Hearing next week on NASA's future

HOUSTON, June 12 (UPI) -- The White House panel tasked with determining the future of the U.S. space program says it will hold its first public hearing in Washington next Wednesday.

Headed by former Lockheed Martin CEO Norm Augustine, the 10-member group is conducting a wholesale review of the entire space program, the Houston Chronicle reported Friday.

Their conclusions are due at the White House by late August.

Space experts and lawmakers say it is likely the panel will recommend changing the scope, budget and timetable for the U.S. manned space program.

NASA employees at Houston's Johnson Space Center and aerospace contractors are expressing concern that jobs will be lost and the planned return to the moon will be delayed or scrapped, the Chronicle says.

"My hope is that we will continue to keep our commitment to manned space flight," says Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas.