Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.PCS 1/10/84; site hocse.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxj!houxm!hogpc!pegasus!hocse!dls 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)