[meteorite-list] NASA & Dept. of Defense

[Becky and Kirk]

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" <jkellybeatty at comcast.net>
To: "'Becky and Kirk'" <bandk at chorus.net>; 
<meteorite-list at 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
>