Search

Presents various views on the role of the United States Office of Technology Assessment. Factors which contributed to the demise of the agency; Function of the agency; Other issues in science and technology as of spring 2001.

Discusses the author's proposal for the creation of a Department of Science in the US. Reasons for the same; Combining the existing science elements of the Departments of Commerce and of Energy; Role of science in making of government decisions; Objection made by the presidential science advisor, John Gibbons to the proposal; Gibbon's arguments.

The article discusses the 2011 political conditions in the U.S., highlighting the 112th Congress which offers Republican an opportunity to regain the trust they lost since 1995. It notes that control of the House of Congress brought with its obligations for governing which had not faced by Republicans for 40 years. The Contract with America, a governing document, is highlighted.

The article reports on the comparison between the Republicans and the Democrats regarding their financial management in the U.S. through past statistics such as economic indicators, international debt, and deficit spending. It is stated that when Democrats took control or the houses of Congress in 2007, federal budget was at 161 billion dollars but in 2009, Federal red number had gone to 455 billion dollars. On the other hand, according to the author, one cannot prove it by the numbers.

Focuses on the proposed programs recommended by the Commission on Implementation of United States Space Exploration Policy for the U.S. National Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA). Efforts of NASA administrators to address the financial problems faced by the agency; Benefits of instituting a comprehensive program of prizes for technological development in the aerospace industry; Information on the Centennial Challenge program of prizes developed by NASA; Advantages of converting NASA centers into Federally Financed Research and Development Corporations.

Gives Clinton-Gore administration advice on space program. Support for space station Freedom program; Cooperation among administration, Congress and private sector to develop investment; Benefits since birth of commercial space industry in 1958; US leadership in economic sphere of space; Opening up new markets; Comprehensive strategy for goal; Advocacy of private sector lead role in space business; Commercial space zones.

The article discusses the revolution in information technology and its implications to U.S. military defense in 1995. The information revolution was used during the Persian Gulf War. Twenty-four percent U.S. military long-haul communications were routed through commercial satellite during the war. The benefits of the information revolution are impressive. Use of existing and planned commercial satellite systems will enable the military to meet many of its communication requirements without the exorbitant cost of designing, building, launching, and operating its own satellites.