From: rsherme@nswc-wo.navy.mil (Russel Shermer)
Newsgroups: sci.research
Subject: FYI No. 97:NASA Issues Space Station Strategic Plan...
Date: 24 Jul 92 18:54:57 GMT
Organization: Naval Surface Warfare Center - White Oak

Posted for:
Public Information Division
American Institute of Physics
Contact:  Richard M. Jones
(202) 332-9661
Send email inquiries to fyi@aip.org


NASA Issues Space Station Strategic Plan; Station Opponents
Announce Plans

FYI No. 97, July 24, 1992

In a new 48-page report, NASA has presented its vision of Space
Station Freedom's projected accomplishments, mission, goals, and
objectives.  As might be expected, this report provides an
optimistic and persuasive case for the station, and will no doubt
be cited by proponents of the program in upcoming House and Senate
debates over the future of the station.  Some of the reports
highlights:

"Freedom's assembly sequence will be tailored so that the MTC
[Man-Tended Capability] milestone and corresponding ability to
support scientific and technical utilization is achieved as early
as possible.  Subsequent to this milestone, there will be eight
Space Shuttle utilization flights over nearly three years during
which the crew's principal responsibility will be to operate
payloads and conduct experiments."

"Since the Freedom program is a highly visible example of U.S.
international cooperation, the U.S. would suffer a significant loss
of credibility if the program failed to meet these commitments.
Future international participation in endeavors such as the Space
Exploration Initiative would be seriously jeopardized if agreements
and obligations on the Freedom program are not met."

"By satisfying the user community's needs, facilitating and
exploiting the development of advanced technologies, encouraging
commercial participation in space activities, contributing to
national pride and inspiration, and stimulating science and math
education, the Freedom program will enjoy the support of various
scientific organizations and the U.S. public."

"By directly and indirectly employing some 70,000 - 100,000 people,
and tapping the professional services of more than 2,000 business
in 40 states, the...program ensures that the U.S. maintains a group
of highly trained workers who are on the cutting edge of software
and hardware development and systems integration."

"Freedom will provide laboratory capabilities that cannot be
duplicated on the ground; consequently, Freedom's very existence
will encourage important new scientific research.  The
opportunities will be particularly far reaching in the fields of
life sciences, materials sciences, and fluids dynamics research."

Station opponents moved on several fronts yesterday.  Rep. Richard
Durbin (D-Ill.) released Congressional Budget Office figures
projecting that space station funding increases will require $12.95
billion in hypothetical spending cuts over the next five years in
NASA space flight, research and supporting activities; NSF; EPA; VA
medical research and care; and HUD programs.  Rep. Bob Traxler
(D-Mich.) and Rep. Bill Green (R-NY) also announced their intention
to offer an amendment during next week's House vote on the VA, HUD,
Independent Agencies bill to cut all but $400 million (for shut
down expenses) in space station funding.  House Speaker Thomas
Foley (D-Wash.) predicted that this amendment would probably fail.

###############
Public Information Division
American Institute of Physics
Contact:  Richard M. Jones
(202) 332-9661
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