Feb 2 1970
From The Space Library
President Nixon in message transmitting. FY 1971 budget to Congress said: "Man has ventured to the moon and returned-an awesome achievement. In determining the proper pace for future space activities, we must carefully weigh the potential benefits of: scientific research by unmanned spacecraft; continued exploration of the solar system, including manned exploration of the planets; and the application of space and aeronautics technology to the direct benefit of mankind. "I have reviewed many exciting alternatives for the future. Consistent with other national priorities, we shall seek to extend our capabilities in space-both manned and unmanned. I intend to do this within total space outlays 12% smaller than in 1970. In our current efforts, we will continue to stress additional uses of space technology. Our actions will make it possible to begin plans for a manned expedition to Mars." President said national budget, first for which he bore full responsibility, fulfilled pledge to submit balanced FY 1971 budget. "This anti-inflationary budget begins the necessary process of reordering our national priorities. For the first time in two full decades, the Federal Government will spend more money on human resource programs than on national defense." About 41% of estimated outlays would be devoted to spending for education and manpower, health, income security, and veterans benefits and services. Pollution control, crime reduction, transportation, and housing programs were "planned to grow substantially in the years ahead." (PD, 2/9/ 70, 106-19)
President Nixon sent $200.8-billion FY 1971 budget request to Congress, including total space budget of $4.954 billion. Of this sum, NASA would receive $3.148 billion (plus $185.5 million for aircraft technology); DOD would receive $1.674 billion; AEC, $99 million; ESSA, $26 million; De pt. of Interior, $4 million; NSF, $2 million; and Dept. of Agriculture, $1 million. Total NASA new obligational authority (NOA) requested, $3.333 billion, was $404.9 million less than FY 1970 NOA of $3.737 billion. NASA expenditures were budgeted to decline $486.4 million, from FY 1970 level of $3.889 billion to $3.403 billion. Reductions placed proposed NASA FY 1971 funding at lowest level since 1962. Of budget request, $2.606 billion would go for R&D, $34.6 million for construction of facilities, and $692.3 million for research and program management. Apollo funding decrease of $729.6 million, to $956.50 million in FY 1971, reflecting successful completion of manned lunar landing goal, would be partially offset by increase to $515.2 million for manned space flight operations. The $515.2 million would include $364.3 million for Apollo Applications, $110 million for Space Shuttle and station, and $40.9 million for operations. Advanced missions would receive $2.5 million, same as in FY 1970, to bring total for manned space flight to $1.474 billion, down $557.5 million from FY 1970. Funding for space science and applications programs would increase $45.9 million, from $519.7 million in FY 1970 to $565.7 million. Increases would go to physics and astronomy program, for airborne research ($3 million), solar observatories ($16.1 million), and Explorer satellites ($25.6 million). Funding for Pioneer program of planetary exploration would increase from $20 million in FY 1970 to $32.9 million. Funding for biosatellites would decrease from $6 million in FY 1970 to $1.5 million. Earth resources survey would receive more than 50% increase in funding, from $26 million to $52.5 million, with $41.5 million allocated for Earth Resources Technology Satellite. New projects funded were navigation and traffic control studies (with DOT), $3 million, and Global Atmospheric Research Program (GARP) study, $1 million. Total for advanced research and technology programs would be reduced from $272 million in FY 1970 to $264 million. NERVA rocket funding would increase from $27 million to $32 million. Increases also were proposed for V/STOL aircraft technology ($15 million in FY 1971, from $9.5 million in FY 1970), subsonic aircraft technology ($11.9 million, from $9.4 million in FY 1970), and supersonic aircraft technology ($21.9 million, from $18.9 million in FY 1970), within total $185.5 million requested for aeronautics. Sustaining university program was being phased out, with no funds requested for FY 1971. DOD space funding, down $82 million, reflected cancellation of MOL program. FY 1971 funding would support satellite development, portions of missile development, and range operations. AEC's requested $99 million reflected slight decreases for development of NERVA rocket and space nuclear electric power sources for space applications. Funds for Depts. of Interior and Agriculture would support participation in ERTS project. NSF'S $2-million space funding was for research rockets and satellite and observation instruments. FAA 1971 budget reflected restoration of $275 million in Federal funds for development of two prototype SSTS. (NASA Release, 2/2/ 70; US Budget for FY 1971; BOB Special Analysis)
NASA Hq. briefing on FY 1971 budget, held Jan. 31, was released. Dr. Thomas O. Paine, NASA Administrator, had said: "We are putting into motion with this budget a program which does not advance toward a single climactic event. It follows the recommendations of the Space Task Group Report's Option 11, although at a reduced pace. The budget to implement the recommendations, however, is austere and, as a result, does not take full advantage of our total capability. But the new program has the flexibility to accommodate this reduced budget in FY 1971." Lowest NASA budget since FY 1962 "means substantial cutbacks and deferrals in a number of programs. Our best current estimate is that the total nationwide employment on NASA work-which was once 420,000 people-will decline from current level by another 45,000, to about 144,000 people by the end of fiscal year 1971. The impact will be felt in many sections of the country. This is regrettable, but the Administration has faced the hard fact that these steps must be taken to achieve a fiscally responsible balanced budget in this time of inflation. . . this budget level, which we hope will be NASA's lowest level, is strongly oriented to the future. The necessary reductions... have not been made 'across the board.' We have made careful selections and decisions." NASA would preserve strong future capability centered on development of economical, reusable space transportation system including shuttle, space station, and reusable nuclear rocket; continue efforts on practical applications of space technology for early practical benefits on earth; continue lunar exploration with Apollo vehicles and Apollo Applications earth orbital workshop flights with hardware previously under procurement; continue, "but with stretchouts and deferrals," balanced program of planetary exploration and scientific investigations in space focused on potentially exciting discoveries; continue increasing emphasis on aeronautics; and maintain "essential cadre of NASA's technical, operational, and management capabilities on which the continuing and future position of the United States in space depends." [See Jan. 13.] Assistant Administrator for Administration William E. Lilly during briefing had replied to question that planned fund request for space station and shuttle had been for $250 million to $260 million supporting Task Group's Option 11, to provide operational systems in 1977-but request had been cut to final $110 million. Associate Administrator for Manned Space Flight Dale D. Myers had said program should give CY 1978 operational date. Dates for Mars mission were not yet planned. Michoud Assembly Facility and Mississippi Test Facility were among NASA installations to be affected by budgetary action, Lilly had said. Plans on Michoud would be to "complete the last of 15 Saturn V's in 1970; then we will be carrying on activities for the storage, repairing and refurbishing of the 1-B and the Saturn V stages, providing the engineering and support necessary for the flights through 1974, and maintaining the capability to restart or reinitiate the production of Saturn V's; maintaining the capability to accept new work... and... attempting to find other. users of that facility in New Orleans." At MTF, Saturn V static test firings would be completed. "Then, the plans it our budget are to mothball the facilities. Personnel will be phased down... to essentially a mothball or caretaker mode." NASA was working with other agencies to seek other uses for that location. (Transcript)
At Washington Heart Assn. meeting in Washington, D.C., Dr. Charles A. Berry, Director of Medical Research and Operations at MSC, received Spacemedic Award "for outstanding contributions to the study of hearts in space." He also reported evidence from Apollo 12 mission that prolonged space flight might intensify action of some bacteria normally found on human skin. Astronauts Alan L. Bean and Charles Conrad, Jr., had sustained temporary post-flight infections from staphylococcus bacteria carried from earth, which had increased in virulence during flight. (AP, H Post, 2/3/70; W Post, 2/3/70)
ALSEP 1 had operated without interruption for over 1948 hrs since being deployed on lunar surface Nov. 19, 1969, by Apollo 12 crew; MSC announced. To date ALSEP 1 had received and implemented 2034 commands. (MSC Release 70-19)
Between June 30, 1970, and June 30, 1971, there would be reduction of from 1000 to 2000 in number of aerospace contractor personnel at MSC, NASA Deputy Administrator George M. Low said during meetings with press and staff at MSC. Civil service employees would be reduced by 49. (Maloney, H Post, 2/3/70)
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