From: NASANews@hq.nasa.gov
Date: Thu, 17 Apr 1997 09:53:32 -0400 (EDT)
Fwd Date: Thu, 17 Apr 1997 12:53:44 -0400
Subject: NASA and Air Force Space Command Announce

Brian Welch
Headquarters, Washington, DC           April 16, 1997
(Phone:  202/358-1600)

RELEASE:  97-68

NASA AND AIR FORCE SPACE COMMAND ANNOUNCE COOPERATIVE EFFORTS

     NASA and the Air Force Space Command have agreed
to work together in several areas of mutual interest
in the hopes of saving both organizations costs and
sharing in new technologies to benefit future
spaceflight and spacecraft.

     "This agreement exemplifies NASA's commitment to
finding ways to reduce cost and, where appropriate,
share our assets with the Air Force for greater
efficiencies in our respective missions," said NASA
Administrator Daniel S. Goldin.

     Under the terms of the agreement signed by Goldin
and Air Force Space Commander General Howell M. Estes,
III, NASA and the Air Force will form partnership
teams to study seven areas of potential cooperation.
These areas include studying the cost feasibility of
launching Defense Support Program satellites from the
Space Shuttle in 1999; possible expanded use of the
Shuttle for Air Force technology payloads; and
consolidating plans that outline space transportation
needs of NASA and the Air Force.

     NASA and the Air Force also will examine their
respective infrastructures and common-use facilities;
develop and coordinate an implementation plan to
address orbiting space debris; and possible
collaboration on the Clementine II project; and expand
cooperation in space weather environment research and
data sharing.

     The partnership teams are scheduled to provide an
interim report on their findings to senior management
of both organizations in mid-July of this year.

                      -end-