Maryland lawmakers ask NASA why it’s cancelling Goddard spacecraft project
Credit: Capital News Service
WASHINGTON – Nine Maryland lawmakers wrote a letter earlier this week to NASA demanding answers regarding the agency’s termination of a multi-billion dollar spacecraft program.
The project, known as OSAM-1, was developed at the Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, and was expected to service existing satellites and expand their lifespans in space.
“NASA Goddard’s OSAM-1 has the potential to offer an innovative solution for extending the lifespans of our satellites while keeping them in orbit,” Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Maryland, said in a statement to Capital News Service. “Despite Team Maryland’s efforts to preserve this important mission and renewed work at Goddard to keep it on track for a 2026 launch, NASA has decided to move forward on canceling this program. Given the abrupt nature of this decision and the lack of a sufficient explanation to Congress as to why it was made, we’re seeking immediate answers from NASA.”
The lawmakers’ letter, dated Sept. 16 and addressed to NASA Administrator Bill Nelson, was signed by Van Hollen and fellow Democratic Sen. Ben Cardin, as well as Democratic Reps. Steny Hoyer, Glenn Ivey, Dutch Ruppersberger, Jamie Raskin, Kweisi Mfume, David Trone and John Sarbanes.
To read full article, click here.
