SPACE SCIENCE AND APPLICATIONS IN THE 1970'S 



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I predict that the pressure on Congress to reduce the space budget still further 

 will increase unless the future orientation of NASA is based less on space spectaculars 

 and more on the production of tangible and economic benefits. 



In January 1970, Karth challenged the members of the American 

 Astronautical Society: 



1 am convinced that now we should more aggressively pursue the many potential 

 applications of existing space technology to practical problems of Earth. 



Karth deplored the fact that space applications in 1970 constituted a 

 meager 5 percent of NASA's budget, and he continued to attack the 

 recommendations of Vice President Agnew's Space Task Group for 

 huge new manned programs in the 1970's. Karth advised his House 

 colleagues during the NASA authorization bill debate on April 23, 

 1970: 



I think I can speak for all the members of our subcommittee in stating to the 

 House that we feel strongly that the space applications program — the practical, 

 end-result, ber.efits-on-earth type of space activities — needs greater emphasis and 

 attention than it has had in the past. 



Representative Joseph E. Karth (Democrat of Minnesota), center, discusses Apollo 

 flight training at Johnson Space Center, Houston, Tex. At left is Joseph G. Gavin of Grumman 

 Aircraft Corp., and at right Aleck C. Bond of NASA. 



In the face of heavy adverse pressure from Chairman Miller and 

 Manned Space Flight Subcommittee Chairman Teague, Karth fearlessly 

 plunged ahead with his crusade on behalf of space applications. He did 

 not cease his efforts once the hearings and authorization bills had been 

 passed. Karth hit the luncheon circuit in a series of sharp public 



