WASHINGTON—The pam of the present will eventually lead to longterm gains for space scientists if NASA’s budget continues to grow, says Lennard A. Fisk, the agency’s new associate administrator for space science and applications.
“NASA has essentially been directed by the president to go back to its R&D roots, and that will do well for science and applications,” Fisk told THE SCIENTIST in one of his first interviews since taking the position in April. “If I stand back from the short-term, day-to-day problems, the long-term trends are very healthy.”
Fisk’s immediate concern is bridging the gap between the present launch hiatus and the mid1990s, when the space station and additional Delta expendable launchers are expected to become available for science payloads. As a near-term solution, NASA plans to use upgraded Scout rockets to provide flight opportunities in the early 1990s for small (up to 475 pounds) experiments in astrophysics, space ...
