Senators Subpoena NASA For SLS Documents

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AvWeek’s Frank Morring is reporting that NASA Administrator Charlie Bolden has received a subpoena from the Senate’s Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee for the documents that NASA has so far refused to turn over, as demanded in the Committee’s May 18th letter to NASA. More details in,

Senators Subpoena Rocket Documents From NASA.

5 Comments

  1. The Appropriations language called for spending “a minimum of” $ 1.8 Billion in FY 2011.

    Does anyone know whether NASA is even close to complying?

    If they are not, does anyone know where the money is going?

    • There is language in the House’s FY12 NASA Approps that prevents NASA from using SLS and Orion funds for rents and other misc. expenses only loosely tied to those programs. It seems NASA’s leadership thought it genius to use the FY11 SLS and Orion funds for all sorts of things not related forbids programs, which is certainly one way to starve those programs of funding. That trick won’t work next fiscal year.

  2. Jim Hillhouse August 2nd, 2011 at 3:17 pm • Reply
    “ It seems NASA’s leadership thought it genius to use the FY11 SLS and Orion funds for all sorts of things not related forbids programs, which is certainly one way to starve those programs of funding.”

    I am no lawyer, but isn’t that at least approaching the line (if not crossing the line) of misappropriation of funds? Wouldn’t that be a literal crime?

    • You’re right. The subpoena issued is part of an investigation; this is no longer merely an oversight matter between NASA’s leadership and the Senate’s Commerce Committee.

      • Yeah, that’s what I was afraid of. Interesting times. I hope the Congress has the courage to go through with the investigation.

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