ARG%SU-AI@sri-unix.UUCP (07/24/83)
From: Ron Goldman <ARG@SU-AI>
a220 1159 17 Jul 83
AM-Space Station, Bjt,750
Adviser Reverses Course on Manned Space Station
By HOWARD BENEDICT
AP Aerospace Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) - President Reagan's science adviser has reversed
course and asked the nation's space agency to prepare a ''grand
vision'' for the future that might include not only a U.S. space
station but eventually manned lunar bases and astronaut trips to Mars.
The adviser, George Keyworth, had been using his considerable
influence to oppose development of a space station.
This week, a NASA task force is assembling several hundred industry,
government, foreign and military planners to gather final ideas
before NASA presents its case to the president in the fall.
An indication of whether there really is a White House change of
heart will come in September when the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration submits its fiscal 1985 fiscal budget. It will contain
the first major funding request for a station, an estimated $60
million to $120 million.
Congressional support has been strong, with both houses forcing
money on NASA, which has been restrained by the Office of Management
and Budget. When the agency recently asked for $6 million more for
station design studies, the House voted to add $10 million and the
Senate $5 million.
Rep. Don Fuqua, D-Fla., chairman of the House Committee on Science
and Technology, says, ''We need a firm presidential commitment to the
space station goal,'' and the next step is Reagan's.
Encouragement came in a little-publicized speech by Keyworth two
weeks ago to a technical group in Seattle. After two years in which he
strongly opposed a station as an ''unfortunate step backwards,''
Keyworth said:
''Some people have jumped to the conclusion that I have a bias
against a space station because I insist on a valid mission before we
make any commitment to it. That's not true. But I think it's time for
us to take a broader look - with more vision, much more vision - at
where we expect the American manned space program to go over the next
quarter century.''
He said the American people should be informed of the ''grand
vision'' - whether it is an orbital transfer vehicle to high
geostationary orbits, a manned lunar station, or even manned
exploration of Mars.
In a follow-up interview with Science magazine, Keyworth said: ''I
think the country should take a major thrust in space very seriously.
We've shown that the space shuttle works and is reliable. We have the
technology to build a space station. It is only an intermediate step
in a more ambitious long-range goal of exploring the solar system.''
Keyworth termed President Kennedy's call for the Apollo
man-on-the-moon program ''a brilliant stroke,'' at a time when U.S.
technical superiority was being challenged by early Soviet space
spectaculars.
The Soviets have set a goal of 1985 for a permanent manned orbiting
laboratory. Given a go-ahead in fiscal 1985, NASA estimates it can
put up an initial space station by 1991 at a total cost of $6 billion
to $8 billion.
NASA officials were surprised at being asked to be more forthright
about their visions. Budget austerity has scuttled many of their
projects since the Apollo moon landings, and they have hardly been
inclined to push for lunar bases and trips to Mars.
Asked about the shift in Keyworth's thinking, Robert F. Freitag,
deputy director of NASA's space station task force, said: ''Support
for a station comes about with understanding - when we sit down with
people, explain it to them and give them time to think about it. Dr.
Keyworth is a good example of that ... He's beginning to see some
virtue he didn't see a year ago.''
A consensus of the task force's 60 members favors a station that
would begin as two small low-orbit platforms.
One would be operated initially by four to six people and carry a
variety of instruments and servicing capabilities. It would fly in
formation with a platform carrying research and processing devices
that need a human presence for support.
The NASA task force has identified 48 space science and applications
missions, 31 commercial missions and 30 technology developments that
would be enabled or substantially enhanced by a U.S. station
capability.
Many potential users, U.S. and foreign, will be represented at the
three-day Space Station Symposium which starts here Monday.
''The task force has been working its tail off for 14 months and we
feel it is time to let people know where we stand,'' Freitag said.
''We will state our policy and seek their ideas.''
ap-ny-07-17 1502EDT
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