A Case Study in NASA-DoD - The Black Vault

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Aeronautics and Astronautics Coordination Board
As it turned out, rather than submitting problems to the CNLC, informal
arrangements between a number of different organizational levels
within both NASA and DoD were used for day-to-day coordination. This
informal organization was formalized by an administrative agreement in
1960 between NASA and DoD establishing the Aeronautics and Astronautics
Coordinating Board (AACB). The agreement laid down the principle that
liaison should be maintained "in the most direct manner possible" at
the various bureaucratic levels. To do this, officials having the authority
and responsibility for day-to-day decisions within their respective
offices are assigned to the AACB. Initially, the Deputy Administrator
of NASA and the Director of Defense Research and Engineering
served as Co-Chairmen, but each side has come to delegate this responsibility.
The Board is supported by six panels dealing with the following
specific areas of the space program: (1) manned spacecraft, (2) unmanned
spacecraft, (3) launch vehicles, (4) spacecraft ground equipment,
(5) supporting space research and technology, and (6) aeronautics.
These panels and the Board itself serve as forums for the exchange of
information and for the discussion and resolution of problems. Much
of the preparation of the written formal agreements between NASA and
DoD concerning a variety of subjects, e.g., launch vehicles, were the
responsibility of the AACB. This Board has been effective primarily
because it is in the self-interest of both NASA and DoD to settle
issues between themselves, especially if issues fall totally within
their jurisdictions. If they fail to reach a settlement, the result
could be worse for both, because of the uncertainty about the view of
the third party that would be drawn into the decision.
Congressional Committees
The initial select committees established by the Senate and the
House for creating legislation for the Space Act have been replaced by
permanent standing committees. In the Senate, the Committee on Aeronautical
and Space Sciences was formed on July 24, 1958. All proposed