I stand "partially" corrected. Although designated, perhaps as a civilian
agency by the 1958 decree, NASA still must operate within & under the
defense security act of the Dept. of Defense.
Kirk.....
----- Original Message -----
From: "Kelly Beatty" <jkellybea...@comcast.net>
To: "'Becky and Kirk'" <ba...@chorus.net>;
<meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com>
Sent: Monday, June 27, 2011 6:59 PM
Subject: RE: [meteorite-list] NASA & Dept. of Defense
Kirk...
In fact, NASA already IS part of the Dept. of Defense. With a quick check
of
NASA's charter, it clearly defines that NASA operates "officially" under
Dept. of Defense jurisdiction.
uh, no. NASA was expressly set up to be a civilian agency. the "NATIONAL
AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ACT OF 1958" (as amended) is here:
http://history.nasa.gov/spaceact-legishistory.pdf
it says, in part: "...such activities shall be the responsibility of, and
shall
be directed by, a civilian agency exercising control over aeronautical and
space activities sponsored by the United States, except that activities
peculiar to or primarily associated with the development of weapons
systems,
military operations, or the defense of the United States (including the
research and
development necessary to make effective provision for the defense of the
United
States) shall be the responsibility of, and shall be directed by, the
Department of Defense; and that determination as to which such agency has
responsibility for and direction of any such activity shall be made by the
President..."
initially there was a National Space Council, chaired by the Vice
President, on
which the Secretary of Defense was a member; and initially there was a
Civilian-Military Liaison Committee. both have since been abolished.
clear skies,
Kelly
****************
J. Kelly Beatty
Senior Contributing Editor
SKY & TELESCOPE
617-416-9991
SkyandTelescope.com
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