SPACE SCIENCE AND APPLICATIONS IN THE 1970 - S 



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Among new members of Space Science and Applications Subcommittee in 1979 was 

 Representative Bill Nelson (Democrat of Florida), who represents the district in which 

 Kennedy Space Center is located. 



become deputy staff director of the Space Science and Applications 

 Subcommittee prior to being chosen as acting staff director with 

 Wilson's departure. On October 24, 1979, he was named staff director. 



Following its customary procedure, the subcommittee held three 

 advance hearings in September 1978 on the NASA authorization, 

 capped by 15 sessions during the first three months of 1979. NASA, 

 the Air Force, the European Space Agency, and members of the 

 industrial and scientific community testified on NASA-related pro- 

 grams. 



In addition, the subcommittee on February 14, 1979, reviewed the 

 President's civil space policy. At this hearing, Fuqua expressed his 

 apprehension that NASA and OMB were projecting no new starts for 

 several years: 



I am very concerned that we are not looking down the road at new programs 

 and where we are going, and we are dying on the vine. It is very alarming. 



Wydler echoed this view, indicating: 



What we are worried about here today is what is the program going to look like 

 10 years from now, with the decisions you are making today. 



Referring to the gung-ho attitude which had prevailed in the 

 1960's, Wydler asked: 



