The chairman of the space subcommittee of the House Science Committee submitted legislation April 10 that would provide for additional funding for the development of experimental launch vehicles and push NASA to accept more commercial involvement in current projects.
     H.R. 1275, the "Civilian Space Authorization Act", introduced by Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA), calls for a two-year authorization for NASA and related federal offices for fiscal years 1998 and 1999.
      Among the highlights of the bill is funding for two experimental launch vehicle projects. The bill calls for full funding of the X-33 project, at over $300 million a year in 1998 and 1999.
     The bill also includes $750 million over two years for a separate experimental single-stage-to-orbit project, using "design concepts different from, and technologies more advanced than, the design concepts and technologies used for the X-33 program."
     Another strong focus of the bill is a greater involvement of commercial enterprises in NASA's projects. The legislation calls for the commercial purchase of space science and environmental data and calls for the "greatest possible" commercial involvement in the space station.
     The legislation also calls on NASA to strongly consider a full privatization of space shuttle operations.

Canada will contribute a version of the "Canadarm" robotic manipulator as part of its share in the International Space Station, Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien announced April 8.
     Canada will spend over C$200 million (US$145 million) over three years to develop "Canada Hand", a robotic manipulator that will be used to assemble and maintain the space station.
     The project "will benefit both countries in advancing scientific knowledge and improving the quality of life," Chretien said in a statement. "These are the principal themes of the government of Canada's science and technology strategy."
     The manipulator will be built by the Canadian aerospace firm Spar Aerospace. "We applaud the government for its continued commitment to Canada's pioneering efforts in space," said Spar president and CEO Colin Watson.
     Chretien made the announcement in Washington while meeting with President Bill Clinton. The two also discussed possible joint involvement in other science and technology projects.

NASA and a non-profit organization are working together on a study to estimate the economic value of spinning off remote sensing work, including some formerly-classified technologies, into the private sector.
     The space agency is working with Washington-based Resources for the Future (RFF) to understand what value can be placed on images of the Earth that will be soon be taken by commercial satellites using technology spun off from NASA.
     "NASA must now give Congress and the American public evidence of the gains from the agency's investments in technology research and development," said RFF's Molly McCauley.
     "We're trying to find a good way for the government to accurately assess the value of these new technologies that were developed in government labs when they are applied to commercial ventures and not exchanged using traditional market prices."
     Another difficulty arises when trying to compute the value of an intangible yet important resource like clean air and water, which may be indirectly related to satellite data. The RFF is using methods it developed to help put a monetary value on these resources.
     Remote sensing, largely a province of government agencies until recently, is opening up to commercial enterprises after the Clinton Administration cleared the way for the sale of high-resolution satellite images. The first American commercial remote sensing satellite will be launched later this year by Earth Watch, a subsidiary of Bell Aerospace.