During a U.S. Senate Committee on Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces hearing, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) highlighted the contributions New Mexico's space program makes to national security. He specifically underscored the ability of the Operationally Responsive Space (ORS) program at Kirtland Air Force Base (KAFB) to provide short-term tactical capabilities and long-term solutions to developing low cost satellites.