| From: [email protected] (Eugene N. Miya)
Newsgroups: sci.space
Subject: Re: Reagan's new proposals
Date: 12 Feb 88 17:21:57 GMT
Organization: NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif.
Article 392 of nasa.telemail.larc:
From: agprice@nasamail (AUBREY G. PRICE)
Newsgroups: nasa.telemail.larc
Subject: SPACE POLICY STATEMENT
Date: 11 Feb 88 19:34:00 GMT
Sender: [email protected]
Forwarded message:
Posted: Thu Feb 11, 1988 11:06 AM PST Msg: RJII-2728-1532
From: HQNEWSROOM
To: PAO.LOOP, L
CC: [L/GSFCMAIL] GSFC/USA
Subj: SPACE POLICY STATEMENT
Following is Dr. Fletcher's statement in connection with the new
national space policy.
STATEMENT OF DR. JAMES C. FLETCHER, NASA ADMINISTRATOR
PRESS BRIEFING; WASHINGTON, D.C.; FEBRUARY 11, 1988
Thank you, Marlin, and good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen.
Today President Reagan issued a new National Space Policy
designed to guide United States' activities in space well into the
future.
This policy confirms the basic goal of United States' leadership
in space, and the President's strong commitment to the Space Station
as the key to such leadership.
The policy reaffirms that space activities serve a variety of
vital national goals and objectives. Among them are the strengthening
of United States' scientific, technological, political, economic and
international leadership. In fact, the new policy stresses that civil
space activities contribute significantly to enhancing America's world
leadership.
The President's new space policy is a comprehensive statement. It
was derived from a long and thorough review of previous Presidential
directives, and of assessments of current and future opportunities.
Secretaries Verity, Burnley and Aldridge and many others in the
Administration were involved in this process, as was NASA.
With the new policy, President Reagan has added a major new
thrust to the objectives and directions that have guided the civil
space program for the past three decades. The policy clearly
establishes that, for the first time, the United States has a
long-range goal of expanding human presence and activity beyond Earth
orbit into the solar system.
This is a goal of enormous significance with potentially historic
future implications.
This is a policy of investment in the future. It lays the
necessary groundwork now for the decisions of the next century. It
puts a challenge squarely on NASA. And it is a challenge we accept.
The new policy reaffirms the President's strong support for the
Space Shuttle and for the permanently manned Space Station the United
States is developing with the expected participation of its allies.
The President's policy stresses the unique and vital role of the
Space Shuttle in the nation's Space Transportation System. It calls
for further enhancing the system's capabilities, as new requirements
emerge; and for NASA and the Department of Defense to work together to
develop new, cost-effective launch systems, one of which is the
Advanced Launch System, to enhance national capabilities for
transportation to, from and within space. The policy also states that
the national security sector will continue to use the STS in response
to that sector's specific mission requirements.
With regard to the Space Station, the policy states that the
station is to contribute directly to the preservation of United
States' preeminence in manned spaceflight and to the goal of expansion
of human presence and activity into the solar system.
But to prepare for that development, the policy focuses
appropriately on the near-term - on the development and testing of the
emerging, innovative "Pathfinder" technologies that will make future
decisions possible. The Pathfinder program will permit a future
Administration to act with confidence in deciding on specific manned
exploration goals and timetables to meet them. In this area, as in
several other areas, the policy recognizes the critical role that
technology advances have played and will continue to play in
preserving this nation's leadership in vital areas of space activity
and on Earth, as well.
The policy recognizes the existence of a separate commercial
sector, as well, and reaffirms the President's strong commitment to
encouraging a healthy and expansive commercial space industry.
I stress that last point because, although I've been addressing
primarily the civil sector portions of the National Space Policy, the
policy also says a great deal about commercial space. And in that
regard, there has been a related effort underway to develop special
initiatives in support of the President's thrusts to develop the
commercial use of space.
NASA has long been in the forefront of this effort and supports
the goals of those initiatives whole-heartedly. In this regard, NASA
will take the lead in implementing many of these initiatives,
including Government actions to lease space on a new, commercially
financed, developed and managed on-orbit space facility.
I believe that Secretaries Verity and Burnley will also want to
speak about these important new initiatives in just a moment.
But let me sum things up by saying that the President's new
National Space Policy has recharged the nation's space program by
giving it new momentum and the prospects of new challenges and new
opportunities.
Time and again, Americans have demonstrated that we can lead in
exploring new frontiers and in developing their potential for the
benefit of humankind.
This new policy charts a clear course on the greatest frontier of
all - space.
Thank you very much. And now, I'll turn it over to Secretary Verity.
|
| From: [email protected] (Robert Brumley)
Newsgroups: sci.space
Subject: Highlights of President Reagan's new Space Policy
Date: 28 Feb 88 16:50:39 GMT
Organization: Alpha SCINET, Denver
Someone a while back asked for details on President Reagan's new
"Space Policy and Commercial Space Initiative to Begin the Next
Century." To that end I have typed up two documents: one is a
five-page summary and the other an eleven-page complete version
(contained in next message). They should provide a good basis for
discussion. I hear it's not doing so hot in Congress, but at least
Congress has something to work with!
[I have posted the *full* space proposal in Topic 65 of the
STEREO::USERF:[FLIS.AEROSPACE]AEROSPACE.NOTE Conference for those who
wish to know all the details. Press the KP7 or SELECT key to add
AEROSPACE to your Notebook. - LK]
Robert Brumley
Post: 4661 S. Vivian Street
Morrison, CO 80465
Tel: (303) 978-1838
UUCP: (isis,hao)!scicom!rwb
"Though my soul may rest in darkness, it will rise to perfect
light. I have loved the stars too fondly to be fearful of the night."
- The old astronomer to his pupil
The White House
Office of the Press Secretary
February 11, 1988
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE PRESIDENT'S SPACE POLICY AND COMMERCIAL
SPACE INITIATIVE TO BEGIN THE NEXT CENTURY
FACT SHEET
----------
The President today announced a comprehensive "Space Policy and
Commercial Space Initiative to Begin the Next Century" intended to
assure United States space leadership.
The President's program has three major components:
o Establishing aa long-range goal to expand human presence and
activity beyond Earth orbit into the Solar System;
o Creating opportunities for U.S. commerce in space; and
o Continuing our national commitment to a permanently manned Space Station.
The new policy and programs are contained in a National Security
Decision Directive (NSDD) signed by the President on January 5, 1988,
the FY 1989 Budget the President will submit shortly to Congress, and
a fifteen point Commercial Space Initiative.
I. EXPANDING HUMAN PRESENCE BEYOND EARTH ORBIT
In the recent NSDD, the President committed to a goal of expanding
human presence and activity in the Solar System. To lay the
foundation for this goal, the President will be requesting $100
million in his FY 1989 Budget for a major new technology development
program "Project Pathfinder" that will enable a broad range of manned
or unmanned missions beyond the Earth's orbit.
Project Pathfinder will be organized around four major focuses:
-- Exploration technology;
-- Operations technology;
-- Humans-in-space technology; and
-- Transfer vehicle technology
This research effort will give the United States know-how in
critical areas, such as humans in the space environment, closed loop
life support, aero braking, orbital transfer and maneuvering,
cryogenic storage and handling, and large scale space operations, and
provide a base for wise decisions on long term goals and missions.
Additional highlights of the NSDD are outlined in Section IV of
this fact sheet.
II. CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR U.S. COMMERCE IN SPACE
The President is announcing a fifteen point commercial space
initiative to seize the opportunities for a vigorous U.S. commercial
presence in Earth orbit and beyond -- in research and manufacturing.
This initiative has three goals:
o Promoting a strong U.S. commercial presence in space;
o Assuring a highway to space; and
o Building a solid technology and talent base.
PROMOTING A STRONG U.S. COMMERCIAL PRESENCE IN SPACE
1. Private Sector Space Facility: The President is announcing an
intent for the Federal Government to lease space as an "anchor tenant"
in an orbiting space facility suitable for research and commercial
manufacturing that is financed, constructed, and operated by the
private sector. The Administration will solicit proposals for the
U.S. private sector for such a facility. Space in this facility will
be used and/or subleased by various Federal agencies with interest in
microgravity research.
The Administration's intent is to award a contract during
mid-summer of this year for such space and related services to be
available to the Government no later than the end of FY 1993.
2. Spacehab: The Administration is committing to make best efforts
to launch within the Shuttle payload bay, in the early 1990s, the
commercially developed, owned, and managed Shuttle middeck module:
Spacehab. Manifesting requirements will depend on customer demand.
Spacehab is a pressurized metal cylinder that fits in the Shuttle
payload bay and connects to the crew compartment through the orbiter
airlock. Spacehab takes up approximately one-quarter of the payload
bay and increases the pressurized living and working space of an
orbiter by approximately 1,000 cubic feet or 400 percent in useable
research volume. The facility is intended to be ready for commercial
use in mid-1991.
3. Microgravity Research Board: The President will establish,
through Executive Order, a national Microgravity Research Board to
assure and coordinate a broader range of opportunities for research in
microgravity conditions.
NASA will chair this board, which will include senior-level
representatives for the Departments of Commerce, Transportaion,
Energy, and Defense, NIH, and NSF; and will consult with the
university and commercial sectors. The board will have the following
responsibilities:
o To stimulate research in microgravity environments and its
applications to commercial uses by advising Federal agencies,
including NASA, on microgravity priorities, and consulting with
private industry and academia on microgravity research opportunites;
o To develop policy recommendations to th Federal Government on
matters relating to microgravity research, including types of
research, governement/industry/and academic cooperation, and access
to space, including a potential launch voucher program;
o To coordinate the microgravity programs of Federal agaencies by:
-- reviewing agency plans for microgravity research and recommending
priorities for the use of Federally-owned or leased space on
microgravity facilities; and
-- ensuring that agencies establish merit review processes for
evaluating microgravity research proposals; and
o To promote transfer of federally funded microgravity research to
the commercial sector in furtherance of Executive Order 12591.
NASA will continue to be responsible for making judgments on the
safety of experiments and for making manifesting decisions for manned
space flight systems.
4. External Tanks: The Administration is making available for
five years the expended external tanks of the Shuttle fleet at no cost
to all feasible U.S. commercial and nonprofit endeavors, for uses such
as research, storage, or manufacturing in space.
NASA will provide any necessary technical or other assistance to
these endeavors on a direct cost basis. If private sector demand
exceeds supply, NASA may auction the external tanks.
5. Privatizing Space Station: NASA, in coordination with the
Office of Management and Budget, will revise its guidelines on
commercialization of the U.S. Space Station to clarify and strengthen
the Federal commitment to private sector investment in this program.
6. Future Privatization: NASA will seek to rely to the greatest
extent feasible on private sector design, financing, construction, and
operation of future Space Station requirements, including those
currently under study.
7. Remote Sensing: The Administration is encouraging the
development of commercial remote sensing systems. As part of this
effort, the Department of Commerce, in consultation with other
agencies, is examining potential opportunities for future Federal
procurement of remote sensing data from the U.S. commercial sector.
ASSURING A HIGHWAY TO SPACE
8. Reliance on Private Launch Services: Federal agencies will
procure existing and future required expendable launch services
directly from the private sector to the fullest extent feasible.
9. Insurance Relief for Launch Providers: The Administration will
take administrative steps to address the insurance concerns of the
U.S. commercial launch industry, which currently uses Federal launch
ranges. These steps include:
o Limits on Third Party Liability: Consistent with the
Administration's tort policy, the Administration will propose to
Congress a $200,000 cap on noneconomic damage awards to individual
third parties resulting from commercial launch accidents;
o Limits on Property Damage Liability: the liability of commercial
launch operators for damage to Government property resulting from a
commercial launch accident will be administratively limited to the
level of insurance required by the Department of Transportation.
If losses to the Government exceed this level, the Government will
waive its right to recover for damages. If losses are less than this
level, the Government will waive its right to recover for those
damages caused by Government willful misconduct or reckless disregard.
10. Private Launch Ranges: The Administration will consult with
the private sector on the potential construction of commercial launch
range facilities separate from Federal facilities and the use of such
facilities by the Federal Government.
11. Vouchers for Research Payloads: NASA and the Department of
Transportation will explore providing to research payload owners
manifested on the Shuttle a one time launch voucher that can be used
to purchase an alternative U.S. commercial launch service.
BUILDING A SOLID TECHNOLOGY AND TALENT BASE
12. Space Technology Spin-Offs: The president is directing that
the new Pathfinder program, the Civil Space Technology Initiative, and
other technology programs be conducted in accordance with the
following policies:
o Federally funded contractors, universities, and Federal
laboratories will retain the rights to any patents and technical data,
including copyrights, that result from these programs. The Federal
Government will have the authority to use this intellectual property
royalty free;
o Proposed technologies and patents available for licensing will be
housed in a Pathfinder/CSTI library within NASA; and
o When contracting for commercial development of Pathfinder, CSTI and
other technology work products, NASA will specify its requirements in
a manner that provides contractors with maximum flexibility to pursue
innovative and creative approaches.
13. Federal Expertise on Loan to American Schools: The President
is encouraging Federal scientists, engineers, and technicians in
aerospace and space related careers to take a sabbatical year to teach
in any level of education in the United States.
14. Education Opportunities: The President is requesting in his FY
1989 Budget expanding five-fold opportunities for U.S. teacher to
visit NASA field centers and related aerospace and university facilities.
In addition, NASA, NSF, and DoD wil contribute materials and
classroom experiments through the Department of Education to U.S.
schools developing "tech shop" programs. NASA will encourage
corporate participation in this program.
15. Protecting U.S. Critical Technologies: The Administration is
requesting that Congress extend to NASA the authority it has given the
Department of Defense to protect from wholesale release under the
Freedom of Information act those critical national technologies and
systems that are prohibited from export.
III. CONTINUING THE NATIONAL COMMITMENT TO THE SPACE STATION
In 1984, the President directed NASA to develop a permanently
manned Space Station. The President remains commited to achieving
this end and is requesting $1 billion in his FY 1989 Budget for
continued development and a three year appropriation commitment from
Congress for $6.1 billion. The Space Station, planned for devlopment
in cooperation with U.S. friends and allies, is intended to be a
multi-purpose facility for the Nation's science and applications
programs. It will permit such things in space as: research,
observation of the solar system, assembly of vehicles or facilities,
storage, servicing of satellites, and basing for future space missions
and commercial and entrpreneurial endeavors in space.
To help ensure a Space Station that is cost effective, the
President is proposing as part of his Commercial Space Initiative
actions to encourage private sector investment in the Space Station,
including directing NASA to rely to the greatest extend feasible on
private sector design, financing, construction, and operation of
future Space Station requirements.
IV. ADDITIONAL HIGHLIGHTS OF THE JANUARY 5, 1988 NSDD
o U.S. Space Leadership: Leadersip is reiterated as a fundamental
national objective in areas of space activity critical to achieving
U.S. national security, scientific, economic and foreign policy goals.
o Defining Federal Roles and Responsibilities: Governement activities
are specified in three separate and distinct sectors: civil, national
security, and nongovernmental. Agency roles and responsibilities are
codified and specific goals are established for the civil space
sector; those for other sectors are updated.
o Encouraging a Commercial Sector: A separate, nongovernmental or
commercial space sector is recognized and encouraged by the policy
that Federal Government actions shall not preclude or deter the
continuing development of this sector. New guidelines are established
to limit unnecessary Government competition with the private sector
and ensure that Federal agencies are reliable customers for commercial
space goods and services.
o The President's launch policy prohibiting NASA from maintaining an
expendable launch vehicle adjunct to the Shuttle, as well as limiting
commercial and foreign payloads on the Shuttle to those that are
Shuttle-unique or serve national security or foreign policy purposes,
is reaffirmed. In addition, policies endorsing the purchase of
commercial launch services by Federal agencies are further strengthened.
o National Security Space Sector: An assured capability for national
security missions is clearly enunciated, and the survivability and
endurance of critical national security space functions is stressed.
o Assuring Access to Space: Assured access to space is recognized as
a key element of national space policy. U.S. space transportation
systems that provide sufficient resiliency to allow continued
operation, despite failures in any single system, are emphasized. The
mix of space transportation vehicles will be defined to support
mission needs in the most cost effective manner.
o Remote Sensing: Policies for Federal "remote sensing" or
observation of the Earth are established to encourage the developement
of U.S. commercial systems competitive with or superior to
foreign-operated civil or commercial systems.
|