g.w.
02-03-2003, 07:52 PM
The 1996 National Space Policy document starts with the well-meaning claim that, “For over three decades, the United States has led the world in the exploration and use of outer space,” but is that true?
We’ve led the world in some areas, but in many? in all?
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BACKGROUND: The US National Space Policy mentioned above is also known as Presidential Decision Directive [PDD]-49, or PDD/NSTC-8. Probably few people in the country have ever heard of it.
PDD/NSTC-8 is only one of many national-level policies dealing with space (e.g., National Space Transportation Policy, PDD/NSTC-4; US Global Positioning System Policy, PDD/NSTC-6). You can find it on-line at the Office of Science and Technology Policy web site. You can choose an abbreviated version in the form of a fact sheet (http://www.ostp.gov/NSTC/html/fs/fs-5.html) or the full-length version (http://www.ostp.gov/NSTC/html/pdd8.html).
I admit that I have not studied it in detail, nor have I compared the current (Clinton, 1996) version with previous versions. That may not be a huge problem, given the fact that on 28 Jun 02 President Bush issued National Security Presidential Directive/NSPD-15 which directed the National Space Policy Review (fact sheet, http://www.ostp.gov/html/02_7_15_2.html). The final report is due to the National Security Council Deputies Committee by 28 Feb 03. The first two parts of the review were completed in Nov 02 (remote sensing) and Dec 02 (space transportation policy). For information on some fo the elements brought up in the review, the US Chamber of Commerce positions are found at http://www.uschamber.org/space/policy/remotesensing2.htm (remote sensing) and http://www.uschamber.org/space/policy/transportation.htm (space transportation policy).
We’ve led the world in some areas, but in many? in all?
_______
BACKGROUND: The US National Space Policy mentioned above is also known as Presidential Decision Directive [PDD]-49, or PDD/NSTC-8. Probably few people in the country have ever heard of it.
PDD/NSTC-8 is only one of many national-level policies dealing with space (e.g., National Space Transportation Policy, PDD/NSTC-4; US Global Positioning System Policy, PDD/NSTC-6). You can find it on-line at the Office of Science and Technology Policy web site. You can choose an abbreviated version in the form of a fact sheet (http://www.ostp.gov/NSTC/html/fs/fs-5.html) or the full-length version (http://www.ostp.gov/NSTC/html/pdd8.html).
I admit that I have not studied it in detail, nor have I compared the current (Clinton, 1996) version with previous versions. That may not be a huge problem, given the fact that on 28 Jun 02 President Bush issued National Security Presidential Directive/NSPD-15 which directed the National Space Policy Review (fact sheet, http://www.ostp.gov/html/02_7_15_2.html). The final report is due to the National Security Council Deputies Committee by 28 Feb 03. The first two parts of the review were completed in Nov 02 (remote sensing) and Dec 02 (space transportation policy). For information on some fo the elements brought up in the review, the US Chamber of Commerce positions are found at http://www.uschamber.org/space/policy/remotesensing2.htm (remote sensing) and http://www.uschamber.org/space/policy/transportation.htm (space transportation policy).