STATEMENT BY

MR. JEFFREY D. GRANT SECTOR VICE PRESIDENT AND GENERAL MANAGER SPACE SYSTEMS NORTHROP GRUMMAN AEROSPACE SYSTEMS

BEFORE THE

SUBCOMMITTEE ON SPACE COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE, SPACE, AND TECHNOLOGY U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

HEARING ON JAMES WEBB SPACE TELESCOPE

FIRST SESSION, 114TH CONGRESS MARCH 24, 2015Statement by Jeffrey D. Grant, Sector Vice President and General Manager Space Systems, Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems

Before the Subcommittee on Space Committee on Science, Space, and Technology James Webb Space Telescope

Chairman Palazzo, Ranking Member Edwards, and distinguished Members of the Committee, thank you for inviting me to appear before you today on behalf of the men and women of Northrop Grumman supporting the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) next great observatory, the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). Before I begin, I would like to thank the Committee for its leadership of our nation's civil space programs. Your steadfast support, especially with regards to JWST, is critical not only to our success, but to that of the nation's scientific and exploration programs.

I am honored to appear before you today with two NASA leaders, Associate Administrator Dr. John Grunsfeld and Dr. John Mather, Nobel Laureate and Senior Project Scientist for JWST, both leading this tremendous scientific achievement for our nation. JWST represents a technological challenge in support of a scientific objective beyond anything attempted before, and without NASA's leadership, specifically the Goddard Space Flight Center, this would simply not be possible. I am also honored to appear with the Government Accountability Office (GAO) Director of Acquisition and Sourcing Management, Cristina Chaplain, whose agency's oversight helps ensure the success of this program. As with any program, especially one this technologically complex, independent reviews are essential. We have, and will continue, to benefit from GAO's candid and straightforward assessments. I appreciate the relationship we have developed and maintained during the course of this program.

I also need to recognize NASA's international partners on this effort, the European Space Agency and the Canadian Space Agency, who are providing key scientific instruments and the launch vehicle for JWST, and the invaluable contributions of the Space Telescope Science Institute, which serves as the Science and Operations Center for the mission. It is truly the dedication of thousands, who are contributing to the success of the mission.

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Hearing on Webb Space Telescope: Statement by Jeffrey Grant