| The History of the National Space Council
The first version of a presidential space council was established by then Senate Majority Leader Lyndon Johnson. He felt that the USA, and specifically the president, needed to maintain a strong emphasis on both military and civilian space programs. While President Eisenhower was not originally in favor of it, he eventually agreed, and in August of 1958, the National Aeronautics and Space Council (NASC) was established.
Eisenhower did not make much use of the NASC during the remainder of his term. Prior to taking office, then President-elect Kennedy appointed VP-elect Lyndon Johnson to be chairman of the board. While NASC played a role in the development of the COMSAT corporation, it never really became an integral part of the US space organizational infrastructure. At the time, then Administrator James Webb largely had direct access to both President Kennedy and President Johnson. After President Nixon's reelection, he proposed its elimination, which ultimately it was. Civilian space policy was then addressed through the Office of Science and Technology Policy, while military space programs were handled by the Department of Defense. During Ronald Reagan's tenure as president, space policy discussions and deliberations were handled by the Senior Interagency Group for Space. Unsurprisingly, it had a military slant to it. After the Challenger accident, there were calls for the reinstitution of a space council, and while President Reagan vetoed the idea originally, after the election of George H. W. Bush, who supported it, Reagan eventually signed into law a bill that created the National Space Council.
President Bush made extensive use of the National Space Council, and while it did help and played a role, because of the proposed price tag of the Space Exploration Initiative ($400-500 Billion), NASA leadership and the NSC descended into a turf war, which ultimately resulted in Richard Truly being fired as NASA administrator.
When President Clinton took office in 1993, he choose not to staff the NSC, and again decision making reverted to the Office of Science and Technology Policy, NASA, and the DOD, where it remains to this day. While the statute that created the NSC is still in place, and there was an attempt to revive it (or a version of it) after the Columbia accident, the positions within the NSC remain unfilled. For a more detailed look at the history, check out Dwayne Day's essay over at The Space Review.
The Mission of the National Space Council
As the current statute reads, the NSC has 4 main missions
1. Establish broad goals and objectives for the US space programs
2. Establish strategies to implement these goals and objectives through an integrated nation-wide set of activities
3. Monitor the implementation of these strategies
4. Resolve specific program or policy issues arising from ambiguities or disagreements in implementing the strategies.
The Need for a National Space Council
Already, there are areas where competing interests are causing a breakdown within space policy - everyone knows about the infighting that is happening with regards to NASA, and the space science community. And there is also infighting regarding the current plan, Constellation.
Right now, there is something of a very public debate going on about the current Ares I/V plan vs a proposed Direct plan, and because of various issues, there is concern that Direct will not get a fair and independent hearing. Fellow kossack Bill White has been covering the Direct proposal extensively, and I direct you to his diaries to learn more about it. If re-implemented, the NSC could provide a place for a thorough and independent review.
Another area facing problems is the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). ITAR regulates the export and import of defense-related articles and services. There is a lot within the industry that falls within this category - SpaceShipTwo has had ITAR issues, the launching of Genisis 1 and Genesis 2 both had ITAR problems, and so on. Last year, Jeff Foust wrote about ITAR, the reason for its existance, its history, and why many people think it needs reform. The NSC would be the perfect place to handle ITAR reform, because it would bring together all of the important players.
In addition, as we move further into the 21st century, the likelyhood is that we will have better and greater access to space, and there are resources in space that can help us deal with the problems we face, here on earth. For example, ProSpace, the citizen space lobby, has called for the establishment of large scale cash prizes that will help to develop the technology and systems needed to grow the private space industry. The NSC could be the instrument that is used to establish those prizes.
Another example is Space Based Solar Power (SBSP). There has always been interest in SBSP, and with the report that came out last year, there has been a renewed interest in SBSP. However, as Dwayne Day noted earlier this year, while NASA will undoubtedly have some role to play in it, NASA should not be the only player, and may very well be a minor player in such a project. A fully staffed and active National Space Council would have everyone needed to handle such a project.
Final Thoughts
Senator Obama has repeatedly stated that we need a coherent space policy, that is moving us in the right direction. The problem is that we have been relying upon a few limited institutions (NASA, FAA/AST, DOD), who are not always communicating with each other. This method insures that we will never have a coherent space policy. Re-establishing the National Space Council would bring all of the important parties together, and would provide a focal point for discussions related to space policy matters.
And, beyond policy, if Senator Obama were to come out in favor of it, I would submit it would help him get elected. While its not a huge issue, there are many people that identify with human spaceflight and NASA. Indeed, when the Houston Chronicle endorsed Senator Obama, one of their biggest concerns was over his proposals with regard to manned spaceflight. At the same time, it isn't a huge issue, and I fully appreciate that coming out in favor of a massive space program would not help Senator Obama get elected. If Senator Obama were to come out public in favor of revitalizing the National Space Council, it would demonstrate to anyone and everyone that has an interest in space, and especially manned spaceflight, that Senator Obama is open to manned spaceflight, and committed to using space to its fullest potential.
In short, it makes sense from a policy standpoint to recreate the National Space Council, and it makes sense from a "trying to get elected" standpoint. Senator Obama, I implore you to recreate the National Space Council.
BTW, if you are not Senator Obama, but think this is a good idea, why not go over to the Space Policy Advisory Group, and donate to Senator Obama - every little bit we raise will help to convince him of its importance. And, most importantly, if you are going to a platform party, please tell them how important human spaceflight is, and how something like the NSC is needed. |
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