[inaudible conversations] the committee on space will come to order and without objection the chair is authorized tour declare a recess at any time. Welcome to todays hearing entitle the International Space station addressing operational challenges you have the written testimony biographies and truth and testimony disclosure for todays with this is part or recognize myself for five minutes for an opening statement. Good morning welcome to our hearing today and i want to thank our witnesses for taking time to appear before the committee. Since 2013 the program has experienced a number of challenges we have thank committed to identifying challenges to address them and reach our goal and Justin Lehigh commitment. At the iss have had water leaks third three times with one during a spacewalk. April 26 an unmanned russian vehicle damage stave reflector while docking with the. Host team per could generate 14, a false alarm of the ammonia leak caused the crew to retreat into the russian segment. October 28, 2014, the unmanned cargo launch failed after launch for april 28, 2015, as separate russian cargo failed to reach the iss. June 7th a plea and boost of the hall. Host t using a vehicle failed but eventually was successful after troubleshooting. June 10, the vehicle fired in june without being commanded and most recently june 28, 2015 the un may and spacex cargo launch failed as well. These highlight the challenges of operating and co in space. And the astronauts must be ever fit and vigilant. The fact the program could respond to the setbacks is a testament to nasa, iss and contractors. We do not know the root cause is yet but once we have more information do we will be better suited to review those events. We kiddy vibrate the operational status of the iss to assess the prospects of future operations. The iss is one of the most complex manmade object ever built for the american taxpayers invest 3 billion per year in this laboratory. We must ensure every dollar is spent effectively and efficiently it offers a microgravity environment for scientist a and engineers to utilize. Nasa ever released the benefits this retailing the many benefits iss improvises back to our lives on earth. From expansive is of human health and performance the benefits we received are many and diverse the iss offers the conditions necessary for Critical Technologies and nasa authorization to read the administration to utilize the iss folder this port purpose. That nasa is on the cutting edge to develop the system we need ever deeper into the solar system. Right now captain kelly is on day 104 of his Yearlong Mission for human spaceflight. In addition to the Research Programs the authorization act of 2005 designated part of the iss as a national lab at the authorization act directing the administration to sign a cooperative agreement with a nonprofit to manage it. Selecting for the advancements of space to the the effort. Noting a recent report to make Great Strides to major progress is made in a quantifiable manner. I hope to hear from nasa to day the agency is making progress from gao. As you keep an eye on the present utilization of the iss we must look to the future announcing support for extension of the program 2020 through 2020 for. Absent action from congress the administration would be required to close out of the program. And then the authorization act requires the administration to provide a report to congress and how to quantify benefits back to investment for the extension and. Over a government wide utilization plan every a knitted the facility is in orbit were doing what we can to get the most out of their. So for them to extend the iss. We have a responsibility to make sure the taxpayers get all they can from every dollar they send to the federal government. This is worthwhile and the benefits far outweigh the cost. Support for the iss and utilization is not a partisan issue but an american insurer and i look forward to working with my friends on the other side of the aisle to understand how we all meet the operational challenges facing the iss program i now recognize the Ranking Member from maryland for an opening statement. Good morning and welcome to the distinguished panel of witnesses. So 02 address operational challenges i reminded the challenges that nasa and the agency faces to operate the International Space station would be more concerned if we were not able to overcome some of those challenges. It is to the crew that is true. We saddam is in this room and looked of this great to have the opportunity to communicate with the crew on board including the astronauts from maryland. I promised him crabcakes it unfortunately with one of the accidents destroyed my crab cake delivery. But he did visit my office a couple weeks ago and we made a bouquet. To connect realtime those astronauts carrying how to research with this amazing laboratory 250 miles above us thought every day the minutes is an inspiration. And many School Children had the opportunity to ask questions to learn about space flight. But yet to see if those from the laboratory we can forget just how difficult and risky if it is true maintain the International Space station because sometimes think it is ordinary. Internal and an external and Human Health Hazards posed significant risks the unfortunate loss of a the Spacex Resupply Mission two weeks ago along with the year earlier losses of the Cargo Missions over the past eight months is a stark reminder of the challenges they have to face. In the International Partners i am confident teesixteen collaboration with nasa will identify to resolve the problems to be resupplied to the iss as soon as it is safe to do so. Actually it has been through its partners. Mr. Chairman we dont have time to use their. This temporary facility is authorized through 2020 and it cost 3 billion of taxpayer dollars every year coupled with the challenges of seceding operations we need to make sure our vision is clear to use the unique facility. But the number of iss has grown as concerns were raised okay. And to draw a new commercial users including pharmaceutical companies to use the iss. The funding for the iss research. And in addition to constraints to the i ss as well as power and cruz time limit what the research can be accomplished. Is in that regard we want to understand the application of cargo supply interruptions as crew operations and sustainability. In addition there is critical work to be done with Human Health Research and needs to be carried out if we make progress to a longterm goal to send humans to mars. The Obama Administration will extend operations through 2024. Three rationale is to complete research of human generation in orbit engaged in research from which we see here and to give massive private partners more time to you transition to commercial protuberant focus of a human exploration of deep. So just to examine those rationale with the International Partners so we have a lot do discuss and with that i yield back. Recognize the Ranking Member of the committee the gentlelady from texas. Holding this hearing on the International Space station and look forward to the testimony and i welcome them. Is no secret i have been a supporter of the iss to play a role in research of human spaceflight and then with the incredible engineering achievement the benefits that could be derived from both peaceful and International Cooperation in space. Failure of transportation emissions that is not easy. In then to have the impact on the of program as well as dealing with them going for her. Id. Learned that date to be applied to the cheers for Station Program. I said before the iss is a perishable commodity. We need to be clarified and asset dates to accomplish raw it is operational. While it is operational. Moving through 2024 to maintain the iss involves risk and at significant opportunity cost. We made to ensure it is used in a way to maximize productivity and value to the nation and. To make sure that technology and research is carried out. It is clear we need to make the necessary investments. Stagnant budgets do not communicate the message that we are serious about the Technology Efforts that can only be accomplished on the iss. That is a problem that congress could and should fix. We have a lot of issues to discuss to dash look forward to a productive hearing and i yield back. If members id like to submit statements they will be added to the record progress this time never like to introduce our witnesses. The associate minister of human exploration and Operation Mission director agnes the. Second, Vice President general manager of Space Exploration for boeing company and third the nasa Inspector General sense 2009. The third witness is the acting director of acquisition for the gao. The final witness is an associate professor of kinesiology and also retired astronaut in order to allow time for discussion please limit your testimony to five minister entire reinstatement will be made part of record. Un now present your testimony for the next five minutes. 80 for the opportunity to testify on behalf of myself and those who work on the International Space station. One of the most talented teams end of world. An Amazing Research facility to day during the expedition there are 329 Research Investigations in progress. From Human Research how the human body performs in microgravity, biology, a biotechnology, of physical science, Technology Development and education. There has never been this cobra of research on a continuous basis. Also in the midst of a oneyear crew expedition to give detailed information with a shield an adaptation with Mission Duration approximately to mars for also a twin study how the human genome changes when exposed to microgravity. We have kept a presence for almost 15 years 83 countries from around the world had used it for research and private companies through the National Laboratory have used the iss this week in boston there was the Users Conference it is an exciting time as many see the advantages of space based research said growth is exciting to show there is the unique properties of space to those on the done honor through a so it provides a window to any physical process the human body reacts in space with conditions that mimic those facing the elderly like immune system degradation and muscle loss. With the unique insight treatments could be developed based on space station research. Operating in space is not easy three cargo vehicles were lost in the last nine months to show the difficulty of operating in space. They have different designs common heritage, manufacturing, and utilize different trajectories. The failure of the three system shows the difficulty to operate in space. But this is not churl we are operating the systems and we think if only it would provide more oversight to lower the cost of cargo delivery but said demand to escape gravity is the same level of risk the matter how much insight we have. But to give us insight to help us understand we can get better designs. But to legislate can distract the team and even after these operations there were not impacted these are to the teams that manage and operate the iss their learning from the columbia tragedy with they had to operate without the shuttle for several years. With logistics resupply theyre proving their worth but theyre not without consequences some of these performance goals will not be met they are at the avery research. Does not enough to recover the impact of the delay of the flight that was required to have the teams understand the progress required it to the go three weeks longer than planned the impact had real applications to students and researchers to lost cargo on the flight then lost a the Replacement Parts where again on the spacex flight. The loss of the docking adapter can be adopted without impacting the program but to results in the dollars lost. Iss is a phenomenal resource intend then for private entrepreneurs in benefits directly people of the earth. But operating under frontier is not easy as we dont need to get complacent they are not routine or easy. But the iss team can look for ways to improve to give flexibility to manage the 82 understand how great candy have the benefits it will take longer to be realized but the benefits will speed up the expectations of all involved. Thank you to the committee for their space flight with the authorization activity i look forward to your questions. Thank you. Now i recognize teeeighteen for five minutes chairman and Ranking Member and members of the subcommittee they queue florida day opportunity to ruth justified to provide an update on the International Space station and with boeing. Congratulations in your selection going is prior to support nasa in the assembly of the iss. The prime contractor delivering pediments of the iss to provide integration for the assembly of all international elements. We continue with rabil today. On november 2nd to the rules will celebrate 15 years of continuous presence in space with international cruz living and working aboard the i assess when many would cry a gap in the Space Program as we transition me know that america and the partner nations are making advances every day. The International Space station is recognized as the largest most complex scientific engineering project in history with the largest endeavor in space. Ongoing improvements make it better for the station brought together hardware and software from 16 countries around the globe in 37 states with 37 suppliers. The size of an american football field is larger than a six bedroom house to have the internal pressurized volume of the 747 from a shining example of what could be achieved for the unity of purpose. As the contractor boeing is responsible to insure the of full availability for the International Partners and private companies and to perform this role we work with nasa over the past 10 years we have reduced the cost has enabled the improvement with the docking system with the commercial vehicles. With the peak efficiency with performance well into the future. With the major card where components the study indicates and longterm viability is the important factor for researchers at have considerable time invested for operations in pro in with their Research Capabilities is the utilization to enable continuing kim is Space Exploration in the quality of life here on earth. Iss continues to be used to support deep Space Exploration and to address needs for future exploration and did a test bed for how the body reacts to weightlessness to develop countermeasures. All these things are important before we explore further into the solar system for research has led to improvements from the medical field to observations to provide clean water an underdeveloped countries to how we diagnosed injury patients in remote areas. I have had opportunities for those who did not have the Space Program and without exception in nearly every one of these conversations these leaders expressed a strong desire to be involved in space and to inspire the youth with High Technology and a significant source of National Pride to recognize the tremendous vallejo to all who are charged with said national asset. We must ever take what we have for granted to be sure the iss is well founded and operated in fully utilized. I look forward to your questions. I now recognize mr. Martin for five minutes. Thanks for inviting us to be part of us a discussion to maximize research on day iss as time for a topic over the past eight months the office of Inspector General related to the topic of todays hearing including reviews that examine nasas plans to extend operations through 2024 and those of the crew with five more reviews to manage health for extended exploration and the challenges to cooperation in space. The audience laugh september to extend the iss reported the agency had identified the zero major obstacles through 2024 but we found there must address technical challenges with adequate Power Generation in light of degradation as well as a limited ability to transport Replacement Parts. While officials estimate the annual budget of three and 4 billion through 2024 we anticipate the cost to be higher. First much is attributable to higher transportation costs. We found nasas estimates for cargo optimistic. Second, most agency International Partners have yet to commit to operations beyond 2020 and a decision by one or more not to participate will the jump of the cost for nasa the number one Operational Risk for the program is to ensure the availability to deliver supplies. While nasa is working with providers for redundancy flights are now on hold pending the outcome of fax an investigation but this failed cargo flights is in three ways but i never went to reduce crew time due to a temporary delay and read turning