SPACE SCIENCE AND APPLICATIONS IN THE 1970'S 34I 



One of the things that leaves me somewhat troubled is the lack of long-range 

 planning and what seems to be a lack of more specificity in what may be the plans for 

 the future. 



Wydler declared: 



These hearings have not given me the feeling of confidence that anybody is really 

 trying to push the space programs for the future. 



When Dr. Frank Press, head of the Office of Science and Technology 

 Policy, generally echoed Dr. Frosch's theme, Congressman Winn, with 

 some exasperation declared: 



I don't quite know how to say this without sounding rude, and I don't mean it 

 that way, but most of us on this committee are really excited about the space program 

 and about our accomplishments. After listening to the testimony of you two gentle- 

 men, you leave us very bored. 



Fuqua jumped into the debate and asked the administration witnesses: 



Wh?t are you talking about for the future? The administration was able to get 

 along for a while saying "We are new and we're trying to formulate our policy." 

 We are into the fourth quarter now and almost at the 2-minute warning, and we need 

 to be getting on with the program of what we are going to be doing down the road. 



In his floor statement urging adoption of the NASA authorization bill 

 on April 25, 1978, Fuqua added: 



The committee views with increasing concern the apparent lack of interest of the 

 executive branch in consistent and continuous future planning for a strong national 

 space program. * * * 



When President Carter announced his new American Civil Space 

 Policy on October 11, 1978, it also met a cool reception from Fuqua, 

 who wrote to Dr. Press on October 20: 



I am writing you this letter to express concern about the tone and content of the 

 release. * * * It would be easy for the public to draw the conclusion that the Ameri- 

 can civil space policy will be maintained at its present dollar level or reduced. 



Fuqua also raised questions about the speed with which crucial de- 

 cisions were being made in a number of areas. 



Despite the generally lackadaisical attitude displayed by the 

 administration, Chairman Teague and the Fuqua subcommittee con- 

 tinued to press for better support for expanding applications, for 

 more imaginative program planning, for development of a more 

 thoroughgoing agenda for space industrialization, and a more inspired 

 effort to give leadership to all the space programs across the board. 

 The committee initiative may not have resulted in a wholesale beefing 

 up of all the NASA programs, but at least there was a positive response 

 among Members of Congress. On April 25, 1978, the House of Repre- 

 sentatives passed the NASA authorization bill by 345-54. 



