Dr. David N. Spergel, an astronomer at Princeton and a member of a committee that advises NASA on space science, called it a "double whammy" for astronomy.

"Those documents certainly undercut the public position of the agency," said Dr. Garth Illingworth, an astronomer at the University of California at Santa Cruz and a member of a committee that advises NASA on space science.

Dr. Gold had his most public role in the 1960's, when he advised NASA during its Apollo lunar expeditions.

All nine members of an expert panel established by Congress to advise NASA on safety resigned today, with several citing frustration over a lack of influence.

Peter M. Banks, who formerly headed a group of scientists advising NASA on the space station, is calling for a "reformulation of plans" to get the facility in orbit before 1995.

A committee of scientists advising NASA is studying ideas for a mission to orbit Europa with instruments that might settle the matter in the next decade.

John Bahcall, a physicist at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, N.J., who has long advised NASA, said Mr. Bush's plan was inspirational because it was so daunting.

Despite the efforts of Boisjoly and others in this off-line briefing, the Morton Thiokol managers decided to advise NASA that their data was inconclusive.

The 26-member task force was formed to advise NASA on its progress in complying with recommendations from the Columbia Accident Investigation Board, including 15 that had to be carried out before a return to flight.

Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel - members from academia and private industry advise NASA on safety and hazards within NASA's aerospace program.