But some, including Senator Ron Wyden, the Oregon Democrat who eventually became chairman of the Senate subcommittee that oversees NASA, were uneasy.

The NASA Reauthorization Act of 2005 In the 109th Congress, Rep. Calvert served as the Chairman of the Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee which oversees NASA.

The agency oversees launch vehicle and satellite programs, co-operative programs with the Russian Aviation and Space Agency, the European Space Agency, NASA, and commercial ventures.

Senator Sam Brownback, Republican of Kansas, who is the chairman of the Senate subcommittee overseeing NASA, wants a presidential commission to develop a national space policy.

Prior to the 110th Congress, Jackson Lee served on the House Science Committee and on the Subcommittee that oversees space policy and NASA.

"Given NASA's track record, we are justifiably concerned and skeptical," said Senator John McCain, the Arizona Republican who heads the Senate Commerce Committee, which oversees NASA.

On the Commerce Committee he heads the Subcommittee on Science, Technology and Space, which he has used to oversee NASA and to push legislation like the computer network measure.

Representative Dana Rohrabacher, the California Republican who has for six years been chairman of the House subcommittee that oversees NASA, said, "I would expect it to be revamped."

Senator John McCain, the Arizona Republican who is chairman of the committee that oversees NASA, said he would convene the panel's first hearing into Columbia next week.

Senator Sam Brownback, the Kansas Republican who leads the Senate subcommittee that oversees NASA, said: "We all support manned space missions.