Week in Review 11.18.22
Welcome to this week’s edition of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee newsletter! The SST Newsletter highlights the goings on of the Committee, the hard work of our Members, and a look ahead.
Science Committee Members Celebrate Successful Launch of Artemis I
On Wednesday, Artemis I, the first integrated Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion crew vehicle, successfully launched from Kennedy Space Center in Florida, beginning its four to six-week mission. The Artemis I mission is an uncrewed flight test that will demonstrate the performance of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and the Orion spacecraft that will eventually carry astronauts to and from deep space destinations. The mission will test our capabilities to orbit the Moon and return to Earth and will build a foundation for future human exploration of deep space.
“Thanks to the hard work of everyone at NASA and their partners, we are one step closer to achieving our goal of returning American astronauts to the Moon. As Chairwoman of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, I have been a steadfast supporter of our human space exploration program, and I look forward to our nation’s return to the Moon in preparation for future human missions to Mars.”
-Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX)
“I still remember the sense of wonder and awe we felt as a nation watching the exploits of the Mercury Seven, the progress of Project Gemini, and the incredible achievements of the Apollo program. NASA and our space program are providing that sense of wonder all over again with Artemis, the Perseverance and Ingenuity missions on Mars, the launch and deployment of the James Webb Space Telescope, and so much more. With today’s launch, Artemis I is on course to complete successful tests of the integrated Space Launch System and the Orion crew module, which will take us back to the Moon and lay the groundwork for the human exploration of Mars.”
-Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee Chairman Don Beyer (D-VA)
Unfolding the Universe: Initial Science Results from the James Webb Space Telescope
On Wednesday, the Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics held a hearing to receive testimony on the initial science, scientific findings and discoveries of National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s James Webb Space Telescope, as well as plans for future scientific investigations.
During the hearing, witness Dr. Mark Clampin, Astrophysics Division Director at NASA, shared a new image captured by James Webb Space Telescope. The image shows once-hidden features of the protostar within the dark cloud L1527.
“I’m proud of the dedication and commitment of the many scientists, engineers, international partners, and contractors that have brought us here to celebrate the first science of JWST, the most powerful and complex telescope humans have ever sent into space. While the initial results and first imagery have been nothing short of stunning, I am confident that there is much more to come, and much we cannot even imagine.”
-Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee Chairman Don Beyer (D-VA)
Chairwoman Johnson’s Official Portrait Unveiled
On Thursday, Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson’s (D-TX) official portrait was unveiled. At the ceremony filled with family, friends, and colleagues, many shared thoughtful words and stories from Chairwoman Johnson’s extraordinary career. The Chairwoman’s portrait will be displayed in the Committee’s hearing room for many years to come, reminding us all that everyone has a place in science and leadership.
Portrait artist Ying-He Liu has completed over three hundred commissions. Her works have been featured in The New York Times, Boston Globe, Home and Garden, and more. A graduate of Stony Brook University, SUNY (B.A. in Fine Arts), Liu graduated Summa Cum Laude.
Coming up in Committee
There is no committee activity scheduled for next week.
