Space Funding

NASA and DOD Activities for Fiscal Years 1981 Through 1989 Gao ID: NSIAD-89-102FS March 23, 1989

In response to a congressional request, GAO provided updated information on the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) and the Department of Defense's (DOD) space funding estimates.

GAO found that: (1) in fiscal year (FY) 1981, NASA and DOD funding levels for their space programs were about the same; (2) between FY 1981 and FY 1989, NASA increased its space funding about 100 percent, while DOD increased its funding about 228 percent; and (3) DOD space funding has exceeded NASA funding every year since 1982 because of DOD reliance on space and its responsibility for developing and procuring its own launch systems. GAO also found that: (1) NASA reimbursements for goods and services it provided to commercial and government clients, including DOD, increased from $723 million to $953 million; (2) although most of the NASA reimbursements came from DOD after 1984, the amount of DOD reimbursements began declining in 1987; and (3) DOD did not expect to increase its reimbursements in the forseeable future, since it did not plan to rely substantially on the space shuttle.



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