I do believe that there is value in returning to the Moon.

I look forward to a productive hearing.

we, as Americans, are by nature explorers. We have always had a frontier.

We want to extend the life of the International Space Station to at least 2020.

That frontier is no longer westward. That frontier is upward.

We want to increase NASA's investments in transformative technologies that can expand the reach and reduce the costs of human exploration.

the gap initiated by the retirement of the Space Shuttle... represents the impact of a decision made by the present Administration.

There is a great deal that is riding on this hearing today because we are preparing the way for us then to start the markup in your subcommittee of the authorizing legislation.

This Congress has to make a bipartisan decision whether to realign the NASA 2011 Budget to maintain the United States a leader in the exploration of space as outlined by the Constellation Program or forgo the prestige and respect we now…

the gap was created 5 years ago, and that it is a fait accompli.

Did you have any discussions with the Department of Defense upon the effect of the cancellation of the solid rocket motor program in NASA on DOD?

I asked for the development of a robust commercial space sector and we are now taking steps in that direction.