(Tratto dal bilancio dell'Agenzia, cifre in milioni di dollari)

[...]

(1995) (1996)

SPACE SHUTTLE 3,155.1 3,231.8

Shuttle Operations 2,415.3 2,394.8

Safety/Performance Upgrades 739.8 837.0

Construction of Facilities [12.3] [17.4]

(1995) (1996)

PAYLOAD & UTILIZATION OPERATIONS 320.1 315.0

Spacelab 98.6 97.0

Tethered Reflight 7.4 3.8

Payload Processing and Support 36.3 30.3

Advanced Projects 12.2 12.2

Engineering and Technical Base 165.6 171.7

[...]

Space Shuttle Program $3,231.8 million

The FY 1996 budget for the Space Shuttle program provides for

a program that will continue to improve safety margins, fly

the established manifest, launch seven flights every year,

provide a vehicle that must undergo significant modifications

to operate with the international Space Station and continue

to reduce cost.

The budget structure of the Space Shuttle program consists of

two major components: Space Shuttle Operations and Safety

and Performance Upgrades. The funding request for Shuttle

Operations in FY1996 is $2,390.0 million. This funding

provides for the hardware and manpower required to support

the launch of eight Shuttle flights and their associated

payloads. This includes the requirements for the Orbiter,

external tank, redesigned solid rocket booster and manpower

and support services required for launch and landing and

mission operations for each flight.

The funding request for Safety and Performance Upgrades in

FY1996 is $837 million. This budget provides for

modifications and improvements to the flight elements and

ground facilities, including expansion of safety and

operating margins and enhancement of Space Shuttle

capabilities as well as the replacement of obsolete systems.

Payload and Utilization Operations $315.0 million

Funding requested for Payload and Utilization Operations

supports the payloads flying on the Shuttle and Spacelab, as

well as advanced technology projects and Engineering

Technical base support for the field centers supporting Human

Space Flight activities.

SHUTTLE FLIGHTS SCHEDULED FOR FY 1996

(October 1, 1995 - September 30, 1996)

[...]

STS-75 (February 1996) STS-75 will see the reflight of the

Tethered Satellite System (TSS), a joint project between NASA

and the Italian Space Agency (ASI). TSS originally was flown

on the Space Shuttle STS-46 mission launched July 1992. TSS

deployment was curtailed when mechanical interference in the

deployer reel assembly prevented full deployment of the

satellite. The TSS reflight will focus on science objectives

not accomplished on the STS-46 mission.

The TSS could place a satellite into the Earth atmospheric

regions that are difficult to study. These regions lie above

the range of high altitude balloon flights and below the

altitude of free-flying science satellites.