    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1993, Book I)]
    [June 30, 1993]
    [Pages 962-963]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Message to the Congress Transmitting a Report on Aeronautics and Space
    Activities
    June 30, 1993

    To the Congress of the United States:
        I am pleased to transmit this report on the Nation's achievements in
    aeronautics and space during fiscal year 1992, as required under section
    206 of the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958, as amended (42
    U.S.C. 2476). Not only do aeronautics and space activities involve 14
    contributing departments and agencies of the Federal Government as
    reflected in this report, but the results of their ongoing research and
    development affect the Nation as a whole.
        Fiscal year 1992 was a significant one for U.S. aeronautics and
    space efforts. It included 7 Space Shuttle missions and 14 Government
    launches of expendable launch vehicles (ELVs) carrying a variety of
    payloads ranging from NASA missions to classified payloads. In addition,
    there were eight launches of ELVs by commercial launch service providers
    operating under licenses issued by the Department of Transportation's
    Office of Commercial Space Transportation. On December 7, 1991, the Air
    Force achieved initial launch capability for the new Atlas II launch
    vehicle in a commercial launch by General Dynamics with support from the
    Air Force. The Shuttle missions included one using the Atmospheric
    Laboratory for Applications and Science (ATLAS-1) to study the Sun and
    our atmosphere, as well as the first flight of the newest orbiter,
    Endeavour, which rendezvoused with, retrieved, and replaced the perigee
    kick motor of the INTELSAT VI (F-3) satellite that INTELSAT controllers
    then deployed into its intended orbit.
        In aeronautics, efforts have ranged from development of new civil
    and military aircraft and technologies to research and development of
    ways to reduce aircraft noise and improve flight safety and security.
        One of the major Earth science highlights of the year was the
    discovery that, like the ozone layer over the Antarctic with its well-
    documented annual depletion, the ozone layer in the Northern Hemisphere
    is increasingly vulnerable to depletion by synthetic chemicals. Several
    Federal agencies have cooperated to study this and other environmental
    challenges.
        Thus, fiscal year 1992 was a successful year

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    for the U.S. aeronautics and space programs. Efforts in both areas have
    promoted significant advances in the Nation's scientific and technical
    knowledge that promise to improve the quality of life on Earth by
    increasing scientific understanding, expanding the economy, and
    improving the environment.

                                                          William J. Clinton

    The White House,
    June 30, 1993.