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cation equipment so that a submarine, for example, could talk to the 

 home office by some communication to a sea station which has equip- 

 ment to relay electromagnetically to a synchronous satellite on to 

 shore. Then there would be an integrated continuity of communica- 

 tions with all this activity in the sea, on the sea, in the air and on shore. 



If we envision a very busy ocean with many, many structures, vehi- 

 cles, communications of all kinds ; voice communications, messages of 

 record, and television will be very important to tie all this activity 

 together. [Slide.] 



The last is the component of power. Here again with all the various 

 types of activity that can be envisioned ; surface and subsurface plat- 

 forms, bottom installations, and submersibles, it will be necessary to 

 develop seagoing power supplies from very small power packages to 

 middle-sized ones on up to megawatt nuclear reactors such as that 

 suggested in the Commission's report, for all these important com- 

 ponents of ocean exploration. 



So, in general, it is my feeling while these drawings are imaginative 

 and I would not attempt to support the designs technologically at this 

 time, they serve to give you some idea of the amount of work we will 

 have to do in these areas to make a beginning that eventually will 

 enable us to work in the sea with nearly the same facility that we do 

 on land. 



In conclusion, as a scientist and engineer with many years' experi- 

 ence in the Government/industrial partnership for the military and 

 space sectors, I feel that we in the field of technology can do about 

 anything we can conceive and set our minds to do in the oceans, pro- 

 vided we are properly supported by Government direction and money. 



I would strongly recommend this committee of Congress act to 

 approve and recommend funding the National Oceanographic and 

 Atmospheric Agency as soon as possible, and make the remainder of 

 the 2Qth century a significant one in terms of the challenge of the 

 "wet frontier". 



Thank you. 



Mr. Lennox. Thank you very much, Mr. Pierce. 



I will ask unanimous consent that immediately following the splen- 

 did introduction by our colleague and friend. Congressman Culver, of 

 our witness today that there be inserted in the record following the 

 presentation the biographical sketch of Mr. Roger J. Pierce. 



Now, Mr. Mosher. 



Mr. MosHER. Mr. Chairman, I have no questions. 



I think it is very good to have this strong testimony in support of 

 the program. It is a very stimulating and imaginative statement, 

 esepcially the illustrations. 



I think it is good to have this from the private sector particularly 

 from land-locked Cedar Rapids, Iowa. 



Mr. Lennox. Thank you, sir. 



Mr. Downing of Virginia. 



Mr. Downing. Thank you, Mr, Chairman. 



I, too, think it was most interesting and informtitive. I just have one 

 question. 



What do you envision as the purposes of an underwater building? 



Mr. Pierce. I would at present envision it as a possible factory or 

 facility, say, for underwater operations, for offshore oil, for example. 



