Exploring the Unknown - NASA's History Office

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[1] APR 14, 1970
Honorable Walter J. Hickel
Secretary of the Interior
Washington, D.C.
Dear Wally:
OBSERVING THE EARTH FROM SPACE
I am concerned that you and your staff feel that you have experienced embarrassment
in justifying the Administration’s position on the EROS program. I want to reassure you
that the President and the Bureau carefully reviewed this program and we believe that the
approach developed is a realistic one for the development of this new technology.
In our informal communications to your staff on the FY 1971 allowances, and also in
material prepared for your review with the President on the FY 1971 budget, the rationale
for this approach was explained. We note from your congressional justifications for the FY
1971 budget that you have supported the Administration’s decision on this program by
emphasizing the fact that the program is still experimental and that no substantial investments
will be made now for facilities and equipment which would be needed for a possible
follow-up operational system. We hope that this letter will further clarify the
Administration’s position and be helpful to you in any necessary strengthening of your
presentation to Congress. It is important for all of us that the interested members in
Congress clearly understand the Administration’s position.
This Administration is placing high priority on the development of practical applications
of space technology. Surveying earth resources is one of the applications which
appears to be potentially productive. In an effort to explore this potential, the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration is seeking authorization from Congress to proceed
with the development of two experimental Earth Resources Technology Satellites.
However, the space program of the Seventies will not be characterized by the pursuit of a
single goal. We are attempting to develop a space program with a balanced emphasis on
exploration, science and applications.
We recognize that the FY 1971 budget allowance for the EROS program is somewhat
smaller than your request. In our judgment, a constructive program of preparation for
useful application of ERTS data can be developed within the resources provided. I am sure
that you are aware [2] that NASA’s request was also reduced. While an increase has been
allowed for actual satellite development, the NASA budget does not provide for increases
requested for other parts of their earth resources program.
We must emphasize that this program is an experimental effort. We do not believe
that it is prudent to invest substantial resources at this time in preparing for an operational
system capable of analysis of all ERTS data. Present funding for NASA will focus on
satellite development while Interior and Agriculture will concentrate on continued
research relating to potential applications of ERTS data and preparation for use of the
data once it becomes available.
The Administration does not want to move beyond the experimental phase of this
program until we are confident that the benefits of the program are more than the expected
costs. Moreover, the evidence is unclear as to the technological capability of ERTS to
provide pictures with sufficient resolution to give the payoff claimed in some studies that
have been undertaken thus far. Until we have greater assurances on these points, the
financial commitment to the programs should remain at a minimum level.
We have previously furnished to your staff a copy of the enclosed statement which was
supplied to Senator Mundt’s office. The statement outlines the Administration’s position