Appendix 13. Remarks by Congressman Melvin Price (D., Ill.), chairman Subcommittee on Research, Development and Radiation, Joint Com- mittee on Atomic Energy before the Annual Conference of the Atomic Industrial Forum in Chicago, Ill., November 6, 1961_. Appendix 14. "SLAM: Time to Fish or Cut Bait," editorial reprinted from Missiles and Rockets, September 4, 1961_. Appendix 15. Correspondence between Congressman Holifield, Chairman, *JCAE, and Glenn T. Seaborg, Chairman, AEC, on SNAP program, and remarks entitled "Nuclear Power and Space," by Dr. Glenn T. Seaborg, Chairman, U.S. Atomic Energy Commission, prepared for delivery at international symposium on aerospace nuclear propulsion, Hotel Riviera, NUCLEAR ENERGY FOR SPACE PROPULSION AND AUXILIARY POWER MONDAY, AUGUST 28, 1961 CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES, SUBCOMMITTEE ON RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND RADIATION, JOINT COMMITTEE ON ATOMIC ENERGY, Washington, D.C. The subcommittee met at 2 p.m., pursuant to call, in room P-63, the Capitol, Hon. Melvin Price (chairman of the subcommittee) presiding. Present: Representatives Price, Aspinall, Morris, Van Zandt, Hosmer, and Bates. Present also: James T. Ramey, executive director, John T. Conway, assistant director, and Edward J. Bauser, technical adviser, Joint Committee on Atomic Energy. Mr. PRICE. The committee will be in order. This afternoon we begin a series of three hearings on the application of nuclear energy for space propulsion and auxiliary power. In this first session we will cover the Rover nuclear rocket program whose purpose is the development of a nuclear rocket engine for the propulsion of space vehicles." Tomorrow morning at 10 we have scheduled a hearing on the SNAP program which is aimed at the development of compact, long-lived nuclear power devices for auxiliary power for space vehicles and satellites and for other special applications. Tomorrow afternoon at 2, we have scheduled hearings on the Pluto project, which is a project aimed at the development of a supersonic nuclear ramjet engine for the propulsion of vehicles in the earth's atmosphere. I believe the development of nuclear energy for space propulsion is absolutely essential if we, as a nation, intend to carry out a serious effort in the exploration and use of space. Only nuclear energy has the potential for the execution of the sophisticated space missions of the future. The future leader in space must have nuclear power for both propulsion and auxiliary power. Nuclear propulsion represents our best chance of "leapfrogging" the expanding lead of the Soviets. I think a good start has been made in the development of useful nuclear rocket engines. We hope to receive an up-to-date report on the progress which has been made thus far. We also want to know of the problems that exist. If we know of the problems we may be able to help in their solution. It is no secret that the Rover project has had its problems, and we on the Joint Committee, have tried to help in solving them. In this respect, I want to particularly pay 1 tribute to Senator Anderson who has done so much to help the Rover program. I would also like to express regret that Senator Anderson cannot be here for these hearings. We tried to schedule the hearings so that he could be here, but unfortunately he has just undergone an operation. I am happy to announce that he is doing fine. The President's May 25, 1961, announcement on the acceleration of the Rover project provided an important step forward. Now, as far as the top policy level of our Government, Rover finally has a green light to proceed. This essential action removed much of the doubt from the future of the Rover project and may have removed much of the doubt from the path of our Nation toward attaining leadership in space. I say "may" advisedly because I foresee problems ahead. The problems I speak of are not primarily technical problems. There are and will be technical problems to solve, but I am confident our scientists and engineers will solve them satisfactorily if they are given the opportunity to do so. The problems of which I speak concern those of top-level planning and management in our Government. The concern of the Joint Committee was expressed in the committee's report on the AEC's fiscal 1962 authorization bill as follows: The committee is very concerned over the early development of a detailed program to reflect the administration's recent announcement to accelerate the nuclear rocket development program. Foremost, the committee is interested in the establishment of clear-cut objectives, a schedule for flight tests and the designation of a specific space mission for a nuclear rocket engine. My concern primarily stems from the statement of the objectives we now have for our nuclear rocket engine development program. I do not believe the present objectives are of a type that will support the sustained drive required to complete the job and reap the benefits of the “first” that this development program can give us in space. We need more than the general objective of a flight test in about 1966. A more specific space mission objective should be established for the Rover project. For example, it would appear that nuclear rockets could be available in time for our manned moon mission, at least as a backup effort. This is, of course, based on preliminary information which concerns primarily chemical rocket systems. One thing that I am certain of is that, if such an application is not now definitely planned, nuclear rocket stages will not be available. Considering the major potential advantages of nuclear energy sources over chemical sources, the availability of a useful nuclear rocket engine may provide us with the only possibility of success in this mission and definitely in the more sophisticated missions of the future. I hope that in this hearing we can get into these matters which are of such major importance to the Nation. We have with us both the Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission, Dr. Glenn T. Seaborg and the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Mr. James E. Webb, I have asked both of them to be prepared to speak on these matters today. At this point, I would like to insert in the record the letters to the Atomic Energy Commission and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration of August 7, 1961, setting up these hearings and informing the witnesses of the specific subjects we wish to explore. I would also like to insert in the record the Joint Committee's August 13, 1961, press release which announced these hearings, and contained the topics and tentative schedule of witnesses and the press release of August 26, 1961, announcing the witnesses to appear and topics to be discussed. I might mention that the dates in these letters scheduled the hearings for August 29 and 30. Subsequent letters were sent to Dr. Seaborg and Mr. Webb, changing the hearing dates to August 28 at 2 p.m. and August 29 at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. (The material referred to follows:) Dr. GLENN T. SEABORG, JOINT COMMITTEE ON ATOMIC ENERGY, Chairman, U.S. Atomic Energy Commission, August 7, 1961. DEAR DR. SEABORG: The Subcommittee on Research, Development, and Radiation of the Joint Committee is planning to hold public hearings on the Rover, SNAP, and Pluto programs on August 29 and 30. We also plan to reserve the afternoon of August 30 for an executive session to cover classified items on these programs which may come up during the public hearing. Public hearings are scheduled to be conducted starting at 10 a.m. in the morning and 2 p.m. in the afternoon in room P-63 of the Capitol. The executive hearing will be held at 2 p.m. on August 30 in the Joint Committee offices. We would appreciate receiving testimony from you and other responsible Commission personnel on these projects. Would you also please arrange for the presence of responsible personnel from the Commission's principal contractors on these projects. Following is a tabulation of the subjects we would like to cover and a tabulation of the witnesses for each of the projects. ROVER-STARTING AT 10 A.M., AUGUST 29 Following are some of the subjects we would like to cover on the Rover project: 1. Summary of actions taken since the President's May 25, 1961 announcement of plans to accelerate Rover. 2. What has been set as the mission of the nuclear rocket. For example, has the nuclear rocket been assigned a job in the moon mission which the President recommended as a national objective in his May 25 address? 3. Contractual arrangements with Aerojet and Westinghouse. 4. The flight test program, including plans for integration of the nuclear engine with NASA's chemical engine and vehicle programs. 5. Status of work in preparation for the next series of power tests (Kiwi B series), covering such items as delays which have occurred in the construction of test facilities, effect of the strikes at the Nevada test site, etc. 6. AEC and NASA funding plans for fiscal year 1962 and following years. Witnesses 1. Atomic Energy Commission. 2. Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory. It would be appreciated if the Commission would also arrange for the presence of representatives of Aerojet General and Westinghouse Electric Corp. to answer any specific questions the members may have on the Nerva project. We are requesting the Administrator of NASA to testify also, as indicated in the copy of the attached letter to him. SNAP PROJECT Hearings to start after completion of the Rover hearings on the afternoon of August 29, and continuing during the morning of August 30. The subjects we would like to cover during this hearing are as follows: 1. AEC organization for carrying out the SNAP program. 2. Program and budget plans for fiscal year 1962. |