Tammy Duckworth Presses NASA Nom About Maintaining U.S. Presence On The International Space Station

4/10/2025

During Wednesday's Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee hearing, Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) questioned Jared Isaacman, the nominee to be Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, about maintaining the International Space Station.

Fuel your success with Forbes. Gain unlimited access to premium journalism, including breaking news, groundbreaking in-depth reported stories, daily digests and more. Plus, members get a front-row seat at members-only events with leading thinkers and doers, access to premium video that can help you get ahead, an ad-light experience, early access to select products including NFT drops and more:

https://account.forbes.com/membership/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=growth_non-sub_paid_subscribe_ytdescript

Stay Connected
Forbes on Facebook: http://fb.com/forbes
Forbes Video on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/forbes
Forbes Video on Instagram: http://instagram.com/forbes
More From Forbes: http://forbes.com

Transcript

00:00Mr. Chairman, as ranking member of the Aviation and Space Subcommittee, I am looking forward to getting a bipartisan NASA reauthorization done

00:07to make sure that NASA is able to execute its mission with a consistent vision and congressional support,

00:13free of undue influence from any temporary government employees.

00:17According to the Global Counterspace Capabilities Report published this month,

00:20the PRC is rapidly advancing a broad spectrum of counterspace capabilities

00:25as part of a sustained push to secure military power in orbit and expand their presence in space.

00:30The PRC has also started building its second satellite internet constellation in lower Earth orbit

00:35and has committed to continued human presence in Leo at its Tiangong Space Station.

00:41More than ever, NASA's missions need to be consistent and laser-focused

00:45and avoid major subversions of mission priorities and diversion of funds,

00:48not only for our global space leadership but also for national security.

00:52I'm going to, Mr. Eichmann asked you a couple of yes-no questions,

00:58but first I just want to say that a sustained human presence in low Earth orbit is crucial

01:03for advancing scientific research, testing technologies for future deep space missions

01:07and fostering a thriving economy and global leadership as Leo serves as a unique environment

01:12for research, development and training due to its microgravity environment.

01:16By supporting extended human operations in Leo, NASA can test exploration systems, conduct human research

01:21and maintain operational expertise vitals for missions on the Moon and to Mars.

01:27These are not things that can be done by machine alone,

01:29and a gap in our human presence in Leo will likely result in ceding our leadership to the PRC.

01:34Mr. Eichmann, do you support maintaining continuous human presence in low Earth orbit?

01:39I do, Senator.

01:40I think if reusability has given us anything, it's a very affordable path to send American astronauts to and from low Earth orbit.

01:50Elon Musk has suggested that the International Space Station's strategic value has run its course

01:54and should be de-orbited as soon as possible to focus on a mission to Mars.

02:00And that's a quote he said, as soon as possible.

02:02For the last 26 years, the strategic value of the International Space Station has been invaluable,

02:08serving as a beacon of the United States' global leadership

02:11and a symbol of what we can accomplish through international cooperation.

02:14Funnily enough, although I don't think it's very funny at all,

02:18SpaceX has been awarded the contract to de-orbit the International Space Station.

02:22Mr. Eichmann, do you believe there's still utility in maintaining a U.S. presence on the ISS

02:26at least through 2030 as currently planned?

02:29Senator, as I mentioned, my prepared remarks, I think we need to use up every bit of life

02:34that's remaining on the International Space Station so we can crack the code on the space economy

02:38and better hand off those responsibilities to commercial industry.

02:43I am familiar with Mr. Musk's remarks in that.

02:47I do think he is a very accomplished entrepreneur.

02:49I would like to understand his rationale behind that,

02:52just as I think Administrator Webb would want to hear from all of the commercial contract leaders

02:57from the 1960s during the space race.

02:59But you don't think that we should de-orbit the ISS now?

03:03I do not think we should de-orbit it now.

03:05I think we need to make the most use of the space station while we have it

03:09and figure out what we can accomplish in the unique environment of microgravity

03:12and figure out the space economy for commercial Leo.

03:16The Artemis program is critical in our effort to return to the moon,

03:20and returning to the moon is seen as a stepping stone for broader human exploration

03:23and critical for scientific discovery, advancing technology,

03:27and as a necessary preparation for eventually progressing to human mission to Mars.

03:34I know a few of my colleagues already today have tried to get a specific answer out of you,

03:38but you have avoided directly answering them today.

03:40So I ask again, Mr. Isaacsman, do you support maintaining NASA's long-term mission

03:49to maintain a human activity on the moon?

03:52Senator, and I'm sorry if I'm not sounding clear on this,

03:56I think it's imperative that we do both.

03:59I think that's what NASA was created to do.

04:01I would love nothing more than to see this crew get around the moon for us to land on the moon,

04:05figure out its scientific, economic, national security value,

04:08while we were also charting a course in line with President Trump's vision

04:12for American astronauts to plant the stars and stripes on Mars.

04:15So you think we can do both simultaneously?

04:16I mean, we do multiple flagship scientific missions at NASA.

04:20We maintain a presence in Leo where we're undertaking dozens of scientific experiments at once.

04:26I think we can, ma'am.

04:27You think we can maintain a presence on the moon and a mission to Mars simultaneously?

04:31I think we can do the moon and Mars and beyond.

04:34Okay.

04:34I, you know, whatever we can do to support the space program, I'm on board.

04:41I just have one final question.

04:43I'm asking all the Trump nominees.

04:45If given an illegal or unconstitutional order by President Trump or your superiors,

04:49would you oppose it?

04:52I don't think President Trump would give an illegal order,

04:54but I would follow the law, ma'am.

04:56And you would oppose if he were?

04:59I don't believe the president would give me an illegal order, ma'am.

05:01Okay, that's fine.

05:03But if given an illegal or unconstitutional order, will you oppose it?

05:05I will always follow the law, ma'am.

05:08So is that a yes?

05:10You will oppose the illegal order if given one by either the president or your superiors?

05:15Senator, I will always follow the law.

05:18I'm out of time, Mr. Chairman.

05:22Senator Moreno.

05:22I'll start with you, Mrs. Trustee.

05:25Thank you so much for taking the time in my office.

05:27We did not know each other before meeting with you.

05:30Your parents are beaming with pride, which I love to see, with good reason.

05:37You're somebody who has an incredibly...

05:38Thank you so much for taking the time in my office.

Tammy Duckworth Presses NASA Nom About Maintaining U.S. Presence On The International Space Station

Category

Transcript

Recommended