[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.