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From: dls@hocse.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.misc,net.politics,net.space
Subject: Re: SPACE Issues in the Election
Message-ID: <174@hocse.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 2-Nov-84 09:50:46 EST
Article-I.D.: hocse.174
Posted: Fri Nov  2 09:50:46 1984
Date-Received: Sat, 3-Nov-84 03:34:12 EST
Organization: AT&T Information Systems Labs, Holmdel NJ
Lines: 50

CC:         skran, ~l5

Reference: <882@ihuxp.UUCP>, <518@tty3b.UUCP>

Let's set the record straight about NASA becoming
a lackey of the Pentagon.

1)Before the shuttle there were dozens of military
launches every year.

2)The shuttle was sold with  the idea that it would
carry ALL US payloads, and hence reduce costs by re-using
the ships a maximum number of times.

3)This has resulted in more public visibility for military
operations in space.

It is true that the military space budget now exceeds that
of NASA. This is due to both growth in military spending and
drastic cuts at NASA, for which we can thank Mondale & company.
NASA has been STRUGGLING to maintain a civilian space program
while faced with a hostile Congress and a growing Pentagon
effort. Your attitude is a slap in the face to thousands
of dedicated, peace-loving NASA employees and managers.

Now, the Pentagon has moved to back-stab NASA by reneging on
earlier agreements to fly all military payloads on the shuttle.
Instead, they want to build their own unmanned craft. This will
drastically increase shuttle costs.

To add insult to injury, the Pentagon has consistantly opposed the
space station on that grounds that a)it is vulnerable, b)they
might have to pay for it, and c)Reagan has promised that it will
be international, and hence insecure from their point of view.
Essentially the ONLY groups favoring a space station within
the government are NASA, the Dept. of Commerce, and President
himself.

Groups like Campaign for Space and Spacepac are working for
a strong civilian space program. I appeal to all of you:
Join them in this cause! Don't let the hawks and the beancounters
kill the dream!

Dale Skran 
President, North Jersey L5 Society
P.O. Box 674
Holmdel, NJ. 
(to join the L5 local chapter, send your address & 5$ in cash
or stamps to the above address; make checks out to the North
Jersey L5 Society)