Senate Appropriation Boosts Hopes for NASA's Kendall Square Lab

The Senate Wednesday gave the National Aeronautics and space Administration's proposed Cambridge research laboratory a vote of confidence, adding a $10 million authorization to the space bill approved last month by the House.

The House Space Committee had cut the construction funds, maintaining that difficulty in acquiring title to the entire 29-acre Kendall Sq. site would prevent their use. Congress has already appropriated $13.5 million for the space center, enough to see construction through 1966.

Fight Premised

The amended authorization will go now to a joint conference committee. Opponents of the Kendall Sq. site have promised a floor fight over the appropriation.

The authorization was tacked on to NASA's $5.2 billion budget passed by the Senate 79-4. Senators Leverett Slatonstall '14 (R-Mass.) and Edward M. Kennedy '54 (D-Mass.) voted for the bill.

The Senate action was the second major Congressional victory for proponents of the space center. In April, the House Committee that cut NASA's construction funds narrowly beat down a proposal that would have long delayed construction of the $60 million laboratory. The motion would have prohibited NASA from spending any part of the $12.5 million until it has acquired title to the entire 29-acre site.

If there is a floor fight over the appropriation, opponents could seek to re-introduce the restriction.