thinks for working with the ranking member today and also thank you for your testimony if you have a moment after the hearing he would like to spend a moment with you and i would announce the subcommittee will have the markup at 230 jun june 12 to include nasa but the full array of issues within jurisdictionis and on june 14 the full committee is scheduled to meet with other appropriation bills and with that if there are no further questions you may submit additional questions we request that nasa respond within 30 days. we are standing in recess. [inaudible conversations]

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