The National Aeronautics and Space Administration: An Overview With FY1997 and FY1998 Budget Summaries

Publication Date: July 1998

Publisher: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

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Research Area: Science and technology

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Abstract:

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) was created by the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958 (P.L. 85-568) to undertake civilian research, development, and flight activities in aeronautics and space. This report provides an overview of the agency, including a brief description of the Space Act of 1958, a short summary of NASA’s historical activities, a description of the agency’s current organization and field centers, a discussion of its FY1998 appropriations and FY1999 request by program line item, and a discussion of the agency’s future budget prospects. A table summarizing the FY1998 appropriations, the FY1999 request, and FY1999 House and Senate Appropriations Committee recommendations is included. This report will be updated as legislative actions occur on NASA’s budget. For more in-depth information on NASA’s space station program see CRS Issue Brief 93017 Space Stations and for further information on the space shuttle and Reusable Launch Vehicle programs see CRS Issue Brief 93062 Space Launch Vehicles: Government Requirements and Commercial Competition.