U. S. Civil Space Policy: Evolving or Revolving

摘要

1). In the 1950s Eisenhower space policy stressed no impact to military development, reconnaissance satellites, and IGY satellite as American science centerpiece. But, American public shock and worldwide reaction to Sputnik influence formation of NASA. The close result of Kennedy-Nixon presidential election suggests space issues may have influenced the outcome. 2). Kennedy pursues study efforts with no immediate need for major human spaceflight increase. But, Soviet's first flight of a human and Bay of Pigs failure make the U. S. image inferior to the Soviets, triggering the decision to proceed with Apollo human flights to the moon. 3). Kennedy institutes Apollo to regain U. S. prestige versus the Soviets. But, by mid-1960s the Soviets are no longer perceived as superior and domestic issues dominate American government. 4). Post Apollo planning envisions building on Apollo success to go to Mars. But, Johnson now engaged with Vietnam War and domestic turmoil. Space policy is delayed until Nixon administration. 5). Nixon's NASA plans ambitious program with human planetary flights, extended lunar missions, shuttle and space station. But, presidential "paradigm shift" of personnel-budget-foreign-political issues precludes all but Space Shuttle program. 6). Space Station "Freedom" is envisioned as a Reagan initiative against Soviets in the cold war. But, collapse of Soviets and domestic American politics results in their becoming major partners in the station with significant affects on mission planning and technical issues. It would appear that the past half century of major U. S. space policy determination has been predicated on the assumption that the future domestic or international political environments are not of great importance. In practice it appears so if not in theory. It would also appear that our space policy efforts have not, in fact, been evolving but rather revolving as we move from major policy initiative to major policy initiative without contingency planning at these levels. We have not yet learned Scottish poet Robert Burns' dictum "The best laid plans of mice and men go oft astray".