House hearing to review commercial crew progress

A U.S. House committee this morning is set to review the progress and challenges facing NASA's development of privately operated spacecraft for flying astronauts to low Earth orbit.

Watch a live Webcast of the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology's 10 a.m. hearing here and review the hearing charter here.

Witnesses include executives from five space companies involved in developing commercial systems (all but Blue Origin), the head of NASA's human spaceflight programs and the agency's inspector general.

Here's the lineup -- click the names to read their prepared testimony:

Panel One:
-- John Elbon, Vice President & General Manger, Space Exploration Division, The Boeing Company
-- Steve Lindsey, Director, Space Exploration, Sierra Nevada Space Systems
-- Elon Musk, CEO & CTO, Space Exploration Technologies
-- Charles Precourt, Vice President and General Manager, ATK Space Launch Systems
-- George Sowers, Vice President, Business Development and Advanced Programs, United Launch Alliance

Panel Two
-- Paul Martin, Inspector General, NASA
-- Bill Gerstenmaier, Associate Administrator, Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate, NASA

The House so far has recommended funding commercial vehicles with just $312 million in 2012, less than half the $850 million requested by the Obama administration. The Senate has proposed $500 million.