PROPOSED REPORT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE ON SPACE POLICY ACT AND EARTH DATA AND INFORMATION SERVICE ACT WHICH SENATOR A. STEVENSON PLANS TO REINTRODUCE IN THE 96TH CONGRESS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP81M00980R001600110015-7
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 6, 2004
• Sequence Number: 15
• Publication Date: December 13, 1978
• Content Type: MEMO

OLC #78-37/0
Approved For Release 2004/07/16 CIA-RDP81 M00980R001 J004 q 09415
EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET
WASHINGTON. D.C. 20503
December 13, 1978
LEGISLATIVE REFERRAL MEMORANDUM
TO: Legislative Liaison Officer
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Department of the Interior
Department of Agriculture
Department of Defense
Department of Commerce
Central Intelligence Agency
Proposed report of the Department of State on
Space Policy Act and Earth Data and Information
Service Act which Senator A. Stevenson plans
to reintroduce in the 96th Congress
The Office of Management and Budget requests the views of
your agency on the above subject before advising on its
relationship to the program of the President, in accordan
with OMB Circular A-19.
A response to this request for your views is needed
no later than cob Thursday, December 28, 1978. ORAL COMMENTS
ACCEPTABLE.
Questions should be referred to Bill Maxwell
(395-3890 ) o-------------------------------- ( ---------- )-.
the legislative analyst in this office.
Bernard H. Martin for
Assistant Director for
Legislative Reference
Enclosures rg/NSC
cc: Aplpg@jve q se 2004/O!//1$ : C D~P134& 80RRoV0RQg pey/OS
Judy Coakley/OMB
Bill Fee/OMB
 Approved For Release 2004/07/16 : CIA-RDP81 M00980R001600110015-7
Dear Senator Stevenson:
. We are pleased to respond to your letter of
November 7, 1978 to Dr. Irwin M. Pikus of the Depart-
ment's Office of Technology Policy and Space Affairs
requesting views on two bills -- the Space Policy Act
and the Earth Data and Information Service Act. Our
comments address the specific questions you raised.
Concerning the goals of the Space Policy Act
(S. 3530), we believe it would be useful to consider
the United States' goals in space in both near term
(of the order of ten years or so) and longer term (of
the order of several decades). Space technology has
already provided a sound basis for a number of useful
applications, particularly in communications and re-
mote sensing. In the next decade these applications
should be developed even further in order to increase
their utility and make them available to a wider seg-
ment of the world's population. There is a continuing
need to explore space and thereby add to our relatively
meager knowledge of our own origins, our astronomical
environs, and our destiny, as well as to provide the
basis for further developments in space technology.
The objectives stated in the bill, Sections 5(b)(1),
part of (2), (4), (5), (6), (7), and (c) (1) through 6
are appropriate goals for the next 10 year period.
In the longer term, we can speculate that technol-
ogy may indeed make it worthwhile to erect large struc-
tures in space useful for example, for purposes of
large scale solar power conversion or to support pro-
tracted periods of human habitation. However, because
there are many unknowns, especially with respect to
financial costs and benefits of these activities as
well as gaps in the fundamental technical knowledge,
we feel that it would be best to proceed in the near
The Honorable
Adlai E. Stevenson, III, Chairman,
Subcommittee on Science
Technology and Space,
Committee on Commerce,
Science and Transportation,
United States Senate.
Approved For Release 2004/07/16 : CIA-RDP81 M00980R001600110015-7
 Approved For Release 2004/07/16 : CIA-RDP81 M00980R001 600110015-7
term by focussing on providing the technology on which
future activities might be built. Therefore, the
goals stated in Section 5(b)(2) and (3), we feel,
should be stated as longer term goals. Determining
the unknown factors and the conditions of economic
and technical feasibility of such space activities
should be a short term goal.
The US space program is, and should continue to
be, an effective and useful instrument of foreign pol-
icy. It presents opportunities for international
cooperation which has both a scientific and a legal
and political dimension. Such cooperation can promote
more widespread understanding of US attitudes on a
variety of significant matters that find expression in
the space program. These include, for example, our be-
lief in the importance of the free flow of information
and ideas across national frontiers, and the advantages
to be realized by the participation of the-private te im-
portant In addition, space technology
portant tools for the solution of global problems
through its capabilities in remote sensing and in com-
munications. Our remote sensing capability can be
useful in land and urban management, in controlling
deforestation and land degradation as well as deserti-
fication. It can also strive to assist in monitoring
the world's ecosystem through a capability to locate
pollution in the oceans and the atmosphere. Our com-
munications abilities can assist developing countries
in health care delivery and increasing literacy.
These and other benefits of space can have a signifi-
cant impact on the quality of life both here and
abroad and in our ability to support our foreign pol-
icy objectives. It would therefore appear cosistent
with the thrust of S. 3530 to include a goal that
of
addresses international cooperation and the goals
US foreign policy.
We do not believe ourselves competent to answer
in any detail your questions concerning the budgetary
implications of these goals. However, we are inclined
to think that they imply a somewhat greater level of
activity than at present and therefore we would not
be surprised if this in turn implies a somewhat in-
creased budgetary requirement.
Approved For Release 2004/07/16 : CIA-RDP81 M00980R001600110015-7
 Approved for Release 2004/07/16: CIA-RDP81 M00980R001 600110015-7
In regard to the Earth Data and Information Act
(S. 3530), we believe that it would be unwise to push
today's Landsat technology directly into an operational
configuration. Further research and development would
be of great importance especially in view of the
planned activities of other space active countries. We
do see value to having an interim development period
as proposed. In our view, it is necessary to coordi-
nate the interests and needs of the user community, the
research and development community and the operating
entity. There should be explicit account taken of
the need for the operating entity to be responsive to
the needs of the user community.
Remote sensing and its use in.addressing problems
of resource management are at an early stage of devel-
opment. There is a significant value to remote
sensing and it has large potential both in terms of
economic value and as a mechanism for enhancing inter-
national understanding and cooperation. There is no
doubt that a number of countries have shown a degree
of caution and reluctance in establishing their own
programs based on Landsat data. We ascribe some of
this caution to the lack of a US commitment to long
range continuity in providing remotely sensed data.
As other countries enter the arena of remote sensing
from space, it is likely that some using countries
will rely on them for data. We think this is inevi-
table, but it might nonetheless erode somewhat the
foreign policy value of our own activity.
It appears to us that the most effective use of
remote sensing in the solution of the problems of
global resource management would demand open access
to the data by all countries at reasonable charges.
We believe the question of international participation
particularly in direct reception of data should be
addressed in the bill. It is likely that users,. es-
pecially those already convinced of the value of such
data, would be willing to pay something beyond the
mere cost of reproducing the data. However, we are
not in a position to offer an informed opinion on what
user charges would seem realistic. It is important
to bear in mind the policy heretofore enunciated by
the United States favoring open availability of data
such as that from the Landsat system. This policy is
Approved For Release 2004/07/16 : CIA-RDP81 M00980R001600110015-7
 Approved For Release 2004/07/16 : CIA-RDP81 rd00980R001600110015-7
not favored by all countries, although most countries
that have gained experience with the Landsat system
appear to support this policy.
The Department of State participated fully in
the analysis and development of the Administration's
space policy and we believe that it provides the
proper framework for a continued evolution of the US
space program.
The Office of Management and Budget advises
that from the standpoint of the Administration's pro-
gram there is no objection to the submission of this
report.
Sincerely,
Douglas J. Bennet, Jr.
Assistant Secretary for
Congressional Relations
Approved For Release 2004/07/16 : CIA-RDP81 M00980R001600110015-7
 Approved For Release 2004/07/16 : CIA-RDP81 M00980R001600110015-7
"JCnifecb ,jfafes ,Sena.fe
COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE. SCIENCE.
AND TRANSPORTATION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20510
Ilovember 7, 1978
Dr. Erwin Pikus
Deputy Director
OES/APT/SA
Room 4333
Department of State
Washington,?D.C. 20520
Dear Dr. Pikus:
I am writing to request your views on two bills -- the Space Policy Act
and the Earth Data and Information Service Act -- which I introduced in
the closing days of the 95th Congress and which I plan to reintroduce in
January 1979. Copies of this legislation are enclosed. Hearings on both
bills will be scheduled early in the new Congress.
As the first manned orbital test of the space shut-cle approaches, there
is a need to define new policies and directions for the U.S. space program.
It is my observation that the absence of such goals has made it difficult
for both Congress and the Executive to pursue the development of the space
environment in a coherent and purposeful manner. I am particularly con-
cerned that we may be sacrificing opportunities for the economic utiliza-
tion of space and the development of technologies to serve human needs.
President Carter has recently announced a civil space program for his
Administration. A copy of the President's proposals and my comments are
also enclosed.
I would appreciate your evaluation of the Space Policy Act and the Earth
Data and Information Service Act, and any changes you would recolmiend be
incorporated prior to their introduction in January. Your comments should
be directed to-these issues:
-- Are the goals set forth in the Space Policy Act correct?
Should these goals be more specific or, alternatively, more
general? Are there additional goals that should be added?
-- Is it realistic to assume that these goals can be achieved
with a level HASA budget, assuming that funds now being
expended for development of the space shuttle are used for
space applications and space science and that the budget is
Approved For Release 2004/07/16 : CIA-RDP81 M00980R001600110015-7
 a) p
Approved For Release 2004/07/16 : CIA-RDP81 M00980R001 600110015-7
adjusted annually for inflation? If not, what magnitude of
increase is required?
-- In regard to the Earth Data and Information Service Act,
is it wise to provide for a period of interim development of
operational remote-sensing capabilities, as provided in the
bill, and is NASA the best agency to coordinate remote-sensing
activities in this interim period? If not, which agency
should be in charge?
-- What is your view of the economic value of remotely-sensed
data and information to the private sector and to Federal,
State and local governments? Will an operational system en-
courage the aggregation of these potential markets? Is it
realistic to believe that user charges can maintain a fully
operational system, not including expenditures for research
and development?
-- What is your evaluation of President Carter's civil space
policy?
I would, of course, welcome any additional comments or suggestions. In
order to be available to us in planning our activities in 1979, 1 would
appreciate receiving your response by December 10, 1978.
With every good wish.
Sincerely,
~ /t ,f&. ~ ~- 4 V 7 ,
ADLAI E. STEVENSON, Chairman
Subcommittee on Science, Technology
and Space
Approved For Release 2004/07/16 : CIA-RDP81 M00980R001600110015-7