HOUSE SS&T SUBCOMMITTEE HEARING ON NASA SCIENCE PROGRAMS, March 2024

The Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee of the House Science, Space, and Technology (SS&T) Committee held a hearing on NASA’s science programs on March 21, 2024.

Congress cut NASA’s FY2024 budget not only below the President’s request, but below its FY2023 level. The science budget was hit particularly hard, especially planetary science. At the same time, NASA is assessing the future of the Mars Sample Return misson following an independent review plus a report from the NASA Inspector General’s office questioning its cost and whether it needs to be completely revamped.

Witnesses were:

• Nicola (Nicky) Fox, NASA Associate Administrator for the Science Mission Directorate
• George Scott, Acting NASA Inspector General
• Jonathan Lunine, David C. Duncan Professor in the Physical Sciences, Cornell University
• A. Thomas (Tom) Young, Former Director, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center and Former President and COO of Martin Marietta Corp.

SpacePolicyOnline.com published a summary of the hearing on March 21, 2024: Mars Sample Return Dominates House Hearing on NASA Science.