Sep 28 1967
From The Space Library
NASA Administrator James E. Webb testified before the Subcommittee on Independent Offices, Senate committee on Appropriations. His prepared statement made these principal points: NASA would not be able to achieve for this Nation "a position of leadership in space" for less money than an annual budget of between $5.5-$6.0 billion a year. At the proposed level of funding, after launch vehicle #216, production of the Saturn I-B and the earth-orbital portion of the Apollo Applications program would be terminated. Rather than continue to use the Apollo system for work in orbit at conclusion of Apollo flights, NASA would accept a hiatus in the continuous development of manned space flight, deciding on a fresh start for the years ahead. A new study would be begun in FY 1968 and FY 1969 on purposes and form of future development of spacecraft and "the national family of large launch vehicles that should be available in the 1970's." This "basic change in the United States space outlook" would make it "clearly prudent to preserve the physical facilities which have been built and paid for and which would be required if a decision is made to construct a large solid rocket vehicle." Because the budget level approved by the House would prevent beginning work an NERVA II, development of a flight weight engine of the NERVA I class, "with probably from 60,000 to 75,000 lbs of thrust" would be initiated in FY 1968. Because we would have "no choice" but to accept the fact that Voyager cannot be initiated in FY 1968, and, in order to preserve "a capability for future planetary programs,', NASA would propose about $10 million for the "lunar and planetary program for studies and supporting research in the technology of planetary exploration." NASA would propose no changes in the budget for the Apollo program but would "accept the legislative history as a clear signal that we should proceed with a hard-hitting carefully managed effort to achieve the objectives of the Apollo program." NASA would be able to launch "a total of nine Saturn V unmanned and manned missions before the end of Calendar Year 1969." A further reduction in funding in FY 1968 could only cause "complete havoc" and would be a blow to the national aeronautical and space effort from which it would be extremely difficult to recover. Webb told the subcommittee: "In this situation, we cannot ask, as we otherwise would have done, that the Senate restore in full the amount reduced by the House. . . . We are here to ask the committee that the Senate approve the amounts passed by the House and accepted by the President, and to make a clear record in the legislative history that will give us the flexibility we will need to permit us to carry out the strongest possible program within the amounts made available to us. . . . Long lead times requiring timely initiation of new programs and implying commitment to proceed over a period of years would . . . make it perfectly clear to all that we cannot somehow find a way to carry forward the same program and give the Nation the same assurance of a strong position in aeronautics and space with a $517 million cut in our budget." He said he had been in touch with the President in the last 24 hours and he still believes the recommendations he made in January represent" the best budget for the country. But the President also believed his proposed 10 percent income tax surcharge "is more important to press for than extra money for the space bill." Webb said he had drastically reshaped the space program to comply with the $4.5 billion fund for this year voted by the House and approved by the President. But Subcommittee Chairman Warren G. Magnuson (D-Wash.) and several senators, with major space installations in their states, gave strong indications they would plan to restore some of the millions of dollars cut by the House. Webb promised to revise his multi-billion-dollar space plans again "and bring you the best program possible for the money." (NASA LAR VI /101; Text; Testimony; AP, NYT, 9/29/67, A3; 9/30/67,52)
Senate Appropriations Committee activities were listed by Wall Street Journal: voted $142 million for this year's development of the SST; doubled the House-approved $20 million for highway safety grants; added $50 million to FAA's budget for improved air safety (versus the $7 million requested by the Administration); and, in all, voted nearly $1.7 billion for the Department of Transportation FY 1968 budget. Sponsor for the improved air safety figure of $50 million had been Sen. John Stennis (D-Miss.) , chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee that handled FAA's budget, who proposed $20 million for operation of air control towers and overtime payment for their crews, plus another $30 million for such new safety equipment as airport ground Lighting and improved radar. Sen. Stennis had stated his hope that someday air safety projects could be financed partly with special user charges. (WSI, 9/28/67,3)
The LTV Range Systems Division, LTV Aerospace Corporation, Dallas, was awarded a contract valued at about $10 million to provide facilities support services to the Manned Spacecraft Center, Houston. The services would cover 12 mo, beginning Dec. 1,1967, contained provisions for four one-year renewal options. (NASA Release 67-253)
USAF Manned Orbiting Laboratory Systems Program Office, Los Angeles, Calif., issued a $3.5-million initial increment to an $8.7-million fixed-price contract to Hamilton Standard, Windsor Locks, Conn., for development, procurement, and support of astronaut pressure suit systems for the MOL program. USAF Space and Missile Systems Organization issued a $4-million increment to an $8.1-million definitive contract for engineering services in support of the Agena space vehicle program. (DOD Release 912-67)
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