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DOCUMENT RESUME
02415 - [A1572551]
Spice Transportation System: Past, Present, Future. PSAD-77-113;
B-183134. May 27, 1977. 75 pp.
Report to the Congress; by Elmer B. Staats, Comptroller General.
Issue Area: Federal Procurement of Goods and Services (1900) ;
Federal Procurement of Goods and Services: Procurement of
Only Needed Quantities of Goods (1901);Federal Procurement
of Goods and Services: Engineering Development Before
Producing (1903).
Contact: Procurement and Systems Acquisition Div.
dudget Function: General Sciencec Space, and Technology: Manned
Space Flight (253).
Organization Concerned: National Aeronautics and Space
Administration; Department of Defense; Office of Managemeait
and Budget.
Congressional Velevance: House Cowmittee on Science and
rechnol.ogy; Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and
Transportation; Congress.
Authority: 49 U.S.C. 1431; 14 C.F.R. 91.55.
Congress has appropriated about $4.4 billion to the
National Aeronautics and Space Administration 'NASA) and $106
million to the Department of Defense through fiscal year 1977
for development of the Space Transportation System (STS), about
one-third of estimated development and production cost. Congress
must decide whether to approve a full-scale operatirnal STS by
authorizing the start of productioai of ad4itional orbiters and
construction of a second-line launch and landing facility.
Findings/Conclusions: Production would be justified if no
technical problems are encountered, space activity increases as
predicted, and the cost of operation is significantly reducel
over expendable vehicles. However, there were indications that
these conditions may not be met. Other alternatives preqented
were delaying production or proceeding with one of the three
,rbiters. Recommendations: Until more information is available,
Congress should assess the advantages and disadvantages of
starting production of a third orbiter in FY 1978 and of
delaying funding of the remaining two propcsed orbiters. The
NASA Administrator should delay implementing a user charge
policy until costs and policies for all elements of the STS have
been formulated. (Author/HTW)](ViewImageLocal?handle=hein.gao/gaobaacho0001&div=1&collection=&method=preview&ext=.png&size=3)