Feb 7 1991
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(New page: NASA Administrator Richard H. Truly briefed members of the House of Representatives Committee on Science, Space, and Technology on the President's 1992 budget request of $15.7 billion ...)
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NASA Administrator Richard H. Truly briefed members of the House of Representatives Committee on Science, Space, and Technology on the President's 1992 budget request of $15.7 billion for NASA, a 13.6 percent increase from the 1991 budget. Programs emphasized were the New Launch System to be developed with the Department of Defense; LIFESAT, a reusable biosatellite; Mission to Planet Earth, which shows commitment to the ecology; and a 17 per-cent increase for NASA's educational activities. (NASA Release 91-21)
NASA announced that two additional releases, one of barium and one of lithium, would be made during February as part of the Combined Release and Radiation Effects Satellite (CRRES). CRRES was a joint NASA-US Air Force program to study the Earth's magnetic fields and the effect of space radiation on spacecraft components. (NASA Release 91-22; AP, Feb 7/91)
The report of the committee appointed by the Bush Administration, headed by Norman R. Augustine, chairman of Martin Marietta Corporation, produced favorable comments from industry, according to the New York Times. Industrialists believe that the report showed greater realism about the space program, with its emphasis on unmanned flights and request for larger funding for NASA. In contrast to this complimentary review, Alcestis Oberg in Space News maintained that the Augustine panel's recommendations were irrelevant and a new agency was needed to pursue moon and Mars initiatives. (NY Times, Feb 7/91; SP News, Feb 4-10/91)
NASA announced that the Magellan spacecraft was overheating because of dust or corrosion on its mirrors. Nevertheless, it should be able to map 95 per-cent of Venus. (WSJ, Feb 7/91; USA Today, Feb 7/91; AP, Feb 7/91)
Salyut 7, the Soviet Space Station, crashed into Earth's atmosphere near Argentina's border with Chile. Powered by solar energy and chemical batteries, it contained no nuclear fuel or other dangerous substances. (P Inq, Feb 7/91; AP, Feb 7/91; UPI, Feb 7/91; W Times, Feb 8/91; NY Times, Feb 8/91; UPI, Feb 8/91; AP. Feb 8/91; C Trin, Feb 8/91)
An editorial in Florida Today referred to NASA Deputy Administrator J.R. Thompson's comment about NASA giving serious consideration to consolidating Shuttle operations at Kennedy Space Center. He estimated this would cut Shuttle costs by 25 percent. Such a move would also result in consolidating Shuttle management, as recommended in the Advisory Committee report. (Fla Today, Feb 7/91)
Washington Technology reported that a major effort is underway to move NASA's Space Station program office to a site near Goddard Space Flight Center (SFC) in Greenbelt, Maryland. Other sites being considered are Johnson SFC near Houston or Marshall SFC in Huntsville, Alabama. (Washington Technology, Feb 7/91)
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