From: kjenks@gothamcity.jsc.nasa.gov
Newsgroups: sci.space
Subject: News: The Space Station That Would Not Die (from UPI)
Keywords: SSFP
Date: 30 Jul 1992 20:07:55 GMT
Organization: NASA/JSC/GM2, Space Shuttle Program Office
Originator: kjenks@gothamcity


  {from UPI news wire}
        Space Station Freedom Survives Attempt To Kill It

    Space Station Freedom got a reprieve Wednesday as the House voted
  down an amendment aimed at killing the $30 billion project.

    The House voted 237-181 against an appropriations bill amendment
  that would have cut $1.2 billion from the 1993 budget for the Natl
  Aeronautics and Space Administration, effectively eliminating the
  space station. The oft-delayed space station has been the centerpiece
  of the Bush administration's space program, even though it has also
  been a favorite target for some congressional budget-cutters.

    With Wednesday's vote, the station has survived 5 attempts in as
  many years by the House to kill it.

    House members from California, where many US aerospace firms are
  based or have factories, came to the station's defense in Wednesday's
  debate.

    "The space station will keep the aerospace industry a viable
  industry...while we go from a defense-related industry to a
  civilian-related industry," Rep Dana Rohrabacher (D-Cal) said. But
  Rep Howard Wolpe (D-Mich) derided the space station as "nothing more
  than a public works program for the aerospace industry."

    Others argued that the money earmarked for the space station could
  be better used on such domestic projects as housing, crime-fighting
  and education.

    "I urge [House members] to vote against the space station...$30
  billion could make a real difference for families across the US of
  America," Rep Peter Visclosky (D-Ind) said.

    On Tuesday, 100 House members wrote to House Speaker Tom Foley
  (D-Wash) to voice their support for the station.


  Subj:   SSF vote in House

  XMT: 19:21 Wed Jul 29  EXP: 19:00 Thu Jul 30

  U.S. HOUSE DEFEATS MOVE TO KILL FUNDING FOR SPACE STATION FREEDOM

  WASHINGTON (JULY 29) UPI - The House, concerned about the potential
  loss of thousands of jobs and world leadership in space science,
  Wednesday defeated a move to cut off funds for the planned U.S. space
  station.

  The 237-181 vote to continue the program came despite arguments by
  critics that the nation cannot afford the estimated $40 billion cost
  of the space station and the money should be spent on other science
  programs or domestic needs.

  Supporters of the project feared that budget pressures might cause
  the House to vote against the project, as it did last month when the
  House voted to halt funding for another costly and controversial
  science project

  - the super-conducting super collider being built in Texas.

  Supporters of that program have since worked hard to have the money
  restored by the Senate, which could vote on the matter Thursday.

  Opponents of the space station have tried several times in recent
  years to kill the program and made another attempt Wednesday during
  consideration of the 1993 appropriation for the National Aeronautics
  and Space Administration.

  The bill included $1.7 billion for the space station, which was $525
  million less than what President Bush requested for the program.

  Rep. Bill Green, R-N.Y., a sponsor of the amendment to cut the funds,
  called the space station "a black hole" that drains money from other,
  more worthwhile science projects.

  Green said the space station should be killed and the country should
  move on with "a more balanced space program."

  Defenders of the project said it is vital to the space program and
  would provide an economic boost as well, generating as many as 75,000
  high tech jobs.

  Rep. George Brown, D-Calif., chairman of the House Science, Space and
  Techonology Committee, argued "there is a direct and inescapable
  relationship between our investments in research and development in
  this country and our ability to promote economic growth and to
  provide jobs for the people of this country."

  Brown said the space station is "the centerpiece of our invetment in
  space," and, noting cuts already made in NASA's requests, said that
  "at a time when we should be increasing our investments in civilian
  research and development we are cutting them to the bone."

  Rep. Dick Zimmer, R-N.J., an opponent, noted that he original plan
  called for the space station to have a crew of eight and be able to
  carry out such functions as serving as a staging base, manufacturing
  facility, space observatory, assembly facility and research lab, all
  for a cost of $8 billion.

  Now the project is estimated to cost as much as $40 billion, carry a
  crew of four, and serve only as a research lab, Zimmer said.

  The research "is important, but is not worth $40 billion," he argued,
  saying that "instead of being a doorway to space, space station
  Freedom will lock the door to space by diverting funds from other,
  more worthwhile programs."

  But Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, R-Calif., said the space station project
  is vital to the U.S. aerospace industry, which he described as "a
  powerhouse for America," but which is vulnerable in the post-Cold War
  period. If the station is canceled, "the American aerospace industry
  will be derailed in its transition from Cold War into a peaceful
  competitive world."

-- Ken Jenks, NASA/JSC/GM2, Space Shuttle Program Office
      kjenks@gothamcity.jsc.nasa.gov  (713) 483-4368

     "Is there not an abode in Hell for the arrogant?"
        -- Koran, SURA XXIX -- The Troops, v. 63