Aug 19 1976
From The Space Library
The National Science Foundation reported that U.S. spending for research and development (R&D) would reach $38.1 billion in 1976, 8% above the 1975 level. R&D expenditures would account for 2.2% of the gross national product in 1976, down from 2.3% in 1975. Of the total R&D spending, federal agencies would account for $20.1 billion; industry, about $16.6 billion; universities and colleges, about $800 million; and other nonprofit institutions, about $600 million. The figures appeared in a NSF report, National Patterns of R&D Resources: Funds and Manpower in the United States 1953-1976, updated annually in a continuing analysis of the nation's scientific and technological resources. (NSF Release PR76-68)
The space share of federal R&D funding for FY 1977 would increase only slightly, according to a Natl. Science Foundation report, An Analysis of Federal R&D Funding by Function, Fiscal Years 1969-1977. The 1977 estimate of $2940 million was considerably less than the 1969 level of $3732 million; the space share-13%-was much lower than the 24% for the earlier year. Manned space flight, always the leading subfunction, remained predominant with the Space Shuttle accounting for more than 40% of all space activities. Space science, with 20% of the total, reflected a decline from 1976 and showed effects of lower funding for NASA lunar and planetary exploration as Viking and outer planet missions moved into the launch stages. Space technology and NASA support activities would increase during FY 1977. (NSF, Space Science Resources Studies, 19 Aug 76, 1)
The European Space Agency announced that its exhibit at the Farnborough International Aerospace Exhibition in Sept. would include a full-scale model of the Spacelab, to be exhibited for the first time in Britain to give the British public a better idea of Europe's space activities and to extend contacts with science and industry. ESA's exhibit would also include full-size models of Meteosat and the OTS comsat, plus a tenth-scale model of the Ariane launcher. British firms were prime contractors for the OTS (orbiting test satellite) scheduled for launch in 1977 and for the maritime satellite Marots to be launched early in 1978. (ESA release 19 Aug 76)
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