Although development continues, the experiments could have been completed and flown long before now if they had received adequate financial backing from NASA--comparable to previous levels, CFA scientists say.
"Clearly, we are idling, while others [else-where in the world] are running," Taylor says.
Lecturer on Astronomy Giovanni Fazio, the scientist who designed the one jointly run CFA project definitely scheduled for a shuttle flight, also says that his experiment had been hindered because of the financial and technical emphasis on developing the shuttle.
His Infra-Red Telescope (IRT), scheduled to fly on the shuttle's "Space Lab?" mission in November 1984, has been "three years away from" a scheduled flights since 1977. The IRT is now scheduled for lift-off in less than two-and-a-half-years.
Engineers on these projects and two others--an ultraviolet coronograph designed by Astronomy Lecturer John Kohl and an ultraviolet spectrometer by William Parkinson--say they anxiously awaited a returned emphasis on scientific endeavors in space.
The last four shuttle flights have tested various apparatus, without including any large-scale scientific experiments. Although minor testing will continue, along with secret military experiments, the first use of the shuttle for fully scientific purposes will not occur until the launching of the first space lab shuttle in 1984.
But the CFA scientists emphasized that more work in the space science area is needed in addition to the first planned space labs.
Several scientists predicted a major space policy speech by President Reagan soon, perhaps July 4 at Andrews Air Force Base when the shuttle lands. A White House spokesman yesterday confirmed that Reagan "would likely make some remarks" but added, "I doubt it will be substantive."
In other CFA affairs, a new director of the prestigious center was named yesterday. Irwin I. Shapiro, a professor of physics and geophysics at MIT, will replace George B. Field, who will continue to teach and conduct research at the CFA. Both were vacationing and could not be reached for comment yesterday