Aug 30 1964
From The Space Library
FY 1965 Independent Offices Appropriation Bill containing $5.250 billion NASA appropriation, was signed into law by President Johnson. NASA Administrator James E. Webb issued statement on the effect of the appropriation, saying that NASA would "maintain the basic momentum and direction of the program as presented to Congress but will make a number of adjustments to meet the Congressional reduction of $195 million, to effect those specific changes directed by Congress, and to take advantage of experience gained from operations conducted during the nine months since the budget was submitted. "Although these adjustments will affect launch schedules and program milestones, Dr. Dryden, Dr. Seamans, and I are convinced that it is best to make a maximum effort to gain operational leadership in manned space flight and that the manned lunar landing should continue to be targeted within this decade. This will stretch NASA and its contractors to the limit, but we have advised the President that we are not at this time willing to give up this goal which is so challenging and which is so important as a focus for the efforts we must continue to make in all our programs.. . "The target date is only five years away. Our assurance that it can be met is less than under President Johnson's budget, but we still hope that with hard work, dedication, continued successes, and continued support we can meet it. We are going to make a hard try. "This decision does not involve the transfer to manned flight of funds from space science and applications programs or advanced research and technology programs. These programs will require some adjustments, but will not be drastically reduced as would be necessary if funds were reprogrammed to benefit manned space flight. "In the program for unmanned planetary exploration, the combination of a heavy workload at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the short lead time available, and the importance of applying our resources to a major advance beyond the limited Mariner make it unwise to undertake a Mars mission in 1966 with the current Mariner-type spacecraft. The development of a spacecraft with much greater scientific promise for launch to Mars in 1969 is being initiated. . . ." (NASA Release 64-221)
NASA announced Franklyn W. Phillips would be Assistant Director for Administrative Operations at NASA's new Electronics Research Center, Cambridge, Mass., effective Sept. 1. A veteran NACA-NASA executive, Phillips had been serving as Director of NASA Northeastern Office, which would be absorbed within the new Center. As Assistant Director, Phillips would be responsible for administrative matters, including procurement, personnel affairs, management analysis, administrative support, and technical information. (NASA Release 64-218)
Library of Congress announced it was creating Science Policy Research Div. within its Legislative Reference Service, to advise Congress and congressional committees on scientific and technological developments. This step was seen as first significant action by Congress to establish advisory apparatus in R&D subject area, a topic of growing concern and debate. (Finney, NYT, 8/31/64)
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