Out of the total RDT&E budget request in FY 1978, we are devoting $918.5 million to space activities and $2,532.7 million to aeronautical research and development. I believe that this funding request is sufficient to carry out the aeronautical and space programs needed for the defense of the United States. Question. Would you please provide for the record'a table showing the estimated total cost (including all lunch costs) and the lunch schedule, for each of the DOD major space projects? Answer. The estimated cost for each major space project is contained in the enclosed table as you requested and is similar to that provided for the record last year. $198.8 $143.0 $982. 2 Fiscal year Remarks $3,500.0 Fiscal year 1977, 1 and fiscal year 1978, 5; Phase I (concept validation) has been approved further schedules not established. 397.8 Transponder launches only-launches re- 16.7 3 leased satellites (Gapfillers) are presently 783.5 Fiscal year 1977, 1; fiscal year 1978, 2; 6 additional through fiscal year 1982. 1,231.4 No launches Planned before fiscal year 1980. DSARC II Planned for early 1978. Total funding represents extensive user equipment (30,000 users) and operational satelite constellations. Funding shown is for space segment only. Terminals are not included. Funding includes terminals for DSCS II. DSARC III scheduled for calendar year 1979. Funding shown is for space segment only. Terminals are not included. Leased Fitsatcoms will augment Fitsatcom until Navstar GPS is available. Includes Air Force and Navy funding. Space Shuttle Planned to be operational at KSC in 1980 and Vandenberg AFB in 1982. USSR USE OF SUPER CRITICAL WING Question. The USSR has announced that the IL-86 transport will employ supercritical wing technology. Is this United States technology? Answer. It is impossible to determine at this time whether supercritical wing technology to be applied to the IL-86 is of U.S. origin. We can only note that investigation of supercritical airfoil design has not been and is not the sole province of United States research. Certain underlying technical features that contributed to the development of supercritical wing technology were discussed in open technical literature by Dutch and British as well as U.S. investigators as early as 1959. There is no reason to expect that capable and aggressive aeronautics researchers in the USSR could not build on these foundation concepts or those developed in their own establishments to produce a supercritical airfoil design capability. [Deleted.] The subcommittee met at 10 a.m. in room 235 of the Russell Senate Office Building; Hon. Wendell Ford presiding. OPENING STATEMENT BY SENATOR FORD Senator FORD. Well, I have waited 5 minutes so we wouldn't start this hearing on time, which is typical. We will proceed. The subcommittee is meeting here today to hear testimony from witnesses outside the Government who want to give the subcommittee their views on NASA's program as represented by the fiscal year 1978 budget request. Seven witnesses are scheduled to be here this morning and, therefore, the subcommittee has scheduled each witness for 15 minutes. If the witnesses could reduce the time of their oral testimony in any way, it would be helpful in permitting us to discuss some questions that might be valuable in making decisions as to the questions before us. I might say at this point, additional material, of course, will be accepted for the hearing record. The subcommittee will meet again tomorrow, Friday, March 18, at 2 p.m., to receive testimony on NASA's 1978 budget request, and Senator Schmitt will chair that hearing. Before proceeding with today's witnesses, let me say that because of the legislative activity in the Senate, Members are finding it difficult to get to the hearing. Indeed, there was some trouble in finding a chairman, but I can be here until 11, and then Senator Zorinsky or Senator Schmitt will take over. The Senate's reorganization of its committee system seems not to have helped us at all. It's compounded things pretty well. The absence of a member, however, does not mean a lack of interest. I want to assure you of that. Senators and their staff do go through the record very closely. In term of dollars, NASA is the largest annual authorization under the jurisdiction of the new Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee. So the full committee will review it all very, very carefully before reporting the bill to the floor. So give it your best shot even though there may not be many members here. The first witness is Prof. A. G. W. Cameron, Chairman of the Space Science Board, National Academy of Sciences; professor of (1657) 86-914 O 77 pt. 3 19 |