Von Braun Plots Future of NASA

"In 1977 we hope to conduct a grand tour of all the planets in our solar system-this is the real objective," Werner von Braun, NASA's Deputy Associate Administrator for Planning, said last night-to an audience of 300 at the Harvard Law School Forum in Sanders Theatre.

Commenting on Thomas Jefferson's failure to take advantage of the last opportunity for such a tour, which arises once every 179 years, von Braun stated in his talk, "After the Moon, What," that NASA is planning to cease moon exploration in favor of the grand tour and several other projects.

Skylab

Von Braun also revealed that NASA is developing a Skylab, or permanently orbiting space station and laboratory, which would carry on earth-related research.

"NASA would never see people go hungry so that we could buy another gadget for space," von Braun said, "but a few billion dollars more a year would not embarrass us. We can help solve many of the earth's problems such as weather prediction and the location of natural resources," he added.