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Date: Fri, 9 Apr 93 05:20:59
From: Space Digest maintainer <digests@isu.isunet.edu>
Reply-To: Space-request@isu.isunet.edu
Subject: Space Digest V16 #440
To: Space Digest Readers
Precedence: bulk
Space Digest Fri, 9 Apr 93 Volume 16 : Issue 440
Today's Topics:
Hoosier eccentricity (was Re: Quaint US Archaisms)
NASA FY 1994 Budget (Long)
Plans, absence therof
Welcome to the Space Digest!! Please send your messages to
"space@isu.isunet.edu", and (un)subscription requests of the form
"Subscribe Space <your name>" to one of these addresses: listserv@uga
(BITNET), rice::boyle (SPAN/NSInet), utadnx::utspan::rice::boyle
(THENET), or space-REQUEST@isu.isunet.edu (Internet).
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: 8 Apr 1993 12:26:30 -0400
From: Pat <prb@access.digex.com>
Subject: Hoosier eccentricity (was Re: Quaint US Archaisms)
Newsgroups: sci.space
In article <1993Apr8.124332.14392@mksol.dseg.ti.com> mccall@mksol.dseg.ti.com (fred j mccall 575-3539) writes:
>In <1993Apr7.182954.662@indyvax.iupui.edu> tffreeba@indyvax.iupui.edu writes:
|
|>Hey Wild Bill,
|>Do you mean the old Hoosier bromide: Pi R not square! Pie are round,
|>cornbread R square? If not then I guess I need some schooling on my
|>own state's history.
|
|I believe he means attempts in the past by your legislature to
|regulate the value of pi *by law* to be 3 (or 9, depending on the
|story) because the round number would be easier to work with.
|
Actually, that story is urban Legend.
According to Cecil,
A minor subcommittee in the Indiana legislature, I think the
education sub-comittee, wanted PI to be recorded in the books
as 3, or 22/7th's because it would be easier to teach, then
the long form irrational number to any level of precision.
The measure never escaped committee, after being abused in the press
It does make a good story though.
pat
------------------------------
Date: 8 Apr 1993 16:01 UT
From: Ron Baalke <baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov>
Subject: NASA FY 1994 Budget (Long)
Newsgroups: sci.space,sci.astro
Background Material
NASA FY 1994 Budget Briefing
===============================================================================
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
FY 1994 Budget Summary
(Millions of Dollars)
FY 1993 FY 1994
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT 7,089.3 7,712.3
SPACE STATION & NEW TECHNOLOGY INVESTMENTS 2,122.5 2,300.0 *
SPACE TRANSPORTATION CAPABILITY DEVELOPMENT 649.2 649.2
Spacelab 114.4 139.9
Engineering & Technical Base 214.2 203.4
Payload Operations & Support Equipment 131.5 95.4
Tethered Satellite System 3.4 --
Advanced Propulsion Technology 10.0 --
Advanced Programs 32.9 60.7
Research Operations Support 142.8 149.8
SPACE SCIENCE 1,577.5 1,631.9 **
PHYSICS & ASTRONOMY 1,103.8 1,074.7
Advanced X-Ray Astrophysics Facility 168.3 260.3
Global Geospace Science 72.6 13.3
Gravity Probe-B 1.9 40.0
Shuttle/Spacelab Payload Mission
Management & Integration 94.1 (117.7) ***
Payload & Instrument Development 99.3 53.4
Explorer Development 115.8 123.3
Mission Operations & Data Analysis 415.4 416.2
Research & Analysis 71.6 72.2
Suborbital Program 64.8 69.5
Information Systems -- 26.5 ***
PLANETARY EXPLORATION 473.7 557.2
Cassini 205.0 266.6
Mars '94 3.5 3.5
Mission Operations & Data Analysis 163.5 160.7
Research & Analysis 101.7 126.4 ***
____________________________
* The President has directed NASA to undertake an intense effort to
redesign the Space Station. Funding for the Space Station, activities
which support utilization of the Space Station, and other initiatives
to stimulate the development of new technology is included in the Space
Station and New Technology Investments line. Details of these activities
will be provided in June as part of the redesigned Space Station package.
** The Office of Space Science and Applications budget has been reorganized
into three separate program offices -- the Office of Space Science, the
Office of Life and Microgravity Sciences and Applications, and the Office
of Mission to Planet Earth. An accompanying crosswalk displays the
restructured budget starting in FY 1994.
*** See Space Science & Applications Budget Crosswalk.
===============================================================================
FY 1993 FY 1994
LIFE & MICROGRAVITY SCIENCES & APPLICATIONS 140.5 351.0
Research & Analysis 53.9 49.2
Flight Experiments 86.6 94.7
Subtotal Life Sciences 140.5 143.9
Research & Analysis (17.9) 18.4 *
Flight Experiments (155.1) 71.0 *
Shuttle/Spacelab Payload Mission
Management & Integration (94.0) 117.7 *
Subtotal Microgravity Research,
Transferred Programs (267.0) 207.1
MISSION TO PLANET EARTH 1,148.0 1,074.9
Earth Observing System (EOS) 263.8 322.7
EOS Data Information System 130.7 182.7
Earth Probes 99.4 97.3
Payload & Instrument Development 35.4 22.9
Mission Operations & Data Analysis 147.6 160.8
Research & Analysis 166.2 181.5
Airborne Program 20.7 25.2
Space Communications 4.0 3.0
Information Systems -- 11.8
Research Operations Support 70.1 67.0
Subtotal Mission to Planet Earth 937.9 1,074.9
Materials Processing 172.9 (89.4) *
Information Systems 36.2 (26.5) *
Search & Rescue 1.0 (1.1) *
Subtotal, Transferred Programs 210.1 (117.0)
____________________________
* See Space Science & Applications Budget Crosswalk.
===============================================================================
FY 1993 FY 1994
SPACE RESEARCH & TECHNOLOGY 272.7 298.2
Research & Technology Base 158.1 160.8
Civil Space Technology Initiative 114.6 137.4
Space Science Technology 17.3 33.9
Planetary Surface Technology 17.3 3.2
Transportation Technology 29.1 36.4
Space Platforms Technology 26.9 23.7
Operations Technology 24.0 40.2
COMMERCIAL PROGRAMS 164.4 172.0
Technology Transfer 29.5 26.9
Commercial Use of Space 134.9 145.1 *
AERONAUTICAL RESEARCH & TECHNOLOGY 865.6 1,020.7
Research Operations Support 148.8 143.5
Research & Technology Base 436.5 448.3
Systems Technology Programs 280.3 428.9
High Performance Computing 30.4 65.6
Materials & Structures Systems Technology 36.6 25.7 **
Rotorcraft Systems Technology 7.0 (5.3) ***
High-Performance Aircraft Systems Tech 12.1 (9.6) ***
Advanced Propulsion Systems Technology 16.9 (18.3) ****
Numerical Aerodynamic Simulation 47.9 49.1
High-Speed Research 117.0 187.2
Advanced Subsonic Technology 12.4 101.3
TRANSATMOSPHERIC RESEARCH & TECHNOLOGY -- 80.0
SAFETY, RELIABILITY & QUALITY ASSURANCE 32.7 35.3
ACADEMIC PROGRAMS 92.9 74.5
TRACKING & DATA ADVANCED SYSTEMS 23.3 24.6
____________________________
* See Space Science & Applications Budget Crosswalk
** $10.5M transferred to the Aeronautical R&T base for Advanced
High-Temperature Engine Materials.
*** Transferred to the Aeronautical R&T base.
**** $3.1M transferred to the Aeronautical R&T base and $15.2M transferred
into Advanced Subsonic Technology.
===============================================================================
FY 1993 FY 1994
SPACE FLIGHT, CONTROL & DATA COMMUNICATIONS 5,086.0 5,316.9
SHUTTLE PRODUCTION & OPERATIONAL CAPABILITY 1,053.0 1,189.6
Orbiter Operational Capability 297.0 297.2
Propulsion Systems 293.4 297.9
Advanced Solid Rocket Motor 195.0 280.4
Launch & Mission Support 178.1 173.9
Safety & Obsolescence Upgrades 89.5 140.2
SHUTTLE OPERATIONS 3,016.0 3,006.5
Flight Operations 752.1 767.8
Flight Hardware 1,398.2 1,364.6
Launch & Landing Operations 690.8 696.4
Research Operations Support 174.9 177.7
LAUNCH SERVICES 180.8 300.3
SPACE & GROUND NETWORKS, COMMUNICATIONS
& DATA SYSTEMS 836.2 820.5
Space Network 230.1 173.9
Ground Network 306.9 316.0
Communications & Data Systems 299.2 330.6
===============================================================================
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
FY 1994 Budget Summary
(Millions of Dollars)
FY 1994
CONSTRUCTION OF FACILITIES 545.3
JOHNSON SPACE CENTER 17.6
Replace Mission Control Center Air Handlers 8.0
Replace Thermal Vacuum Helium Refrigeration Systems,
Space Environment Simulation Laboratory 7.4
Rehabilitate Electrical Distribution system,
Project Management Building 2.2
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER 23.3
Modify Launch Complex 39 Exterior Utility Piping 1.2
Refurbish Launch Complex 39 Cooling System 4.0
Refurbish Launch Complex 39 Secondary Circuit Breakers 3.3
Refurbish Vehicle Assembly Building/Pad Water Storage Tanks 3.0
Rehabilitate Industrial Area Fire Alarm Reporting system 4.9
Restore C-5 Substation, Launch Complex 39 Area 5.0
Restore Class III Landfill 1.9
MARSHALL SPACE FLIGHT CENTER 11.1
Restoration of High Pressure Air Compressor System 8.5
Restoration of Electrical Power System 2.6
STENNIS SPACE CENTER 8.4
Restore Space Shuttle Main Engine Test Complex
High Pressure Industrial Water system 2.3
Restore High Pressure Gas Storage Capacity,
Space Shuttle Main Engine Test Complex 2.3
Restoration of Underground Communication Distribution System 3.8
GODDARD SPACE FLIGHT CENTER 30.8
Construction of Earth Systems Science Building 12.0
Replacement of Central Plant Steam and Electrical
Generation Equipment 8.6
Restoration and Modernization of Chilled Water System 5.0
Restoration of Airfield (Wallops Flight Facility) 5.2
JET PROPULSION LABORATORY 2.9
Modifications to Cooling Systems, Various Buildings 2.9
LANGLEY RESEARCH CENTER 8.0
Construction of EOSDIS Distributed Active Archive Center 8.0
LEWIS RESEARCH CENTER 12.5
Rehabilitation of Rocket Engine Test Facility 12.5
===============================================================================
FY 1994
AERONAUTICAL FACILITIES AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS 212.0
National Aeronautics Facilities Upgrade Program 181.0
Aeronautical Facilities Revitalization 31.0
Rehabilitation of Control Systems, National Full-scale
Aerodynamics Complex, Ames Research Center (2.1)
Upgrade of Outdoor Aerodynamic Research Facility,
Ames Research Center (3.9)
Modernization of the Unitary Plan Wind Tunnel Complex,
Ames Research Center (25.0)
VARIOUS LOCATIONS 55.7
Construction of Advanced Solid Rocket Motor Program
Facilities (Various Locations) 32.6
Repair Decking and Roof, X-Ray and Staging Facility,
Michoud Assembly Facility 1.5
Replace Cooling Tower and Boiler, Michoud Assembly Facility 4.0
Construction of 34-Meter Multifrequency Antenna, Goldstone, CA 17.6
REPAIR OF FACILITIES AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS, NOT IN EXCESS
OF $1,000,000 PER PROJECT 36.0
REHABILITATION AND MODIFICATION OF FACILITIES AT VARIOUS
LOCATIONS NOT IN EXCESS OF $1,000,000 PER PROJECT 36.0
MINOR CONSTRUCTION OF NEW FACILITIES AND ADDITIONS TO
EXISTING FACILITIES AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS, NOT IN EXCESS
OF $750,000 PER PROJECT 14.0
FACILITY PLANNING AND DESIGN 27.0
ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE 50.0
===============================================================================
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
FY 1994 Budget Summary
Distribution of Permanent Civil Service Workyears
FY 1993 FY 1994
Johnson Space Center 3,606 3,548
Kennedy Space Center 2,508 2,467
Marshall Space Flight Center 3,660 3,560
Stennis Space Center 213 211
Goddard Space Flight Center 3,954 3,894
Ames Research Center 2,211 2,185
Langley Research Center 2,914 2,869
Lewis Research Center 2,757 2,725
Headquarters 1,934 1,924
Full-Time Permanent Workyears 23,757 23,383
Other Than Full-time Permanent Workyears 232 240
TOTAL 23,989 23,623
Inspector General 214 210
===============================================================================
Space Science and Applications Program Restructuring
The Office of Space Science and Applications budget has been reorganized into
three separate program offices -- the Office of Space Science, the Office of
Life and Microgravity Sciences and Applications, and the Office of Mission to
Planet Earth. The budget is restructured beginning in FY 1994 to reflect
these changes.
SPACE SCIENCE supports the Physics and Astronomy and Planetary Exploration
development, basic research and mission operations/data analysis programs as
in previous years. Physics and Astronomy now includes the science data
management, archiving and computer networking activities supporting the
National Space Science Data Center (NSSDC) and NASA Science Internet, which
had previously been budgeted under Space Applications Information Systems.
In addition, the Life Sciences/Exobiology research program has been
transferred to Planetary Exploration to more accurately reflect the nature of
the research conducted under this program. Shuttle/Spacelab Payload Mission
Management and Integration, previously budgeted under Physics and Astronomy,
has been transferred to Life and Microgravity Sciences and Applications.
LIFE AND MICROGRAVITY SCIENCES AND APPLICATIONS combines NASA's Life Sciences
and Materials Processing programs together with their supporting Spacelab
management function. Materials Processing, previously funded under Space
Applications, has been renamed Microgravity Research, and remains a distinct
element within the new structure. The addition of the Shuttle/Spacelab
Payload Mission Management and Integration, which has been transferred from
Physics and Astronomy, serves to consolidate the on-orbit research in these
disciplines together with their associated space access infrastructure.
MISSION TO PLANET EARTH (MPTE) encompasses most of the activities previously
funded under Space Applications. This includes: the Earth Science program;
Information Systems functions which support MTPE (the NASA Center for
Computational Science (NCCS) at the Goddard Space Flight Center and the
supercomputing facility at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory); the Advanced
Communications Technology Satellite (ACTS) program; and the Research
Operating Support (ROS) program, which supports the basic core administrative
functions at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center and Headquarters. Elements
previously included in Space Applications which are transferred into other
program elements include the Materials Processing program (to Life and
Microgravity Sciences and Applications), the space science data center
activities associated with Information Systems (to Space Science/Physics and
Astronomy), and the Space Applications/Search and Rescue program, which has
been transferred to Commercial Use of Space to better take advantage of
technology advancements.
An accompanying budget crosswalk displays the restructured elements.
===================================================================================================
SPACE SCIENCE & APPLICATIONS
FY 1994 Congressional Budget Crosswalk
(Millions of Dollars)
OLD STRUCTURE:
Physics & Planetary Life Space
TOTALS Astronomy Exploration Sciences Appls
3,058.8 1,165.9 546.7 154.4 1,191.9
NEW STRUCTURE:
3,058.9
SPACE SCIENCE 1,631.9
Physics & Astronomy 1,074.7 1,048.2 26.5
Programs that did not change 1,048.2 1,048.2
Information Systems 26.5 26.5
Planetary Exploration 557.2 546.7 10.5
Programs that did not change 430.8 430.8
Research & Analysis 126.4 115.9 10.5
LIFE AND MICROGRAVITY SCIENCES AND APPLICATIONS 351.0 117.7 143.9 89.4
Shuttle/Spacelab Payload Msn Mgt & Int 117.7 117.7
Life Sciences Research & Analysis 49.2 49.2
Life Sciences Flight Experiments 94.7 94.7
Microgravity Research & Analysis 18.4 18.4
Microgravity Flight Experiments 71.0 71.0
MISSION TO PLANET EARTH 1,074.9 1,074.9
Programs that did not change 1,074.9 1,074.9
COMMERCIAL USE OF SPACE 1.1 1.1
Search & rescue 1.1 1.1
===================================================================================================
Research and Development
Fiscal Year 1994 Estimates
Budget Summary
SPACE STATION AND NEW TECHNOLOGY INVESTMENTS
SUMMARY OF RESOURCES REQUIREMENTS
1994
Budget
Estimate
(Thousands of Dollars)
Space station and related .......... TBD
(Includes space station development,
utilization, shuttle integration, facilities,
research operations support, and transition
costs, as well as augmented early flight
research on extended duration shuttles and the
Russian Mir station)
New technology investments .......... TBD
Total .......... 2,300,000
In late February, the President outlined a new technology initiative entitled
"Technology for America's Economic Growth, A New Direction to Build Economic
Strength." This initiative recognizes that investments in technology offer
new opportunities for creating higher-wage, higher-skills jobs, for a cleaner
environment, for better schools and training, for more competitive
businesses, for better health care, and for more efficient government. The
initiative also recognizes that the best way for the Federal Government to
ensure its investments are commercially relevant is through cost-shared and
jointly planned technology development partnerships with industry.
The President's initiative focuses on a broad range of technologies,
including supercomputers, computer networks, advanced manufacturing, civil
aviation, new automobiles, and educational technologies. NASA's ongoing
programs, the redesigned Space Station, and the new technology activities
described below provide a significant contribution to the President's bold
new initiative. What makes the new NASA technology investments so critical
is that they are not focused just on major aerospace companies or old
contract approaches but on developing novel (i.e. user driven) partnerships
with and expertise in small businesses. It is, in fact, these smaller
business that are expected to make the most significant contributions to the
economy and to be the major creators of new jobs for our nation.
Specific budget and program plans for each of these areas will be submitted
to the Congress in June, consistent with the schedule for the Space Station
redesign activity now in progress. Additional details are provided on the
following pages.
=============================================================================
Research and Development
Fiscal Year 1994 Estimates
Budget Summary
OFFICE OF SPACE SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT SPACE STATION FREEDOM PROGRAM
SUMMARY OF RESOURCES REQUIREMENTS
1993 1993 1994*
1992 Budget Current Budget
Actual Estimate Estimate Estimate
Development........................ 1,996,745 2,200,000 2,115,467
Assured crew return vehicle........ 6,000 15,000 7,000
Operations ........................ -- 35,000 --
Redesigned space station program .. -- -- -- TBD
Total ........................ 2,002,745 2,250,000 2,122,467 TBD
Distribution of Program Amount by Installation:
Johnson Space Center .............. 976,469 1,012,700 946,967
Kennedy Space Center .............. 87,800 156,200 101,200
Marshall Space Flight Center ...... 424,375 500,800 471,300
Goddard Space Flight Center ....... 75 -- --
Jet Propulsion Laboratory ......... 4,089 2,900 2,600
Ames Research Center .............. 1,455 100 1,000
Langley Research Center ........... 3,609 2,000 3,500
Lewis Research Center ............. 307,805 352,400 364,800
Headquarters ...................... 197,068 222,900 231,100
Total ........................ 2,002,745 2,250,000 2,122,467
* FY 1994 funding is included in the combined budget summary for
Space Station and New Technology Investments.
=============================================================================
Research and Development
Fiscal Year 1994 Estimates
OFFICE OF SPACE SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT SPACE STATION FREEDOM PROGRAM
The Space Station Freedom program was initiated at the direction of President
Reagan in 1984. Although specific program plans have been adjusted several
times to reflect changing assumptions about funding and requirements, the
principal objectives of the Space Station have remained the same: to
contribute to U.S. preeminence in space-based science, technology, and manned
space flight.
The Space Station program will enable unique scientific and technological
investigations in a microgravity environment and provide the essential
understanding of the ability of humans to live and work in space for extended
periods. Commercial research opportunities will be provided and commercial
applications will be encouraged. The program also provides a unique
opportunity for cooperation with other nations demonstrating the peaceful use
of space for the benefit of all.
However, the previously planned Space Station is unaffordable in light of
total constraints on NASA's budget, funding needs of other NASA programs,
recent Space Station cost growth, and recent Presidential direction for NASA
to invest in new technology projects that can contribute sooner and more
directly to the U.S. economy and technological/scientific goals.
The President has therefore ordered NASA to redesign the Space Station to
greatly reduce program costs while still providing significant research
capabilities. The Administration will submit to Congress a specific budget
and program plan for the Space Station after several options for redesign and
organizational restructure are assessed by an independent review panel.
Completion of the independent review panel's assessment is planned for June
of 1993. The budget will be based upon program management improvements and
will include all activities related to Space Station development, operations,
utilization, facilities, Shuttle integration, research operations support,
and transition costs, as well as augmented early flight research on extended
duration shuttles and in conjunction with the Russian Mir Space Station.
GUIDELINES FOR THE SPACE STATION REDESIGN
The Administration has established the following guidelines for redesign of
the Space Station:
1. Provide the capability for significant long-duration space research in
materials and life sciences during this decade;
2. Bring both near-term and long-term annual funding requirements within the
constraints of the budget;
3. Continue to accommodate and encourage international participation; and
4. Reduce technical and programmatic risks to acceptable levels.
The selected design option for the new program should meet the constraints
of:
1. Satisfying high priority research goals in materials and life sciences;
2. Supporting long-duration research (but not necessarily permanently
manned);
3. Achieving initial on-orbit research capability by 1997;
4. Completing development within the 5-year budget plan;
5. Retaining opportunities for international partners' participation. New
opportunities for Russian participation should be considered;
6. Be configured for significantly lower cost operations;
7. Greatly reducing on-orbit assembly and checkout;
8. Implementing a simplified and effective program management structure;
9. Providing adequate budget reserves; and
10. Planning for a shorter on-orbit lifetime (e.g. 10 years extendable to 15
years).
The redesigned program will provide a meaningful and useful Space Station
that will be a great value to the nation. Its discoveries and advancements
will contribute to future generations of yet unborn Americans. It, more
importantly, is based upon the premise of a balanced NASA program of human
spaceflight, robotic, planetary, and Earth orbiting spacecraft, technology,
science and new aeronautics programs that will ensure America's preeminence
in areas critical to the nation's competitiveness.
=============================================================================
Research and Development
Fiscal Year 1994 Estimates
Budget Summary
NEW TECHNOLOGY INVESTMENTS
SUMMARY OF RESOURCES REQUIREMENTS
1994
Budget
Estimate
(Thousands of Dollars)
New technology investments ................... TBD
OBJECTIVES
The President has challenged NASA to join in reinvigorating the health of the
country's technological future and enhancing America's competitiveness in an
increasingly competitive world. This technology initiative will take NASA in
a new and exciting direction -- new and cutting-edge technology, technology
that counts its growth and maturity in a few short years versus decades,
technology that clearly enhances this country's competitive leadership, and
technology that takes advantage of the best and brightest minds of the
nation's universities. These technology investments will take advantage of
the creativity and innovation of hundreds of small and culturally diverse
entrepreneurs from all over America. These investments will provide defense
conversion in a real sense, and benefit not just the aerospace industry but
also other industries that contribute to the nation's economy and well being.
These technology initiatives are enabled by the President's direction to
redesign the Space Station which establishes a new direction for NASA's
future. It shifts the emphasis away from a huge infrastructure that would
have consumed almost two decades of effort and tens of billions of dollars,
and committed the nation to 30 years of increasing costs to operate. The new
emphasis is on a less expensive and more flexible design that delivers on
promised objectives, significantly reduces operations costs and is available
in a reasonable time frame.
Most importantly, the Space Station redesign will allow implementation of a
far-reaching new technology investment package. The elements of this package
will emphasize focused, innovative approaches to push technology development.
It will provide opportunities to expand the participation of minority and
women-owned businesses, academic institutions of all sizes, and
entrepreneurial enterprises to work with NASA towards concentrating on
demanding missions that utilize innovative technology that can in turn be
applied on Earth to energize our industrial base.
These new technology initiatives in the NASA budget will create new jobs
throughout the nation. Additional jobs will be created by growth in NASA's
ongoing programs, such as the Earth Observing System, the Advanced X-ray
Astrophysics Facility, the Cassini mission, Shuttle flight activities and
development upgrades, and challenging Aeronautics projects. The redesigned
Space Station will necessarily result in some dislocations to certain
elements of the program's workforce. However, other ongoing NASA programs
and the new technology investments will provide additional opportunities that
will more than offset any job losses resulting from the Space Station
redesign.
NASA will gather views on implementation of new technology projects from a
wide variety of voices across the nation through a series of meetings. NASA
will invite representatives from a broad spectrum of the business and
academic communities to share their ideas on how to make new NASA projects
more relevant to the American people. The success of forging new
partnerships depends on improving communications. These meetings will
provide a continuing dialogue with academia, industry and technology
communities and groups that will receive the greatest benefit from NASA's new
initiatives.
The new projects under consideration represent significant new opportunities
for the aerospace industry, and open up the potential for strategic alliances
between aerospace industry, universities and NASA so that all may work in
concert. The new initiatives would likely be focused in three key areas of
growth required for renewal of a vibrant American space and aeronautics
program. First, new space and aeronautics technologies to fire the engines
of American competitiveness and to revolutionize the capabilities of the
American space and aeronautics program. Second, new flight programs that
benefit from and build upon this new technology. Third, improvement in the
nation's expendable launch capabilities in order to launch the new wave of
smaller and more frequent spaceflight missions.
Here are examples of new projects that could be proposed:
SPACE AND AERONAUTICS TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT AND FLIGHT PROGRAMS;
-- Technology Research Institutes: these would be consortia of aerospace
industry with universities and NASA combined into one productive entity.
They would combine the innovative creativity of industry and academia to
expand our knowledge of science and technology for the benefit of space
exploration, science and the quality of our life here on Earth. The
Institutes would open up the facilities of NASA centers to aerospace industry
and regional universities, promoting the joint development of dual-use
technologies and early application and commercialization of products. The
Institutes would also serve as centers for graduate training and education of
university students and aerospace workers. Selected improvement to various
high-value research facilities at NASA centers would be considered to
increase their value to these Institutes, and to bolster national
competitiveness in Aeronautics and Space.
-- Automation and Robotics: are key areas of technological and economic
competitiveness that will help determine tomorrow's leaders in the world
economy. New projects may be proposed in these areas to expand needed
capabilities in NASA's programs. NASA's Earth observation satellites, deep
space probes and astronomical satellites require ever more sophisticated
automation and robotic mechanisms to increase their capabilities. Automated
rendezvous and docking projects to enable robotic delivery of payloads to the
Space Station and other space platforms could be started, including
cooperative demonstration flights with Europe and/or Russia.
-- Small Spacecraft Technology and Applications: this initiative would focus
on pushing ultra-light, low-cost satellite and instrument technology through
both novel data purchases and more traditional flight demonstrations. Small
spacecraft technology has evolved significantly over the past several years.
It appears that science missions using these technologies may now be
developed and launched in less than two years and at significantly reduced
cost. These technologies could be pushed through user-defined and
competitively selected data purchase partnerships involving the government,
researchers, and industry. The government would pay for only its technology
contributions if the data was not delivered. Several missions could be done
each year providing useful science data and extensive training opportunities
for the next generation of scientists and engineers. In addition, some
portion of the funding would be used to further push this technology through
joint NASA-industry technology flight demonstrations.
-- Aeronautics: specific new technology initiatives in Aeronautics have
already been approved by the Administration (see Aeronautics budget section),
and additional new programs in this area are possible.
SCIENTIFIC EARTH SATELLITE AND DEEP SPACE FLIGHT PROGRAMS;
-- New Small Earth Probes and Global Monitoring: could directly benefit from
the Small Spacecraft Technology program to develop small Earth probes, and
would fill information gaps using new and evolving capabilities. These
probes could serve to continue long-term measurements of specific indicators
of global change. These missions could involve creative cooperative
arrangements, including data purchase agreements, with industry and
universities to complement the current planned Earth Observing Satellite
system of larger Earth science platforms.
-- New Small Deep Space Probes for Science and Exploration: would provide
increased opportunity for aerospace industry and university participation in
NASA's Planetary Exploration program. Under consideration is a new series of
low-cost "Discovery-class" planetary science missions similar to the Explorer
class of missions in the Physics and Astronomy line. Discovery-class
missions would be constrained by highly focused science (few instruments),
strict cost caps, short development times and use of the smallest launch
vehicles capable of escape trajectories. Initial missions under
consideration include: the Mars Environmental Survey (MESUR) Pathfinder
project to develop the capability to place a scientific payload on the
surface of Mars for less than 5 percent of the cost of Viking; a Near-Earth
Asteroid Rendezvous (NEAR) mission to explore one member of the class of
objects that area a rich source of information about our solar system; and
one or two small lunar orbiters that could carry out the first post-Apollo
scientific discovery flights to the Moon.
-- Science Research and Analysis: would enable technology and software
development for improved distribution and analysis of ongoing and new
missions. Increased funding could expand the participation of minorities and
women in NASA's scientific research program, could enhance the scientific
capabilities of the nation's universities in Earth and Space Science, and
could provide for greater participation of graduate and undergraduate
students in NASA's Earth and Space Science programs.
LAUNCH VEHICLE ADVANCEMENT PROGRAMS:
-- Advanced Launch Technology: studies could further address advanced launch
technologies and systems that could increase the cost-effectiveness of our
access to space. Propulsion technology development and testing could be
conducted on a cost-sharing basis with other agencies and industry to enhance
current propulsion systems and develop lower cost engines. New and
technically challenging propulsion systems, such as the hybrid rocket and
other low cost propulsion systems, could be developed with the objective of
attaining lower cost access to space and making the nation's launch systems
more competitive on the world market. Technologies could be pursued that
would clearly establish the nation as a leader in advanced launch systems.
-- Expendable Launch Vehicle (ELV) Improvements: Product improvement
programs could be defined that would improve existing expendable launch
vehicle performance and reliability. NASA is considering funding contractor-
managed upgrades in return for reduced prices on outyear launches. Another
project being considered is a component advanced development program, in
which NASA would develop technology for improved ELV components that could
then be incorporated into ELV designs used for government missions.
In summary, NASA and the Administration are examining these and other
potential new technology projects, and will submit specific program plans and
budget information in June.
- end -
___ _____ ___
/_ /| /____/ \ /_ /| Ron Baalke | baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov
| | | | __ \ /| | | | Jet Propulsion Lab |
___| | | | |__) |/ | | |__ M/S 525-3684 Telos | Being cynical never helps
/___| | | | ___/ | |/__ /| Pasadena, CA 91109 | to correct the situation
|_____|/ |_|/ |_____|/ | and causes more aggravation
| instead.
------------------------------
Date: 8 Apr 1993 12:18:16 -0400
From: Pat <prb@access.digex.com>
Subject: Plans, absence therof
Newsgroups: sci.space
In article <1993Apr8.130342.15060@mksol.dseg.ti.com> mccall@mksol.dseg.ti.com (fred j mccall 575-3539) writes:
>In <1pvhhm$582@access.digex.net> prb@access.digex.com (Pat) writes:
>oppose the military policy of the United States government, criticize
>it, etc., once you are above a certain level. Generals have been
>fired and/or resigned over this one. I'm not sure if this is a
>written rule or if it's just a very strong tradition (which tend to
>amount to the same thing in the military), since I've never been an
>Admiral.
>
I think the theory is that Policy comes from the COmmander in Chief
who can sack any general at will. McArthur found that out the
hard way.
>
>>Maybe Mary or Ron can comment on what the rules are?
>
>Yes, it might be interesting to know. I'm rather surprised that they
>use the Hatch Act to keep you Beltway types out of local politics. I
>would have expected the reasoning to be somewhat different.
>
Given the Large number of federal employees, here it is quite possible
for the Federal work force to be sued to intimidate the local government
officials.
Every now and then we fight it out over uses of federal facilities in violation
of local zoning plans. Given federal immunity, we mostly have to raise
a stink politically, or beg real nice. Now imagine what would
happen if George Bush had organized the Federal civil service to vote
and back local politicians.
Hatch serves to keep any pressure off of civil servants from being
used as political pawns.
I know this last campaign had a number of hatch complaints filed.
Maybe ROn or Mary can Post on this subject?????????????
pat
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End of Space Digest Volume 16 : Issue 440
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