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“Step by Step: The Artemis Program and NASA's Path to Human Exploration of the Moon, Mars, and Beyond”

House Science, Space, and Technology Committee, Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee

February 26, 2025 (recording linked here)

HEARING INFORMATION

Witnesses and Written Testimony (linked):

• Dr. Scott Pace: Director of Space Policy Institute, George Washington University

• Mr. Dan Dumbacher: Adjunct Professor, Purdue University

HEARING HIGHLIGHTS

IN THEIR WORDS

SUMMARY OF OPENING STATEMENTS FROM THE COMMITTEE AND SUBCOMMITTEE

• Chairman Haridopolos noted that 2026 will be a defining year for the legacy of the United States, as NASA is set to launch Artemis two and mission, sending American astronauts into orbit around the moon for the first time in 50 years. He emphasized that failure is not an option and that the US must win the race to the moon against competitors like China.

• Ranking Member Foushee expressed excitement about the Artemis program and its goals, including landing the first woman, first person of color, and the first international partner astronaut on the lunar surface. She acknowledged the challenges facing the Artemis campaign, including technical complexities, affordability, and schedule delays. Fauci emphasized the importance of transparency and accountability from NASA and expressed disappointment that the agency did not send a witness to testify.

• Chairman Babin noted that space exploration is a significant undertaking that requires continuity of purpose over several years. He discussed how the Constellation program evolved into the Artemis program and emphasized the need to maintain a clear and consistent path forward. Babin expressed concerns about cost overruns and schedule delays and stated that the US cannot afford to let China beat them to the moon.

• Ranking Member Lofgren expressed support for the Artemis campaign and the moon-to-Mars program, but she raised several concerns, including uncertainty around NASA's funding levels, the impact of the Trump administration's actions on the NASA workforce, and the viability of the Artemis three and future human landing approaches.

SUMMARY OF WITNESS STATEMENT

• Dr. Pace emphasized that space leadership is about having other countries wanting to work with the US as a partner in common endeavors. He noted that the immediate challenges for US space exploration include ensuring more than one way of getting Americans to orbit, managing the end of the International Space Station, enabling private space stations, creating a sustainable return to the moon, and building capabilities to reach Mars.

• Mr. Dumbacher stated that the nation that leads in space is the nation that benefits. He expressed concern that China is striving to lead the implementation and development of space infrastructure, retaining the high ground and reaping the economic benefits. He recommended returning humans to the moon as expeditiously as possible, utilizing existing systems, and in parallel, initiating planning and implementation of a sustainable and efficient approach to retain the US presence on the moon.

SUMMARY OF KEY Q and A

• Chairman Haridopolos asked whether any changes to the current Artemis mission architecture could get the US to the Moon faster or if they were more likely to cause delays. Dr. Pace responded that while the policy direction is fine, the architecture needs a more immediate campaign plan, particularly for sustainable and reusable systems for going from Earth to the Moon. He suggested that looking beyond Artemis 2 and 3, the focus should be on how to ensure a sustainable and affordable way to go back and forth to the Moon.

• Ranking Member Fauci asked about the importance of having a representative astronaut corps and the impact of actions that turn away talent and discourage the next generation. Mr. Dumbacher acknowledged the concern, stating that the turmoil and uncertainty caused by the Trump administration's actions are causing people, especially bright, early-career professionals, to question their futures, which could slow down the learning and progress needed for the space program.

• Rep. Webster asked about the need to revise the Artemis program, and Dr. Pace explained that the immediate campaign plan for the next several missions is important, but looking beyond that, the focus should be on how to stay on the Moon in a sustainable and affordable way, rather than simply continuing with the current program of record.

• Rep. Salinas asked about the value of engaging a broad aerospace supply chain and the implications for America's economic competitiveness. Mr. Dumbacher emphasized the importance of the industrial base, which has been weakened over time, and the need to build it back by doing tangible work and building hardware, as this supports good jobs in local communities.

• Rep. McCormick discussed the private sector's ability to outpace government capabilities and asked about specific regulations or provisions that need examination. Dr. Pace and Mr. Dumbacher agreed on the need to give agencies more leeway and accountability to experiment and solve problems, rather than being bogged down by excessive bureaucracy and risk aversion.

• Rep. Whitesides expressed support for the NASA workforce and asked about the importance of the next generation to pursuing an ambitious Space Exploration Program. Mr. Dumbacher stressed the critical role of young people as the future talent, and the need to ensure they see the opportunity and have the support to succeed in their educational and career journeys.

• Rep. Gillen asked about the consequences for US national security if China is the first to land a crewed mission or establish a lab on the Moon. Mr. Dumbacher emphasized the importance of being present and establishing the rules of the road for the lunar environment, as the nation that leads in space will reap the economic and geopolitical benefits.

• Rep. Fong asked about specific regulations or provisions that need examination to ensure repeatable and sustainable missions, and Dr. Pace and Mr. Dumbacher discussed the need for agency accountability and the ability to experiment, while also pushing responsibility down to lower levels within the agencies.

• Repr. Rivas expressed concerns about the Trump administration's attacks on the federal workforce and its impact on NASA and the Artemis campaign, and Mr. Dumbacher discussed the need for stability and the ability to tap into all resources across the country to compete globally, especially given the numerical advantage of China's engineering graduates.

• Rep. Collins discussed the importance of public-private partnerships and budget efficiency, and Dr. Pace and Mr. Dumbacher shared their perspectives on leveraging the private sector's capabilities and managing programs efficiently, including the potential for commercial providers to act as "gas stations" on the Moon.

• Rep. Kennedy asked about the balance between manned and robotic missions for the Moon and the path to Mars, and Mr. Dumbacher emphasized the need for a balanced approach, where robotic missions act as scouts to gather data and knowledge that can then inform the human exploration efforts.

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