216 



You also asked me in the letter that the task force sent for my 

 appearance, to provide some information on the progress of the 

 Space Station. I have done so in my written testimony, Mr. Chair- 

 man. 



I very briefly will say that we have recently signed the formal 

 MOU's with the European Space Agency, with Canada, and with 

 Japan to begin the parallel phase B efforts. In each case, the part- 

 ners are making significant financial contributions of their own, 

 funding their own design and technology efforts. 



We will begin this fall the discussions leading to the possible 

 phase C, D, and E agreements. This will be a lengthy and difficult 

 process, many difficult issues that will need to be dealt with. I 

 think we are all extremely encouraged by how the process is going 

 so far. 



I would say in response to one question you asked earlier, Mr. 

 Chairman, that one thing we attempted to do in the Space Station 

 was, long before the program was an approved program, we went to 

 Europe, Canada, and Japan and said, "We do not want to wait and 

 come to you at the last moment and say. Here is a program. If you 

 see something there you like, go ahead, but don't make any 

 changes." We went very early to them and invited them to work 

 with us in designing or looking on a planning basis at what a Space 

 Station might do and specifically how it might serve their constitu- 

 ent and user interests. 



The feedback I have had on that is that that was a very impor- 

 tant part, a very important step that we took that allowed them to 

 feel not only a part of the project, but allowed them the necessary 

 time to develop their own constituency and political support, that 

 when the President did issue his invitation, allowed decisions to be 

 made in times that I think many people predicted would be unable 

 to be met. 



I would be happy to respond to questions, Mr. Chairman, on the 

 Space Station or on my earlier comments. I believe that the written 

 testimony will suffice to give you a progress report on that. Thank 

 you. 



[The prepared statement of Mr. Pedersen follows:] 



