The short-term race against the Soviets has been won. In 1961 public frustration over Russian achievements in Space was a major boost to support the
Apollo Lunar program. But now this is no longer the case. The Russian
achievements in space have no hold on public opinion and so the new
American space program will have to promote a sense of world
community.
2
For Nixon, the renewed space strategy would have been open to collaboration
with other countries but under full US control of all programs. In this way, the
public opinion worldwide would have considered American global leadership in
space exploration as a truly peaceful and cooperative undertaking.
In 1972, shortly before the last Moon landing, Nasa and the Russian space
agency signed an agreement
3
for a joint Apollo-Soyuz mission. Three years later,
the two spaceships docked in orbit around the Earth. The mission was basically a
photo opportunity of the first extraterrestrial handshake between the astronauts of
the two rival countries. In fact, that picture became an icon that both governments
used to show that real dialogue between the superpowers was in progress thanks
to the exploration of space.
In the seventies, several countries, such as Japan, India, China, Canada and
Europe, were engaged in developing their own space programs. The US attempted
to involve most of them in space projects under its leadership. However, since
space exploration was playing also an increasing role for national security, that
strategy had to be carefully implemented, combining national interests and international cooperation.
The Space Task Force set up by Nixon proposed an ambitious plan
4
to build a
fleet of spaceships and orbiting stations using an innovative launch system, the
STS- Space Transportation System, capable of flying back and forth to carry both
the crew and cargo. The plan also included the building of a cargo tugboat and a
nuclear-powered spaceship to land the first astronauts on Mars by the eighties.
However, due to budgetary constraints, Nixon ended up approving only the STS
program,
5
which later became the space shuttle.
A. Dubridge, Science Adviser to the President. Observers were U. Alexis Johnson,
Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs; Glenn T. Seaborg, chairman of the Atomic Energy
Commission; and Robert P. Mayo, director of the Bureau of the Budget.
2
Hepplewhite, T.A. 1999. The Space Shuttle Decision: NASA’s Search for a Reusable Space
Vehicle. Washington, DC: National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
3
United States Office of Technology Assessment. 1985. US-Soviet Cooperation in Space.
Darby: DIANE Publishing, 25.
4
Space Task Group. 1969. The Post-Apollo Space Program: Directions for the Future, Report
to the President. Reprinted in NASA SP-4407, Vol. I.
5
The Statement by President Nixon. 1972. NASA History Program Office. http://history.nasa.
gov/stsnixon.htm.
Rocket Man: From The Space Shuttle to the International Space Station 41
Apollo Lunar program. But now this is no longer the case. The Russian
achievements in space have no hold on public opinion and so the new
American space program will have to promote a sense of world
community.
2
For Nixon, the renewed space strategy would have been open to collaboration
with other countries but under full US control of all programs. In this way, the
public opinion worldwide would have considered American global leadership in
space exploration as a truly peaceful and cooperative undertaking.
In 1972, shortly before the last Moon landing, Nasa and the Russian space
agency signed an agreement
3
for a joint Apollo-Soyuz mission. Three years later,
the two spaceships docked in orbit around the Earth. The mission was basically a
photo opportunity of the first extraterrestrial handshake between the astronauts of
the two rival countries. In fact, that picture became an icon that both governments
used to show that real dialogue between the superpowers was in progress thanks
to the exploration of space.
In the seventies, several countries, such as Japan, India, China, Canada and
Europe, were engaged in developing their own space programs. The US attempted
to involve most of them in space projects under its leadership. However, since
space exploration was playing also an increasing role for national security, that
strategy had to be carefully implemented, combining national interests and international cooperation.
The Space Task Force set up by Nixon proposed an ambitious plan
4
to build a
fleet of spaceships and orbiting stations using an innovative launch system, the
STS- Space Transportation System, capable of flying back and forth to carry both
the crew and cargo. The plan also included the building of a cargo tugboat and a
nuclear-powered spaceship to land the first astronauts on Mars by the eighties.
However, due to budgetary constraints, Nixon ended up approving only the STS
program,
5
which later became the space shuttle.
A. Dubridge, Science Adviser to the President. Observers were U. Alexis Johnson,
Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs; Glenn T. Seaborg, chairman of the Atomic Energy
Commission; and Robert P. Mayo, director of the Bureau of the Budget.
2
Hepplewhite, T.A. 1999. The Space Shuttle Decision: NASA’s Search for a Reusable Space
Vehicle. Washington, DC: National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
3
United States Office of Technology Assessment. 1985. US-Soviet Cooperation in Space.
Darby: DIANE Publishing, 25.
4
Space Task Group. 1969. The Post-Apollo Space Program: Directions for the Future, Report
to the President. Reprinted in NASA SP-4407, Vol. I.
5
The Statement by President Nixon. 1972. NASA History Program Office. http://history.nasa.
gov/stsnixon.htm.
Rocket Man: From The Space Shuttle to the International Space Station 41