Exploring the Unknown - NASA's History Office

EXPLORING THE UNKNOWN 135
Plumbrook cut because this is where all the nuclear work was going on. However, we have
indicated that until we can get things sorted out, we would not accept a cut at Marshall or
elsewhere at this time. We stated, instead, that a number roughly approximating the 1880
would be coming out of NASA’s budget, but exactly where these cuts would be made we
will determine later. In the meantime, I want to make a major effort to see whether we can
“sell” the excess NASA capabilities to agencies such as EPA [Environmental Protection
Agency] (for Lewis) and the DOT [Department of Transportation] (for Marshall). This is
different from what we attempted last year when indicated that we would make NASA
capability available as a service to these other agencies. After trying for a year to make that
work, it just is clear that it won’t. Instead, our intention now is to “spin off” some of the
capabilities directly to other agencies so that they can develop an in-house capability.
As I mentioned before, I spent Monday, December 18, writing our reclama letter to
Weinberger, and, in addition, writing a letter to Kissinger soliciting his support on Viking.
Copies of the drafts of these letters are attached. In the [6] meantime, Fletcher had been
working with Whitehead, Anders, and Jon Rose to get their G-2 on what was really going
on in the White House, and, at the same time, he also received their free advice. Jon, who
is used to dealing within the White House, felt that the letters that I had written might
make their mark with OMB but he really felt that they were needed with Erlichman and
Flanigan and were not suitable for that purpose. Accordingly, he rewrote both letters just
before Fletcher had a meeting with Weinberger and Morrill on December 19 (I was back
in Houston at that time). A copy of their rewrite is also attached. There were no changes
in substance with one exception: the engine refan program was back in the words but not
back in the budget. This is a program where a great deal of pressure has been applied to
the Vice President’s office and Bill Anders would, therefore, like to see it back in the budget.
We indicated to OMB that we would certainly undertake the project if additional
money were added over and above the mark for this purpose. At the time of this writing,
it is quite probable that this money will be added. I forgot to mention that Bill Anders met
with us on the 18th, and that we engaged in a very significant philosophical argument with
him. It is Bill’s opinion (shared apparently by all White House staffers) that NASA’s main
objectives should be to explore and to provide launch services. Subjects such as applications
and science we should only do as a service for others, and, therefore, should seek
their funding, e.g., user agencies or NSF [National Science Foundation], for this purpose.
Both Fletcher and I engaged in a fairly vehement argument with Anders on this point.
Although I don’t think we persuaded Anders, at least he knows where we stand.
Our budget submission as revised, was only approximately $50 million over the OMB
mark for both FY 1973 and FY 1974. Weinberger was apparently quite pleased with our
proposals, and it is quite probable that they will be accepted. However, at the time of
Christmas weekend we have not yet heard positively that our proposals have been accepted
or that the NASA budget is locked up. As a final afterthought, Fletcher went back to
Weinberger and asked him whether it wouldn’t be possible to reinstate OSO. The reasoning
is that this might be a minor concession to make to the scientific community. [7]
This reinstatement, of course, we could only make with additional funding. This, too, is
an open item at the time of this writing.
Document I-28
Document title: Committee on Satellite Communications, Space Applications Board,
Assembly of Engineering, National Research Council, “Federal Research and
Development for Satellite Communications,” 1977.
Source: National Research Council, National Academy of Sciences, Washington, D.C.