FEDERALhearing transcript

Congressional Hearing: NASA's Past, Present, and Future

Original title: NASA: PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE

January 1, 2017

NASA Space Exploration Science Policy Aerospace Engineering

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The Frame

What this does

This hearing serves as a formal record of expert testimony used by Congress to shape future NASA funding, mission priorities, and space exploration policy.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

NASA

The agency's strategic direction and policy framework are subject to the oversight and legislative priorities discussed by the committee.

Aerospace Industry

Private sector contractors and partners are influenced by the long-term mission goals and funding levels discussed by the committee.

What changed

Last recorded activity January 1, 2017.

What's next

Next step not available in the current record.

Summary

The House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology held a hearing on February 16, 2017, to review the history and future direction of NASA. The committee heard testimony from four expert witnesses, including former astronauts and scientists, regarding the agency's strategic goals.

Key Facts

The hearing took place on February 16, 2017, in the Rayburn House Office Building.
The session was titled 'NASA: Past, Present, and Future'.
Four witnesses provided oral and written testimony: Harrison Schmitt, Thomas P. Stafford, Ellen Stofan, and Tom Young.
The committee received additional materials for the record from Representatives Neal P. Dunn and Gary Palmer.
The hearing included a formal question-and-answer session with the witnesses.
Post-hearing responses were submitted by all four witnesses and included in the official record.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the purpose of this hearing?

The hearing was held to gather expert testimony on the history and future trajectory of NASA's space exploration programs.

Who testified at the hearing?

The witnesses were Harrison Schmitt (Apollo 17 astronaut), Thomas P. Stafford (astronaut and advisory committee chair), Ellen Stofan (former NASA Chief Scientist), and Tom Young (former Goddard Spaceflight Center Director).

Why It Matters

This hearing serves as a formal record of expert testimony used by Congress to shape future NASA funding, mission priorities, and space exploration policy.

News Coverage

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Discoveries

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

cross reference90% confidence

Expert Witness Composition

The committee selected a panel consisting entirely of former high-level NASA officials and astronauts, emphasizing institutional memory over current agency leadership.

Harrison Schmitt Thomas P. Stafford Ellen Stofan Tom Young

Connected Entities

personHarrison Schmitt“Apollo 17 Astronaut and former U.S. Senator”Map →

personEllen Stofan“Former NASA Chief Scientist”Map →

personLamar S. Smith“Chairman of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology”Map →

organizationCommittee on Science, Space, and Technology“House of Representatives committee overseeing NASA”Map →

personTom Young“Former Director of Goddard Spaceflight Center”Map →

personThomas P. Stafford“Astronaut and Chairman of the NASA International Space Station Advisory Committe”Map →

Sources

Open source document

www.govinfo.gov

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance40
How much this matters to a regular citizen
Controversy10
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment5
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz5
Current news / social attention level

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