May 1983:news from KSC

FY 1984 BUDGET

NASA unveiled its FY 1984 budget (effective from
1 October 1983) at a press briefing on 31 January
under rather unusual circumstances. Usually, like other
Federal agencies, NASA held embargoed briefings two
days before a Presidential budget was handed to the
Congress. Press handouts were dated 29 January,
indicating NASA planned to continue that policy. But
the briefing actually took place after President Reagan's
spending plan became public.

Administrator James Beggs spoke of a "constrained" budget, adding that it reflects Reagan's commitment to a strong national space and aeronautics
programme. There may have been implications in
Beggs' opening remark concerning "NASA's obligation
to help strengthen the national security and maintain
US leadership in space and aeronautical technology,which placed priority on military requirements.

The budget is $7,100 million or 4 percent higher
than FY 1983. Eighty percent of the total, $5,700
million, is requested for research and development.
Sixty one percent, or $3,500 million, of that will be
spent for STS, including Shuttle production and operation, upper stages for Shuttles, Spacelab, the US-Italian tethered satellite system, expendable vehicles
and other support equipment. Why the agency considers production money as part of its R&D programme
was not explained.
Beggs said that parcelling out the $3,500 million
reflects a trend begun last year to spend more on
Shuttle operations and less on capability development
(a term for upgrading Orbiter performance) and a new Centaur-based upper stage which was turned down
several years ago). So "capability" will require $1,900
million ($2,100 million in FY 1983) and "operations"
$1,600 million, an increase of $100 million. Shuttle funding for the new year will permit:five flights in FY 1983, eight to nine in FY 1984,
including the first rendezvous and repair of a
satellite in orbit (the Solar Maximum Mission
satellite); completing the fourth Orbiter and purchase of
spare parts for the four-Orbiter fleet; the first Spacelab mission and preparations for a second in FY 1984;new facilities for increasing Shuttle flight rates; a joint NASA-Air Force programme to modify Centaur and complete the Inertial Upper Stage to
launch TDRSS (Tracking and Data Relay Satellites); continued procurement of Shuttle tanks, Solid
Booster Rockets and other flight hardware: and beginning hardware development for the tethered
satellite that will permit flying experiments up to
100 km from the Orbiter.

The budget proposal includes:

• a project to map Venus using radar imaging at
much less cost than the Venus Orbiting Imaging
Radar authorised (but not funded) by Congress in
1982:

• an advanced communications technology satellite
to develop and flight test high risk technology.
This will be financed with industry participation,
reducing government outlay;

• a numerical aerodynamic simulation capability
project;

• a large computer system which will have "major
impact on aircraft design, improving accuracy and
reliability while cutting down on long and costly
wind tunnel and flight testing. This requires $300
million compared to $20 million in 1983.

The budget continues development of the Space
Telescope (Shuttle launched and tended), a Galileo
orbiter and probe to Jupiter, the International Solar
Polar Mission (with Centaur in 1986), a Gamma Ray
Observatory in 1988 and support of Pioneer Venus
Orbiter, Pioneers 6 to 11, and Voyagers 1 and 2.
Funding will continue the level of employment at NASA
centres.