SPACE SCIENCE, APPLICATIONS, AND ADVANCED RESEARCH, 1963-69 247 



Robert H. Goddard, "the father of American rocketry," contained 

 liquid propellants. At the same time, the Air Force and the Navy had 

 considerable experience with solids, which powered the Minuteman 

 and Polaris missiles. 



On April 20, 1961, Chairman Brooks indicated at an open session 

 of the committee: "Many of the committee members, as well as myself, 

 feel that we are not taking advantage of the state-of-the-art potential 

 of large segmented solid boosters." To supplement the testimony of 

 advocates of the liquid propellant approach, including NASA, Chair- 

 man Brooks summoned several witnesses on behalf of solid propellants. 



Representative David S. King (Democrat of Utah), wrote a strong 

 letter to President Kennedy early in 1961, urging more emphasis on 

 solids. The President arranged a special meeting with Webb, Secretary 

 of Defense McNamara and Director of the Budget David Bell, at 

 which King presented his views. King, along with Representatives 

 Anfuso, Karth, Randall and several others, lobbied hard for an increase 

 in committee support for solids, and they amended the authorization 

 bill in committee to allocate $18 million instead of $3 million for solids. 

 Witnesses contended that this would enable the Moon flight to take 

 place two years earlier and for less money. 



Representatives George P. Miller (Democrat of California) and 

 Perkins Bass (Republican of New Hampshire) issued "Supplemental 

 Views" challenging the committee majority favoring the $15 million 

 increase in support for solids. Miller and Bass stated: 



The committee heard testimony from several industrial witnesses who represented 

 firms that produce solid propellants and solid-fueled rockets. They testified that a 

 rocket test engine of one million and a half-pound thrust can be produced and flight 

 tested with adequate funding, in about 18 months. While we do not question the 

 sincerity and honest conviction of these witnesses, it is obvious that such statements 

 are highly subjective and are qualified by an evident motivation of self-interest. 



The majority of the committee, as expressed in its report, took 

 the position that the $15 million increase — 



will permit a rapidly stepped-up program in the development of solid propulsion 

 fuels, an area which in the committee's judgment requires much new work if the 

 United States is to gain leadership in space exploration. 



When President Kennedy addressed the Congress and set the goal 

 of a manned lunar landing within the decade, his May 25, 1961 

 address also recommended that there be parallel development of a 

 solid booster, as well as a liquid-fueled booster. The Congress down 

 through the years, at the initiative of the Science Committee, annually 

 authorized and appropriated funds beyond what NASA requested, 

 earmarked for the specific and directed purpose of research and develop- 

 ment on the 260-inch solid booster. Despite the successful develop- 

 ment and test-firing of the solid motor by Thiokol Corp., NASA 



