**Jimmy Carter: The Unlikely Champion of the Space Shuttle Program**
The heritage of the Space Shuttle program, which lasted three decades, involved 135 missions, and included 355 astronauts, is fundamental to NASA’s narrative. However, few realize that its continuity rested on a crucial choice made by an unexpected supporter: President Jimmy Carter. Although he was generally indifferent toward human space exploration, Carter’s involvement during a critical moment in the late 1970s guaranteed the shuttle’s finalization and its eventual contribution to reinforcing U.S. space supremacy.
### A Program on The Edge
By the late 1970s, the Space Shuttle program was facing severe financial difficulties. Initially approved in 1971, the ambitious endeavor encountered escalating cost overruns and technical setbacks. The shuttle’s thermal protection tiles and main engines, among other elements, were delayed, compelling NASA to execute budgetary maneuvers to keep the initiative viable. By 1978, conditions had deteriorated to a critical level.
Chris Kraft, a pivotal figure in NASA’s legacy and then-director of the Johnson Space Center, recalled a fraught meeting in 1978 where the program’s troubling situation was exposed. NASA Administrator Robert Frosch, chosen by Carter, confronted two bleak alternatives: secure significant additional funding or downgrade the shuttle to a research vehicle, eliminating its intended function as an orbital delivery craft. Either option posed a risk to the program’s existence.
### Carter’s Unexpected Choice
Carter, recognized for his practical governance style, was initially wary of the shuttle program. In his presidential diary, he once remarked that the initiative was “a contrivance to keep NASA alive.” His vice president, Walter Mondale, was even harsher, denouncing the shuttle as a “foolish extravagance” during its early funding discussions.
Nevertheless, Carter’s viewpoint changed during the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT) with Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev in Vienna in 1979. The president underscored the shuttle’s potential as an asset for arms control verification, accentuating its capacity to deploy reconnaissance satellites to observe Soviet adherence to the treaty. This strategic advantage, along with the program’s prospects for reinforcing U.S. space power, influenced Carter’s perception of its significance.
When Frosch approached Carter seeking extra funding, the president’s reply was unexpected: “How much do you require?” Carter sanctioned additional budgets for fiscal years 1979 and 1980, amounting to nearly $500 million. This prompt decision stabilized the program, enabling it to navigate its technical and financial obstacles.
### The Cold War Framework
Carter’s choice to back the shuttle was intricately linked to the Cold War geopolitical landscape. The shuttle’s capacity to carry national security payloads had been a crucial factor since the program’s inception, attracting support from the Department of Defense. By the late 1970s, this ability became even more vital as tensions with the Soviet Union intensified.
A memorandum from Brigadier General Robert Rosenberg of the National Security Council, titled “Why Shuttle Is Necessary,” highlighted the program’s strategic importance. Rosenberg asserted that halting the shuttle would represent a retreat of U.S. leadership in space and could damage national pride. Carter, who prioritized arms control and national security, found these points persuasive.
### The Impact of Carter’s Support
Carter’s backing for the shuttle was not devoid of inconsistencies. He continued to express skepticism about human space travel and favored NASA’s robotic and scientific initiatives. Yet, his practical decision-making helped secure the completion of a program that would evolve into an emblem of U.S. technological achievement.
The success of the Space Shuttle program laid the foundation for the assembly of the International Space Station (ISS), showcasing international collaboration in space. Ironically, the shuttle’s retirement in 2011 left the U.S. dependent on Russian spacecraft for access to the ISS, underscoring the intricate dynamics of competition and collaboration that characterized the Cold War space race.
### A Neglected Hero
Carter’s involvement in preserving the shuttle remains a largely unrecognized aspect of his presidency. As he reflected years later, “I didn’t want to waste the money already invested.” His practical mindset, coupled with an acknowledgment of the shuttle’s strategic significance, guaranteed the program’s longevity during a time of economic and political upheaval.
In retrospect, Carter’s decision to advocate for the shuttle was crucial in directing the course of U.S. space exploration. It enabled NASA to uphold its leadership in space, stimulated technological advancements, and set the stage for future initiatives like the ISS. For a president often associated with his commitment to peace and humanitarian efforts, Carter’s surprising role as a defender of the shuttle adds a compelling layer to his legacy.
