and Space Activities
Message to the Congress
Transmitting the Annual Report on Aeronautics and Space Activities
the Congress of the United States:
am pleased to transmit this report on the Nation's progress in aeronautics and
space during calendar year 1986. The report is provided in accordance with
Section 206 of the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958, as amended (42
U.S.C. 2476).
is with great sadness that we mourn the passing of the brave men and women
aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger, but it is more important to remember them
for their bravery and pursuit of challenge. I believe they would be proud of
the challenge we have undertaken to move the Nation forward into a new era of
space flight, one more stable, more reliable, and safer than before.
activities continue to provide vital support to U.S. national security
interests. In response to expendable launch vehicle failures as well as the
Challenger tragedy, the Department of Defense has embarked on a space launch
recovery program that will provide for more assured access to space and reduce
the backlog of critical national security payloads that were scheduled for
launch on the Space Shuttle. In addition, critical space communications,
navigation, meteorology, and surveillance programs continue to make vital
contributions that enhance the effectiveness of our military forces and
strengthen the overall deterrent posture of the United States. Also, space-related
research conducted in support of the Strategic Defense Initiative continues to
make impressive progress toward a more safe and secure future.
1986, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the Department of
Defense initiated the joint National Aero-Space Plane research program that
could result in an entirely new family of aerospace vehicles. Also, NASA and
the Department of Defense examined and continue to study space transportation
requirements for the late 1990's and early years of the 21st century. This
study could lead to future development and technology efforts associated with
advanced manned and unmanned space transportation systems aimed at providing
increased responsiveness, flexibility, and reliability, as well as learning the
costs of assured access to space while meeting evolving payload requirements.
planning continued for a permanently manned Space Station. At my request, our
friends and allies cooperated with us in the initial planning and design phases
of the Space Station. In addition to helping us build an enhanced facility,
their investments will help to strengthen free world ties in space science and
the year, we continued to unlock the mysteries of the universe. In January
1986, Voyager 2 become the first spacecraft to fly
past Uranus, transmitting over 7,000 images of that planet and its rings and
moons. The fastest known spinning binary pulsar was discovered.
studies of the Earth and its environment, scientists continued to observe
conditions from Earthbound and spaceborne platforms
and to participate in interdisciplinary research activities that will allow
better understanding and prediction of environmental problems throughout the
most of you are aware, space is no longer just the domain of the United States and the Soviet Union. It has become a highly
competitive international arena where more and more nations are vying for
economic, scientific, and military advantages. Continued advances in
aeronautics and space technology will strengthen the Nation's scientific
capabilities and develop the technological infrastructure needed to maintain U.S. national security
interests as well as economic competitiveness.
of the Challenger tragedy, the year 1986 was a difficult one for all of us who
support U.S. space activities. In
the aftermath of Challenger, we established goals to restructure and strengthen
our space planning and organizations. I believe we have made considerable
progress toward realizing these goals, which will allow the United States to return space
transportation capabilities to safe and reliable operation.