Media Advisory: Life after Shuttle – Where are we going – and how do we get there?

Media Advisory: Life after Shuttle – Where are we going – and how do we get there?

WHAT:   Hearing on: “Space Shuttle and Space Launch Initiative”

WHEN:   Thursday, April 18, 2002 – 10:00 A.M.

WHERE:  2318 Rayburn House Office Building

In the wake of separate reports criticizing both space shuttle safety and the viability of NASA’s plan to replace the shuttle by 2012, the House Science Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics will hold a hearing to explore the current state of the space shuttle program and where it is headed in the future.  NASA is planning to spend $50-60 billion over the next ten years on the shuttle and the Space Launch Initiative and the committee is concerned with ensuring that this money is being spent wisely and that shuttle safety is not compromised in the process.

Scheduled to testify are:

• Mr. Fred Gregory, NASA Associate Administrator for Space Flight Enterprise
• Mr. Richard Blomberg, Chair of NASA Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel
• Mr. Sam Venneri, NASA Associate Administrator for Aerospace Technology Enterprise
• Mr. Gerard Elverum, Member of the NASA Space Transportation Subcommittee of the Aerospace Technology Advisory Committee

Press Contacts:

Heidi Mohlman Tringe (Heidi.Tringe@mail.house.gov)

Jeff Donald (Jeffrey.Donald@mail.house.gov)

(202) 225-4275