Today, Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX), along with Ranking Member Frank Lucas (R-OK), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics Don Beyer (D-VA), and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics Brian Babin (R-TX) sent a letter to Comptroller General Gene Dodaro requesting the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) conduct a review of the cybersecurity risks to the sensitive data associated with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) major projects and spaceflight operations.
“NASA’s portfolio of major projects includes satellites equipped with advanced sensors to study the Earth, telescopes intended to explore the universe, and spacecraft to transport humans and cargo beyond low-Earth orbit,” said Committee Members in the letter. “As each project represents significant investments in innovative technology, they could also be attractive targets to malicious actors.”
The Members continued, “As NASA continues to lead the nation and the world in pursuing ambitious goals, including human exploration of the Moon and Mars and ever more challenging scientific investigations, it is imperative that it do so in a manner that protects sensitive data from malicious actors. Accordingly, we request that GAO conduct a review of the cybersecurity risks to the sensitive data associated with NASA’s major projects and spaceflight operations.”
A copy of the full letter can be found here.