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DOCUMENT RESUME
06762 - (B22072231
A Second Launch Site for the Shuttle? An Analysis cf Needs for
the Nation's Space Program. PSAD-78-57; B-183134. August 4,
1978. 38 pp. + 11 appendices (37 pp.).
Report to the Congress; by Elmer B. Staats, Comptroller General.
Issue Area: Science and Technology: Management and Oversight of
Programs (2004); Federal Procurement of Gords and Sfrvices:
N-tfyinq the Congress of Status cf Important Procrement
Pro rams (1905).
Contact: Procurement and Systems Acquisition Div.
Budget Function: General Science, Space, and Technology: Manned
Space FliqAt (253).
Organization Concerned: National Aeronautics and Space
Administration; Department 3f Defense; Department of the Air
Force; Department of State.
congressional Relevance: House Committee on Science and
Technoloqy; Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, aad
Transportation; Congress.
Autiority: Space Act of 1958.
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration
(NASA) is constructing space shuttle facilities at Kennedy Space
Center (KSC), the primary launch, landing, and orbiter
refurbishment site which is scheduled to become operatioL1k] in
mid-1980. A second site, Vandenberg Air force Base (VAYB), will
be funded by the Department of Defense (DOD) and is expected to
become cperatio'.al in June 19?3 at a cost of about $1 billion.
Findinqs/Conc].:]ions: The need for new facilities at VAFB is
que.ti,nable. Proposed facilities at VAFB have teen justifie?.
primarily on the basis that northerly launcues are not
permissible from KSC dua to the danger ot fiy mg over land. DOD
officio'Lh contended that KSC shuttle launcies would not have the
capaoility t', handle certain DOD payloads, and the Department of
State has axpren sed a concern about the possibility of adverse
Soviet reaction to northerly launches from KSC. These
justifications seem to be unwarranted since: lanu overfliqat
would no* be a serious problem with the type of vehicle
involvef,, and the critical phase of the launch would be ove.
ocean; defense and civil missions projected for the 1980's are
feasible frcm KSC; ani the KSC delivery capability can be
increased to m'rt future DOD requirements. Cengresrional inquiry
may ae needLed to determine the seriousness of Stati's ccncern.
NASA and DOD believe that five orbite3rs tre needed with An
investment cost per orbiter of about $600 ,iIllicn to $850
million. If an orbiter fleet of this magnitide were develcped,
fundinq might not be availa)le for further scientific payloads.
Three orbiters could accom-odate a ccnsiderablt increase in
space activity during the next de-ade and d fonrth orbiter could
provide for fleet attri-tion. Rec)mmendations: inless there are
compelling national security reasins, the Cong i;-s should ..](ViewImageLocal?handle=hein.gao/gaobaaxsf0001&div=1&collection=&method=preview&ext=.png&size=3)