[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 136 (Friday, October 2, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1889-E1890]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


   IN CELEBRATION OF THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE U.S. CIVILIAN SPACE 
                                PROGRAM

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. GEORGE E. BROWN, JR.

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 2, 1998

  Mr. BROWN of California. Mr. Speaker, today marks the 40th 
anniversary of the establishment of the U.S. civilian space program. I 
would like to congratulate Administrator Goldin and all of the NASA 
team of NASA's 40th anniversary. It is a significant milestone, and all 
of the present and former NASA and contractor employees should feel 
proud of what our nation's civil space program has accomplished. I 
believe that space exploration is a noble calling, and one that is 
worthy of our continued support.
  When I celebrate a birthday or anniversary, I like to reflect both on 
what has come to pass in my life and what might still lie ahead. I 
think that it is appropriate that we do the same at this juncture in 
NASA's life as an institution.
  It is difficult to know what to say and what to leave out in a 
statement such as this. I have been interested in our nation's civil 
space program since its inception, and I have rejoiced at its successes 
and grieved at its setbacks over the years. I also have tried to play a 
small part in helping to nurture our space program's growth during my 
tenure in Congress.
  As we try to assess how best to approach America's future in space, I 
would like to offer some thoughts on ways in which our civil space 
program has succeeded, as well as ways in which it has fallen short. I 
hope that those observations may provide useful guideposts for NASA's 
future.
  Where has our civil space program succeeded? I believe that there can 
be no disputing that the nation's history of excellence in space and 
Earth science is one of the most gratifying outcomes of the space 
program's establishment 40 years ago. To say that we have been 
unlocking the secrets of the universe may be a cliche--but it also is a 
simple statement of fact. Robotic probes have visited every other 
planet in our solar system except Pluto. Equally important, we are 
gaining insights into our own planet and into how human activities 
affect its systems.
  Yet, as the news about the immense burst of gamma-rays and X-rays 
from deep in space that bathed Earth in radiation last month and 
disrupted spacecraft operations demonstrates, we also are learning how 
little we really know about the universe. Nevertheless, we are making 
advances. From the earliest satellites to the Hubble Space Telescope, 
the Mars Pathfinder, and beyond, NASA's scientific activities have 
enriched our stores of knowledge and captured our imaginations. I find 
it incomprehensible that anyone could seriously assert that NASA has 
made these space activities ``boring.''
  Another area where I think our space program has succeeded is in the 
use of space technology to deliver benefits to society. Communications 
satellites, weather and remote sensing satellites, technologies for 
health care and industrial competitiveness, and so forth--all of these 
have improved the quality of our lives. Yet I strongly believe that we 
can do more to harvest the potential of space to help

[[Page E1890]]

people in America and around the world to live better lives. We dare 
not walk away from that responsibility.
  Another development that has been gratifying to me has been the 
emergency--allbeit somewhat unevenly--of a healthy and growing 
commercial space sector. Can anyone dispute the importance of 
commercial satellite communications to the world's economy, both 
directly and indirectly? I expect to see similar developments in 
commercial remote sensing, launch services, and in areas we do not even 
contemplate at present.
  Yet, a world with a large, global commercial space sector offers 
challenges to policymakers. I would gently note that those who argue 
for unleashing the private sector to commercialize space on a global 
scale should not then attempt to demonize companies for pursuing their 
interests globally. Loose allegations of unpatriotic behavior against 
American companies are not helpful as we attempt to sort out the 
complex issues associated with commerce in a multipolar world.
  Next, I must say that I consider one of NASA's finest achievements to 
have been its continued adherence to the principle that ``activities in 
space should be devoted to peaceful purposes for the benefit of all 
mankind.'' NASA has made international cooperation an integral part of 
its mission, and I think it has paid dividends to our nation over the 
past four decades. As I testified to the House space subcommittee 
fifteen years ago on NASA's 25th anniversary:
  ``We have tended to cut back on these activities when budgets are 
tight, or when we get nervous about technology transfer to other 
nations. My view is that international cooperation serves many 
functions and is important to support; political, scientific, and 
economic benefits can be derived from international cooperation.''
  I continue to stand by those sentiments.
  Before I close, I must confess that I have been disappointed by what 
we have not accomplished in our space program since its inception. 
Among my frustrations is our sorry record in the development of low-
cost space transportation. For too long, we have seen advances in 
transportation come in fits and starts, instead of being an integral 
part of the space agency's R&D portfolio. That approach has seriously 
impeded the progress of our nation in space exploration and 
utilization. I believe that we are making some improvements in our 
approach to developing new transportation systems; however, we must not 
go overboard in the other direction and make our programs dependent on 
the delivery of revolutionary advances by a date certain. Innovation 
does not work that way--especially under constrained budgets.
  Speaking of budgets, those who know me know that I long have been 
troubled by the nation's inconsistent support of our civil space 
program. Both Congress and the White House have at various times over 
the last forty years, wreaked havoc on NASA's ability to make and carry 
out long-range plans. While some have argued that there is no long-term 
vision or plan for NASA, I would submit that over the years there have 
been no lack of plans, studies, and recommendations both from the space 
agency and from distinguished panels of outside experts--my files are 
filled with them! Rather, the nation--and I most definitely include 
Congress in this criticism--has been unable or unwilling to establish 
institutional mechanisms for providing a stable budgetary and 
programmatic framework in which long-term (i.e., over multiple 
Administrations and Congresses)--and possibly multinational--R&D 
initiatives can be carried out successfully. Until we address that 
situation, I am not optimistic that we will be able to achieve many of 
the ambitious goals that NASA is contemplating for the 21st century.
  One of those goals, of course, is human exploration beyond low Earth 
orbit. I believe that this is one of the areas in which we have fallen 
most short, to my intense disappointment. I still consider it extremely 
short-sighted for the Nixon Administration to have canceled the 
nation's program of lunar exploration just as it was transitioning from 
an amazing technological and managerial achievement to a sustained 
program of scientific and human exploration.
  Then, when President Reagan approved the development of a Space 
Station in 1984, I never would have believed that almost fifteen years 
later we still would not have launched even the first elements of the 
Station into orbit. Still, there are no easy villains in the Space 
Station saga--as much as some would like to find them. The simple truth 
is that NASA, successive Congresses, and successive Administrations all 
have had their fingerprints on this program, and any blame for the slow 
progress of this program needs to be shared. At the same time, all of 
us will have to now work together for this program to be completed 
successfully.
  However, I would like to look forward to the future of human space 
exploration and not just dwell on past missteps. There are no lack of 
worthy goals for human exploration. Those goals need to be a 
fundamental part of our vision for NASA's future.
  While there is more that I could say, I will conclude my statement on 
that note. I have offered these observations with the intention of 
stimulating some discussion on how best to proceed as our space program 
enters the 21'' century. We must learn from our past if we are to avoid 
becoming captive to our past.

                          ____________________