Ronald Reagan and the Space Frontier by John M. Logsdon

Author:John M. Logsdon
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
ISBN: 9783319989624
Publisher: Springer International Publishing

Linking space achievements to his concept of American exceptionalism, Reagan suggested that “by accepting the challenge of space we’ll carry forward the same courage and indomitable spirit that made us a great nation and that carried our Apollo astronauts to the Moon.”22

As Reagan spoke , the White House released the text of a new National Policy on the Commercial Use of Space. The policy statement noted that “tax laws and regulations which discriminate against commercial space ventures will be changed or eliminated.” It added that “laws and regulations predating space operations will be updated to accommodate the commercial use of space” and that “in partnership with industry and academia, government will expand basic research and development which may have implications for investors aiming at developing commercial space products and services.” The policy statement promised that “entrepreneurs will receive assurances of consistent government actions and policies over long periods,” recognizing that “commercial developments in space often require many years to reach the production phase.” The policy specified that the Reagan administration would establish “a high-level national focus for commercial space issues by creating a Cabinet Council on Commerce and Trade (CCCT) Working Group on the Commercial Use of Space.”23

As it was released, Bud Evans briefed reporters on the new policy. The New York Times noted that “the Reagan administration plans to remove immediately several regulatory and tax obstacles to industrial use of space” and would “propose legislation to remedy ‘discrimination’ in the tax code against space ventures.” For example, one of the changes proposed in the policy would make the existing 10 percent investment tax credit for research and development projects newly applicable to space efforts. Under the then-current Internal Revenue Service interpretation of tax policy, that credit had been denied experimental space projects because they were considered exports, on the basis that they had left the United States as they were being carried into orbit by the shuttle, even though they subsequently were returned to the country. Of the 13 initiatives proposed in the policy, 7 would require legislative changes. Aviation Week & Space Technology noted that “administration officials voiced optimism that the proposed changes will be accepted by Congress, which has already directed NASA to encourage space commerce.”24

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