Date: 1984-06-21
Speaker: HE FLIN (democrat)
Chamber: S

Mr. President. in developing its fiscal year 1985 NASA anIhorization bill. the Senate Commerce Committee had four principal objectives: First. provide the necessary support to ensure the technological leadership of the United States in space. Second. send a signal to the private sector that the Federal Government is committed to the commercialization of space. Third. indicate a strong commitment to and support of space science and ..pace applications programs. and Fourth. lay a firm foundation for the next logical step into spacea permuanently manned space station. Mr. President. the fiscal year 1985 NASA authorization bill blends strong support for ongoing activities with funding for important new initiatives such as the upper atmospheric research satellite and the Mars/geoscience/climatology orbiter. Of particular interest in the bill are two new line itemsone to initiate a detailed frontend design of a permanently manned space station. the other to provide support for space commercializationand one major policy initiativecreation of a National Commission on Space. Mr. President. let met briefly address each of these items starting with the National Commission on Space. Mr. President. the creation of a 15member independent National Commission on Space would do much to assist the United States in maintaining its preeminence in space. promoting the peaceful exploration and utilization of the space environment. and in developing policy and program options for the future of the Nations space program. Right now is a dynamic period in the space arena. and the creation of such a Commission could result in a set of useful recommendations. supported by the public. as to how best to approach the Nations civilian space program and how best to meet the challenges of the 1980s and 1990s. At this time. I would like to compliment the ranking member of the committee. my distinguished friend and colleague. who originally proposed the creation of such a National Commission on Space. Next. I would like to to turn to the space commercialization initiative. a new initiative that I have strongly endorsed for quite sometime. Mr. President. over the past two decades. significant payoffs (both private and public) have been demonstrated in several space venture areas including communications satellites. meteorology satellites. Earth resources satellites. and. more recently. space manufact uring. With the space shuttle offering routine and reliable access to space and with other facilities for groundbased testing and onorbit research. the committee believes that the circumstances are appropriate for encouraging new private sector particpation and investment in commercial space activities. However. unless the public and private sector join to develop the opportunities presented by new space technologies and unless entrepreneurial forces are engaged more fully. the United States will fall behind in the contest for leadership in space and the economic rewards associated with that position. Protram Comets Mr. President. the committee reallzes that the commercial payoffs of a government initiative in space commercialization may not be immediate. But the payoffs may never exist unless a foundation is established now and unless the Federal Government sends a signal to the private sector that it is committed to space commercializat ion. With that end in mind. the committIv urges NASA to consider the following elements within their overall space commercialization initiative: First. the initiation of several National Centers of Excellence to encourige partnerships among industry. acadlmia. and government to perform restarch in areas with a high potential pIyoff. Second. prioritized by NASA in selected areas where early research and development results canl be expected to foster commercial space endeavors. Third. the use of independent intermuediaries with strong business commonity ties and credentials to identify and st imulate a much broader cross section of potentially interested Amerlla businesses: Fourth. identification of NASA facilit ies and equipment available for increased private sector use in ground tests and flight experimentation. and Fifth. provision of exploratory commercialization seed funding to help enIrepreneurial technologists. Finally. I come to the last new initiaLive I would like to address before turning to consideration of other important programs and missions included in the Fiscal Year 1985 NASA Authorization--n permanently manned space station. Mr. President. if ever the time were ripe to develop a space station. now is the time. The required infrastructure is in place. the necessary transportation mode exists. and the degree of Interest in commercial space activities by industry and foreign governments alike is at a p k. Oh. I realise there is not complete unanimity on the question of the space station proposal. that some members of the science comnmunilty are concerned with a major new initialive and some Members of the Congress are concerned about the budget implications. That Is typically the case whenever any bold. new iit iatie is proposed. To those individuals. however. I give my pledge that the committee will exert the maximum degree of control over NASA to bring the space station on line in time and within cost and that the committee will continue to support the growth of space science and space applications programs. I can assure you that problems encountered with the development of the shuttle will not be allowed to repeat themselves. Mr. President. as noted above the space station is a bold. new initiative. Not surprisingly. there is much debate. I would hope. therefore. that the Members take time to read the committees comments in the report on the space station because I believe it includes some compelling arguments as to why the Nation should develop a permanently manned space station. Simply stated. the spaci station represents a uold step into the future. into the 21st century. at . time when the degree of international and private sector interest in space is at a peak. as is the degree of competition to the U.S. space program from the international and private sector. The space station is a bold step toward the "continent" of lowEarth orbit and the development of a space infrastructure that represents a major evolutionary step in mans experimentation. use arid conquest of space. It also is the type of action required if the Nat ion is to maintain its leadership role in space. a role that could easily be lost if the United States fails to proceed with the development of a permanently wanned space station. Mr. President. with your permission. I would like to digress a little because I think a recent experience I had is of value to any discussion of the space station. On May 17. 1984. the Science. Technology. and Space Subcommittee of the Senate Commerce Committee held a hearing on the Solar Max shuttle mi:.sion. I can only say that the response to the missions exploits by the Members and the public was overwhelmingly supportive. One has but to scan the related Solar Max press accounts to realize the world prestige this country earns from its space exploits. The Solar Max mission also made it clear that it is man in space that captures the hearts. minds. and attention of the world. that man in space presents the capability of turning potential failure into success. Mr. President. the Solar Max hearing also made another very important but less publicized fact clear to this Member. The shuttle. despite the problems that were encountered in its development. has greatly improved upon the economics of space transportation and experimentation and is presenting new and untold opportunities to the user community. including space science. space science applications and the private sector commercial applications. The rescue and repair of the Solar Max satellite points to a whole new dimension of space exploration and scientific experimentation. The day and age of the disposable satellite are now passt. Reusable satellites and the capabilities of the shuttle combine to greatly enhance the economics of space and the future of the U.S. civilian space program. Mr. President. the lessons of the shuttle are important and should not be forgotten as we prepare to enter the space station era. The lessons of the Solar Max mission are important. too. Together they point to the fact that a "Mans Reach Should Far Exeeed His Grasp!" and that the United States must move forward with the exploration and exploitation of space. Mr. President. I strongly support the development of a permanently manned space station and the contention that "it is man. not merely machines. in space that captures the imagination of the world." I intend to pursue the development of the permanently manned space station closely. I also intend to work hard to ensure the appropriate mix of man and machine. to involve the space science and applications communities in the design of the space station. and to insure accessible and affordable access to the space station by the user community. Mr. President. great nations do great things. I think the United States is a great Nation and that the commitment to a permanently manned space station is a sign of that greatness. I strongly endorse the permanently manned space station and would ask my colleagues to support this new initiative. As for the overall NASA budget. let me make a few brief remarks. First. I should indicate that the committee made every effort to reduce unnecessary expenditures in the fiscal year 1985 NASA authorization in a responsible manner. The $75 million in proposed reductions to the Presidents fiscal year 1985 NASA budget request are meaningful cuts that will in no way affect the level of effort of any one progiam or NASAs overall capabilities. Second. every effort was made to insure a balanced NASA budget with an appropriate mix of activities. There were areas. therefore. where the committee was required to add additional moneys to insure the level of effort sought by the committee and to insure the diversity required of a civilian space program. I am particularly pleased with the committees proposed increases for space science and applications activities including gravity probe B. the solar optical telescope. the space plasma lab. the Shuttle Infrared Telescope Facility. the Advanced Xray Astronomy Facility. as well as the proposed increase for research and analysis. materials processing and further investments in instrumentation. Next. I should note that the committee seriously weighed the pros and cons of NASAs decision to terminate the flight test of the advanced communications technology satellite [ACTS].. Based on the testimony received by the committee. it is clear that the growing challenge of foreign competition warrants an aggressive governmental program in communications satellite research and development. I support the committees decision. therefore. to provide an increase of $45 million for the ACTS program. This level of funding should lead to a flight tests of ACTS in 1989 and help the U.S. maintain its technological lead in satellite communications. At the same time. I fully support the proposed increases of $45 million for structural spares for the fifth orbiter and $15 million for the advanced turboprop program. I await NASAs study as to the consequences of any further delays in procurement of a fifth orbiter and the results of NASAs deliberations with interested private sector parties. I applaud NASAs efforts in the aeronautical research and technology program area to insure the competitive future of the U.S. aviation manufacturing industry. Mr. President. overall I think the committee has done a commendable job in compiling a bill that prudently balances the diverse needs and requirements of the Nations civilian space program. The fiscal year 1985 authorization bill blends the committees desire to be competitive in the short term with the desire to be a world leader in the future. and I would ask that my colleagues support this bill.