Van Hollen: Goddard and Wallops (which operates under Goddard's management) have several "shovel ready" projects. Need investment.
Nelson: your bridge is number one on the list. Jobs bill is opportunity for $ for infrastructure and R&D.
Nelson: your bridge is number one on the list. Jobs bill is opportunity for $ for infrastructure and R&D.
Van Hollen: STEM is one of your priorities, yes?
Nelson: yes. FY2022 request is "robust."
Nelson: yes. FY2022 request is "robust."
Sen Boozman (R-Arkansas): plan for office of STEM Engagement? Continue support for Arkansas Space Grant Consortium?
Nelson: this budget has $20M plus up for STEM, which you in Congress saved after previous attempts to zero it out.
Nelson: this budget has $20M plus up for STEM, which you in Congress saved after previous attempts to zero it out.
Boozman: how to ensure continuous human presence in LEO?
Nelson: Yrs ago Ted Cruz and I proposed extending ISS from 2024 to 2030. Now in Senate's NASA Auth bill. As of this morning, Rogozin bullish about cooperation and in NBC interview, Putin also talked favorably about coop.
Nelson: Yrs ago Ted Cruz and I proposed extending ISS from 2024 to 2030. Now in Senate's NASA Auth bill. As of this morning, Rogozin bullish about cooperation and in NBC interview, Putin also talked favorably about coop.
Sen Manchin (D-WV): funding for IV&V facility in my state has been flat for a decade. Look into that?
Nelson: will do. [tells story about Katherine Johnson, after whom it is now named.] "Let's go visit that together"
Nelson: will do. [tells story about Katherine Johnson, after whom it is now named.] "Let's go visit that together"
Shaheen: NASA biggest funder of climate science, but not only one. How do you work with others?
Nelson: NASA inextricably entwined on all matters dealing with climate. We build/launch NOAA spacecraft. 2/3 of NOAA's budget is paid to NASA. [I think he must mean 2/3 of NESDIS]
Nelson: NASA inextricably entwined on all matters dealing with climate. We build/launch NOAA spacecraft. 2/3 of NOAA's budget is paid to NASA. [I think he must mean 2/3 of NESDIS]
Nelson brings up Earth System Observatory.
Shaheen: Univ of NH is tops in heliophysics. Impt for climate sci. NASA investment? Is NASA sharing data w/other agencies?
Nelson: yes, WH coordinates all the agencies. Our fmr colleague John Kerry involved in international aspects.
Shaheen: Univ of NH is tops in heliophysics. Impt for climate sci. NASA investment? Is NASA sharing data w/other agencies?
Nelson: yes, WH coordinates all the agencies. Our fmr colleague John Kerry involved in international aspects.
Sen Capito (R-WV): update on OSAM (formerly Restore-L)? [some of the work is done in WV[
Nelson: $227M in this budget for it.
Nelson: $227M in this budget for it.
Capito also asks about IV&V facility and Nelson says he wants to go visit it with her and Manchin.
Moran: NASA doing study on sustainability on Moon. Will we be briefed on it? $ in budget for it?
Nelson: everything on hold till GAO decision on HLS. After that will roll out study and look at cost. And to go to Mars.
Nelson: everything on hold till GAO decision on HLS. After that will roll out study and look at cost. And to go to Mars.
Moran: I want to be sure we're not just landing on the Moon to plant a flag, get bragging rights. Need more on the Moon and going to Mars.
Nelson agrees.
Nelson agrees.
Moran: Are JWST challenges behind us?
Nelson: I hope so, and I believe so. Recent rpt about delay is minor and not due to spacecraft. Launch has only been moved two weeks, from Oct 31 to middle of November.
[First time I've heard that officially.]
Nelson: I hope so, and I believe so. Recent rpt about delay is minor and not due to spacecraft. Launch has only been moved two weeks, from Oct 31 to middle of November.
[First time I've heard that officially.]
Shaheen: GAO found cost and schedule for NASA major projects has deteriorated over past 5 yrs. Can't be just COVID. What are you doing to fix that?
Nelson: Space is hard. I'm committed to try and improve NASA acq mgmt discipline. Lot still to be done and I'm going to try.
Nelson: Space is hard. I'm committed to try and improve NASA acq mgmt discipline. Lot still to be done and I'm going to try.
Shaheen: Is 2024 realistic for lunar landing?
Nelson: it's our goal. pace is hard, as I just said. Often get delays, technical things you didn't anticipate, but the goal is still 2024.
Shaheen: I'll take that as a maybe.
That's the end.
Nelson: it's our goal. pace is hard, as I just said. Often get delays, technical things you didn't anticipate, but the goal is still 2024.
Shaheen: I'll take that as a maybe.
That's the end.
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