TESTIMONY OF GEORGE M. LOW, DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR, NASA, AND WILLIAM B. LENOIR, SCIENTIST/ASTRONAUT, JOHNSON SPACE CENTER, HOUSTON, TEX,; ACCOMPANIED BY R. D. GINTER, ACTING ASSISTANT ADMINISTRATOR, OFFICE OF ENERGY PRO GRAMS, NASA, AND CHRISTOPHER C. KRAFT, DIRECTOR, JOHN SON SPACE CENTER Dr. Low. With your permission, then, Mr. Chairman, I will submit my opening remarks for the record. I was merely going to say that we in NASA look upon satellite solar power as a very exciting and very challenging possibility; that there are a number of questions that must be answered; that if the answer to those questions is positive, then satellite solar power can make a very significant contribution to humanity's future well-being. If the answer is negative, then, of course, we have no business spending large sums of money in this area. NASA happens to be in a very unique position to answer these questions, because the technologies involved here are closely related to the work that we are doing in many other areas. And Dr. Lenoir will discuss these technologies. For this reason, we have undertaken some studies of satellite solar power; we are continuing these studies in fiscal year 1976. We find also that much of the work we are doing in satellite solar power applies not only to satellite solar power, but to many other things that NASA has to do to carry on its business. Without reading my entire set of opening remarks, then, I would like to ask Dr. Lenoir to summarize what NASA is doing in this field. As the chairman mentioned earlier, Dr. Lenoir is a scientist/astronaut, who appears here today, however, in his capacity as chairman of NASA's satellite power team. Bill? Senator Ford. Doctor? Dr. Lenoir. Thank you. Good morning, Mr. Chairman. I will summarize the statement that we sent over earlier for the record, assuming the full statement will go in the record. Senator Ford. Your full statement will be in the record, and anything you might have to place in the record here today will be accepted—that applies to any of you gentlemen—and we will make it a part of the record without it being stated. [See page 219.] Dr. Lenoir. Thank you. NASA has a strong interest in satellite power systems, and during the course of our Nation's space program we have had the opportunity to develop, advance, and successfully apply many of the critical technology areas and management systems that would be required for the development of a viable satellite power system. NASA centers are presently engaged, both internally and in conjunction with industry, in further addressing the technical and related issues dealing with satellite power systems. In September 1974, the satellite power team, which I am privileged to lead, was formed to support the Office of Energy Programs in considering satellite power systems. We have representatives from all of the various NASA centers, each representative being a representative of a technology
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