This hearing is call to order. Welcome. 50 years ago, exactly what each week from today, at approximately 9 30 am, 2 astronauts, sitting atop a rocket the size of a navy destroyer, packing 7. 5 Million Pounds of thrust, took off from Kennedy Space center in florida. Roughly 1 Million People had gathered on the ground to watch this historic event. That included half of the u. S. Congress. These 3 astronauts, as one of the newspapers put it at the time, carried with them the hopes of the world. The u. S. 1969. The year before i was born. The astronauts were now im strong, but, and michael collins. And the mission was apollo 11. Armstrong and aldrin went on to make history a little more than 100 hours later. When with more than one third of the earths the earth watching, word listening live. They became the first humans to ever set foot on the moon. The apollo 11 mission would go on to make history again. A little less than 100 hours after that, as the First Mission not only to put men on the moon, but to bring them home safely as well. Although president kennedy had not lived to see it, the bold goal that he had said 8 years earlier had been met. To steal a line from the flight director of the mission, we have shown that what america will there, america will do. America will dare america will do. Today, we rightfully celebrate the limited occasion that is the upcoming 58th anniversary of apollo 11. As president nixon said in a phone call to Neil Armstrong and buzz while they were still on the moon. Because of what they had done, the heavens had become a part of mans world. Indeed, not only did we succeed in putting men on the moon and returning them safety tours, we have gone on to put robotic rivers on distant planets, celestial observatories in orbit that can literally appear into the innings of the universe. We have established a presence in lower orbit that is still there today. However, while it is tempting to focus only on the historic achievements, that were apollo 11, and some of our Witnesses Today will rightly highlight, the moon landing and the entire Apollo Program for that matter did not happen in a vacuum. It was a result of visionary leadership, National Unity, and oldfashioned american tenacity. The success of apollo 11 and our National Space program was also due in large part to the tireless contribution of countless women who were working on the scenes and whose stories have only recently become household names. One of our Witnesses Today, dr. Christine darden was one of the famed Human Computers of nasa. Without her work and the work of other computers, many of them africanamerican women, we never could have sent astronauts into space, let alone brought them home safely. Unfortunately, at the time, dr. Darden and the other Human Computers contributions were hidden and they remained hidden for far too long, relegated to the background. After that movie Hidden Figures came out, a wonderful movie that i commend to everyone, i introduced legislation to rename the street in front of the nasa headquarters as Hidden Figures way. The d. C. City council intern took up the idea just a few weeks ago. I was proud to join dr. Darden and the family of those other during Human Computers at the dedication of the new street sign in front of the nasa headquarters, so that now, a generation, or a century from now, when a little girl or little boy goes to visit nasa, she or he will say, who were they . Tell me their story. As we look at the space landscape today, we see it is far different from the landscape of 1969. America and the soviet union are no longer the only players in space. The government Space Programs are no longer the only game in town. And our technological abilities, both in terms of our ability to plan missions, and how long these missions are, have changed dramatically. What are the next 50 years what do the next 50 years of Space Exploration look like . And what should we seek to accomplish . We need a bold vision, a vision that sees the commercial space industry driving. I have long said that the first trillion or i believe will be made in space. In 50 years, the first trillionaire will be have been made in space. The art,s program is the twin sister of apollo. This time, when we return to the moon, nasa has committed that we will land the first woman on the moon. The First American astronaut who is a woman. Artemis. On behalf of my 2 young daughters, let me say thank you, it is about time. From there, we will move toward having a more permanent and sustainable presence on the moon. And that, ultimately to mars. Just a couple of years ago, i was proud to arthur the bipartisan nasa authorization act, signed into law in which every member of congress and the house and senate in both parties united to say the objective of space expiration for nasa is to go to the red planet and land on mars and the first boot to set foot on the surface of mars will be that of an american astronaut. The next 50 years have the potential to be even more nonsequential. More than the last. That is why im glad to be engaged with Ranking Member kyrsten sinema, Ranking Member cantwell to lay out a bold visionary agenda for nasa and manned Space Exploration, so that america continues to lead the world in exploring space and exploring the great frontiers above us. With that, i recognize senator sinema. Thank you, german cruz for holding the hearing today. As we approach the thank you chairman cruz. It is important for us to look ahead at new strategies and technologies that will maintain the u. S. Leadership in space, grow the economy, and strengthen our countrys security. Thank you dr. Darden, dr. Dittmar for joining us today. 1961 when president kennedy announced the amount ambitious goal for our country to send americans to the moon, we did not anticipate the lasting impacts the mission would have on our nation. At the time, we did not have capabilities or know what was needed for mission success. Apollo 11 showed us what our country and nasa are capable of. It demonstrated to the world thats the United States is the leader in space and chartered the expiration path we continue on today. The most impressive part is that we developed technologies and prepared for the mission on u. S. Soil. My home state of arizona played a critical role. The Data Collected from the Lowell Observatory in flagstaff, arizona was used to make massive the mans service before the mission. The apollo astronauts often spent time in Northern Arizona preparing for the mission. They hiked the grand canyon to learn about geology and visited Meteor Crater to get an up close look at what they would encounter them in. During a test of the first generation spacesuits at sunset crater, also in arizona, nasa learned the suits were not thick enough to withstand damage from rocks, forcing a redesign. The most significant training was done at a lake outside flagstaff. Scientists of the u. S. Geological survey developed a 500 squarefoot lunar environment, including 47 craters, to test rovers, handles and scientific instruments. s efforts show what we can do as a country when faced with a challenge and be successful and achieving our goals. National political support, robust funding, and innovation meet president kennedys goal a reality on july 20, 1969. As we enter the next phase of space expiration return to the moon, when you to continue to utilize american expertise and ingenuity. We need to work closely with our research universities, like the university of arizona and Arizona State university, that provide leadership and do important work in these areas. I am looking forward to holding a hearing on University Partnerships this year in the subcommittee. The United States has made significant technological advances since 1969. And we have a better idea of what is needed to explore space. We still face many challenges. Our workforce is aging and we have not sent humans to space on a nasa spacecraft in a ditch years. We must evaluate the use of taxpayer dollars to achieve our goals and maintain our leadership in space. Thank you again to all of our witnesses. I very much look forward to your testimony today. Thank you, mr. Chairman. I yield back. Thank you. I would now like to introduce our distinguished panel of witnesses. The first witnesses mr. Jean krantz, who is a retired nasa flight director and fighter pilot. In 1994, after 37 years of legendary federal service, mr. Krantz retired from nasa. After college, mr. Krantz worked as a flight test engineer for mcdonald aircraft, developing the quilt decoy missile for b52 and be 47 aircraft. In 1960, mr. Krantz joined the Nasa Space Task Group at langley virginia and was assigned the position of assistant like director for project mercury. He assumed flight director duties for all project Gemini Missions and was wrenched chief for Flight Control operations. He was selected as division chief for Flight Control in 1968. He continues his duty duties as a flight director for the apollo 11 Lunar Landing before taking over the leadership of the apollo 13 tiger team. He was discharged from the air force reserves as a captain in 1972. Mr. Krantz has received many awards and honors, including the president ial medal of freedom, which you received from president nixon for the apollo 13 mission. The designation is a distinguished member of the Senior Executive service by president rick in. Mr. Krantz received a bacerra science degree in aeronautical engineering from Parks College up st. Louis university. A bachelor of science degree. Our second witness is dr. Christine darden. It is good to see you again. Dr. Darden spent and seemed ready 7 years at nasa becoming one of the worlds experts on sonic boom minimization and supersonic wing design. During her career, she was appointed as the technical leader of nasas Sonic Boom Group of the Vehicle Integration branch of the High Speed Research program, where she was responsible for developing the Sonic Boom Research Program internally at nasa. In 1999, she was appointed as the director in the per gram Management Office of the aerospace performing center, where she was responsible for Langley Research in air Traffic Management and other aeronautics programs, managed at other nasa centers. Dr. Darden also served as a technical consultant on numerous government and private projects. She is the author of more than 50 publications in the field of high lift, we design, and supersonic flow, flap design, sonic boom prediction, and sonic boom minimization. She earned a bachelor of science degree in Mathematics Education from Hampton Institute , a masters of science degree in applied mathematics, Virginia State college, and a phd in Mechanical Engineering from George Washington diversity. Our third witness is dr. Marilyn dittmar, who is the president and ceo of the coalition for deep space x expiration. A 25 year veteran of the base industry, dr. Dittmar assumed leadership of the coalition in 2015. Prior to joining the coalition from 2012 through 2014, she served as a member of the National ResearchCouncil Committee on human spaceflight. Prior to that, she acted as a special advisor to the Nasa Astronaut Office before her appointment as boeing chief scientist for commercial utilization of the agency. Dr. Dittmar coordinated r d managed Flight Operations for the boeing company on the interNational Space station program. Dr. Dittmar is a fellow of the National Research society and an associate fellow of the American Institute for astronautics and aeronautics. Additionally, in june 2018, she was appointed to the Users Advisory Group of the National Space canceled. In october that year, she was appointed by the secretary of the department of transportation to the commercial Space Transportation Advisory Committee of the faa. Our fourth witness is mr. Homer hickman. He is best known for his memoir rocket boys about his West Virginia the building model rockets. The book was subsequently made into the film october sky. Mr. Hickam is a vietnam veteran of the Fourth Infantry Division and a 30 year careers with the Army Missile Command and nasa. He trained astronauts on such missions as space, and the Hubble Space Telescope repair mission. He rounded out his career by negotiating with the russians on how to train crews on the interNational Space station. Besides his career as a writer, mr. Hickam presently as chairman of the board of the u. S. Space and Rocket Center in huntsville, alabama. Mr. Hickam received a bachelor of science degree in Industrial Engineering from virginia tech. Our final witness is mr. Eric stormer, the president of the commercial space flight better ration also known as csf. Cff is the largest trade organization dedicated to promoting the universal spaceflight, pursuing ever higher levels of safety and sharing best practices and expertise throughout the industry. Before working at csf, mr. Stormer served as Vice President of Government Relations at analytical graphics a, agi. Mr. Stormer join agi in 2002. While there, he oversaw all washington operations and represented the commercial off theshelf products and technology to defense, intelligence, civil governments and other sectors in the aerospace industry. For more than 2 decades, mr. Sommer has served as an officer in the United States army and army reserves. Is currently assigned to the pentagon and the office of the deputy chief of staff army logistics. Mr. Sommer earned a master of arts degree in Public Administration from George Mason University and a bachelor of arts degree in Political Science and history from Mount Saint Mary college. Welcome to each of you. Mr. Krantz, you may begin. Would you please turn your mike on . I have a great button. It is now read. Normally, green means go. I have to say i never imagined i would give you technical advice. [ laughter ] i will start over. Confora, acting member senator sinema, and members of the subcommittee, thank you for the opportunity to discuss nasas early and future Human Spaceflight Programs. This is an exciting time for me and nasa and the base industry. As we celebrate one of our nations greatest technological achievements. Lending 2 american astronaut sxren and returning them safely to earth on the apollo 11 mission. I was fortunate to be a part of that team for that endeavor. Going up, i could have never imagined i would serve in such a role. As a young boy, all he wanted to do was flight. On becoming an aviator, i learned and received an appointment to the u. S. Naval academy. Unfortunately, i fields the entrance physical. I believe my dream i believe my dream was gone. Obtained a loan and attended college at st. Louis university and earned a degree in aeronautical engineering and i received an air force rotc commission. After time is a fighter pilot, i elected to reserve status in 1958. I was assigned a Flight Engineer on a 52 program. At completion of the Flight Test Program i applied to nasa. I was selected to to join the group at langley in 1960. B52 program. On the mercury mission, assert on a craft as the assistant flight director. Having never met him before, our initial introduction was short and to the point. He tapped me on the shoulder said i am chriscraft, you work for me. I want you to go down to the cape right some mission rules, when you are ready, give me a call and i will