The Committee authorized $767,000,000 for the Space Station in the FY 1988 NASA Authorization, P.L. 100-147. As a result of concerns associated with projected cost growth in the program, the Committee included provisions in the law to contain Space Station funding in the context of the overall NASA budget. (The specific provisions are described in Chapter I, Section 1.2 on P.L. 100-147.) Committee Publication Number 100-41.

3.6(d)-Hearing on the Atlas-Centaur Accident

A hearing on the Atlas-Centaur launch accident was held by the Subcommittee on August 4, 1987. The purpose of the hearing was to understand the direct and indirect causes for the Atlas-Centaur launch accident which occurred on March 26, 1987, and ascertain what actions should be taken by NASA, the Air Force, and the Congress to prevent a recurrence of this or similar incidents.

The following witnesses testified before the Subcommittee: Mr. Jon Busse, Atlas Centaur Program, Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA; Mr. James Womack, Acting Director, Expendable Launch Vehicle Operations, John F. Kennedy Space Center, NASA; Lt. Col. Warburton, Detachment Commander, 11th Detachment, 2nd Weather Squadron, Patrick Air Force Base, Florida; Admiral Richard Truly, Associate Administrator for the Office of Space Flight, NASA, who was accompanied by Mr. Joseph B. Mahon, Deputy Associate Administrator for Space Flight (Flight_Systems), NASA, and Mr. John Gibb, Manager, Atlas Centaur Project, Lewis Research Center, NASA; Lt. Gen. Forrest McCartney, Director, John F. Kennedy Space Center, NASA; Maj. Gen. Robert Cromer, Commander, Space and Missile Test Organization, Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, who was accompanied by Col. John Mansur, Commander, of the Air Force Eastern Space and Missile Test Center, Patrick Air Force Base, Florida; Brig. Gen. George Chapman, Commander Air Force Air Weather Service, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois; and Mr. George A. Rodney, Associate Administrator for Safety, Reliability Maintainability and Quality Assurance, NASA.

This hearing demonstrated that there is a compelling need for NASA and the Air Force to update the hardware used to monitor bad weather in the vicinity of Cape Canaveral, and modify the procedures and criteria that are used to determine if the launch of an expendable rocket should be allowed to take place. Committee Publication Number 100-87.

3.6(e)-Shuttle Solid Rocket Motor

A hearing was held on September 16, 1987, on the Redesign of the Space Shuttle's Solid Rocket Motor. At this hearing NASA officials discussed the progress that had been made in the design and development of the Redesigned Solid Rocket Motor that will be used in future Space Shuttle launches and to lay out the Agency's current plans for this element of the Shuttle recovery effort. NASA representatives also presented the results of the test firing of the DM-8 motor that occurred on August 30, 1987.

The following NASA officials presented testimony at this hearing: Admiral Richard Truly, Associate Administrator for Office of

Space Flight; Mr. John Thomas, Manager, Solid Rocket Motor Design Team, Marshall Space Flight Center, Alabama; Mr. Arnold Aldrich, Director, National Space Transportation System, NASA.

This hearing demonstrated that NASA is making excellent progress in its efforts to redesign the Solid Rocket Motor that caused the Challenger accident. Of particular interest were the results of the full-scale static test firing of the Redesigned Solid Rocket Motor which showed that the new joint design prevent combustion gases from reaching the O-rings around the piston casings. Committee Publication Number 100-34.

3.6(f)-Examining the Health of the Commercial Launch Industry

The Subcommittee held hearings on September 15 and 17, 1987, regarding the current health of the commercial launch industry with a particular emphasis on government policies related to its development.

On September 15, 1987, the witnesses for Panel I-Small Launch Providers-were: George A. Koopman, President, American Rocket Company; Mr. Eugene Kadar, President CONATEC, Inc.; Charles M. Chafer, Vice President, Government Relations, Space Services, Inc. Witnesses for Panel II-Large Launch Providers-were: Dr. Alan Lovelace, Corporate Vice President and General Manager, General Dynamics-Space Systems Division; Mr. Richard Brackeen, President, Commercial Titan Systems, Martin Marietta Denver Aerospace; Mr. John Yardley, President, McDonnell-Douglas Astronautics Company.

On September 17, 1987, the witnesses for Panel I-Government Panel-were: Maj. Gen. Robert R. Rankine, Director of Air Force Space and SDI Programs, Department of the Air Force; Mr. Joseph B. Mahon, Deputy Associate Administrator for Flight Systems, Office of Space Flight, NASA; Mr. Courtney Stadd, Director, Office of Commercial Space Transportation, Department of Transportation. Witnesses for Panel II-Satellite Industry Panel-were: Mr. C.J. Waylan, President, GTE Spacenet Corporation; Mr. Stephen D. Dorfman, Vice President and Assistant Group Executive, Hughes Space & Communications Group; Mr. Otto Hoernig, Jr., Vice President, Business Development, CONTEL.

Witnesses were asked to give their assessment of the emerging commercial launch industry, including perspectives on government policies designed to foster the industry and government efforts in its new role as customer of commercial launch services. This also included a discussion of the major terms and conditions of the Air Force range use agreement.

As a result of the hearings, H.R. 3765 was introduced on December 15, 1987, by Rep. Bill Nelson with 21 cosponsors. The legislation would amend the Commercial Space Launch Act to address current impediments to the commercial launch industry. The bill would set forth the standards for determining insurance requirements associated with commercial launch activities, and would define a risksharing relationship for launch activities similar to government policies involved in the commercial use of the Space Shuttle. Committee Publication Number 100-79.

3.6(g)-Review NASA's Implementation of NRC Recommendations on Space Station

On October 14, 1987, the Subcommittee held a hearing to review NASA's response to and inplementation of the recommendations of the National Research Council on the Space Station program.

The lead witness for NASA was Deputy Administrator, Dale Myers, who was accompanied by the following agency officials: C. Thomas Newman, Assistant Deputy Administrator; Andrew J. Stofan, Associate Administrator for Space Station; Thomas L. Moser, Space Station Program Director; Lennard A. Fisk, Associate Administrator for Space Science and Applications.

The NRC report requested by the White House on the cost and mission of the Space Station, made a number of findings and recommendations ranging from the need to incorporate more test and backup hardware to the need for increased reliability and performance in the space transportation system. This report will serve as a basis for future budget deliberations within the Administration.

The purpose of this hearing was to review the disposition of each of these findings. The NRC report will serve as a valuable asset as the Subcommittee continues its oversight of this major NASA initiative. Committee Publication Number 100-37.

3.6(h)-International Space Policy in the 1990's

A hearing was held on December 10, 1987, to mark the release of a report of the Task Force on International Relations on the subject of international space policy. The report addresses the issue of United States leadership in the civilian space program, concluding that U.S. leadership would be enhanced by institutional changes and goals articulation, among other recommendations. The hearings provided an opportunity to receive testimony from members of the NASA Advisory Council, as well as representatives of NASA, the State Department, and the AIAA.

Witnesses invited to testify at this hearing were: The Honorable James C. Fletcher, Administrator, NASA; Herman Pollack, Chairman, NASA Advisory Council, Task Force on International Relations in Space, NASĂ; Dr. Jerry Grey, Director, Science and Technology Policy, American Institute for Aeronautics and Astronautics; Michael Michaud, Director, Office of Advanced Technology, Department of State. Committee Publication Number 100-86.

3.6(i)-Hearing on the Shuttle Solid Rocket Motor

The Subcommittee held a hearing on January 27, 1988 to review the results of the Solid Rocket Motor static test firing that occurred on December 23, 1987.

Testimony was received from the following witnesses: Admiral Richard Truly, Associate Administrator, Office of Space Flight, National Aeronuatics and Space Administrator, Office of Space Flight, National Aeronautics and Space Administration; and Mr. John D. Thirkill, Vice President and General Manager, Space Operations Division, Morton Thiokol, Inc.

The purpose of the hearing was to review the results of the test firing of the motor that was commonly referred to as DM-9. The

hearing focused particularly on the failure of the outer boot ring in the nozzle assembly. Of major interest to the Committee was why this component failed, the probable programmatic and budgetary implications, and what was being done to "recover" from the situation.

The witnesses were unable to explain why the outer boot ring design used in DM-9 failed. Enginering models and preliminary tests had predicted that its poerformance would be superior to outer designs. The witnesses explained, however, that an alternate design was in parallel development and had, in fact, been test fired in the previous full-scale developmental motor, DM-8. This design will be employed in all future test and flight motors. Committee Publication Number 100-76.

3.6(j)—Hearing on Future Goals in Space, New Hampshire

The Subcommittee held the first of two hearings on future space policy on February 1, 1988 in New Hampshire. Republican Presidential Candidates as well as selected space scientists were invited to testify about their views on what space policies should be pursued during the next Administration.

The following witnesses from the Institute for the Study of Earth, Ocean and Space, University of New Hampshire, presented testimony: Dr. Berrien Moore, III, Director; Dr. Roger Arnoldy, Associate Director; Dr. Joseph Hollweg, Dr. Barrett Rock and Admiral J. B. Mooney, Jr., Research Professor. Testimony was also presented by Professor Edward Chupp, Physics Department, University of New Hampshire.

Witness testimony outlined a broad range of goals that should be addressed by the next Administration including a program to address Global change, reversing the decline in our educational system and establishing a more science policy formulation process within the Executive Branch. Committee Publication Number 10085.

3.6(k)—Hearing on Future Goals in Space, Iowa

The Subcommittee held its second and final hearing on future space policy on February 5, 1988 at the University of Iowa. Democratic Presidential candidates, scientists, and education were invited to participate and present their views on what space policies should be pursued during the next Administration.

The following witnesses appeared from the University of Iowa: Dr. James Van Ellen, Dr. Don Gurnett, Dr. Dwight Nicholson and Dr. Lou Frank from the Department of Physics; Dr. Gene Wubbels, Department of Chemistry of Grinnell College; Dr. Paul Rider of the Department of Chemistry at the University of Northern Iowa; and Mr. Ted Cizadlo, Physics Instructor, City High School, Iowa. The witnesses addressed the need to better integrate the manned and unmanned space programs, the need to invigorate the U.S. space science program and the educational benefits associated with the space sciences. Committee Publications Number 100-85.

3.6(1)—Hearings on the Commercial Space Launch Act Amendments of 1987

H.R. 3765, "Commercial Space Launch Act Amendments of 1987," was the subject of two days of hearings. This legislation, introduced December 15, 1987 by Congressman Bill Nelson (D-FL), and a bipartisan group of 25 cosponsors, is the result of hearings held in September 1987 to review the status of the commercial launch industry.

H.R. 3765 follows the policy precedents established under public law that provided for commercial use of the Space Shuttle. The bill provides standards for the determination of insurance requirements of the commercial launch industry, consistent with government responsibilities under law and international treaty. The legislation also provides incentives to former Shuttle customers to launch on American launch vehicles. Finally, the bill addresses the long-term competitiveness of America's launch industry by requiring the NASA Administrator to design a program in launch vehicle component technology research and development.

At the hearing on February 16, 1988, testimony was received from the following witnesses: Jack O'Brien, General Counsel, NASA; Courtney A. Stadd, Director, Office of Commercial Space Transportation, DOT; Dr. Charles W. Cook, Deputy Assistant for Space Policy, Air Force; Dan Cassidy, Chairman, AIAA Technical Committee on Legal Aspects of Aeronautics and Astronautics; William D. English, Chairman, Subcommittee on Allocation of Space Launch Risks, American Institute for Aeronautics and Astronautics; and Joel Greenberg, President, Princeton Synergetics, Inc.

The hearing on February 17 included the following witnesses: Panel I: Satellite Industry. The following witnesses presented testimony: George Roberts, President, Contel-ASC; Bruce L. Crockett, President, World Systems Division, COMSAT; Rex Hollis, President, Ford Aerospace Satellite Services Corporation; James H. Frey, General Manager of Spacecraft Operations, General Electric Astro-Space Division.

Panel II: Large Launch Providers. Testimony was received from the following witnesses: John Yardley, President, McDonnell Douglas Astronautics Company; Richard Brackeen, President, Martin Marietta Commercial Titan, Inc., Martin Marietta Denver Aerospace; Dennis R. Dunbar, Program Director of Atlas Centaur, General Dynamics Space Systems Division.

Panel III: Small Launch Providers. Representatives from the following companies presented testimony: Deke Slayton, President, Space Services, Inc., of America; and Wally Boggs, Director of Engineering, E-PRÍME Aerospace, Titusville, Florida.

As a result of the hearing, H.R. 3765 was revised and introduced as H.R. 4399 on April 18, 1988, which became Public Law 100-657 (Chapter I, Sec. 1.17). Committee Publication Number 100-114.

3.6(m) Hearing on Orbital Space Debris

The Subcommittee held a hearing on July 13, 1988 to assess the hazard posed by orbital debris in low-earth orbit. The purpose of this hearing was to investigate the potential danger to future missions in low-earth orbit posed by man-made debris fragments. Of