New Technology Opportunities

As NASA and OMB debated shuttle approval, the possibility of NASA tak­ing on a broadened role in applying technology to national problems was still alive. At the White House, Bill Magruder continued to examine a wide range of possible initiatives. In late October, Low reported that “there is still the question as to whether or not NASA should undertake the management of all of the efforts no matter what the subject.” Low got a report from a NASA staff person sent to work with Magruder that “the White House is all geared up to do this and that the President himself is interested in NASA taking on the job.”34

Low was understandably worried about where the funds to undertake new technological initiatives might come from. Magruder in a mid-Novem­ber telephone conversation with Low reported “that many people are saying that the money should come from the space program.” Magruder suggested that he and science adviser David were NASA’s “best friends,” arguing that taking the money from NASA “would defeat the original purpose of put­ting to work the unemployed aerospace engineers.” Also, “a cut in the space program would have an instantaneous [negative] effect on unemployment, while the new technology initiatives would only have a slow buildup in employment.” Magruder estimated that the cost for his effort in its first year “would be $600 to $700 million. . . for all except the transportation and aviation initiatives, plus another $1 billion for transportation and aviation.” He thought that the funds should come from “social programs” and foreign aid. Magruder intended to set up “a small, hard-hitting interim organiza­tion” to develop various initiatives, and asked NASA to provide team lead­ers for most initiatives. Low noted “whether or not NASA will be asked to undertake any or all of these initiatives is still not clear”; he was worried that “if we are asked to undertake some of this work, it will be at the expense of some of our aeronautics and space work.”35