Committee on Science

F. James Sensenbrenner, Jr., Chairman

Ralph M. Hall, Texas, Ranking Democrat

www.house.gov/science/welcome.htm

June 21, 2000

Press Contacts:

Jeff Lungren (Chairman Sensenbrenner)

(202) 225-4275

Pia Pialorsi (Chairman McCain)

(202) 224-2670

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee
Chairman John McCain (R-AZ) and House Science Committee Chairman F. James
Sensenbrenner, Jr., (R-WI) last week requested the General Accounting Office
(GAO) review the U.S. Propulsion Module program at NASA because “we are
concerned that technical, cost, and schedule risks have not been adequately
managed.” This request came in a letter to David Walker, the U.S.
Comptroller General at the GAO, the independent investigation arm of
Congress.

“The propulsion module has been an ongoing concern for the Commerce
Committee,” Chairman McCain said. “This new setback demonstrates that NASA
has failed to learn any lessons from the cost overruns and delays
experienced during the seven year development phase of the International
Space Station. This situation clearly indicates that NASA needs to spend
more time on technical management of its programs instead of counting their
appropriation funds.”

Chairman Sensenbrenner added, “The redesign problems merit this independent
review. We cannot allow any problems to impede realizing the enormous
scientific and health benefits from research on the ISS. Russian
nonperformance already has delayed these potential breakthroughs in areas
like cancer research; consequently, it’s imperative whatever problems exist
with the redesign effort are identified and fixed.”

The letter notes, “In 1998, NASA initiated an effort to design a U.S.
Propulsion Module to reduce dependence on Russian rockets and spacecraft for
attitude control and reboost of the International Space Station (ISS).” To
date, U.S. dependence on Russian performance in the ISS program has cost
U.S. taxpayers an estimated $5 billion and delayed the program by three
years.

The full McCain-Sensenbrenner letter is attached.

106-138

###

June 13, 2000

The Honorable David M. Walker

Comptroller General of the United States

U.S. General Accounting Office

Washington, DC 20548

Dear Mr. Walker:

In 1998, NASA initiated an effort to design a U.S. Propulsion Module to
reduce dependence on Russian rockets and spacecraft for attitude control and
reboost of the International Space Station (ISS). While we are pleased that
NASA has undertaken this effort to protect the ISS program in the event of
further Russian delays, we are concerned that technical, cost, and schedule
risks have not been adequately managed.

Specifically, we are requesting that the GAO review the U.S. Propulsion
Module program to determine 1) the extent to which requirements for the
U.S. Propulsion Module have been adequately defined, the number of changes
to requirements, the number of changes which were in scope and the number
which increased the scope; 2) NASA’s original cost estimate, the costs
incurred to date, estimated cost to complete, and termination costs; 3) the
status of the NASA contract with Boeing for the U.S. Propulsion Module,
including current levels of obligations; 4) the extent to which the original
schedule and milestones have slipped and whether the currently planned
effort realistically supports the ISS program schedule, and 5) what specific
steps NASA has taken to control and mitigate technical, cost, and schedule
risks.

Please contact Bill Adkins (225-2070), House Committee on Science, and Floyd
DesChamps (224-8172), Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation
Committee, if you have any questions. We look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

JOHN MCCAIN, Chairman, Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee

F. JAMES SENSENBRENNER, JR.
Chairman, House Committee on Science