Obviously we also must look at the total estimate of a program. And we try to do this with each of our solar technologies and within the solar electric technology as a whole. Planning is an interactive process and you cannot always make the complete judgments as to what, If I may put quotes around it, the Nation should undertake at the time you start looking at the concept. So there are phases of concept analysis, research, development—and NASA has had underway here for some substantial time-effective teams working upon some of those questions. We wish to look at the results of these very carefully, compare them with comparable projections of economics, environmental effects, institutional barriers, and try to make the best assessment we can of those relative priorities. Senator Ford. Then are you saying to me, Dr. Teem, that you expect to look to NASA for its expertise and its knowledge and bring it all together to assist you in your efforts? Dr. Teem. Yes, sir. We have a very well-laid-out memorandum of understanding between ERDA and NASA. And we look to NASA not only for some areas so clearly where there is technology and expertise existing in connection with a space system of this type, but for a number of other areas we look to them for support. Here, most specifically, we will look to them for support in analyses. But the basic responsibility that we have is to evaluate those, competitively and objectively, in our own recommendations as to what the relative priorities among these efforts are. Senator Ford. Dr. Teem, Professor O'Neill presented yesterday, as he put it—a pass through the mountains. If his numbers are correct and all factors have been taken into account, then from an economic standpoint he offers an extremely attractive proposal. Is ERDA going to thoroughly evaluate his proposals? And, if so, when do you think you will be able to get around to it, because I believe this subcommittee would like to receive your conclusions? Dr. Teem. I have been familiar with Professor O'Neill's very imaginative and very creative suggestions and concepts, and the analyses that have gone with it, in much less detail in connection with the analyses, for some time. But I don't wish to give—I really cannot give you a time schedule now for our evaluating in detail these kinds of estimates. I think we would look to NASA, in terms of their evaluations, as our first starting point. And there are ongoing efforts within the NASA program supporting this area of satellite power systems during this fiscal year— and we would look to try to see how we can understand the results from those analyses. Senator Ford. Doctor, in your statement you singled out ocean thermal energy conversion as being particularly attractive, because it----- Dr. Teem. In concept, sir. Senator Ford. Well, I think because it can supply base load electrical power as a result of not requiring any significant energy storage capacity. Would not the satellite solar power concept also offer the same potential?
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