SPACE SCIENCE AND APPLICATIONS IN THE 1970'S 



363 



On September 13, 1974, NASA Administrator Fletcher furnished a 

 point-by-point commentary on the report to Teaguc. In general, he 

 expressed agreement with the committee analysis and prescriptions. 



Dr. James C. Fletcher (right), fourth NASA Administrator, presents Robert H. Goddard 

 Trophy to Science Committee Chairman Teague on March 8, 1974. 



The report stressed that NASA was placing too much emphasis 

 on the technical details concerning the status of their hardware instead 

 of emphasizing the results and value to average people. Dr. Fletcher 

 commented: "We have come a long way in getting our people to put 

 less emphasis on hardware, but we have still got a long way to go." 



The committee stated the "NASA public affairs activity policy 

 appears to have overreacted to the negative public image created by 

 'The Selling of the Pentagon' (a popular television network expose of 

 military public relations) and is very sensitive to being accused of the 

 same." Dr. Fletcher commented that high credibility was his aim. 



The committee faulted NASA for failing to take advantage of 

 aerospace and other industrial resources, to which Dr. Fletcher re- 

 sponded: "Our experience is that when pressed, corporations still 

 want to go it alone." 



The committee suggested that NASA ought to take more advan- 

 tage of the technology utilization program. Dr. Fletcher answered he 



