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    "title": "1976/09/08 - Dr. James Fletcher",
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    "ocrText": "The original documents are located in Box 61, folder \"1976/09/08 - Dr. James Fletcher\" of\nthe James M. Cannon Files at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.\nCopyright Notice\nThe copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of\nphotocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Gerald Ford donated to the United\nStates of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.\nWorks prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duties are in the public\ndomain. The copyrights to materials written by other individuals or organizations are presumed to\nremain with them. If you think any of the information displayed in the PDF is subject to a valid\ncopyright claim, please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.\nDigitized from Box 61 of the James M. Cannon Files at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nWASHINGTON\nSeptember 8, 1976\nMEMORANDUM FOR:\nTERRY O'DONNELL\nFROM:\nGLENN\nSUBJECT:\nFLETCHER MEETING WITH THE\nPRESIDENT\nWe now have confirmation that the following\npeople will be attending the meeting with\nDr. Fletcher in the Oval Office:\nJim Cannon\nJim Fletcher\nBill Hyland (for General Scowcroft)\nBill Gorog (for Bill Seidman)\nAlan Lovelace\nJim Mitchell (for Jim Lynn)\nH. Guyford Stever\nCC: Jim Cannon\nMEETING WITH PRESIDENT AND\nDR. FLETCHER\n2:00\nWednesday, September 8, 1976\n4:00 12:15 p.m.\nOval Office\n30 minutes\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nWASHINGTON\nSeptember 7, 1976\nMEETING WITH DR. JAMES FLETCHER\nWednesday, September 8, 1976\n12:15 p.m. (30 minutes)\nThe Oval Office\nFrom: Jim Cannon\nJan\nI. PURPOSE\nPart I (5 minutes) - to permit (1) Dr. Fletcher to present\nyou a model of the Space Shuttle and (2) you to announce\nyour request to Fletcher -- and his acceptance -- of\na proposal to name the first shuttle orbiter the\n\"Enterprise.\"\nPart II (about 25 minutes) - to permit Dr. Fletcher\nto (1) report on NASA accomplishments, and (2) express\nhis concerns about the space program.\nII. BACKGROUND, PARTICIPANTS, AND PRESS PLAN\nA. Background - Part I\nThe first important visible effort in the Shuttle\nprogram -- the roll-out of the first orbiter for the\nSpace Shuttle -- occurs on September 17 at Palmdale,\nCalifornia. Your advisers have recommended (and Dr.\nFletcher has agreed to accept) a request from you to\nname the orbiter the \"Enterprise,\" -- a proposal made\nby thousands of \"Star Trek\" fans.\nBackground - Part II\n1. Dr. Fletcher would like to report briefly on NASA\naccomplishments and plans, particularly on the\nViking landings on Mars and the Space Shuttle.\n2. He will also mention his concerns that U.S. space\ncapabilities have eroded and that the NASA program\nhas been cut too deeply. He had asked for an\nopportunity to present his concerns before decisions\nwere made on 1978 Budget planning ceilings. Since\nplanning ceilings have been set, he will be reluctant\nto stress his concerns now and probably will propose\na later meeting for this purpose.\n-2-\nDr. Fletcher's principal concerns are summarized at\nTab A. His June 4, 1976 letter requesting a meeting\nis summarized at Tab B. The full letter is at Tab C.\nThe 1978 planning ceiling given NASA provides only\nfor run-out costs of current commitments (including\ninflation). The overall NASA program would be reduced\nbecause there is no provision for new starts or re-\nplacements for programs being completed.\nWhile unknown to NASA, OMB has counted in its own\nplanning totals an additional $90 million in BA\n(about 2-1/2 percent of ceiling) and $40 million in\noutlays to initiate some 1978 new starts (e.g., space\ntelescope). This will be welcomed by NASA but will\nnot answer NASA's basic desire for a longer term\ncommitment to program growth that would permit planning\nand executing a balanced space program.\nB. Participants\nPart I - Dr. Fletcher\nPart II - Dr. Fletcher and his Deputy Alan Lovelace\n- The Vice President, Guy Stever, Jim Cannon,\nJim Lynn, Bill Seidman and Bill Hyland\nC. Press Plan\nPart I - Press photo opportunity; sound on film\nPart II - White House photographer\nIII. TALKING POINTS\nPart I - Presentation: See Tab D.\nPart II - Substantive Meeting:\nJim and Alan, I'm looking forward to hearing more\nabout your accomplishments on Mars and your progress\non the Shuttle. Would you go ahead.\nI have your letter with your views on the space\nprogram and budget. I understand your concerns.\nWe must hold a tight rein to achieve a balanced\nbudget in 1979, but I want to be sure we consider\nyour proposals. If we are able to accommodate\nsome new starts in 1978, what would you select\nfor highest priority?\nTAB A\nTAB A\nPOINTS THAT DR. FLETCHER PROBABLY\nWILL MAKE ORALLY DURING THE MEETING\nThe space program has gained new public support with\nViking successes.\nNASA's overall program level has been held roughly\nlevel in current dollars since 1972; a reduction\nin constant dollars. Growth in the Space Shuttle\nprogram has meant cuts in other programs.\nNASA has received OMB assurances that future years'\nbudgets would, as a minimum, provide for a balanced\nspace program -- in addition to the Shuttle. But\neach year NASA has been cut below this level. NASA's\n1978 budget of $3.7 billion is $1 billion below level\nOMB projected in 1972.\nOMB's 1978 budget planning ceiling for NASA is far too\ntight and may force additional slippage in the Shuttle\nprogram.\nNASA appears to have been treated less favorably in\nthe budget than other agencies.\nNASA has a major economic \"leveraging\" effect and a\nmajor employment impact in several areas, including\nCalifornia, Texas, Florida, and Long Island.\nThe NASA-Industry-University team is an important\ntechnological resource that should be preserved and\nutilized.\nU.S. technological leadership is at stake; the U.S.\nis falling behind in space (USSR) and in aeronautics\n(Western Europe).\nWhile his letter calls for a 10 percent increase in\nreal program growth, he will indicate satisfaction\nwith a lower percentage.\nTAB B\nTAB B\nPRINCIPAL POINTS IN DR. FLETCHER'S LETTER AND ITS ATTACHMENTS\nLetter\nOver the past 5 years, NASA has \"not been permitted to\nmaintain the program breadth or momentum necessary for\ncontinued contributions to national security, international\npolicy, and technological progress.'\nNASA has been held below its \"critical threshold\" with\nthe risk of foregoing \"future benefits in international\nprestige, military spinoffs, economic and industrial\nstimulation, and constructive non-inflationary employment.\" \"\nNASA has reached a \"breaking point,\" is losing much of its\ngovernment-university-industry team, and the U.S. is in\ndanger of losing leadership as a space power.\nNASA's activity must be expanded or the civil space program\nwill be irreparably damaged.\nAn initial 10 percent of real growth in program can make\nthe difference.\nAttachment 1 - Space and Aeronautics: Challenge and Opportunity\nCites major benefits of the aerospace program:\n- Element of international policy -- communications,\nweather services, earth and ocean resources and\nconditions.\n- Advanced technology for civil and military purposes.\n- Develop \"high\" technology -- with productivity and\ninternational trade benefits.\n- Inspiration for younger generations; forward looking\ntechnological problem solving.\nSummarizes four potential major program thrusts detailed\nin Attachment 2.\nAttachment 2 - NASA Five-Year Planning\nExpansion of national services from space:\n- Global resource information system -- involves\nexpansion of experimental LANDSAT (earth resources)\nprogram to provide regularly information on food,\nenergy and other mineral resources; environmental\nquality, weather; and climate.\n-2-\n-\nAdvancement of space communications -- to avoid\nloss of U.S. leadership in telecommunications\ntechnology to state-supported industries in Japan\nand Europe.\nBeneficial occupancy of space -- as the next major\nmanned space thrust beyond the Shuttle, a permanently\nmanned center to:\n- Service new commercial devices and industrial processes\npossible only in unique space conditions (weightlessness;\nnear-perfect vacuum).\n- Assemble, test and maintain large orbital structures\nfor information, communications and solar energy.\n- Provide space research facilities, including tests\nneeded to consider space colonization and long-\nduration planetary expeditions.\nIntegrated scientific exploration of the universe --\nincluding:\n- New steps in remote exploration (e.g., orbital telescope)\nand direct exploration (e.g., planetary; atmospheric\nand surface sampling).\n- Use of knowledge about other planets better to\nunderstand and manage the earth.\nReestablish U.S. dominance in aeronautical techonolgy\nincluding:\n- Energy-efficient technology to improve new models\nof current aircraft.\n- Regaining from Europe lead in supersonic transports,\nhelicopters and short-haul transports -- to capture\ncivil aircraft markets.\nTAB C\nNASA\nNational Aeronautics and\nSpace Administration\nWashington, D.C.\n20546\nOffice of the Administrator\nJune 4, 1976\nThe President\nThe White House\nWashington, DC 20500\nRH\nDear Mr. President:\nI have had the honor to serve as the Administrator of your\nNational Aeronautics and Space Administration for the past\nfive years. During that time, this exciting and dynamic\nagency has realized many proud accomplishments -- but these\nhave come about largely as the consequence of earlier in-\nvestments in science and technology.\nAs a matter of conscience and duty, I must inform you of the\nsteady erosion of the United States space capabilities and\nof the dangers this poses. Over the past five years, we have\nnot been permitted to maintain the program breadth or momentum\nnecessary for continued contributions to national security,\ninternational policy, and technological progress.\nIf the civil program continues to be held below its critical\nthreshold, we run a real risk of foregoing rich future bene-\nfits in international prestige, military spinoffs, economic\nand industrial stimulation, and constructive noninflationary\nemployment -- as well as in critical new space capabilities.\nI feel we are also risking what may be the single most impor-\ntant potential for inspiring America's future generations. I\nhave recently mentioned these problems to the Vice President,\nBrent Scowcroft, and Jim Cavanaugh among others. I believe\nthey all were surprised at the serious loss of our abilities\nto compete, cooperate, or advance in space.\nIn my view, we have reached a breaking point: We have already\nlost much of the capability of our unique government-university-\nindustry aerospace team, and are in danger of losing even more.\nWe are risking not meeting important expanding international\ncommitments. We are in danger of losing a critical national\nresource as well as our leadership as a space power. Even the\n2\nusually conservative financial community is recognizing the\nsigns of a national technological crisis --- and the shrinkage\nof the NASA program has been a major contributor to that crisis.\nMr. President, I wholeheartedly support your strong commitment\nto fiscal responsibility and balanced budgets. However, I must\npoint out that NASA, the Executive Agency dedicated to creating\nlong-term future technological strength for the Nation, is in\ncritical difficulty. In blunt terms, if we cannot expand the\nscope of NASA's activity, the civil space program will be\nirreparably damaged.\nI believe it is important to express my concerns directly to\nyou before the start of the normal budget cycle. I am writing\nseparately to Jim Lynn on this subject, and I will, of course,\nbe working with him during the fall. In my judgment, the\neffort required to reverse current trends is relatively small.\nAn initial 10% of real growth in program content can make the\ndifference between a strong national program and one at or\nbelow the threshold of survival.\nIf you could make some time available, I would be most pleased\nto discuss the issue of NASA's future with you in detail.\nRecognizing your extraordinarily full schedule, I am enclosing\ntwo attachments which may help focus both the problem and\nopportunity: the first is a short paper on the civil aero-\nspace program, and the second is a summary of a new five-year\nplan for space and aeronautics currently being developed.\nOn a different but related matter, Don Rumsfeld and I hope\nto meet with you later in the year to recommend a joint\napproach to the procurement of the operational Space Shuttle.\nRespectfully,\nJames + C. Fletcher\nAdministrator\n2 Enclosures\nCC: The Vice President\nJames T. Lynn\nJames M. Cannon\nLt. Gen. Brent Scowcroft\nL. William Seidman\nJames H. Cavanaugh\nSPACE AND AERONAUTICS: CHALLENGE AND OPPORTUNITY\nA rational, productive aerospace program is a vital component\nof the near- and long-term future of the United States -- and\nof the world.\nSpace technology is an integral element of international\npolicy: the satellite has become indispensable to inter-\ncontinental communications and to international weather\nservices; satellites are positive contributors to accurate\nUnited States information on global earth and ocean\nresources and conditions; aerospace programs provide the\nUnited States powerful selective options for cooperation\nor competition with advanced and developing nations.\nSpace technology -- and the concomitant of an advanced\nand imaginative aerospace industry -- is critical to the\nnational defense posture of the United States. Civil\nprograms, because of their open, exploratory character,\ngenerate broad technological advance that energize entire\nindustries as well as being directly employed for civil\nor military ends.\nAerospace programs, by their nature, are at the cutting\nedge of technological advance -- they demand and create,\nabove all, \"high\" technology. Technology of all levels is\nrecognized as a necessary major contributor to national\nproductivity; what is less well recognized is the enormous\neconomic leverage exercised by investment in and develop-\nment of \"high\" technology. Recent assessments indicate\nthat a dollar spent in NASA R&D creates a 14:1 return over\n10 years in terms of increased productivity alone, and\nthat small but sustained changes in the levels of NASA\nexpenditures have a disproportionately large effect in\ncreating and sustaining permanent new jobs in the national\neconomy.\nThe challenge of space is an exciting inspiration to the\nyounger generations of America and the world. The nation\nthat meets this challenge boldly will strengthen and\nenlarge the spirit of all its citizens and create the\ndrive for future progress and achievement.\n2\nThe civil space agency -- NASA -- is the single Federal\ninstrumentality squarely focused on the future. NASA\nhas developed into the nation's most effective technical\nproblem-solving agency. It is an instrument available\nfor use; it should not be allowed to sag into mediocrity\nor to dwindle away for lack of forward-looking assignments.\nAn immediate opportunity now lies before our country: to\nmobilize its civil aerospace resources in pursuit of national\nobjectives. If action is not taken, the nation's ability to\nmount effective programs will erode beyond repair, and the\ninternational competitors of the United States will establish\ncommanding leads in such areas as permanent manned facilities\nin space, planetary exploration, space communications, and\nhigh speed intercontinental aviation. Aerospace objectives\nof great value and importance are:\nA global information service -- strengthening the United\nStates' posture at home and abroad with revolutionary\nimprovements in timely and accurate reporting on world-\nwide economic and environmental conditions through the\norganized use of space-based observation systems.\nPermanent American occupancy of space -- guaranteeing\nfree access to space by all for peaceful purposes, pro-\nviding a new and expanding dimension for United States\nindustry and commerce in exploiting the unique environment\nand technology of space for new goods and services, and\nopening new horizons for the human spirit.\nThe integrated scientific exploration of the Universe --\nto find the answers to central questions of life, matter,\nand energy.\nReestabli shment of American preeminence in aviation --\ncreating the commercial competence to compete effectively\nin world markets with new aircraft using new designs,\nmaterials, propulsion and technology.\nThe returns from investment in civil aerospace are power --\neconomic, scientific, and political. This can flow only from\na steady level of activity; research and development cannot\n3\nthrive or deliver its technological products in an environment\nof uncertain commitment or sporadic support. Focused invest-\nments in high technology are significant national economic\ntools in the search for prosperity without inflation.\nTo provide for the future requires thoughtful and prudent\ninvestments in the present. At stake are the leadership,\nprestige, and power of the United States in a critical\ntechnological domain affecting the life and livelihood of\nevery citizen -- and, through example and political extension\nof that power, the future of all the world.\nJune 4, 1976\nTAB D\nNASA FIVE-YEAR PLANNING\nINTRODUCTION\nThe management of the National Aeronautics and Space\nAdministration is preparing a five-year plan to provide an\nintegrated framework within which policy and program recom-\nmendations and decisions can be evaluated. While not complete\nat this time, the basic structure of the recommended five-\nyear plan is outlined below.\nOne critical factor must be kept in mind: the lead-\ntimes involved in the development of sophisticated space\ntechnology are often such that individual projects may require\nas much as five to seven years to be complete; in the case of\ncertain exploration missions to the far planets, flight times\nof as many years are required before new information can be\nreceived on earth. The planning context, therefore, has to\nextend considerably beyond the next five years in order to\nprovide a solid base for the near-term decisions.\nIn addition, plans for the future must be carefully\nintegrated with the present ongoing program. It is important\nto take maximum advantage of momentum and technical capabil-\nities in being, and to be ready to exploit new or enlarged\nopportunities presented by the evolving scientific and tech-\nnological environment.\nGOALS AND OBJECTIVES\nThe first generation of space and aeronautical activity\nhas come of age. Taken together, the growing maturity of\nthe existing technologies, the experimental successes of the\nfirst tentative moves toward delivery of new services from\nspace, the preliminary investigations of important natural\nphenomena, and the rapid expansion of space. and aeronautical\nactivities abroad, now require the United States to choose\nthe major directions for the future that will be pursued in\nthe national interest. These goals and objectives cannot,\nand should not, be either all-encompassing or narrowly rigid;\nthey must, however, reflect a sense of national purpose,\nprovide a basis for measuring accomplishment, and offer a set\nof unique and important values in their own right.\n2\nThe National Aeronautics and Space Administration has\nidentified four goals to characterize the national space\nand aeronautics program for the next decade. These flow\nnaturally from the growing world consensus on the definition\nof the major problems and questions confronting human society,\nfrom the political and economic realities of today, and from\nthe ongoing programs of the United States and other nations.\n1. A major goal is the rapid expansion of significant national\nservices from space. The past fifteen years have suffi-\nciently proven the capabilities of space systems for global\nobservation and communications; the challenge now is to\nexploit fully these important capabilities for the United\nStates, recognizing that otherwise the advantages of time\nand technology will pass to others.\na. One clear direction to follow is the immediate imple-\nmentation of a global resources information system.\nThis represents a major policy decision with enormous\nimplications for the future of the United States.\nCritical national decisions of international importance\ndepend on accurate, timely, and continuing information\nabout food, energy, environmental quality, and climate.\nSpace observations coupled with new computer tech-\nniques would provide accurate bi-weekly forecasts of\nglobal agricultural production for all crops of\nmajor economic significance, geological assessments\nrelated to the potential for mineral and petroleum\ndiscovery and recovery, water quality status and\ntrends, ocean condition forecasts, and eventually\nannual and long-term climate predictions.\nThis wholly new class of information services, already\nbeing experimentally demonstrated in grain surveys,\nwould afford the United States a widely expanded\nhorizon for wise political and economic decisions in\nareas ranging from agricultural commodity exports\nthrough national resources management to avoidance\nof climatic catastrophe. It behooves the United\nStates to have and to use these capabilities in\n3\npursuit of domestic and international policy\nobjectives rather than have them developed by\nothers in opposition to United States aims.\nThe Next Five Years. The expansion of the current\nLandsat experimental program would begin immediately,\nallowing the inclusion of improved instruments and\nrelying on dual satellites to afford repetitive world\ncoverage every nine days. A new and complex ground\ndata handling system, to extract and disseminate\ninformation from satellite data rapidly and incor-\nporating forecasting and prediction models, would\nbe developed at the same time. Major milestones\ntied to an investment of less than $100 million per\nyear would be:\n-- By 1981, bi-weekly global wheat production\nforecasts.\n-- By 1983, begin production forecasts for rye,\noats, barley, rice, corn, soybeans, and sugar; and,\nglobal geological resources assessments and ocean\ncondition prediction.\n--- By 1985, using an expanded system combining low\nand synchronous satellite observatories, and an\nunderstanding of climate trends and mechanisms.\n-- By 1990, routine delivery of the full range of\nterrestrial, oceanic, and climatic information,\nleading to climate prediction services.\nb. Another clear direction to follow is the aggressive\nadvancement of space communications to assure United\nStates industrial superiority. Current assessments\nindicate that, without a significant national program\nin space communications technology, United States\nindustry will lose its present position of inter-\nnational leadership to the state-supported industries\nof Japan and Europe. Already key elements of\n4\ninternational telecommunications services, partic-\nularly in the high-power, high-frequency regimes, are\nbeing provided by German and Japanese technology more\nadvanced than that which United States industry has\nbeen able to sponsor with its own resources. Similarly,\nnew national services made possible and economical\nbecause of space technology are ready to be deployed\nto improve the quality of life and the sense of\nsecurity of every citizen. Recognition of a Federal\nresponsibility for the health and progress of the\nprivate United States telecommunications industry\nis, in itself, a significant policy initiative.\nThe Next Five Years. For the competitive advancement\nof civil space communications technology and the\ndevelopment of practical new commercial services --\nsuch as personal mobile telecommunications, remote\nhealth care delivery, direct broadcast to individual\nreceivers, or expanded electronic mail -- joint\ndevelopment and demonstration programs with the\nelectronics and communications industries would\nestablish an American beachhead in high-power, high-\nfrequency satellite technology. The demonstration\nsystems, once developed, could then be leased to\ncommercial operators to amortize the Government's\ntechnology investment.\nA more immediate new application of space communications\nservices -- search and rescue -- would be demonstrated\nin 1981 for some $30 million. A key problem in the\npast has been the unambiguous location of an emergency\ndistress signal. Satellites in conjunction with the\nnew software and aircraft and shipboard emergency\ntransmitters would overcome these limitations. Full-\nscale operational deployment following the demonstra-\ntion would be in 1984.\n5\n2. Another major goal is the permanent beneficial occupancy\nof space to promote the national interest, to assure that\nspace will be kept an open resource for all peaceful\npurposes of free peoples, and to forbid the foreign\ndomination of space.\nCurrent United States programs are focused on the Shuttle\nand Spacelab systems, critical elements in expanding the\nscope and capability of short duration space activities\nat low recurring costs. The next generation of capability,\nbuilding on the experience developed in the first phase\nof space utilization, would have the development of the\ncommercial utility of space as a major thrust. This\nindustrialization of space would create new markets, new\nproducts and new economic strength for the United States.\nThe position the United States holds in space technology\nand the investment the United States has made in space\ncapability must be fully exploited to maintain United\nStates world leadership. The key element would be a\npermanent manned orbital center to service new commercial\ndevices and industrial processes that take full economic\nadvantage of the unique space conditions -- weightlessness,\naccess to a near-perfect vacuum, and solar energy.\nThe same center would serve as a construction base for the\nassembly, test, and maintenance of the very large orbital\nstructures required in the future for information acqui-\nsition, communications, and energy management. As a\nresearch and development laboratory, the center would house\nexperimental and operational research instruments --\ntelescopes, antennas, biological instrumentation, physics\nand chemistry facilities -- for continuing investigations\nunder essentially shirt-sleeve conditions.\nServiced by the Shuttle, the space center would be the most\nimportant test of future opportunities which may prove\ncritical to man's continued development: long-duration\nmanned planetary expeditions, space colonization, and\nexpansion of human civilization into the solar system.\n6\nThe Next Five Years. Technology programs using the Shuttle\nand Spacelab will foster the development of the orbital\ntechniques and methods required for the space center.\nSpacelab manufacturing and processing experiments -- taking\nadvantage of the space environment to create such new\nmaterials as unique crystals, semiconductors, integrated\ncircuits, or pharmaceuticals -- will be intensively\npursued in conjunction with United States industry beginning\nwith the earliest Shuttle flights in 1979. Major new\nmilestones, presuming an investment level for these elements\ngrowing toward $900 million by 1983, are:\n--- By 1982, the first experimental large space structure --\nperhaps a 100-meter antenna supporting the expanded space\ncommunications effort -- would have been assembled in orbit\nby crews operating from the Shuttle to demonstrate space\nconstruction and maintenance techniques.\n-- By 1984, the first permanent space center -- a 4-to-6-\nman space station --- would be in operation, together with\nthe first commercial manufacturing and processing facili-\nties which would be expected to repay their costs early\nin this phase of space utilization. The space center\nwould use an evolutionary modular design initially based\non the technologies developed for Skylab, Shuttle, and\nSpacelab. Space center operations would rely on the\nShuttle for transportation and service, and the center\nwould be designed to permit major expansion in size and\nfunction without encountering technological obsolescence.\n--- By 1986, a small-scale prototype of a solar power\nenergy system would be in operation, initially converting\nsolar energy to electrical power for use within the space\ncenter. If necessary, this technology could be later\nexpanded to provide beamed energy from space to earth\nfor commercial use; this would also require expansion of\nthe space center to a 12-man station and development of\nsynchronous visit and operations capability.\n7\n3. A third goal is the integrated scientific exploration\nof the Universe: to push back its frontiers, to discover\nits origin, evolution, and future; to probe and master\nits dynamic processes; and to understand its relationship\nto life on Earth and elsewhere.\nA new element in NASA's continuing science work is the\ndevelopment of a program that brings together in a new\ncore the traditionally separate disciplines and approaches\nof classic space research. It is necessary to relate the\natmospheres of far planets to our own, the mechanisms of\nour sun to those of other stars, the tectonics of Earth to\nthose of Mars and Venus and Mercury, the geochemistry of\nthe Moon to that of the terrestrial planets and asteroids\nand major satellites.\nExploration falls into two large classes: in remote\nexploration, man uses instruments to observe and measure\nphenomena at great distances; in direct exploration, man\nor his instruments operate at the site of the phenomenon.\nRemote exploration is characterized by the orbital telescope,\noperating for extended periods in selected spectral bounds\nto study the Sun, far stars and galaxies, nearby planets\nand moons. Direct exploration within the solar system\nstarts with initial reconnaissance, followed by detailed\nstudy for extended periods, and in special cases,\natmospheric and surface samples must be returned to\nEarth for analysis. The ultimate steps may include\ntemporary or permanent human occupancy, supported by a\nplanetary environment tailored to human needs.\nConnecting remote and direct exploration of the solar\nsystem and the Universe to life on Earth is the translation\nof new knowledge of extraterrestrial phenomena -- energy\ngeneration and transmission, internal star dynamics,\nplanetary atmospheric activity -- into clearer under-\nstanding of our own life support system of sun, air, and\noceans. It is this understanding -- and the wise long-\nterm management of the Earth that can stem therefrom --\nthat will guarantee a continued safe habitation for man\non his home planet.\n8\nThe Next Five Years. The total space science and\nexploration program, covering as it does a multiplicity\nof targets and many disciplines, is not readily summarized.\nThe major elements noted below are only a part of an\noverall program estimated to require some $600 million per\nyear. There would need be augmentation beyond this\nlevel if, for example, it becomes necessary to follow up\nthe discovery of life within the solar system or of\nintelligence within the galaxy.\nThe most critical and immediate need in remote exploration\ncapability is the 2.4-meter Space Telescope, a permanent\nman-tended orbital facility that can quadruple the reach\nof man into the Universe, can find planets around nearby\nstars, can look back into time some 15 billion years,\nand can help decipher the now unexplained energy-generating\nmechanisms of stellar systems and objects. The Space\nTelescope would be delivered into orbit by the Shuttle in\n1983 and maintained thereafter by routine service flights.\nOther remote exploration needs would be met by a 1981\nsolar mission to view the Sun's poles, thought to be\nsources of particles escaping to galactic space, by\ncontinuing Spacelab flights starting in 1982 and carrying\nsuch instruments as 1-meter solar and infrared telescopes,\nand by a second generation of refurbishable high-energy\nobservatories operating in 1983.\nThe most critical and immediate new capability for direct\nexploration of the planets would be embodied in a long-\nduration orbital planetary laboratory carrying multiple\natmospheric probes. This mission would first be launched\nto Jupiter in 1981 to analyze the unique atmosphere of\nthat giant planet and to define its magnetosphere and\nradiation belts. A similar mission would be launched to\nSaturn in 1984.\nExploration of the terrestrial planets would rely on a\ngeophysical/geochemical long-duration orbiter, the first\ndeployed around the Moon in 1981 and another around\nMercury in 1983. The pervasive cloud layer of Venus\n9\nrequires an orbital radar mapper to investigate the\nsurface; this mission would be launched in 1983. The\nfindings of the 1976 Viking surface exploration of\nMars will define critical follow-on investigations; a\nmajor step would be the automated return of surface\nsamples to Earth for analysis.\n4. The final goal is to reestablish United States dominance\nin aeronautical technology and, concomitantly, to assure\nUnited States preeminence in civil aviation markets at\nhome and abroad. Civil aviation, comprising aircraft\nmanufacturers and airline operators, has been among the\nmost successful of the United States commercial sectors.\nThe historical reasons for this success have been three-\nfold: a reliable base of Federal research and technology,\nconsistently supported since 1915, responsible for managing\nnational aeronautical facilities as well as for technical\nadvances in aviation; a steady demand for new aircraft\ntypes for military purposes and their subsequent deployment\ninto the civil sector; and a healthy condition of compe-\ntition for both domestic and foreign markets among the\nUnited States airlines and manufacturers.\nAviation is still growing; 800 billion revenue passenger\nmiles per year are predicted by 1986, or double current\nworld levels. Through 1986 there will be a world-wide\nmarket of $50 billion for civil transports, and demand\nis growing for efficient and profitable short-haul\naircraft, helicopters, and general utility aircraft.\nThe United States aviation industry today, however, is not\nin a position to capitalize on opportunities for new\nmarkets: the airlines' economic difficulties, driven by\nfuel costs and the problems of operating an aging fleet,\nare deferring orders for new aircraft; the manufacturers\ncannot finance the development of new systems for lack\nof capital and because the needed new technologies have\nnot been exercised to the point of being ready for new\n10\naircraft at reasonable risk; and for the first time,\naggressive state-supported foreign competition is\nthreatening to penetrate former United States markets and\nto seize a disproportionately large share of new markets\nnow just opening.\nIn supersonic passenger service, in helicopters, and in\nquiet short-haul transports, the Europeans already are\nahead of the United States. In military aviation, United\nStates superiority is no longer assured. United States\nleadership can be regained only by a purposeful injection\nof high technology tailored to the specific economic and\ntransportation environment of the mid-'80's and beyond.\nThe Next Five Years. Current estimates suggest that\nan increase in aeronautical research and technology\ninvestment over the current $200 million per year level\nwould be necessary if the United States is to regain --\nand maintain -- a position of leadership in world\naviation through the end of the century. Advanced\naeronautical facilities and a sustained government-industry\ntechnological partnership are important ingredients of\nthat leadership. Significant areas of effort would include:\n-- An integrated energy-efficient technology package to\nimprove new models of current aircraft within the next\nfive years and to permit the wholly new aircraft of the\nmid-eighties to operate at half today's fuel consumption.\n-- A focused effort on quiet, efficient supersonic\ntransport technology to place United States industry in\na position by 1985 to respond to the Franco-British and\nSoviet initiatives in this area.\n--- Developments for high speed vertical take-off aircraft\nwith important military as well as civil applications.\n-- Design and engineering advances for quiet, comfortable,\neconomical helicopters that have a wide domestic and\nforeign market.\n11\n-- Technology and systems engineering to improve the\neconomics of agricultural aviation services.\nSUMMARY\nThe goals and challenges sketched above together represent\nthe opportunity that now lies before the United States:\n-- To capitalize on prior investment in space and\naeronautics.\n-- To establish new thresholds of national strength\nand creativity.\n-- To regain an unquestioned position of world leader-\nship in high technology deployed in the public\ninterest.\nJune 4, 1976\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nWASHINGTON\nSeptember 8, 1976\nMEMORANDUM FOR:\nFROM:\nJIM GLENN CANNON SCHLELDE Jhenn\nSUBJECT:\nPRESIDENTIAL MEETING WITH\nDR. FLETCHER\nAttached are the Talking Points as approved\nby Bob Orben's office for the 2:00 p.m.\nmeeting today.\nAttachment.\n(Butler)\nSeptember 8, 1976\nTHIRD DRAFT\nTALKING POINTS FOR SPACE SHUTTLE ENTERPRISE, WEDNESDAY,\nSEPTEMBER 8, 1976\nThank you, Dr. Fletcher.\nLet me say first that you and your associates at NASA,\ntogether with their colleagues in American industry and academic\nlife, have earned the praise of all Americans for your many\nsuccessful missions in space. The two Viking landings on Mars\nare only the latest examples, and the space shuttle model you\nhave presented to me represents still another exciting chapter\nin space exploration.\nNext week, NASA will unveil the first space shuttle\norbiter in Palmdale, California. The orbiter represents a\nmajor breakthrough in space technology, because it is re-usable.\nUpon completion of its space mission, it will be piloted back to\nearth for use in subsequent flights.\nThis major advance in the space program is the product\nof many years of hard work, experimentation and invention by\nthousands of dedicated Americans. It represents the determination,\nthe skill, and the quest for new knowledge which have always\n-2-\ncharacterized Americans.\nA great many people have written to me in recent months,\nsuggesting one name in particular for this spaceship, which\nwill carry us not only into space but into the future.\nIt is a distinguished name in the annals of American\nhistory, with a long tradition of courage and endurance. It is\nalso a name familiar to millions of faithful followers of the\nscience fiction television program \"Star Trek. \"\nTo explore the frontiers of space, there is no better\nship than the space shuttle and no better name for that ship\nthan the Enterprise.\nThat is the name I have suggested to Dr. Fletcher,\nand it is the name he has agreed to use.\nSo we await with a special interest the first mission\nof the space shuttle, and I congratulate you once again,\nDr. Fletcher, and your associates for a job well done.\n# # # #"
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