Feb 27 1978
From The Space Library
Dr. Robert Frosch, NASA administrator, announced a reorganization at NASA Hq to significantly restructure organization elements such as Aeronautics and Space Technology, Space and Terrestrial Applications, External Relations, and Management Operations, with lesser changes in the Equal Opportunity, Procurement, and Audit organizations. Frosch's Feb. 22 approval of the new organization structures had authorized office heads to proceed with final placement of people.
In explaining the reorganization, Alan Lovelace, deputy administrator, said: "In keeping with the announced policy of President Carter, each Headquarters employee affected by the reorganization will be made a good-faith offer of a position and to the extent possible the offer will be made at the employee's current grade level. As I announced previously, there will be no involuntary reduction in force at NASA Headquarters.... The classification survey of Headquarters positions has been completed. Based on tentative aggregate findings in the survey thus far, plus the potential impact of the reorganization, Dr. Frosch has asked the Civil Service Commission for authority to delay any demotions for people in the General Schedule resulting from survey results and the impact of the reorganization. NASA was granted such authority on Feb. 22. . . . As to future classification activity, it is important that we maintain a rigorous system for the accurate classification and grading of all Headquarters positions.... I would like to assure you that we are taking all of the steps possible to provide appropriate job opportunities for all Headquarters employees and, to the extent we can, we shall do our best to avoid adverse impacts." (NASA special anno Feb 27/78)
Av Wk reported that Congress might override President Carter's decision not to fund a fifth Space Shuttle orbiter in NASA's FY-79 budget. Congressmen of both parties had said that a 4-orbiter fleet would limit the development of a civilian space program, making the U.S. extremely vulnerable in strategic use of space. Officials who considered addition of a fifth orbiter inevitable had pointed out that Carter's decision to defer acquisition would increase Shuttle program cost by $235 to $250 million if the administration should later change its mind. Some congressmen had also expressed displeasure with the administration's apparent inability to provide stated goals and directions for NASA's space capabilities and with the attempt to cut NASA advance-planning funds. (Av Wk, Feb 27/78,20)
Av Wk reported award to Lockheed Missiles and Space Co. of a $34.5 million USAF contract to design and build a space platform using long wavelength infrared radiation for space surveillance of relatively cool objects. Designated space test program mission P80-2, to be managed by USAF's Space and Missile Systems Organizations (SAMSO), the platform would go into orbit from WTR in Jan. 1981. Principal payload for the P80-2 mission would be a satellite infrared experiment (SIRE) developed for USAF by Hughes Aircraft Co., to operate in the 8- to 12-micrometer region of the spectrum, detecting and tracking objects such as a spacecraft or booster after burnout. The platform would also carry an autonomous navigation system built for USAF by Martin Marietta and a solar-flare isotopic-composition experiment designed by the Univ. of Chicago. The contract provided that Lockheed would integrate the payload (for which it had no responsibility) with the space platform. (Av Wk, Feb 27/78, 39)
Congress had strongly supported legislation establishing a power satellite research and development and demonstration program scheduled to become a major issue among changes to President Carter's FY79 solar energy proposals, Av Wk reported. Rep. Ronnie Flippo (D-Ala.) had introduced a bill directing the Dept. of Energy and NASA to begin research and development on technical problems in implementing a solar power satellite. However, Dale Myers, undersecretary at DOE, who had described the joint solar energy projects contemplated by NASA and DOE at a House Science and Technology space science and application subcommittee hearing, said he questioned the need for such a bill. (Av Wk, Feb 27/78, 47)
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