On Mar 12, 8:52*am, wrote:
On Mar 12, 8:28 am, wrote:

The Shuttle got funded,
but not without getting a huge makeover by the Airforce that
dramatically increased development cost with wings engines and tiles
it didn't really need and the Army, that mandated SRBs which were
dangerous and low performing, in lieu of a fully reusable first stage,
increased operating costs.

Among with the other crazy non existent crap in your rant,

The Army had nothing to do with the Shuttle

Thiokol did - to the everlasting chagrin of vonBraun who wanted
nothing to do with the SRBs. I count them as army.

By the early 1970's there was concern that although national satellite
systems were providing essential capabilities to the national and
strategic levels, tactical users in the military services were not
being provided adequate access to these classified systems.

In 1973, the Army took the lead by establishing the Army Space Program
Office (ASPO) to execute the Army Tactical Exploitation of National
Capabilities Program (TENCOP), serve as the unique technical and
fiscal interface with the national program offices, and manage the
TENCAP material acquisition. The Army's TENCAP program is based on
exploiting current and future tactical potential of national
capabilities and integrating these capabilities into the Army's
tactical decision making process as rapidly as possible. This approach
was so successful that Congress ordered all services to establish a
TENCAP program based on the Army's model in 1977.


National systems are designed to support strategic requirements. The
ASPO leverages the national technology to provide downlinking of these
strategic systems to tactical levels. This data provides and accurate
and current picture of the enemy and the terrain during planning and
execution. National data combined with data from other sources
significantly enhances the Intelligence Preparation of the Battlefield
(IPB). For Haiti, TENCAP systems provided the primary source of
imagery directly to the JTF Commander's analysts for planning the
operation and executing the initial assault. For Desert Storm, TENCAP
systems provided the majority of targeting support for deep operations
and imagery for IPB support of operation planning/maneuver for both
XVIII and VII Corps. TENCAP systems are also a significant source of
support to humanitarian efforts. For Hurricane Andrew, TENCAP systems
provided the quickest and most detailed damage assessment to the task
force commander. TENCAP's secondary dissemination and intelligence
broadcast capabilities provide the quickest and most detailed damage
assessment to the task force commander. TENCAP secondary dissemination
and intelligence broadcast capabilities provide continuing awareness
through all phases of operations. They provide the tactical commander
the ability to "see deep" in today's battlefield and then to assess
the impact of shooting deep. ASPO has developed and fielded over
ninety systems to both Army and air Force tactical units. After twenty
years the ASPO charter was revalidated in 1993. Today the Army TENCAP
program is the largest and most successful of the individual services
programs.

Since the beginning of the Space shuttle Program, eight Army personnel
have been selected by NASA as Space Shuttle astronauts. All have flown
on Space Shuttle Missions as Mission Specialists. Additionally, one
Army Warrant Officer has flown as a Payload Specialist. Applications
for assignment as Space Shuttle Astronauts are submitted through the
U.S. Army Personnel Command to NASA. Selection to the Astronaut
Program is made by NASA.

In 1980, three Army officers were assigned to the Johnson Space Center
(JSC) in support roles as part of memorandum of understanding between
NASA and the DA. They were the initial contingent of what became the
JSC Detachment of the Army Space Agency (now the U.S. Army Space
Command) in 1987. Numerous other Army personnel have subsequently
filled positions in Houston, gaining space operations experience to
bring back to the Army, or moving into the NASA Astronaut Corps.


LTC Sherwood "Woody" Spring d. LTC Sherwood "Woody" Spring, selected
by NASA in 1980, flew as a Mission Specialist on STS-61B (Atlantis)
from 26 November to 3 December 1985. During the mission, the crew
deployed three communications satellites. Additionally, LTC Spring and
USAF MAJ Jerry Ross conducted and EVA to demonstrate the feasibility
of constructing trusses in space.

In January 1987, the U.S. Army Space Agency's NASA Detachment was
established at Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas. Army astronauts
and other Army personnel working at NASA are assigned to this unit.
Later in 1987, the Army presented a concept briefing to the DOD
Military*Man*in*Space Prioritization Board for two manned experiments,
Terra Scout and Terra Geode, to be conducted on the Space Shuttle.
Terra Scout received a high priority and was manifested in September
1991.

LTC James C. Adamson was a Mission Specialist on STS*28 (Columbia)
which conducted a classified DOD mission from August 8 * 13, 1989. COL
Adamson flew again on STS-43 (Atlantis), 2-11 August 1991, which
deployed a communications satellite. MAJ Charles "Sam" Gemar flew as a
mission specialist on STS*38 (Atlantis), a classified DOD mission,
from 15-20 November 1990. LTC Gemar's second mission was STS-48
(Discovery), 12-18 September 1991, which deployed an atmospheric
research satellite. His third flight was STS-62 (Columbia), 4-18 March
1994, a microgravity research mission where the Shuttle was lowered to
105 nautical miles, the lowest ever flown by a Space Shuttle. LTC
James S. "Jim" Voss and CW3 Tom Hennen flew onboard STS-44 (Atlantis)
in November 1991. During this mission a Defense Support Program (DSP)
satellite was deployed with an Inertial Upper State rocket booster.
Also, CW3 Hennen conducted the Terra Scout experiment. In December
1992, LTC Voss and LTC M. Richard "Rich" Clifford were crewmembers
aboard STS-53 (Discovery) which carried a classified payload on the
last DOD Shuttle flight. This was the first time that two Army
officers were on the same shuttle flight. COL Voss' third mission was
on STS-69 (Endeavour) which deployed and retrieved two research
satellites. During this mission, COL Voss conducted and EVA to develop
techniques to be used in the construction of the International Space
Station. LTC Clifford was subsequently assigned to the crew of STS-59
(Endeavour) which conducted radar mapping of the surface and
atmosphere of the earth 9-20 April 1994. His third Shuttle mission,
STS-76 (Atlantis) took place in the Spring 1996. STS-76 will be the
third Shuttle flight to rendezvous and dock with the Russian Space
Station Mir. MAJ Nancy J. Currie (formerly Nancy Sherlock) was a
crewmember on STS-57 (Endeavour), 21 June-1 July 1993, which retrieved
a European research satellite. MAJ Currie became the first Army female
officer in space. Her second mission was STS-70 (Discovery), 13-22
July 1995, during which a NASA Tracking and Data Relay communications
satellite was deployed. LTC William S. "Bill" McArthur served as a
Mission Specialist on STS-58 (Columbia), a record seven-person life
science duration medical research flight. His second flight, STS-74
(Atlantis) took place in Fall 1995. STS-74 was the second Shuttle
mission to rendezvous and dock with the Russian Space Station Mir.

The U.S. Air Force Space Command was activated in September 1982.

In March 1983, President Reagan announced the Strategic Defense
Initiative (SDI). This was a major shift in national defense
philosophy from massive retaliation to an active, non-nuclear defense
that would be able to defend the United States against ICBMs. Later
that year, DOD formed the Strategic Defense Initiative Organization
(SDIO) to manage the SDI research and development program and
coordinate work within DOD.

Also in 1983, the Vice Chief of Staff of the Army (VCSA) formed the
Army Space Council made up of designated general officers. The Army
Space Council meets periodically to coordinate actions, approve
proposals and provide guidance on Army involvement in and use of
space. Staff responsibilities, were, however, split among many offices
within Headquarters, Department of the Army in the Pentagon. The Army
Space Executive Working Group was formed to coordinate and work on
space related actions, especially those that would go before the Space
Council.
Army Science Board

In 1984, the Army Science Board studied the Army's use of space to
support its missions. The board concluded that the Army made only
minor use of existing space capabilities and was not active nor
influential in the design and operation of most of the systems.

In January 1985, the Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) directed
that a Space Directorate be formed at Fort Leavenworth. The Space
Directorate consisted of six people assigned to the Combined Arms
Combat Developments Activity (CACDA). This directorate was tasked with
developing concepts, doctrine and operational requirements for the use
of space to support Army operations.
Army Space Initiatives Study

In May 1985, General Thurman, the VCSA directed that a special study
group be formed for six months to analyze how the Army should use
space and the Army's role in space. The Deputy Chief of Staff for
Operations and Plans (DCSOPS) of the Army directed the establishment
of the Army Space Initiatives Study (ASIS) group of 30 officers from
throughout the Army be formed at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas to develop a
blueprint for future Army involvement and investment in space that
would enhance Army land operations around the world.

On 1 July 1985, the U.S. Army Strategic Defense Command was activated
using the resources of the Army's Ballistic Missile Defense Command
(BMDSCOM) in Huntsville, Alabama.

By August 1985, the Concepts Directorate of CACDA, with assistance
from the Space Directorate, had prepared an interim operational
concept titled Army Space Operations.

On 23 September 1985, DoD established the United States Space Command
(USSPACECOM) as a unified command with its headquarters at Peterson
Air Force Base, Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Following World War II, the U.S. military became a leader in the
development and use of space. These space capabilities continue to
evolve as new technology is incorporated and users place greater and
greater demands on space systems.

The U.S. Army has had an important role in the development and use of
space systems. In the early stages of the U.S. space program, the Army
was instrumental in the development of rockets and satellites. The
first U.S. satellite was launched into orbit by an Army Redstone
rocket. Many of the Army's rocket and satellite programs were
transferred to NASA shortly after it was created in 1958.

The Army has always maintained heavy involvement in the design,
development and operation of space systems. Since the mid*1980's, the
Army has undergone an increase in the use of space systems to support
its operations. This increased use of space systems resulted in new or
improved capabilities during Operation DESERT STORM. Space systems
provided essential support in the areas of communications,
reconnaissance, surveillance, target acquisition, weather, terrain
analysis, position/navigation and early warning. All of the space
systems used were already in existence but their incorporation into
the Army was accelerated. This was the outcome of an evolutionary
process that is still on*going.

The U.S. space program was fragmented with efforts by the Army, Navy
and Air Force. The military services were competing as hard against
each other as they were against the Soviets. President Eisenhower's
scientific advisor, Dr. James R. Killian, president of the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), was tasked to study the
situation and present a recommendation to the President. The military
services lobbied hard to maintain control of the nation's space
effort. Influenced by the President's "Space for Peace" policy, Dr.
Killian recommended the establishment of a civilian agency to handle
all aspects of research and development with civilian scientists
guiding the space program.

While plans for this new agency were tied up in red tape, the
President could not let time and events overtake our space program. He
directed the establishment of the Advanced Research Projects Agency
(ARPA) within the Department of Defense. ARPA's plans for space
exploration were soon approved by the President, and in a sense ARPA
was the first U.S. space agency.

In June 1958, the National Aeronautics and Space Act was adopted. This
act created the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA),
effective on 1 October 1958, and gave it a broad charter for civilian
aeronautical and space research. The core of NASA's facilities came
from the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) which was
disbanded. The Air Force would continue development of ICBMs and the
Navy could continue development of sea*launched rockets although the
Navy did transfer Project Vanguard and part of the Naval Research Lab
to NASA in November 1958. The Army could continue to develop IRBMs but
would transfer much of its rocket program to NASA. Most NASA
facilities, launch sites and test ranges have been, and continue to
be, built under the supervision of the Army Corps of Engineers.

In 1961, the Department of Defense assigned the mission of managing
and operating U.S. military space launch vehicles and satellites to
the Air Force.

Doubtless this is where you got the idea that the army had nothing to
do with things. Well, a major army contractor then. Happy? Likely
not.

The Thiokol Chemical Company was founded in 1929. Its initial business
was a range of synthetic rubber and polymer sealants, and Thiokol was
a major supplier of liquid polymer sealants during World War II. When
scientists at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory discovered Thiokol's
polymers made ideal rocket fuels, Thiokol moved into the new field,
opening laboratories at Elkton, Maryland, and later production
facilities at Elkton and at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama.
Huntsville produced the XM33 Pollux, TX-18 Falcon, and TX-135 Nike-
Zeus systems. It closed in 1996. In the mid 1950s the company bought
extensive lands in Utah for its rocket test range, and continues to
have major operations in the state, at Magna and Promontory Utah. home
of the Space Shuttle's SRB, and its current headquarters at Brigham
City.

The original Shuttle design did not have SRBs, it had a liquid fueled
flyback first stage - a fully reusable system. It didn't have high
cross-range, and didn't need tiles or wings. It used J2 engines, and
didn't need an SSME- built around the best of the Apollo hardware and
experience.