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THE NASA ROLE AND ORGANIZATION

(a) Legislative objectives

The National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958, as amended, provides that NASA shall

(1) Conduct research into problems of flight within and outside the earth's atmosphere with a view to their practical solution;

(2) Conduct such activities as may be required for the exploration, scientific investigation, and utilization of space for peaceful purposes, and develop space vehicles for use in such activities;

(3) Arrange for participation by the scientific community in planning scientific measurements and observations to be made through use of aeronautical and space vehicles, and arrange for the conduct of such measurements and observations; and

(4) Provide for the widest practicable and appropriate dissemination of information concerning its activities and the results thereof.

(b) Summary of NASA programs

NASA is achieving these objectives through four basic programs:

1. The Manned Space Flight program includes work in connection with extended earth orbital flight, to develop the techniques of rendezvous and docking in space, and to undertake progressively longer missions building up to landing of explorers on the moon and their safe return to earth. The work under this program includes development of spacecraft and the procurement of launch vehicles, engines, and propulsion systems for Apollo and other approved projects 2. The Space Science program includes scientific investigations of the earth, moon, sun, planets, stars, the balaxy, and space. Scientific investigations are carried out in space in the fields of aeronomy, ionospheric physics, energetic particles and fields, stellar and galactic astronomy, solar physics and astrophysics by the use of such vehicles as earth satellites, sounding rockets, and space probes. Unmanned scientific investigations include lunar and planetary explorations through deep space probes. The unmanned Lunar Orbiter, for example, will map selected areas of the moon's surface to provide information for planning the manned lunar mission.

3. The Applications program is concerned with identifing and developing peaceful uses of space technology for general application. This includes development of communications satellite systems such as those represented by projects Echo, Relay, and Syncom. It also includes meteorological systems such as Tiros, and studies relating to future applications such as nonmilitary navigational aids.

4. The Advanced Research and Technology program seeks basic knowledge and technology which will be required for future manned and unmanned flights within and beyond the earth's atmosphere. This includes research conducted primarily to demonstrate the feasibility of a concept, structure, component, or system relating to spacecraft, launch vechiles, space power, nuclear systems, electric propulsion, liquid and solid rocket propulsion, life science, and aeronautics.

Supporting all manned and unmanned flight missions is the tracking and data acquisition program which provides a network of stations around the world. These stations are tied together by a worldwide communications system. Tracking and data acquisition includes the development, availability, and operations of facilities, equipment, and instrumentation necessary to acquire, record, process, reduce, and transmit technical and scientific data and information in response to the requirements of aeronautical and space flight missions.

(c) NASA's organizational structure

NASA's organization that is shown in exhibit I became effective on November 1, 1963. The major features of this organization are—

1. General management.—This consists of the Administrator, Deputy Administrator, and Associate Administrator. They function together with a high degree of flexibility and interchangeability. However, the Administrator and Deputy Administrator concentrate more on agencywide plans and policies and on external and international relationships. The Associate Administrator functions primarily as "general manager" of day-to-day operations.

2. Consolidated program and center management.-Authority and responsibility for planning and managing NASA's major research and development programs and, in addition, for directing the overall management of NASA's research and development centers are assigned to three officials reporting to the Associate Administrator.

(a) An Associate Administrator for Manned Space Flight directs this program and the overall management affairs of the three Centers primarily involved with the manned space flight program-George C. Marshall Space Flight Center, Manned Spacecraft Center, and Lunar Operations Center.

(b) An Associate Administrator for Space Science and Applications is responsible for these two programs for which similar field installations and launch systems are employed. He is also responsible for directing the management of the Goddard Space Flight Center, Wallops Station, Pacific Launch Operations Office, and for administering the contract with the California Institute of Technology for the operation of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

(c) An Associate Administrator for Advanced Research and Technology is responsible for this program and for directing the efforts of the four research Centers primarily involved in carrying out NASA's advanced research program— Ames Research Center, Flight Research Center, Langley Research Center, and Lewis Research Center.

3. Research and development centers satisfy any agency requirement.—To avoid unnecessary duplication-particularly of scarce scientific and engineering talents-any Center may be employed by any of the headquarters officials who are responsible for managing agency programs. For example, the Director of Tracking and Data Acquisition executes his program largely through the use of the Goddard Space Flight Center and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. He does so with the agreement with the Associate Administrator for Space Science and Applications and by allocating funds and other resources to the required Centers. 4. Central administrative support and service elements.-To avoid unnecessary duplication of staffs, to minimize review and approval levels, and to obtain uniformity where necessary, central support and service elements report primarily to the Administrator and to the Associate Administrator but serve all elements of the agency. These elements conduct such activities as procurement, personnel, financial management, legal legislative affairs, and other activities.

NASA'S REQUIREMENTS FOR SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS

During the current year, NASA has conducted studies of the requirements for scientists and engineers necessary to carry out the NASA program as authorized by the President and the Congress. These studies pertain to the requirements for scientists and engineers in NASA and by NASA contractors. These studies also include analyses of the sources of scientists and engineers recruited by NASA. The summary results of these studies and analyses are set forth in subsequent paragraphs.

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(a) Requirements within NASA for scientists and engineers

The following_table, entitled "Requirements for Scientists and Engineers Within NASA" (Table 14) shows that

1. On January 1, 1960, NASA had a total staff of 9,567, of which 3,367, or 35 percent were scientists and engineers.1

2. On January 1, 1963, NASA had 25,667 employees, of which 9,240 were scientists and engineers-or 36 percent of the total NASA staff. Assuming for planning purposes that NASA's total staff numbers between 32,000 to 40,000 in 1970, the number of scientists and engineers required within NASA is estimated at between 13,000 and 16,000, or about 40 percent of the total NASA staff.

One of the major factors that accounts for the increasing percentage of scientists and engineers within NASA is the increasing proportion of work being done by contractors. To define, contract for, and supervise contractor efforts requires a higher percentage of scientists and engineers and less technical and supporting services, such as model shop employees, metal fabrication technicians, and similar support than when the work is done within NASA research and development centers.

TABLE 14.-Requirements for scientists and engineers within NASA1

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1 Includes permanent and temporary employees 1960-63 and projected permanent and temporary positions 1964.

2 Decreases due to addition of Marshall Space Flight Center on July 1, 1960. This involved a transfer of 4,256 employees to NASA of which 1,197 were scientists and engineers, or 28.1 percent.

(b) Total requirements for scientists and engineers2

Table 2, entitled "Total NASA Requirements for Scientists and Engineers," covers requirements for scientists and engineers within NASA and the requirements of NASA contractors to carry out NASA work. In summary, table 15 shows that

1. On January 1, 1960, it is estimated that 8,400 scientists and engineers were employed on the NASA program-approximately 5,000 contractor employees and 3,400 NASA employees.

1 Scientists and engineers are defined as all persons primarily engaged in the performance or direction of scientific, engineering, mathematical, or other technical professional work requiring a 4-year college major (or equivalent knowledge) in engineering or in physical, life, or mathematical science. Excluded are architects, accountants, and psychologists. Also excluded are medical doctors, veterinarians, and other life scientists primarily engaged in providing diagnosis and medical care, or dispensing drugs or services. Statisticians and computer programers are included only if they specialize in mathematical techniques. Excluded are those trained in science or engineering but currently employed in positions not requiring use of such training. Excluded are elementary and secondary school teachers of science or mathematics.

At present there are no actual counts of total scientists and engineers employed by NASA contractors for work on NASA contracts. A recent survey of large NASA industrial contractors has provided data which seem to be complete and reliable enough to represent the past and present, and to serve for projections. The National Science Foundation has initiated surveys by the Bureau of Census and the Bureau of Labor Statistics which will provide additional data. The estimates of contractor scientists and engineers employed on NASA work have been developed on the basis of ratios of dollars to scientists and engineers. These ratios have been cross-checked against the instances where actual data are available and other studies using similar ratio techniques. The cross-checks indicate that the estimates of contractor personnel are probably accurate within plus or minus 5 to 10 percent.

1960.

161 1962.

1963.

1964.

2. On January 1, 1963, it is estimated that 43,500 scientists and engineers were employed on the NASA program-approximately 34,300 contractor employees and 9,200 NASA employees.

3. The ratio of NASA to contractor scientists and engineers which was approximately 1:2 in January 1960 decreased to approximately 1:3 in January 1963 and is expected to be about 1:4 in January 1964.

4. NASA's projected total requirements for scientists and engineers on January 1, 1964, increase to about 64,000, assuming present proposed budget levels and expenditure rates. Of this total, it is estimated that 53,000 will work for contractors and the remaining 11,000 will be in NASA. Assuming for planning purposes that NASA's expenditures are between $5.5 and $6 billion in 1970, the estimated requirements for scientists and engineers would be between 90,000 and 100,000, of which between 75,500 and 84,000 would be contractor personnel.

TABLE 15.-Total NASA requirements for scientists and engineers1

Jan. 1

Net increases Net increases NASA Contractor Total in NASA in national requirements requirements requirements requirements supply over actual estimated over previous previous year

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1 Contractor scientists and engineers include classes of positions comparable to those used within NASA. Estimated. (All estimates have been rounded and therefore are not additive.)

NASA's program does not use up the net increase in supply to the extent these 2 columns might indicate as decreases in other aerospace business and other factors allow NASA contractors to absorb some workload without an equivalent net addition in scientists and engineers.

NASA'S REQUIREMENTS COMPARED TO NATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Total NASA requirements for scientists and engineers are set forth in table 2 above. Table 16 expresses these requirements as a percent of total national requirements. In summary this table shows that

(1) On January 1, 1960, the total NASA program employed less than 1 percent of the Nation's estimated 1.2 million scientists and engineers.

(2) NASA's total requirements are estimated to increase to 4.3 percent of total national requirements of 1.5 million by January 1, 1964.

TABLE 16.-Total NASA requirements compared to national requirements for scientists and engineers

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The data on national requirements are from preliminary estimates prepared by the Department of Labor, published in the Manpower Report of the President, March 1963, pp. 100 and 125, as follows: Total scientists, 1960-335,000, 1970-580,000; total engineers, 1960-850,000, 1970-1,375,000; total scientists and engineers, 1960-1,185,000, 1970-1,955,000.

NASA estimated requirements are from table 15.

NOTE. This table results from a linear interpolation between the key dates of 1960 and 1970.

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