DECISION ON THE SPA( 1 Mil Mil 



293 



Karth had led against the Shuttle in 1970. He contrasted the situation 

 in 1972, when the committee supported "a Shuttle program very 

 much diminished and simplified, much less costly than was contem- 

 plated two years ago." Mosher added : 



It is che product of a tremendous amount of careful reconsideration and better 

 preparation. It does represent the "go slow" policy which we urged two years ago. 

 So, I stand before you today, confessing that I once was very much a skeptic concern- 

 ing the Shuttle plans. Now, I have changed my mind and I believe it is for entirely 

 valid reasons * * *. The Space Shuttle program as now proposed is considerably 

 different from that first recommended. The total development costs for the Shuttle 

 have been reduced from $13 billion to $5 billion, to be spread over some 6 years. 



The floor attack on the Shuttle was led by Representative Les 

 Aspin (Democrat of Wisconsin), who predicted costly over-runs in the 

 development of the new program. Fuqua predicted that NASA would 

 pretty much stick to the ball park estimates of $5.15 billion. NASA 

 came close, but needed more funding in 1979 and later years. 



Aspin introduced an amendment on the floor to eliminate the 

 $200 million authorization for the Shuttle, and have the National 

 Academy of Sciences conduct a one-year study on whether further funds 

 should be spent on the Shuttle. Wydler pointed out that "there is no 

 earthly use in sending to the National Academy of Sciences for a 

 study* * *. We have that information available now. There is nothing 

 more to study regarding it. This body can make up its mind whether 

 it wants a Shuttle or not." 



Both Majority Leader Hale Boggs (Democrat of Louisiana) and 

 Minority Leader Gerald R. Ford (Republican of Michigan) spoke 

 against the Aspin amendment. Boggs warned that "if we delay for 

 another year, we will never regain the momentum the space program 

 now has." Ford used the analogy of military weapons programs which 

 had resulted in cost over-runs due to starting and stopping, and he 

 urged that the Shuttle be carried through to its conclusion "on the 

 schedule that has been announced." 



The Aspin amendment was clobbered on a division (standing) 

 vote by 103-11. Then the NASA authorization bill was passed bv the 

 comfortable margin of 277-60. The committee was victorious in keep- 

 ing the $200 million authorization at that level throughout the legis- 

 lative process, including the appropriation by both the House and 

 Senate. 



THE COMMITTEE AND SHUTTLE CONTRACTS 



The committee, its individual members, and the Manned Space 

 Flight and Oversight Subcommittees took a vigorous and continuing 

 interest in how NASA awarded and administered the contracts for the 

 Space Shuttle. The biggest controversy erupted over the initial con- 



