Friday, 30 October 1987 Washington, DC
1.
DOE HAS TAKEN "STRONG EXCEPTION TO DR. WOOD'S CLAIMS"
regarding the peacetime power requirements for Star Wars space
platforms. Lowell Wood criticized the finding of the APS Study
Panel on Directed Energy Weapons that the "housekeeping"
requirement was in the range of 100-700 kW and would require
deployment of 100 nuclear power sources in space. Wood insisted
the SDI requirement was only 15 kW, which would be met by solar
panels. Moreover, Wood claimed to have examined classified SDI
briefing materials showing that the APS Panel had been given the
lower figure. In a letter to Energy Secretary John Herrington,
however, an astute Rep. Edward Markey (D-MA) pointed out that, in
support of the DOE's budget for the SP-100 nuclear space power
program, Herrington had testified that an "estimated 100kW or
more" would be required for housekeeping, in agreement with the
APS Panel. If Wood's version was correct, Markey noted,
cancellation of the SP-100 program might be warranted. The DOE
response to Markey, signed by Under Secretary Joseph Salgado,
said that requirements for the SP-100 were reached "in concert
with the Director of SDIO," and that the DOE is not aware of any
documents supporting Wood's contention. According to the DOE
response, "solar energy cannot fulfill all of the housekeeping
power requirements for Star Wars space-based assets."
2
. UNIVERSITY SPACE ENGINEERING RESEARCH CENTERS
are to be
restricted to US citizens only, according to the program notice
issued by NASA's Office of Aeronautics and Space Technology.
Several major universities have indicated that their proposals,
which are due next week, will state that they cannot accept such
a restriction. Not only is the restriction offensive to the
American tradition of academic freedom, it ignores America's
dependence on foreign technical manpower. The best minds that
can be assembled, wherever they come from, are needed to offset
the mismanagement that has left NASA resembling an ostrich more
than the eagle that served as the symbol of the Apollo program.
3. "STARPOWER: THE U.S. AND THE INTERNATIONAL QUEST FOR
FUSION ENERGY,"
a report just released by the Office of Technology
Assessment, examines policy alternatives for the fusion energy
research program. Since the US, Europe, Japan and the Soviet
Union all have major fusion programs at about the same stage of
development, the report discusses the prospects for international
cooperation. The US, however, which has reneged on some past
agreements, may not be regarded as a reliable partner. In joint
hearings on the report before two House science subcommittees on
Wednesday, several congressmen seemed more concerned about the
protection of "technologies that could affect our national
security and competitive position." In the early 50's, fusion
power was thought to be only 20 years away, but the OTA report
acknowledges that, even under the most favorable conditions, it
is unlikely to be achieved before the middle of the 21st century.
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