Exploring the Unknown - NASA's History Office

256
should officially participate in the developmental program planning which would
delineate program objectives, the benefits which can be expected, and the cost effectiveness
of different ways of achieving the benefits, all as related to an eventual operational
program.
Much groundwork directly applicable to such program planning has been laid in the
normal course of our advanced studies program. These studies, which embraced both
technical and programmatic aspects, include the Manned Orbital Research Laboratory
(NAS1-36l2), an ORL Experiment Program (NASw-1215), and Spent Saturn S-IVB
Utilization (NAS8-21064). In conjunction with these studies, we have examined how such
programs could be implemented organizationally, emphasising [sic] the use of NASA inhouse
capability and the application of special, user-agency capabilities. We are currently
pursuing a more definitive description of potential economic benefits through contract
NASw-1604 with the Planning Research Corporation. This study is expected to provide
greater understanding of this difficult area and yield a methodology which could support
a [Planning Programming Budgeting System] type of analysis. These types of studies must
be continued and expanded or we cannot hope to compete successfully in the Planning
Programming Budgeting Systems with quantitative assessments of promising applications.
In closing, I should like to request that you keep me informed of your progress in this
matter. You may contact the Director, Advanced Manned Missions Program, for information
and assistance in support of your efforts.
cc: See attached sheet
Document II-21
signed by Edgar M. Cortright
for George E. Mueller
Document title: Interior Department, “Appeal of 1971 Budget Allowance: EROS,”
November 25, 1969.
Source: Record Group 255, Records of the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration, Federal Records Center, Suitland, Maryland.
Despite overcoming technical and boundary problems, and successfully selling the utility of an Earth
resources survey system to a variety of users, NASA and the Department of the Interior encountered
almost intractable opposition to the initiative within the Nixon administration’s Bureau of the
Budget. The Budget Bureau nearly eliminated the Earth Resources Technology Satellite (ERTS) program,
but it relented when Senator Karl Mundt, pleased that the Interior Department had decided to
locate the data-processing facility in his home state of South Dakota, led a drive to save the program.
[no pagination]
Appeal of 1971 Budget Allowance
EROS
Requested increase - $7,500,000
Allowed increase - minus $3,900,000
OBSERVING THE EARTH FROM SPACE
The most temperate comment that can be made about this allowance is that it must