SPACE SCIENCE, APPLICATIONS. \\n ADVANCED RESEARCH, 1963-69 241 



In arguing for passage of the NASA authorization bill in its 

 committee report, the full committee stated: 



The committee strongly believes that the prospects for economic benefits being 

 achieved in the near future by an Earth resources satellite svstem are so bright as to 

 justify increased effort in research in this area. Accordingly, NASA is urged to 

 emphasize research and advanced studies pointing toward an early operational 

 Earth resources satellite system. 



Various Members also added emphasis in their remarks on the 

 House floor during the May 2, 1968, debate on the authorization bill. 

 For example, Mosher termed the Earth resources survey system "the 

 most exciting new project on the horizon." He added: 



It is expected that remote sensors in space will, in just a few years, provide valu- 

 able data on the status of our agriculture and forests, and on the location and avail- 

 ability of mineral and water resources; such a system will contribute to the manage- 

 ment, utilization, and conservation of all our natural resources. 



In 1969, the House, at the urging of the Karth subcommittee and 

 the full committee, added $10 million to the authorization for the 

 Earth resources technology satellite program. Karth, Mosher, Syming- 

 ton, and other members of the Karth subcommittee led the charge to 

 bring home to the Congress as well as the forgotten ' 'man in the street' ' 

 that this was a program which had practical applications and potential 

 returns for the taxpayers. The subcommittee solicited support through 

 testimony by Departments of the Interior and Agriculture officials to 

 bolster their case. In addition, the contractors were brought in to 

 furnish additional evidence of their ability to move forward faster if 

 given additional support. 



When Karth picked up a copy of Space Business Daily of March 12, 

 1969, he was angered to read the following note: 



The head of NASA's manned space flight program said this week that the agency's 

 unmanned Earth resources satellite program will not be rushed into development due 

 to technical considerations, and suggested that man may play a major role in the 

 ERS project. 



Waving the article at the March 12 subcommittee hearings, Karth 

 commented to NASA witnesses that he felt NASA's Dr. George E. 

 Mueller was trying to hold back the Earth resources satellite develop- 

 ment "until such time as we can use these very interesting and very 

 desirable experiments on manned spacecraft to assist in justifying 

 certain other manned flights." Karth, who often threatened drastic 

 action as a means of getting fuller attention, exploded that if NASA 

 couldn't justify its manned space flight program without this ploy, 

 "then I am going to start saying loudly and clearly around here that we 

 don't need a manned space flight program." He added: 



