-$28,000,000 for expendable launch vehicle procurement. Such costs for launch of space science payloads are normally funded under the "Space flight, control, and data communications" account and, therefore, these requested funds are addressed there.

Although concurring in the addition of $5,000,000 for spacelab/space station payload development, the Committee directs that these funds be applied to the development of a high resolution solar observatory [HRSO] as a vehicle-independent program to be carried out in the most cost-effective way. The project should not be tied exclusively to the space station. The Committee is concerned that the recently proposed termination of HRSO would leave NASA without a program for the study of the Sun from space and waste substantial sums already expended.

The Committee proposes the following adjustments to the House-approved amounts:

+$10,000,000 for explorer development. This increase would result in a $70,300,000 explorer program in fiscal year 1988 compared to the $60,300,000 program proposed in the administration's budget and by the House.

+$25,000,000 for the Mars observer mission. This would produce a total budget of $54,300,000 for Mars observer. The House approved the budget request of $29,300,000. The Committee is concerned over NASA's decision to reschedule the mission from 1990 until September 1992 and feels that every effort should be made to achieve the earliest possible launch either on the space shuttle or on an expendable launch vehicle. Consequently, the Committee directs NASA to submit by January 30, 1988, a report addressing the advantages and disadvantages of launching the Mars observer mission on the shuttle as opposed to an expendable launch vehicle, the technical modifications necessary to assure dual capability, and the funding requirements and vehicle/facility availability associated with both options, as well as cost of assuring dual capability for the mission.

+$18,400,000 for the Magellan Venus mapping mission, providing a total budget of $78,000,000 rather than $59,600,000 as proposed by the administration and approved by the House.

-$15,000,000 for planetary observer mission spares. The Committee understands that it is not essential to provide these funds in fiscal year 1988. No funds were requested by the administration while the House provided $15,000,000.

+$14,000,000 for the Advanced Communications Technology Satellite [ACTS]. The administration requested no funding for the program while the House provides $70,000,000. The Committee's recommendation would make a total of $84,000,000 available in fiscal year 1988. The Committee notes that this project is nearing completion and sees no valid reason for terminating Federal funding at this point in its development.

+$4,000,000 for commercial programs. This increases funding to $50,000,000 from a House-approved level of $46,000,000. The Commit

tee is pleased that NASA is going forward with its plans to support two additional centers for the commercial development of space in the areas of automation and robotics and artificial intelligence, such as that proposed for establishment at West Virginia University, and to assist private space ventures in the commercial uses of space through cooperative arrangements.

+$2,000,000 for the Advanced Rotary Engine Program providing a total budget of $3,500,000. The administration requested and the House provided $1,500,000 for this program. The Committee has been informed that the augmentation of this program by $2,000,000 per year over the next 3 to 5 years should result in a significant increase in fuel efficiency and power density compared to current general aviation aircraft piston engines.

-$11,000,000 for transatmospheric research and technology. The House provided $56,000,000 for this program, a reduction of $10,000,000 below the administration's budget request. The amount recommended will continue the program at the current level of $45,000,000. The Committee understands certain advanced technology components, such as materials relied upon by engine and airframe designers, are not yet available. Consequently, it seems advisable to slow down the current development schedule.

-$2,200,000 for the civilian space technology initiative's propulsion program. The administration requested $39,200,000 for the program. The Committee recommends an appropriation of $22,000,000.

Of funds appropriated in fiscal year 1988, the Administrator may make available, subject to authorization, up to $10,000,000 to establish and fund a Space Grant College and Fellowship Program.

The space flight, control and data communications appropriation provides for the production and operational activities for the space transportation system and the tracking, telemetry, command, and data acquisition support of all NASA flight projects.

Shuttle production and operational capability and space transportation operations are the key elements of the space transportation system that are contained within this appropriation. The shuttle production and capability development program provides for the national fleet of space shuttle orbiters (including the replacement orbiter) including main engines, launch site and mission operational control requirements, initial structural and operational spares, production tooling, and related supporting activities.

The space tracking and data acquisition program provides vital tracking, telemetry, command, and data acquisition support for Earth-orbital

spacecraft, planetary missions, sounding rockets, balloons, and research aircraft. This support is currently provided by a worldwide network of NASA ground stations, and by the first of a system of three tracking and data relay satellites in geosynchronous orbit working with a single highly specialized ground station. Facilities are also provided to process into meaningful form the scientific, applications, and engineering data which are collected from flight projects.

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends $3,978,300,000 for space flight, control, and data communications activities. This is $86,000,000 less than the budget request and $22,000,000 less than the House allowance.

The Committee views the restoration of the space shuttle system to full operation capability as the highest immediate priority. To this end, the Committee recommended, and there was enacted, appropriations of $526,000,000 in the Fiscal Year 1986 Supplemental Act and $300,000,000 in the Fiscal Year 1987 Supplemental Act. Furthermore, the Congress provided $2,100,000,000 in the fiscal year 1987 continuing resolution for orbiter production activities related to replacement of the Challenger.

As discussed earlier in this report, the Committee has been advised that approximately $100,000,000 of funds previously appropriated for the replacement of the Challenger may be made available for other purposes, and language has been recommended to permit the use of such funds for development of the space station. The Committee, however, believes that the remaining funds of the orbiter production appropriation should be applied in a manner which assures the earliest efficient delivery of the replacement orbiter consistent with safe and effective resumption of flight activity of the entire orbiter fleet. The Committee, therefore, directs that up to $100,000,000 of the remaining orbiter production funds be utilized to complete necessary modifications such as redesign of the external tank disconnect latch, correction of reaction control system primary thruster instability, contingency alert analyses, vertical tail modifications, payload bay door entry latches and modified drag chutes as well as for analyses to certify extended orbiter life and improvements to the existing orbiters, and for related work required to prepare the fleet for operational flight status. In addition, the Committee directs that of this amount, sufficient funds (up to $20,000,000) be applied for production of orbiter spare parts both to assure efficient operations and to maintain critical production capabilities. In view of the availability of these funds, the Committee concurs with the House in deleting $79,000,000 requested in 1988 for structural spares, and also recommends the deletion of $40,000,000 added by the House for shuttle recovery.

The Committee also notes that the recently released National Research Council report on the space station recommended that NASA begin work on another orbiter to assure adequate future manned space launch capability. The Committee believes that such an initiative is not

only prudent but may have significant potential to maximize the utility and efficiency of the space station. For example, a fifth orbiter would permit greater on-station time of an orbiter, thereby reducing or eliminating the need for a crew emergency rescue vehicle [CERV].

The Committee also recommends restoring $20,000,000 of the Housepassed reduction of $40,000,000 from the $76,000,000 requested by the administration for the replacement of a tracking and data relay satellite [TDRSS] lost on Challenger. Continuing delays in the next shuttle launch date make reduction feasible, but the Committee's recommendation will permit a more efficient level of activity in the program.

The Committee agrees with the House decision to make a general reduction of $15,000,000 in the "Tracking and data acquisition" account, a 1.5-percent reduction in the administration's $948,900,000 budget request. The Committee notes that even with this reduction, appropriations for this program will increase by $71,000,000 in fiscal year 1988.

Finally, the Committee recommends $28,000,000 for two Delta II class expendable launch vehicles as requested in Senate Document 100-12, a reduction of $2,000,000 in the amount provided by the House. These vehicles are dedicated to launch of the Roentgen satellite [ROSAT] and the extreme ultraviolet explorer [EUVE] in 1990 and 1991, respectively. As discussed previously in this report, these funds were requested for appropriation under the "Research and development" account. The Committee concurs with the House recommendation to fund this activity in this account.

This appropriation provides for the contractual services for the design, repair, major rehabilitation, and modification of facilities; the construction of new facilities; minor construction; the purchase of land and equipment related to construction and modification; and advanced design related to facilities planned for future authorization.

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends $185,700,000 for the construction of facilities. This is $9,800,000 less than the budget request and $16,000,000 more than the House allowance.

The Committee concurs with the House in deleting $25,800,000 requested for space station facilities. The Committee believes these projects can be delayed for 1 year without affecting the space station program.

The Committee recommends the appropriation of $16,000,000 to initiate the repair of the 12-foot pressure wind tunnel at NASA's Ames

Research Center. Funds to initiate repair design activities were included in Public Law 100-71. The total cost of this project is estimated to be about $60,000,000.

The research and program management appropriation supports the performance and management of research, technology, and test activities at NASA installations, and the planning, management, and support of contractor research and development tasks necessary to meet the Nation's objectives in aeronautical and space research. Specifically, this appropriation provides the technical and management capability of the civil service staff needed to conduct the full range of programs for which NASA is responsible; maintains facilities and laboratories in a state of operational capability and manages their use in support of research and development programs; and provides technical and administrative support for the research and development programs at NASA.

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee concurs with the House in recommending $1,558,000,000 for research and program management. This is $31,195,000 less than the budget request.

The Committee notes that the amount recommended exceeds last year's appropriation by $133,000,000 and believes that this increase of almost 10 percent should be sufficient to allow NASA to handle its added space station responsibilities.

The Committee is pleased to note that NASA is making substantial progress in moving institutional costs from the "Research and development" account as well as the "Space flight control and data communications" account to the "Research and program management" account pursuant to language contained in House Report 100-189.

The Committee will work closely with NASA and with the House to achieve the goal of a reordered account structure that identifies costs that are properly attributable to the three accounts in question and restores the integrity of each of the accounts.