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105609 1 (1978-03-09)

handle is hein.gao/gaobadxyr0001 and id is 1 raw text is: DOCUMENT RESUME 05609 - [B0765713J The Space Transportation System. March 9, 1978. 14 pp. Te.timcny befoLe the House Committee on Appropriations: Defense Subcommittee; the House Committee on Appropriations: HUD-Independent Agencies Subcommittee; the House Committee on Appropriations: Ailitar7 Construction Subcommittee; by Richard W. Gutmann, Director, Procurement and Systems Acquisition Div. Contact: Procurement and Systems Acquisition Div. Organization Concerned: National Aeronautics and Space Advinistration; Department of Defense. Congressional Relevance: House Committee on Appropriations: Defense Subcommittee; House Committee on appropriations- CUD-Independent Agencies Subcommittee; House Committee on Appropriations: Military Construction Subcommittee. In 1972., the two expected principal rsers of the Space Transportation System, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the Department of Defense (DOD), agreed that the program would require two launch sites, Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Plorida and Vaiidenberg Air Force Base in Califcrnia. NASA1s budget requests iuclude additonal orbiters which would bring the total to five. The cost to construct and operate the Vandenberg complex to serve DOD activities during 1983-92 would be $3.8 billion. The needs fcr tJ-e seccnd launch site and for five orbiters were qaestioned. Polar orbits from KSC are not practicable because launches from KSC involve unacceptable land overflight and could cause an adverse reaction from the Soviet Union. If the Shuttle is as reliable as expected, the overflight objections do not justify the need for the Vandenberg facilities. The concern over Soviet reaction is difficult to assess aad further inquiry may be needed, but a 1971 United Stites-Soviet agreement could preclude problems in this area. The :equest for five orbiters is based on NASA's models which precject up to 65 flights per year. These models have been questioned. The Congress should not fund Vandenberg modifications to accommodate the Shuttle unless compelling reasons present themselves. Three orbiters (102, 103, and the upgraded structural test orbiter) can accommodate a substantial increase in space activity during the next decade and, if a more significant increase is anticipated, orbiter 101 could be upgraded to operational capability. (HTW)

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