Step by Step: The Artemis Program and NASA's Path To Human Exploration of the Moon, Mars, and Beyond
House Science, Space, and Technology Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics
2025-02-26
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Source: Congress.gov
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Transcript
The Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics will come to order. Without objection, the Chair is authorized to declare recess of the Subcommittee at any time. Welcome to today's hearing entitled, Step by Step, The Artemis Program and NASA's Path to Human Exploration of the Moon, Mars, and Beyond. And with that, I recognize myself for five minutes for an opening statement. Welcome to the Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee's first hearing of the 119th Congress. I extend my warm welcome to our ranking member, Congresswoman Foushee from the state of North Carolina, and express my enthusiasm to work with her and her team and the returning members of this subcommittee. 2026 will be a defining year for the legacy of the United States. Next April, NASA is set to launch Artemis II, a mission sending American astronauts into orbit around the moon for the first time in 50 years. If we succeed, we will clear the path for Artemis III in 2027, when American astronauts will once again step onto the lunar surface and plant the stars and stripes. This is the most significant moment of America's space program since the Apollo program. We stand at a crossroads, the world is watching, and our competitors, like communist China, are racing to beat us there. We cannot afford to fall behind. This is an opportunity to prove that America still leads the world in exploration and innovation. Failure is not an option. To succeed, we need the same relentless pace and ironclad determination today as we won the space race back in the 1960s. With each mission, NASA tested new systems, tackled new challenges, and carried us one step closer to Neil Armstrong's great giant leap for mankind. At the height of the Apollo program, NASA launched seven crewed missions in less than two years. That achievement was fueled by patriotism, urgency, ingenuity, and an unshakable belief in American greatness.
Returning to the moon has not been without its challenges. Over the years, changing directions and requirements have resulted in scheduled delays and cost overruns. Not only must we return to the moon and establish a presence, but we must do it while spending significantly less money than the Apollo missions. That makes every taxpayer dollar given to NASA precious. We aim to get the Artemis program back on track. Thanks to President Trump, NASA has a clear direction. Now that we must ensure that NASA carries out that direction in the most efficient and cost-effective means possible. I plan to conduct those, I plan to conduct close oversight to ensure that every dollar NASA spends moves us closer to the moon and to Mars. We must remember that we are in a race to the moon and that there are consequences for coming in second. The Chinese Communist Party has set its sights on landing on the moon by 2030. The nation must establish a foothold there and will shape the norms of behavior for generations of exploration on the lunar surface. I refuse to let the communist dictatorship set the rules for the future of space. Now is not the time for half measures. The next few years are critical to our national interests and our place in the world. We are in a race to the moon and America must win that race. Our journey to the moon is in service to a greater goal, one that President Trump outlined in his inaugural address, to plant the stars and stripes on the planet Mars. Since 2005, Congress has backed a step-by-step path to human exploration with Mars as the ultimate goal. A mission to Mars will be the defining moment of our era. It will be longer and even more difficult than a lunar landing, which is why we must prepare ourselves for the journey. The moon is our critical stepping stone, a proving ground to Texas technologies, refine operations, and reduce risks for future Mars missions.
Every step we take towards the moon is a giant leap towards Mars. To my fellow Americans, you deserve to know where your dollars are spent wisely. We will conduct careful oversight to ensure that NASA operations at the highest standards, and we will settle for nothing less than efficiency, productivity, and results. This is a chance to remind ourselves what we are capable of when we are united behind a shared goal. Mars is on the horizon, but the moon is where we first prove ourselves. I want to thank our witnesses for joining us today, and let's get to work. With that, I would like to recognize our ranking member from the state of North Carolina, Congresswoman Foushee, and you're recognized.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am thrilled to serve as a ranking member of the Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics. We are at an exciting time, and I look forward to working with you and the members of the subcommittee and full committee to continue our bipartisan and critical work on ensuring a strong and vibrant future for civil space and aeronautics.
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