Jan 29 1973
From The Space Library
President Nixon, in his message transmitting the FY 1974 U.S. budget to Congress, said the budget supported U.S. efforts to establish lasting peace by maintaining military strength while proposing a sound fiscal and monetary policy that "will contribute to prosperity and economic stability here and abroad." The U.S. had progressed substantially toward ending its part in war in Southeast Asia, concluded in the past four years "more significant agreements with the Soviet Union than in all previous years since World War II," and ended isolation of the U.S. from the People's Republic of China. Taken "with the success of the Nixon Doctrine, our substantial disengagement from Vietnam, and the increased effectiveness of newer weapons systems," defense outlays had been kept in line. When adjusted for pay and price increases, 1974 defense spending would be "about same as in 1973 and about one third below 1968.” (PD, 2/5/73, 86-98)
President Nixon sent a $268.7-billion FY 1974 national budget request to Congress-an increase of $18.9 billion over FY 1973. The budget projection for the succeeding fiscal year was included for first time, with the FY 1975 budget estimated at $288 billion. The national total for FY 1974 included an R&D budget of $17.4 billion (an increase of $300 million), with $3.1 billion requested for civilian and military space programs. Emphasis was on practical, immediate results from R&D rather than expanding scientific knowledge, with reduced priority for space research.
The total request for NASA new obligational authority of $3.016 billion (1.2% of the total U.S. budget) was $391 million less than the FY 1973 NOA of $3.407 billion. FY 1973 funds of $91 million were to be carried over to FY 1974. NASA expenditures were budgeted to increase $74 million, from $3.062 billion in FY 1973 to $3.136 billion. The FY 1973 increase of $11 million had been largely for space shuttle engine and airframe design and development. Of the FY 1974 budget request, $2.288 billion would go for R&D, $112 million for construction of facilities, and $707 million for research and program management. In manned space flight, elimination of Apollo funding reflected successful completion of the Apollo program with the Apollo 17 mission. Manned space flight operations-including $233.8 million for Skylab; $90 million for the Apollo Soyuz Test Project (ASTP) ; $220.2 million for development, test, and mission operations; $21 million for space life sciences; and $15.5 million for mission systems and integrationwould decrease from $879 million in FY 1973 to $580.5 million. The decrease reflected removal of space shuttle funding from the manned spacecraft operations category to separate program status. The FY 1974 budget request allocated $475 million to the space shuttle program for the orbiter, main engine, solid-fueled rocket boosters, external tanks, technology and related development, and vehicle and engine definition. Advanced missions would receive $1.5 million, to bring the total for manned space flight (including the shuttle) to $1.057 billion, down $100 million from FY 1973.
Funding for space science programs would decrease $95.2 million, from $679.2 million in FY 1973 to $584 million in FY 1974. The decrease reflected suspension of the High Energy Astronomy Observatory (HEAO) program, in which two flights had originally been scheduled during 1976-1978. The physics and astronomy program would receive $95 million, down from $126.2 million; lunar and planetary exploration would receive $312 million, down from $331.9 million; and launch vehicle procurement would receive $177 million, down from $221 million.
NASA's space applications programs would receive $153 million (a decrease of $35.7 million), including $51 million for weather and climate research with satellites, meteorological soundings, experimental instruments and techniques, and for the Global Atmospheric Research Program (CARP); $13.9 million for pollution monitoring, including $9 million or Nimbus-G oceanographic and air pollution observation satellite; $42.6 million for earth resources survey; $10.7 million for earth and ocean physics; $3.1 million for space processing; $22.1 million for communications, including a multi-use communications experiment satellite (ATS-F) and a Canadian Cooperative Satellite (CAS-C) ; $3 million for a multidisciplinary Earth Observing Satellite (EOS) $4.5 million for shuttle experiment definition; and $2 million for application studies.
The total requested for NASA's aeronautics and space technology programs increased from $232.5 million in FY 1973 to $240 million. Aeronautical research and technology funding would increase from $150.6 million in FY 1973 to $171 million, including $22 million for experimental engine programs, $9.3 million for flight experiment programs, and $30 million for system technology programs. Space research and technology would receive $65 million, and nuclear power and propulsion $4 million (a drop from $17.1 million).
Tracking and data acquisition funding would rise from $248.3 million in FY 1973 to $250 million. The Dept. of Defense FY 1974 budget of $85 billion was at an all-time high, $4.1 billion above the FY 1973 budget authority, but was 28.4% of total Federal outlays for FY 1974 (a percentage decrease from 29.0% in FY 1973 and the lowest proportion since 1950) and 6.0% of the gross national product (the lowest GNP percentage in 24 yrs, down from 6.2% in FY 1973). The DOD total included $8.7 billion for research, development, test, and evaluation (RDT&E), a $600 million increase over FY 1973. Of the requested RDT&E total, military astronautics-with major programs including military comsats, the first spaceborne ballistic missile early warning system, a prototype satellite to demonstrate precise navigation capabilities, continued flight experiment programs, and technology programs in advanced navigation, guidance, sensors, cooling, reentry, and propulsion-would receive $604.6 million (up $169.9 million). Military sciences would receive $509.8 million (up $13.7 million). Aircraft RDT&E would receive $1.787 billion (down $86 million), and missiles RDT&E $2.245 billion (up $143 million).
Major DOD increases were programmed for the Trident submarine launched ballistic missile system ($1.712 billion, up $917 million), new Air Force F-4J jet fighter aircraft ($131 million), CVN-70 aircraft carrier (8657 million, up $358 million) and F-15 air superiority fighter ($1.148 billion, up $240 million). Decreases of $198 million in funding for the Safeguard antiballistic missile system, $208 million for the Poseidon missile, and $64 million for the short-range attack missile (SRAM) reflected a modernization program, as DOD continued the transition from combat support in Southeast Asia to strengthening baseline forces.
The Dept. of Transportation budget request of $9.025 billion was a decrease of $2.302 billion from FY 1973. DOT funding would continue a 10-yr, $10-billion program to improve urban mass transportation and reduce highway congestion. Federal Aviation Administration funding of $2.126 billion would continue efforts to reduce aircraft noise, ensure that advanced aircraft engines did not adversely affect the upper atmosphere, and design a safer and more productive airport system.
The Atomic Energy Commission FY 1974 budget request of $3.066 billion, up $382 million over FY 1973, would cover production of nuclear materials to make electricity and for use in nuclear weapons and as nuclear reactor fuel, research into availability of source materials, operation safety, and development of techniques for long-term storage of radioactive waste.
The National Science Foundation FY 1974 budget request of $582.6 million was down $63.1 million from FY 1973, but R&D funding would increase from $510.3 million in FY 1973 to $554.1 million. Programs would emphasize research into domestic problems, problems of longrange national interest, and effects of R&D on the economy. Priorities would include development of solar power as an energy source and of tunneling technology for urban use under the Research Applied to National Needs (RANK) program and development of a very-largearray radioastronomy facility.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (in the Dept. of Commerce) budget request of $343.0 million, down from $366.7 million in FY 1973, would permit continued improvements in weather monitoring, prediction, and warning; continuation of its polar orbiting satellite system and implementation of a two-geostationary satellite system in the weather satellite program; major hurricane modification research; and expansion of research on marine ecosystems analysis to determine effects of ocean dumping.
The Environmental Protection Agency budget request of $148.7 million was down from $173.1 million in FY 1973. (OMB, Budget of the US Govt, FY 1974; US Budget in Brief; Special Analysis; NASA budget briefing transcript; DOD Release 44-73; AIAA Release 73-3; NSF Release 73-106)
Dr. James C. Fletcher, NASA Administrator, released the statement given out at the NASA FY 1974 budget briefing held Jan. 27: "The budget the President has approved for NASA for FY 1974, like those of other agencies, has been reduced substantially below previous plans and expectations to hold total government spending to the targets set by the President. At the same time, the budget will permit NASA to carry forward a substantial and significant program in space and aeronautics."
The budget provided for continuing the major projects in the schedule announced Jan. 5 and for starting two new projects: Nimbus-G, "another in NASA's series of experimental earth oriented satellites, which will be. directed at environmental pollution and oceanographic measurements, and LAGEOS, a new geodetic satellite for extremely accurate measurements of movements of the earth's surface." In addition to reductions in programs announced Jan. 5, the budget required "that we stretch out schedules in a number of ongoing projects. The second Earth Resources Technology Satellite (ERTS-B) will be delayed two years, until 1976. This will allow it to carry an additional sensor. Tiros-N, the prototype of a new series of operational meteorological satellites for the National Weather Service, will be delayed by about one year to 1977.
"We will also undergo another belt-tightening in NASA. By the end of FY 1974 our civil service complement will be reduced 1880 positions below the FY 1973 end strength approved in the FY 1973 budget. This reduction includes the previously announced reductions related to the termination of our nuclear programs."
Despite a "sharp decrease from the level budget anticipated last year," Dr. Fletcher was "very pleased with the program content we were able to retain. Clearly from what has been said today and on January 5, we will have to curtail several activities that are of major importance to the nation." But "we have been able to keep NASA's main line program essentially intact and each of the programs curtailed will still be done, either at a later date than anticipated or in an alternate way to that planned last year. Although 1, personally, would like to see a higher NASA budget, I believe we can capitalize on the belt-tightening required to produce even greater yield for the tax dollar in future years." NASA was "making substantial efforts to reduce future costs . . . while still giving the nation a strong program in space and aeronautics." Additionally, a prime object of the space shuttle program was to reduce costs of operating in space. NASA intended to "develop and introduce new design concepts and management approaches which, together with the relaxed weight and size constraints of the space shuttle, will result in substantially lower development and operating costs."
NASA Comptroller William E. Lilly discussed personnel cutbacks necessitated by the new budgetary limitations. The total NASA Civil Service reduction of 1880 positions would include a Marshall Space Flight Center cut of 650; Goddard Space Flight Center, 158; Kennedy Space Center, 100; Manned Spacecraft Center, 75; Wallops Station, 17; Lewis Research Center, 660; NASA Hq., 150; and Ames, Langley, and Flight Research Centers, a total of 70. From a peak Civil Service complement of more than 34 000 in 1967, NASA would be reduced to under 25 000 employees by June 1974-a drop of 30%. Total employees from all sources-contract and in-house-would drop from the 1966 peak of 420 000 to about 100 000. (Text; Transcript)
U.S.S.R. ground control, during a communications session with Lunokhod 2 to check onboard systems, found a temperature of 90 K ( -297°F) at the end of a rod containing magnetometer sensors. It was the lowest temperature recorded near the lunar surface. Lunokhod 2, inactivated Jan. 23 for the lunar night after it had explored the lunar surface for seven days, had been launched aboard Luna 21 Jan. 8 and landed on the moon Jan. 16. It would begin its second lunar day of exploration Feb. 9. (TaSS, FBIS-Sov, 2/13/73, Ll)
Sen. Frank E. Moss (D-Utah), new Chairman of the Senate Committee on Aeronautical and Space Sciences, had promised an "in depth" inquiry into the FY 1974 NASA budget request at early date, Aviation Week & Space Technology reported. The Committee staff was being expanded and Sen. Moss would visit Manned Spacecraft Center in February. Sen. Barry M. Goldwater (R-Ariz.), the Committee's new ranking minority member, had urged that more attention be paid to aeronautics. Sen. Lowell P. Weicker, Jr. (R-Conn.), minority member, had said the Committee should be more forceful in pushing aerospace programs "because NASA seems reticent at times to speak for itself.” (Av Wk, 1/29/73, 13)
Library of Congress Congressional Research Service published United States and Soviet Progress in Space: Summary Data through 1972 and a Forward Look. The report-prepared by Dr. Charles S. Sheldon II, Chief of Science Policy Research Div.-was the latest in an annual review series and first to use the metric system in all quantitative measurements to conform to NASA and Soviet practice. The U.S. expected to have spent $70 billion by June 30 on combined civilian and military space programs. Physical evidence of Soviet space activity indicated the U.S.S.R. had committed a similar amount. There had been no manned Soviet launches in 1972. Moscow had been "filled with rumors" in late July of an impending "more ambitious Salyut-Soyuz manned mission," but press reports had indicated later that tracking ships which usually supported such missions were returning to port. NASA employment-peaked at 400 000 in 1966-had dropped to 150 000. Soviet space employment might be close to 600 000 because the "effort today seems to be at least equal to our 1966 peak" of a total 600 000 space employees in the U.S. The state of the Soviet effort toward a space shuttle was unknown but the "Soviet effort to maintain a position of leadership in space, and the continued high level of Soviet flight activity of more than double that of the United States" indicated the U.S.S.R. "may have even more compelling reasons to develop a reusable shuttle as a cost saving device.” (Text)
Rep. Wright Patman (D-Tex.) introduced H.J.R. 255 to change the name of Manned Spacecraft Center to Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center in honor of the late President. He said: "Lyndon Johnson understood the importance of space exploration to the people of the United States and its ultimate benefits to all of mankind. He understood the necessity of this advance technology to our security. He understood the stimulation this new field would create in our educational systems. He understood the palpable gains to the average citizen from our weather, communications, and other applications satellites. He understood the challenge' to excellence and achievement it posed to our scientists, engineers, and technicians. But most of all, he understood . . the need of man to explore, to reach out, and to seek new ways to bend :science and technology to our use.” (CR, 1/29/73, 51467)
The Senate confirmed the nomination of Elliot L. Richardson to be Secretary of Defense. (CR 1/29/73, D51)
The Senate Committee on Commerce announced appointments to its Subcommittee on Aviation: Sen. Howard W. Cannon (D-Nev.), Chairman; Sen. Warren G. Magnuson (D-Wash.) ; Sen. Philip A. Hart (D-Mich.) ; Sen. Vance Hartke (D-Ind.); Sen. Ernest F. Hollings (D-S.C.) Sen. Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii) ; Sen. Frank E. Moss (D-Utah) ; Sen. John V. Tunney (D-Calif.) ; Sen. Adlai E. Stevenson, III (D-111.) ; Sen. Norris Cotton (R-N.H.) ; Sen. James B. Pearson (R-Kans.) Sen. Howard H. Baker, Jr. (R-Tenn.) ; Sen. Robert P. Griffin (R.Mich.) ; Sen. Marlow W. Cook (R-Ky.) ; Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) ; and Sen. J. Glenn Beall, Jr. (R-Md.). (CR, 1/29/72, D52)
NASA announced establishment of the Office of Safety and Reliability and Quality Assurance under George C. White, Director. The separate Safety Office and Reliability and Quality Assurance Office were disestablished and all responsibilities and personnel transferred to the new office. (NASA Ann)
The Japanese government would spend $316 million on aerospace during Japanese fiscal year 1974, which began in April, Aviation Week & Space Technology reported. The figure was 13% less than FY 1973 aerospace funding. Japan's total defense budget would rise 16%, to $3.9 billion. (Av Wk, 1/29/73, 11)
An Aviation Week & Space Technology- editorial criticized the Jan. 3 recommendations of the Aviation Advisory Commission to President Nixon. Proposed creation of an under secretary of civil aviation in the Dept. of Transportation was a "rather old and oft-tried device that has an extremely poor track record wherever it has been attempted." The record of postwar civil aviation was clear. "No government-selected commercial transport has been able to sell a significant slice of the international market in the face of competitively developed aircraft.” (Hotz, Av Wk, 1/29/73,9)
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