{"id":613927,"date":"2024-02-13T12:14:53","date_gmt":"2024-02-13T17:14:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/?p=613927"},"modified":"2024-02-13T16:34:55","modified_gmt":"2024-02-13T21:34:55","slug":"55-years-ago-president-nixon-establishes-space-task-group-to-chart-post-apollo-plans","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/55-years-ago-president-nixon-establishes-space-task-group-to-chart-post-apollo-plans\/","title":{"rendered":"55 Years Ago: President Nixon Establishes Space Task Group to Chart Post-Apollo Plans"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>In early 1969, the goal set by President John F. Kennedy to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/60-years-ago-president-kennedy-proposes-moon-landing-goal-in-speech-to-congress\/\">land a man on the Moon<\/a> seemed within reach. A new president, Richard M. Nixon, now sat in the White House and needed to chart America\u2019s course in space in the post-Apollo era. President Nixon directed his science advisor to evaluate proposals for America\u2019s next steps in space. He established a Space Task Group (STG), chaired by Vice President Spiro T. Agnew, to report back to him with their recommendations. The STG delivered its report to President Nixon on Sept. 15, 1969, who declined to select any of the options proposed. Instead, more than two years later, he <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/50-years-ago-president-nixon-directs-nasa-to-build-the-space-shuttle\/\">directed NASA to build the space shuttle<\/a>, just one element of the ambitious plans the STG had proposed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-613930\" width=\"320\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-1-jfk-speech-to-congress-may-25-1961.jpg\" alt=\"President John F. Kennedy announces his goal of a Moon landing during a Joint Session of Congress in May 1961\"> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-613947\" width=\"347\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-2-jfk-rice-speech-sep-12-1962-s62-05616.jpg\" alt=\"President Kennedy reaffirms the goal during his address at Rice University in Houston in September 1962\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-2-jfk-rice-speech-sep-12-1962-s62-05616.jpg 4032w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-2-jfk-rice-speech-sep-12-1962-s62-05616.jpg?resize=300,208 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-2-jfk-rice-speech-sep-12-1962-s62-05616.jpg?resize=768,531 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-2-jfk-rice-speech-sep-12-1962-s62-05616.jpg?resize=1024,709 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-2-jfk-rice-speech-sep-12-1962-s62-05616.jpg?resize=1536,1063 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-2-jfk-rice-speech-sep-12-1962-s62-05616.jpg?resize=2048,1417 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-2-jfk-rice-speech-sep-12-1962-s62-05616.jpg?resize=400,277 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-2-jfk-rice-speech-sep-12-1962-s62-05616.jpg?resize=600,415 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-2-jfk-rice-speech-sep-12-1962-s62-05616.jpg?resize=900,623 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-2-jfk-rice-speech-sep-12-1962-s62-05616.jpg?resize=1200,830 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-2-jfk-rice-speech-sep-12-1962-s62-05616.jpg?resize=2000,1384 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 347px) 100vw, 347px\" \/><br><em>Left: President John F. Kennedy announces his goal of a Moon landing during a Joint Session of Congress in May 1961. Right: President Kennedy reaffirms the goal during his address at Rice University in Houston in September 1962.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On May 25, 1961, President Kennedy, before a Joint Session of Congress, committed the United States to the goal, before the decade was out, of landing a man on the Moon and returning him safely to the Earth. President Kennedy reaffirmed the commitment during an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/60-years-ago-president-kennedy-reaffirms-moon-landing-goal-in-rice-university-speech\/\">address at Rice University<\/a> in Houston in September 1962. Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson, who played a key role in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/specials\/signing\/\">establishing NASA in 1958<\/a>, and under Kennedy served as the Chair of the National Aeronautics and Space Council, worked with members of Congress to ensure adequate funding for the next several years to provide NASA with the proper resources to meet that goal. Following Kennedy\u2019s assassination in November 1963, now President Johnson continued his strong support of the space program to ensure that his predecessor\u2019s goal of a Moon landing could be achieved within the stipulated time frame. But with increasing competition for scarce federal resources from the conflict in southeast Asia and from domestic programs, Johnson showed less interest in any space endeavors that might follow the Moon landing. The space agency\u2019s annual budget peaked in 1966 and began a steady decline three years before Kennedy\u2019s goal was met. From a budgetary standpoint, the prospects of a vibrant post-Apollo space program did not look too rosy, the Apollo triumphs of 1968 and 1969 notwithstanding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-613932\" width=\"300\" height=\"230\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-3-dubridge-and-nixon-oval-office-dec-1969-planetary-society.jpg\" alt=\"President Richard M. Nixon, right, meets with his science advisor Lee DuBridge in the Oval Office\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-3-dubridge-and-nixon-oval-office-dec-1969-planetary-society.jpg 572w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-3-dubridge-and-nixon-oval-office-dec-1969-planetary-society.jpg?resize=300,231 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-3-dubridge-and-nixon-oval-office-dec-1969-planetary-society.jpg?resize=400,308 400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-613933\" width=\"371\" height=\"230\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-4-nixon-introduces-paine-w-agnew-mar-5-1969.jpg\" alt=\"President Nixon, left, and Vice President Spiro T. Agnew, right, introduce Thomas O. Paine as the nominee to be NASA administrator on March 5, 1969\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-4-nixon-introduces-paine-w-agnew-mar-5-1969.jpg 679w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-4-nixon-introduces-paine-w-agnew-mar-5-1969.jpg?resize=300,186 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-4-nixon-introduces-paine-w-agnew-mar-5-1969.jpg?resize=400,249 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-4-nixon-introduces-paine-w-agnew-mar-5-1969.jpg?resize=600,373 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 371px) 100vw, 371px\" \/><br><em>Left: President Richard M. Nixon, right, meets with his science advisor Lee DuBridge in the Oval Office \u2013 note the Apollo 8 Earthrise photo on the wall. Right: President Nixon, left, and Vice President Spiro T. Agnew, right, introduce Thomas O. Paine as the nominee to be NASA administrator on March 5, 1969.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On Feb. 4, just two weeks after taking office, President Nixon directed his Science Advisor Lee A. DuBridge to appoint an interagency committee to advise him on a post-Apollo space program. Nine days later, the President announced the formation of the STG to develop a strategy for America\u2019s space program for the next decade. Vice President Agnew, as the Chair of the National Aeronautics and Space Council, led the group. Other members of the STG included NASA Acting Administrator <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/55-years-ago-thomas-paine-sworn-in-as-nasa-deputy-administrator\/\">Thomas O. Paine<\/a> (the Senate confirmed him as administrator on March 20), the Secretary of Defense, and the Director of the Office of Science and Technology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-613963\" width=\"283\" height=\"269\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-5-apollo-11-to-20-landing-sites-aug-1969.jpg\" alt=\"Proposed lunar landing sites through Apollo 20, per NASA planning in August 1969\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-5-apollo-11-to-20-landing-sites-aug-1969.jpg 1184w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-5-apollo-11-to-20-landing-sites-aug-1969.jpg?resize=300,285 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-5-apollo-11-to-20-landing-sites-aug-1969.jpg?resize=768,730 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-5-apollo-11-to-20-landing-sites-aug-1969.jpg?resize=1024,973 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-5-apollo-11-to-20-landing-sites-aug-1969.jpg?resize=400,380 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-5-apollo-11-to-20-landing-sites-aug-1969.jpg?resize=600,570 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-5-apollo-11-to-20-landing-sites-aug-1969.jpg?resize=900,855 900w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 283px) 100vw, 283px\" \/> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-613964\" width=\"373\" height=\"269\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-6-aap-1967-s67-23455.jpg\" alt=\"Illustration of the Apollo Applications Program experimental space station\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-6-aap-1967-s67-23455.jpg 4758w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-6-aap-1967-s67-23455.jpg?resize=300,216 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-6-aap-1967-s67-23455.jpg?resize=768,552 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-6-aap-1967-s67-23455.jpg?resize=1024,736 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-6-aap-1967-s67-23455.jpg?resize=1536,1104 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-6-aap-1967-s67-23455.jpg?resize=2048,1473 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-6-aap-1967-s67-23455.jpg?resize=400,288 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-6-aap-1967-s67-23455.jpg?resize=600,431 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-6-aap-1967-s67-23455.jpg?resize=900,647 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-6-aap-1967-s67-23455.jpg?resize=1200,863 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-6-aap-1967-s67-23455.jpg?resize=2000,1438 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 373px) 100vw, 373px\" \/><br><em>Left: Proposed lunar landing sites through Apollo 20, per NASA planning in August 1969. Right: Illustration of the Apollo Applications Program experimental space station.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At the time, the only approved human space flight programs included lunar missions through Apollo 20 and the Apollo Applications Program (AAP), later renamed Skylab, that involved three flights to an experimental space station based on Apollo technology. Beyond a general vague consensus that the United States human space flight program should continue, no approved projects existed to follow these missions when they ended by about 1975.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-613965\" width=\"213\" height=\"202\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-7-reusable-space-shuttle-early-1969-s69-04054.jpg\" alt=\"Concept of a fully reusable space shuttle system from early 1969\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-7-reusable-space-shuttle-early-1969-s69-04054.jpg 2660w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-7-reusable-space-shuttle-early-1969-s69-04054.jpg?resize=300,284 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-7-reusable-space-shuttle-early-1969-s69-04054.jpg?resize=768,726 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-7-reusable-space-shuttle-early-1969-s69-04054.jpg?resize=1024,968 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-7-reusable-space-shuttle-early-1969-s69-04054.jpg?resize=1536,1452 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-7-reusable-space-shuttle-early-1969-s69-04054.jpg?resize=2048,1936 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-7-reusable-space-shuttle-early-1969-s69-04054.jpg?resize=400,378 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-7-reusable-space-shuttle-early-1969-s69-04054.jpg?resize=600,567 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-7-reusable-space-shuttle-early-1969-s69-04054.jpg?resize=900,851 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-7-reusable-space-shuttle-early-1969-s69-04054.jpg?resize=1200,1134 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-7-reusable-space-shuttle-early-1969-s69-04054.jpg?resize=2000,1890 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 213px) 100vw, 213px\" \/> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-613967\" width=\"284\" height=\"202\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-8-large-space-station-early-1969-s69-04052.jpg\" alt=\"Illustration from early 1969 of low Earth orbit infrastructure, including a large space station supported by space shuttles\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-8-large-space-station-early-1969-s69-04052.jpg 3348w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-8-large-space-station-early-1969-s69-04052.jpg?resize=300,213 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-8-large-space-station-early-1969-s69-04052.jpg?resize=768,546 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-8-large-space-station-early-1969-s69-04052.jpg?resize=1024,728 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-8-large-space-station-early-1969-s69-04052.jpg?resize=1536,1091 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-8-large-space-station-early-1969-s69-04052.jpg?resize=2048,1455 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-8-large-space-station-early-1969-s69-04052.jpg?resize=400,284 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-8-large-space-station-early-1969-s69-04052.jpg?resize=600,426 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-8-large-space-station-early-1969-s69-04052.jpg?resize=900,640 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-8-large-space-station-early-1969-s69-04052.jpg?resize=1200,853 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-8-large-space-station-early-1969-s69-04052.jpg?resize=2000,1421 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 284px) 100vw, 284px\" \/> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-613950\" width=\"156\" height=\"202\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-9-americas-next-decades-in-space-nasa-report-to-stg-cover-page-sep-1969.pdf.png\" alt=\"Cover page of NASA\u2019s report to the interagency Space Task Group\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-9-americas-next-decades-in-space-nasa-report-to-stg-cover-page-sep-1969.pdf.png 913w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-9-americas-next-decades-in-space-nasa-report-to-stg-cover-page-sep-1969.pdf.png?resize=231,300 231w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-9-americas-next-decades-in-space-nasa-report-to-stg-cover-page-sep-1969.pdf.png?resize=768,997 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-9-americas-next-decades-in-space-nasa-report-to-stg-cover-page-sep-1969.pdf.png?resize=789,1024 789w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-9-americas-next-decades-in-space-nasa-report-to-stg-cover-page-sep-1969.pdf.png?resize=308,400 308w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-9-americas-next-decades-in-space-nasa-report-to-stg-cover-page-sep-1969.pdf.png?resize=462,600 462w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-9-americas-next-decades-in-space-nasa-report-to-stg-cover-page-sep-1969.pdf.png?resize=693,900 693w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 156px) 100vw, 156px\" \/><br><em>Left: Concept of a fully reusable space shuttle system from early 1969. Middle: Illustration from early 1969 of low Earth orbit infrastructure, including a large space station supported by space shuttles. Right: Cover page of NASA\u2019s report to the interagency Space Task Group.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Within NASA, given the intense focus on achieving the Moon landing within President Kennedy\u2019s time frame, officials paid less attention to what would follow the Apollo Program and AAP. During a Jan. 27, 1969 meeting at NASA chaired by Paine, a general consensus evolved that the next step after the Moon landing should involve the development of a 12-person earth-orbiting space station by 1975, followed by an even larger outpost capable of housing up to 100 people \u201cwith a multiplicity of capabilities.\u201d In June, with the goal of the Moon landing about to be realized, NASA\u2019s internal planning added the development of a space shuttle by 1977 to support the space station, and truly optimistically, the development of a lunar base by 1976, among other highly ambitious endeavors that included the idea that the U.S. should begin preparing for a human mission to Mars as early as the 1980s. These proposals were presented to the STG for consideration in early July in a report titled \u201cAmerica\u2019s Next Decade in Space.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-613971\" width=\"222\" height=\"288\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-10-stg-report-cover-page-1969.jpg\" alt=\"The Space Task Group\u2019s (STG) Report to President Nixon\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-10-stg-report-cover-page-1969.jpg 282w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-10-stg-report-cover-page-1969.jpg?resize=231,300 231w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 222px) 100vw, 222px\" \/> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-613972\" width=\"426\" height=\"288\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-11-stg-report-to-nixon-meeting-at-wh-sep-15-1969-richard-nixon-presidential-library-and-museum.jpg\" alt=\"Meeting in the White House to present the STG Report to President Nixon\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-11-stg-report-to-nixon-meeting-at-wh-sep-15-1969-richard-nixon-presidential-library-and-museum.jpg 434w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-11-stg-report-to-nixon-meeting-at-wh-sep-15-1969-richard-nixon-presidential-library-and-museum.jpg?resize=300,203 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-11-stg-report-to-nixon-meeting-at-wh-sep-15-1969-richard-nixon-presidential-library-and-museum.jpg?resize=400,270 400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 426px) 100vw, 426px\" \/><br><em>Left: The Space Task Group\u2019s (STG) Report to President Nixon. Right: Meeting in the White House to present the STG Report to President Nixon. <strong>Image credit: courtesy Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Still bathing in the afterglow of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/feature\/50-years-ago-one-small-step-one-giant-leap\">successful Moon landing<\/a>, the STG presented its 29-page report \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/history.nasa.gov\/taskgrp.html\" rel=\"noopener\">The Post-Apollo Space Program:  Directions for the Future<\/a>\u201d to President Nixon on Sep. 15, 1969, during a meeting in the White House Cabinet Room. In its Conclusions and Recommendations section, the report noted that the United States should pursue a balanced robotic and human space program but emphasized the importance of the latter, with a long-term goal of a human mission to Mars before the end of the 20<sup>th<\/sup> century. The report proposed that NASA develop new systems and technologies that emphasized commonality, reusability, and economy in its future programs. To accomplish these overall objectives, the report presented three options:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left\">Option I \u2013 this option required more than a doubling of NASA\u2019s budget by 1980 to enable a human Mars mission in the 1980s, establishment of a lunar orbiting space station, a 50-person Earth orbiting space station, and a lunar base. A decision would be required by 1971 on development of an Earth-to-orbit transportation system to support the space station. A strong robotic scientific and exploration program would be maintained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Option II \u2013 this option maintained NASA\u2019s budget at then current levels for a few years then anticipated a gradual increase to support the parallel development of both an earth orbiting space station and an Earth-to-orbit transportation system, but deferred a Mars mission to about 1986. A strong robotic scientific and exploration program would be maintained, but smaller than in Option I.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Option III \u2013 essentially the same as Option II but deferred indefinitely the human Mars mission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In separate letters, both Agnew and Paine recommended to President Nixon to choose Option II. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-613973\" width=\"324\" height=\"259\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-12-illustration-of-space-shuttle-1969-s69-60227.jpg\" alt=\"Illustration of a possible space shuttle orbiter from 1969\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-12-illustration-of-space-shuttle-1969-s69-60227.jpg 4073w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-12-illustration-of-space-shuttle-1969-s69-60227.jpg?resize=300,240 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-12-illustration-of-space-shuttle-1969-s69-60227.jpg?resize=768,614 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-12-illustration-of-space-shuttle-1969-s69-60227.jpg?resize=1024,819 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-12-illustration-of-space-shuttle-1969-s69-60227.jpg?resize=1536,1229 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-12-illustration-of-space-shuttle-1969-s69-60227.jpg?resize=2048,1638 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-12-illustration-of-space-shuttle-1969-s69-60227.jpg?resize=400,320 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-12-illustration-of-space-shuttle-1969-s69-60227.jpg?resize=600,480 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-12-illustration-of-space-shuttle-1969-s69-60227.jpg?resize=900,720 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-12-illustration-of-space-shuttle-1969-s69-60227.jpg?resize=1200,960 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-12-illustration-of-space-shuttle-1969-s69-60227.jpg?resize=2000,1600 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 324px) 100vw, 324px\" \/> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-613974\" width=\"335\" height=\"259\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-13-illustration-of-12-person-space-station-1969-s69-60223.jpg\" alt=\"Illustration of a possible 12-person space station from 1969\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-13-illustration-of-12-person-space-station-1969-s69-60223.jpg 4848w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-13-illustration-of-12-person-space-station-1969-s69-60223.jpg?resize=300,232 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-13-illustration-of-12-person-space-station-1969-s69-60223.jpg?resize=768,594 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-13-illustration-of-12-person-space-station-1969-s69-60223.jpg?resize=1024,792 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-13-illustration-of-12-person-space-station-1969-s69-60223.jpg?resize=1536,1188 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-13-illustration-of-12-person-space-station-1969-s69-60223.jpg?resize=2048,1584 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-13-illustration-of-12-person-space-station-1969-s69-60223.jpg?resize=400,309 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-13-illustration-of-12-person-space-station-1969-s69-60223.jpg?resize=600,464 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-13-illustration-of-12-person-space-station-1969-s69-60223.jpg?resize=900,696 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-13-illustration-of-12-person-space-station-1969-s69-60223.jpg?resize=1200,928 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-13-illustration-of-12-person-space-station-1969-s69-60223.jpg?resize=2000,1547 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 335px) 100vw, 335px\" \/><br><em>Left: Illustration of a possible space shuttle orbiter from 1969. Right: Illustration of a possible 12-person space station from 1969.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The White House released the report to the public at a press conference on Sep. 17 with Vice President Agnew and Administrator Paine in attendance. Although he publicly supported a strong human spaceflight program and enjoyed the positive press he received when photographed with Apollo astronauts, and initially sounding positive about the STG options, President Nixon ultimately chose not to act on the report\u2019s recommendations. Faced with the still ongoing conflict in southeast Asia and domestic programs competing for scarce federal dollars, the fiscally conservative Nixon decided these plans were just too grandiose and far too expensive. He also believed that NASA should be considered as one America\u2019s domestic programs without the special status it enjoyed during the 1960s, one of the lasting legacies of the Nixon space doctrine. Even some of the already planned remaining Moon landing missions fell victim to the budgetary axe. On Jan. 4, 1970, NASA <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/50-years-ago-nasa-cancels-apollo-20-mission\/\">canceled Apollo 20<\/a> since it needed its Saturn V rocket to launch the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/feature\/skylab-america-s-first-space-station\">Skylab<\/a> experimental space station \u2013 NASA Administrator James E. Webb had turned off the Saturn V assembly line in 1968 and none remained beyond the original 15 built under contract. In September 1970, reductions in NASA\u2019s budget forced the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/50-years-ago-preparations-for-apollo-14-15-and-16\/\">cancellation of two more Apollo<\/a> missions, and for a time in 1971 President Nixon considered cancelling two more but he relented, and they flew as the final two Apollo Moon landing missions in 1972.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-614011\" width=\"365\" height=\"278\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-14-nixon-and-fletcher-with-space-shuttle-model-gpn-2002-000109.jpg\" alt=\"NASA Administrator James C. Fletcher, left, and President Richard M. Nixon announce the approval to proceed with space shuttle development in 1972\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-14-nixon-and-fletcher-with-space-shuttle-model-gpn-2002-000109.jpg 2834w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-14-nixon-and-fletcher-with-space-shuttle-model-gpn-2002-000109.jpg?resize=300,229 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-14-nixon-and-fletcher-with-space-shuttle-model-gpn-2002-000109.jpg?resize=768,586 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-14-nixon-and-fletcher-with-space-shuttle-model-gpn-2002-000109.jpg?resize=1024,782 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-14-nixon-and-fletcher-with-space-shuttle-model-gpn-2002-000109.jpg?resize=1536,1172 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-14-nixon-and-fletcher-with-space-shuttle-model-gpn-2002-000109.jpg?resize=2048,1563 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-14-nixon-and-fletcher-with-space-shuttle-model-gpn-2002-000109.jpg?resize=400,305 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-14-nixon-and-fletcher-with-space-shuttle-model-gpn-2002-000109.jpg?resize=600,458 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-14-nixon-and-fletcher-with-space-shuttle-model-gpn-2002-000109.jpg?resize=900,687 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-14-nixon-and-fletcher-with-space-shuttle-model-gpn-2002-000109.jpg?resize=1200,916 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-14-nixon-and-fletcher-with-space-shuttle-model-gpn-2002-000109.jpg?resize=2000,1526 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 365px) 100vw, 365px\" \/> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-614015\" width=\"278\" height=\"278\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-15-sts-1-launch-apr-12-1981-s81-30498.jpg\" alt=\"First launch of the space shuttle in 1981\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-15-sts-1-launch-apr-12-1981-s81-30498.jpg 6084w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-15-sts-1-launch-apr-12-1981-s81-30498.jpg?resize=150,150 150w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-15-sts-1-launch-apr-12-1981-s81-30498.jpg?resize=300,300 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-15-sts-1-launch-apr-12-1981-s81-30498.jpg?resize=768,768 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-15-sts-1-launch-apr-12-1981-s81-30498.jpg?resize=1024,1024 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-15-sts-1-launch-apr-12-1981-s81-30498.jpg?resize=1536,1536 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-15-sts-1-launch-apr-12-1981-s81-30498.jpg?resize=2048,2048 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-15-sts-1-launch-apr-12-1981-s81-30498.jpg?resize=50,50 50w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-15-sts-1-launch-apr-12-1981-s81-30498.jpg?resize=100,100 100w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-15-sts-1-launch-apr-12-1981-s81-30498.jpg?resize=200,200 200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-15-sts-1-launch-apr-12-1981-s81-30498.jpg?resize=400,400 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-15-sts-1-launch-apr-12-1981-s81-30498.jpg?resize=600,600 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-15-sts-1-launch-apr-12-1981-s81-30498.jpg?resize=900,900 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-15-sts-1-launch-apr-12-1981-s81-30498.jpg?resize=1200,1200 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-15-sts-1-launch-apr-12-1981-s81-30498.jpg?resize=2000,2000 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 278px) 100vw, 278px\" \/><br><em>Left: NASA Administrator James C. Fletcher, left, and President Richard M. Nixon announce the approval to proceed with space shuttle development in 1972. Right: First launch of the space shuttle in 1981.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>More than two years after the STG submitted its report, in January 1972 President Nixon directed NASA Administrator <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/50-years-ago-james-fletcher-sworn-in-as-nasa-administrator\/\">James C. Fletcher<\/a> to develop the Space Transportation System, the formal name for the space shuttle, the only element of the recommendations to survive the budgetary challenges. At that time, the first flight of the program was expected in 1979; in actuality, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/40-years-ago-columbia-takes-flight\/\">first flight<\/a> occurred two years later. It would be 12 years after Nixon\u2019s shuttle decision before President Ronald W. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/40-years-ago-president-reagan-directs-nasa-to-build-a-space-station\/\">Reagan approved the development of a space station<\/a>, the second major component of the STG recommendation, and another 14 years after that before the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/25-years-ago-nasa-partners-begin-space-station-assembly\/\">first element<\/a> of that program reached orbit. In those intervening years, the original American space station had been redesigned and evolved into the multinational partnership called the International Space Station.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-614024\" width=\"624\" height=\"294\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-16-iss-from-crew-2-flyaround-dec-9-2021-jsc2021e064216-alt.jpg\" alt=\"The International Space Station as it appeared in 2021\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-16-iss-from-crew-2-flyaround-dec-9-2021-jsc2021e064216-alt.jpg 5355w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-16-iss-from-crew-2-flyaround-dec-9-2021-jsc2021e064216-alt.jpg?resize=300,141 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-16-iss-from-crew-2-flyaround-dec-9-2021-jsc2021e064216-alt.jpg?resize=768,362 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-16-iss-from-crew-2-flyaround-dec-9-2021-jsc2021e064216-alt.jpg?resize=1024,482 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-16-iss-from-crew-2-flyaround-dec-9-2021-jsc2021e064216-alt.jpg?resize=1536,723 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-16-iss-from-crew-2-flyaround-dec-9-2021-jsc2021e064216-alt.jpg?resize=2048,964 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-16-iss-from-crew-2-flyaround-dec-9-2021-jsc2021e064216-alt.jpg?resize=400,188 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-16-iss-from-crew-2-flyaround-dec-9-2021-jsc2021e064216-alt.jpg?resize=600,282 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-16-iss-from-crew-2-flyaround-dec-9-2021-jsc2021e064216-alt.jpg?resize=900,424 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-16-iss-from-crew-2-flyaround-dec-9-2021-jsc2021e064216-alt.jpg?resize=1200,565 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-16-iss-from-crew-2-flyaround-dec-9-2021-jsc2021e064216-alt.jpg?resize=2000,942 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 624px) 100vw, 624px\" \/><br><em>The International Space Station as it appeared in 2021.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"nasa-gb-align-full width-full maxw-full padding-x-3 padding-y-0 article_a hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-credits-and-details\">\n<section class=\"padding-x-0 padding-top-5 padding-bottom-2 desktop:padding-top-7 desktop:padding-bottom-9\">\n\t<div class=\"grid-row grid-container maxw-widescreen padding-0\">\n\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-2 padding-right-4 margin-bottom-5 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"padding-top-3 border-top-1px border-color-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"heading-14\">Share<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"padding-bottom-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"social-icons social-icons-round\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"social-icon social-icon-x\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/intent\/tweet?via=NASA&text=55%20Years%20Ago%3A%20President%20Nixon%20Establishes%20Space%20Task%20Group%20to%20Chart%20Post-Apollo%20Plans&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nasa.gov%2Fhistory%2F55-years-ago-president-nixon-establishes-space-task-group-to-chart-post-apollo-plans%2F\" aria-label=\"Share on X.\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg width=\"1200\" height=\"1227\" viewBox=\"0 0 1200 1227\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M714.163 519.284L1160.89 0H1055.03L667.137 450.887L357.328 0H0L468.492 681.821L0 1226.37H105.866L515.491 750.218L842.672 1226.37H1200L714.137 519.284H714.163ZM569.165 687.828L521.697 619.934L144.011 79.6944H306.615L611.412 515.685L658.88 583.579L1055.08 1150.3H892.476L569.165 687.854V687.828Z\" fill=\"white\"\/><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"social-icon social-icon-facebook\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nasa.gov%2Fhistory%2F55-years-ago-president-nixon-establishes-space-task-group-to-chart-post-apollo-plans%2F\" aria-label=\"Share on Facebook.\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M9 8h-3v4h3v12h5v-12h3.642l.358-4h-4v-1.667c0-.955.192-1.333 1.115-1.333h2.885v-5h-3.808c-3.596 0-5.192 1.583-5.192 4.615v3.385z\"\/><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"social-icon social-icon-linkedin\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nasa.gov%2Fhistory%2F55-years-ago-president-nixon-establishes-space-task-group-to-chart-post-apollo-plans%2F\" aria-label=\"Share on LinkedIn.\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M4.98 3.5c0 1.381-1.11 2.5-2.48 2.5s-2.48-1.119-2.48-2.5c0-1.38 1.11-2.5 2.48-2.5s2.48 1.12 2.48 2.5zm.02 4.5h-5v16h5v-16zm7.982 0h-4.968v16h4.969v-8.399c0-4.67 6.029-5.052 6.029 0v8.399h4.988v-10.131c0-7.88-8.922-7.593-11.018-3.714v-2.155z\"\/><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"social-icon social-icon-rss\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"\/feed\/\" aria-label=\"Subscribe to RSS feed.\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 800 800\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M493 652H392c0-134-111-244-244-244V307c189 0 345 156 345 345zm71 0c0-228-188-416-416-416V132c285 0 520 235 520 520z\"\/><circle cx=\"219\" cy=\"581\" r=\"71\"\/><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-5 padding-right-4 margin-bottom-5 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"padding-top-3 border-top-1px border-color-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"heading-14\">Details<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row margin-bottom-3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-4\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"subheading\">Last Updated<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-8\">Feb 13, 2024<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-5 padding-right-4 margin-bottom-5 desktop:margin-bottom-0\"><div class=\"padding-top-3 border-top-1px border-color-carbon-black \"><div class=\"margin-bottom-2\"><h2 class=\"heading-14\">Related Terms<\/h2><\/div><ul class=\"article-tags\"><li class=\"article-tag\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/\">NASA History<\/a><\/li><li class=\"article-tag\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/the-apollo-program\/\">Apollo<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\t<\/div>\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"nasa-gb-align-full width-full maxw-full padding-x-3 padding-y-0 hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-related-articles\">\t\t<section class=\"hds-related-articles padding-x-0 padding-y-3 desktop:padding-top-7 desktop:padding-bottom-9\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"w-100 grid-row grid-container maxw-widescreen padding-0 text-align-left\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-4\"><h2 style=\"max-width: 100%;\" class=\"width-full w-full maxw-full\">Explore More<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row grid-container maxw-widescreen padding-0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-4 margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0 desktop:padding-right-3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/flag-day-2024-one-small-flags-incredible-journey\/\" class=\"color-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black minh-mobile\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/flag-day-2024-11-us-flag-after-demo-2-mission-arrival-1.jpg?w=300\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/flag-day-2024-11-us-flag-after-demo-2-mission-arrival-1.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/flag-day-2024-11-us-flag-after-demo-2-mission-arrival-1.jpg?resize=300,225 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/flag-day-2024-11-us-flag-after-demo-2-mission-arrival-1.jpg?resize=768,576 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/flag-day-2024-11-us-flag-after-demo-2-mission-arrival-1.jpg?resize=400,300 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/flag-day-2024-11-us-flag-after-demo-2-mission-arrival-1.jpg?resize=600,450 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/flag-day-2024-11-us-flag-after-demo-2-mission-arrival-1.jpg?resize=900,675 900w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" loading=\"eager\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"padding-right-0 desktop:padding-right-10\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"subheading margin-bottom-1\">7 min read<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-1\"><h3 class=\"related-article-title\">Flag Day 2024 \u2013 One Small Flag\u2019s Incredible Journey<\/h3><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"display-flex flex-align-center label related-article-label margin-bottom-1 color-carbon-60\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"display-flex flex-align-center margin-right-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg version=\"1.1\" class=\"square-2 margin-right-1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" x=\"0px\" y=\"0px\" width=\"16px\" height=\"16px\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" style=\"enable-background:new 0 0 16 16;\" xml:space=\"preserve\"><g><g><path d=\"M8,0C3.5,0-0.1,3.7,0,8.2C0.1,12.5,3.6,16,8,16c4.4,0,8-3.6,8-8C16,3.5,12.4,0,8,0z M8,15.2 C4,15.2,0.8,12,0.8,8C0.8,4,4,0.8,8,0.8c3.9,0,7.2,3.2,7.2,7.1C15.2,11.9,12,15.2,8,15.2z\"\/><path d=\"M5.6,12c0.8-0.8,1.6-1.6,2.4-2.4c0.8,0.8,1.6,1.6,2.4,2.4c0-2.7,0-5.3,0-8C8.8,4,7.2,4,5.6,4 C5.6,6.7,5.6,9.3,5.6,12z\"\/><\/g><\/g><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Article<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t1 day ago\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-4 margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0 desktop:padding-right-3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/55-years-ago-manned-orbiting-laboratory-cancellation\/\" class=\"color-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black minh-mobile\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"212\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/mol-cancellation-4-mol-group-1-astronauts.jpg?w=300\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/mol-cancellation-4-mol-group-1-astronauts.jpg 424w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/mol-cancellation-4-mol-group-1-astronauts.jpg?resize=300,212 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/mol-cancellation-4-mol-group-1-astronauts.jpg?resize=400,283 400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"padding-right-0 desktop:padding-right-10\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"subheading margin-bottom-1\">10 min read<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-1\"><h3 class=\"related-article-title\">55 Years Ago: Manned Orbiting Laboratory Cancellation<\/h3><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"display-flex flex-align-center label related-article-label margin-bottom-1 color-carbon-60\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"display-flex flex-align-center margin-right-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg version=\"1.1\" class=\"square-2 margin-right-1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" x=\"0px\" y=\"0px\" width=\"16px\" height=\"16px\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" style=\"enable-background:new 0 0 16 16;\" xml:space=\"preserve\"><g><g><path d=\"M8,0C3.5,0-0.1,3.7,0,8.2C0.1,12.5,3.6,16,8,16c4.4,0,8-3.6,8-8C16,3.5,12.4,0,8,0z M8,15.2 C4,15.2,0.8,12,0.8,8C0.8,4,4,0.8,8,0.8c3.9,0,7.2,3.2,7.2,7.1C15.2,11.9,12,15.2,8,15.2z\"\/><path d=\"M5.6,12c0.8-0.8,1.6-1.6,2.4-2.4c0.8,0.8,1.6,1.6,2.4,2.4c0-2.7,0-5.3,0-8C8.8,4,7.2,4,5.6,4 C5.6,6.7,5.6,9.3,5.6,12z\"\/><\/g><\/g><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Article<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t3 days ago\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-4 margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0 desktop:padding-right-3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/55-years-ago-star-trek-final-episode-airs-relationship-with-nasa-endures\/\" class=\"color-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black minh-mobile\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"217\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/star-trek-final-episode-13-armstrong-at-doohan-farewell-anne-cusack-la-times-2004.jpg?w=300\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/star-trek-final-episode-13-armstrong-at-doohan-farewell-anne-cusack-la-times-2004.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/star-trek-final-episode-13-armstrong-at-doohan-farewell-anne-cusack-la-times-2004.jpg?resize=300,217 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/star-trek-final-episode-13-armstrong-at-doohan-farewell-anne-cusack-la-times-2004.jpg?resize=768,555 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/star-trek-final-episode-13-armstrong-at-doohan-farewell-anne-cusack-la-times-2004.jpg?resize=400,289 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/star-trek-final-episode-13-armstrong-at-doohan-farewell-anne-cusack-la-times-2004.jpg?resize=600,434 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"padding-right-0 desktop:padding-right-10\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"subheading margin-bottom-1\">15 min read<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-1\"><h3 class=\"related-article-title\">55 Years Ago: Star Trek Final Episode Airs, Relationship with NASA Endures<\/h3><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"display-flex flex-align-center label related-article-label margin-bottom-1 color-carbon-60\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"display-flex flex-align-center margin-right-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg version=\"1.1\" class=\"square-2 margin-right-1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" x=\"0px\" y=\"0px\" width=\"16px\" height=\"16px\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" style=\"enable-background:new 0 0 16 16;\" xml:space=\"preserve\"><g><g><path d=\"M8,0C3.5,0-0.1,3.7,0,8.2C0.1,12.5,3.6,16,8,16c4.4,0,8-3.6,8-8C16,3.5,12.4,0,8,0z M8,15.2 C4,15.2,0.8,12,0.8,8C0.8,4,4,0.8,8,0.8c3.9,0,7.2,3.2,7.2,7.1C15.2,11.9,12,15.2,8,15.2z\"\/><path d=\"M5.6,12c0.8-0.8,1.6-1.6,2.4-2.4c0.8,0.8,1.6,1.6,2.4,2.4c0-2.7,0-5.3,0-8C8.8,4,7.2,4,5.6,4 C5.6,6.7,5.6,9.3,5.6,12z\"\/><\/g><\/g><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Article<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t1 week ago\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In early 1969, the goal set by President John F. Kennedy to land a man on the Moon seemed within reach. A new president, Richard M. Nixon, now sat in the White House and needed to chart America\u2019s course in space in the post-Apollo era. President Nixon directed his science advisor to evaluate proposals for [...]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":74,"featured_media":613947,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nasa_hds_core_meta_l10n":"en-US","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_editor":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_contacts":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_topic":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_linked_locations":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_related_articles":[],"hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_id":"","hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_type":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_x":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_y":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_gallery_images":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[2671,2713],"news-tags":[],"internal-terms":[12664,11995],"coauthors":[11996],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"55 Years Ago: President Nixon Establishes Space Task Group to Chart Post-Apollo Plans","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/55-years-ago-president-nixon-establishes-space-task-group-to-chart-post-apollo-plans\/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/55-years-ago-president-nixon-establishes-space-task-group-to-chart-post-apollo-plans\/"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-2-jfk-rice-speech-sep-12-1962-s62-05616.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-2-jfk-rice-speech-sep-12-1962-s62-05616.jpg"},"articleSection":"NASA History","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"John Uri"}],"creator":["John Uri"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"NASA","logo":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/themes\/nasa\/assets\/images\/nasa-logo.svg"},"keywords":["Missions","Apollo","NASA History"],"dateCreated":"2024-02-13T17:14:53Z","datePublished":"2024-02-13T17:14:53Z","dateModified":"2024-02-13T21:34:55Z"},"rendered":"<meta name=\"parsely-title\" content=\"55 Years Ago: President Nixon Establishes Space Task Group to Chart Post-Apollo Plans\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-link\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/55-years-ago-president-nixon-establishes-space-task-group-to-chart-post-apollo-plans\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-type\" content=\"post\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-image-url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-2-jfk-rice-speech-sep-12-1962-s62-05616.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-pub-date\" content=\"2024-02-13T17:14:53Z\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-section\" content=\"NASA History\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-tags\" content=\"Missions,Apollo,NASA History\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-author\" content=\"John Uri\" \/>","tracker_url":"https:\/\/cdn.parsely.com\/keys\/nasa.gov\/p.js"},"read_time":8,"time_ago":"4 months","featured_image":{"id":613947,"file":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/nixon-forms-stg-2-jfk-rice-speech-sep-12-1962-s62-05616.jpg","title":"nixon-forms-stg-2-jfk-rice-speech-sep-12-1962-s62-05616","alt":"President Kennedy reaffirms the goal during his address at Rice University in Houston in September 1962","caption":"President Kennedy reaffirms the goal during his address at Rice University in Houston in September 1962"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/613927"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/74"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=613927"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/613927\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":614543,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/613927\/revisions\/614543"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/613947"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=613927"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=613927"},{"taxonomy":"news-tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-tags?post=613927"},{"taxonomy":"internal-terms","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/internal-terms?post=613927"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=613927"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}