Remembering the Space Age. - Black Vault Radio Network (BVRN)

132 reMeMBerING the SpaCe aGe
the Space Shuttle’s dual commercial-military purpose was renewed by
a subsequent National Security Decision Directive issued on May 16, 1983, 42
with the central objective of encouraging the U.S. commercial launch industry.
that policy made the Space Shuttle available to all domestic and foreign users,
whether governmental or commercial, for “routine, cost-efective access to
space.” It also promoted the commercial use of expendable rockets by making
government ranges available for commercial launches at prices “consistent
with the goal of encouraging” commercial launches and by encouraging
competition “within the U.S. private sector by providing equitable treatment
for all commercial launch operators.” 43
the special National policy on the Commercial Use of Space released
on July 20, 1984, refected the opinions that White house senior ofcials had
heard from representatives from a range of companies interested in conducting
business in space, such as Federal express, McDonnell Douglas astronautics,
Grumman aerospace, General Dynamics, and rockwell International. It set
out a series of initiatives that included research and development tax credits, a
ten percent investment tax credit, accelerated cost recovery, timely assignment
of radio frequencies, and protection of proprietary information. 44
On November 18, 1983, president reagan designated the Department of
transportation (DOt) as the lead agency to “promote and encourage commercial
eLv [expendable launch vehicle] operations in the same manner that other
private United States commercial enterprises are promoted by United States
agencies.” rather than emulate the regulatory agencies scorned by the New
right, hampering commerce and infating consumer prices, the DOt would
“make recommendations . . . concerning administrative measures to streamline
federal government procedures for licensing of commercial” launches (by the
DOt). the agency also would “identify federal statutes, treaties, regulations and
policies which may have an adverse impact on eLv commercialization eforts
and recommend appropriate changes to afected agencies and, as appropriate, to
the president.” 45 here was a regulatory mandate to encourage industry. Space
commercialization was becoming a model of the reagan revolution, and the
conservative space agenda.
42. Letter, rosalind a. Knapp to David a. Stockman, December 12, 1983, folder 696, box 23, X-33
archive.
43. Draft National Security Decision Directive, april 22, 1983, folder 696, box 23, X-33 archive.
44. Craig L. Fuller to richard G. Darman et al., note and attachment, “Space Commercialization,”
august 2, 1983, and agenda, Space Commercialization Meeting, august 3, 1983, folder 696, box
23, X-33 archive.
45. “executive Order: Commercial
expendable Launch vehicle activities,” attached to Michael J.
horowitz to robert Kimmitt, December 12, 1983, and rosalind a. Knapp to David a. Stockman,
December 12, 1983, folder 696, box 23, X-33 archive.