National Space Council
Encyclopedia
The National Space Council was a body within the Executive Office of the President of the United States
, which existed from 1989 to 1993 during the administration of George H.W. Bush. It was a modified version of the earlier National Aeronautics and Space Council (1958-1973).
of 1958, the NASC was chaired by the President of the United States (then Dwight Eisenhower). Other members included the Secretaries of State and Defense, the NASA Administrator, the Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission, and any additional members that the president chose to appoint.
The Council was allowed to employ a staff to be headed by a civilian executive secretary. Eisenhower did not use the NASC extensively during the remainder of his term. He did not fill the post of executive secretary but named an acting secretary on loan from NASA. At the end of his last year in office he recommended that the NASC be abolished. Shortly before assuming office, President-elect John F. Kennedy announced that he wanted his Vice President, Lyndon Johnson, to become chairman of the NASC, requiring an amendment of the Space Act.
Edward Cristy Welsh was the first executive secretary of the National Aeronautics and Space Council (NASC). Appointed in 1961 by President
John F. Kennedy
, he spent the 1960s as the principal advisor to the White House on space issues. He also assisted in the development of the legislation that created the Communications Satellite Corporation (COMSAT). After his retirement in 1969, he remained active as an advisor to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Earlier, as a legislative aide to Senator Stuart Symington
(D-Missouri), he helped draft the 1958 legislation that created NASA
and the NASC.
and included the following members:
, enlisted the aid of Samuel K. Skinner, the White House chief of staff, in urging Pres. Bush to remove Mr. Truly. Quayle and the council staff made the move because they felt Mr. Truly would impede a new plan to restructure and streamline many aspects of the space program, including the space agency administration.
In 1993, the Space Council was disbanded and its functions absorbed by the National Science and Technology Council
.
has promised to re-establish the National Aeronautics and Space Council upon taking office in an effort to bridge the gap between the civil and military space agencies. However, the status of the council's revival is currently unknown.
Executive Office of the President of the United States
The Executive Office of the President consists of the immediate staff of the President of the United States, as well as multiple levels of support staff reporting to the President. The EOP is headed by the White House Chief of Staff, currently William M. Daley...
, which existed from 1989 to 1993 during the administration of George H.W. Bush. It was a modified version of the earlier National Aeronautics and Space Council (1958-1973).
1958 - 1973 National Aeronautics and Space Council (NASC)
Established by the National Aeronautics and Space ActNational Aeronautics and Space Act
The National Aeronautics and Space Act is the United States federal statute that created the National Aeronautics and Space Administration . The Act, which followed close on the heels of the Soviet Union's launch of Sputnik, was drafted by the United States House Select Committee on Astronautics...
of 1958, the NASC was chaired by the President of the United States (then Dwight Eisenhower). Other members included the Secretaries of State and Defense, the NASA Administrator, the Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission, and any additional members that the president chose to appoint.
The Council was allowed to employ a staff to be headed by a civilian executive secretary. Eisenhower did not use the NASC extensively during the remainder of his term. He did not fill the post of executive secretary but named an acting secretary on loan from NASA. At the end of his last year in office he recommended that the NASC be abolished. Shortly before assuming office, President-elect John F. Kennedy announced that he wanted his Vice President, Lyndon Johnson, to become chairman of the NASC, requiring an amendment of the Space Act.
Edward Cristy Welsh was the first executive secretary of the National Aeronautics and Space Council (NASC). Appointed in 1961 by President
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
, he spent the 1960s as the principal advisor to the White House on space issues. He also assisted in the development of the legislation that created the Communications Satellite Corporation (COMSAT). After his retirement in 1969, he remained active as an advisor to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Earlier, as a legislative aide to Senator Stuart Symington
Stuart Symington
William Stuart Symington was a businessman and political figure from Missouri. He served as the first Secretary of the Air Force from 1947 to 1950 and was a Democratic United States Senator from Missouri from 1953 to 1976.-Education and business career:...
(D-Missouri), he helped draft the 1958 legislation that created NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
and the NASC.
1989 - 1993 National Space Council
George H.W. Bush created the National Space Council by "Executive Order 12675". The Council was chaired by Vice President Dan QuayleDan Quayle
James Danforth "Dan" Quayle served as the 44th Vice President of the United States, serving with President George H. W. Bush . He served as a U.S. Representative and U.S. Senator from the state of Indiana....
and included the following members:
- The Secretary of State;
- The Secretary of the Treasury;
- The Secretary of Defense;
- The Secretary of Commerce;
- The Secretary of Transportation;
- The Director of the OMB;
- The Chief of Staff to the President;
- The Assistant to the President for National Security AgencyNational Security AgencyThe National Security Agency/Central Security Service is a cryptologic intelligence agency of the United States Department of Defense responsible for the collection and analysis of foreign communications and foreign signals intelligence, as well as protecting U.S...
; - The Assistant to the President for Science and TechnologyNational Science and Technology CouncilThe National Science and Technology Council was established in the US by Executive Order 12881 on November 23, 1993.-History:The National Science and Technology Council was established in the US by Executive Order on November 23, 1993...
; - The Director of Central Intelligence; and
- The Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
Disbanding
On February 12, 1992, friction between the largely astronaut-based management at NASA and the National Space Council led to Richard Truly, then NASA Administrator, being forced out. Mr. Truly was forced out after Vice President Quayle and the space council's executive director, Mark J. AlbrechtMark Albrecht
Mark J. Albrecht is a senior aerospace and telecommunications executive with broad government and industry experience. He completed his BA and MA from UCLA and PhD from the Rand Graduate School. He was the Executive Secretary of the National Space Council from 1989–1992 and was the principal...
, enlisted the aid of Samuel K. Skinner, the White House chief of staff, in urging Pres. Bush to remove Mr. Truly. Quayle and the council staff made the move because they felt Mr. Truly would impede a new plan to restructure and streamline many aspects of the space program, including the space agency administration.
In 1993, the Space Council was disbanded and its functions absorbed by the National Science and Technology Council
National Science and Technology Council
The National Science and Technology Council was established in the US by Executive Order 12881 on November 23, 1993.-History:The National Science and Technology Council was established in the US by Executive Order on November 23, 1993...
.
Re-creation of the National Space Council
President Barack ObamaBarack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
has promised to re-establish the National Aeronautics and Space Council upon taking office in an effort to bridge the gap between the civil and military space agencies. However, the status of the council's revival is currently unknown.