Shuttle Columbia Investigation

February 12, 2003 Wednesday

HEADLINE: HEARING OF THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, SCIENCE AND TRANSPORTATION AND THE HOUSE SCIENCE SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE HOUSE COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE

SUBJECT: SHUTTLE COLUMBIA INVESTIGATION

 SEN. GEORGE ALLEN (R-VA): Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. O'Keefe, for being here.

MR. O'KEEFE: Thank you, Senator.

SEN. ALLEN: I want to associate myself with some of the thoughts and philosophy stated in the beginning by our chairman, Senator McCain. I want to focus on the long-term goals of NASA, broader goals. If anything good can come out of this tragedy, I think it would be the reinvigorated focus on the mission, primary mission of NASA, which ought to be scientific research that has benefit for people here on earth. And I think such sensible strategic planning would be a salutary goal and part of the legacy of the tragic loss of these great men and women. And I know that of paramount concern to you and all the people at NASA is safety. Safety for humans primarily.

Previously, before this tragedy, I know you were on record as supporting refurbished or upgraded shuttles so they can remain operational for the next 10 to 20 years. I think in examining the broader goals of NASA it would be helpful if we'd have some consideration of what is going to be the next orbiter. There are so many questions that we have to determine and this is just the beginning of this examination. Once we get into our committees in the House and Senate we'll get to it in greater detail.

But my question is specific on automation and robotics, and how can robotics and automation and advances in technology, how can that make it safer? It is less costly but it's also safer for human life. And so is NASA considering an entirely new space plane orbiter or downsizing the manned space flight? Depending on which option is chosen, how will that shape our efforts? Our efforts also—the $30 billion of course that we've already invested in this space station, International Space Station as an investment. But where are we in embracing some of these advancements in automation and robots, and in the strategic planning will it affect the continued dangerously underfunding of aeronautics, which I think have tangible benefits to us militarily as well as in the commercial markets?

So I'd like your thoughts on these key paths that we need to go down and decide which ones were going to go down in the future.