Apr 5 1972
From The Space Library
Senate Committee on Aeronautical and Space Sciences continued hearings on NASA FY 1972 authorization. Roy P. Jackson, NASA Associate Administrator for Advanced Research and Technology, testified that Lem quiet engine program was proceeding on schedule: "Tests of full-scale fans for the engine have revealed much new information on the interrelationships among noise, aerodynamic performance, and structural integrity. The complete experimental engine will be operated in about 6 months. Results . . . indicate that we may expect to better the original noise abatement goals. Program results are given to industry on a continuing basis. . . . We can expect some of our improvements to be adopted by industry in new engine designs before completion of our program." NASA-AEC Space Nuclear Systems Office Manager Milton Klein testified: "Reactor power sources will be required to provide power in amounts greater than a few kilowatts for many of the missions of the future. For unmanned military satellites, radiation hardening- mandatory for certain military missions-and low recurring costs for multiple missions are important advantages of small reactor systems. For unmanned NASA earth orbit missions, reactors become cost effective above a few kilowatts, a power range needed for such applications missions as communications satellites. In manned missions over-riding advantage of reactor systems is their ability to accommodate unforeseen large increases in power demand." Advanced reactor systems were needed for electric propulsion systems capable of high energy missions to far planets. Associate Administrator for Tracking and Data Acquisition Gerald M. Truszynski reported that satellite network included 10 electronic ground stations operated by NASA, supplemented by optical tracking network operated by Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory. Electronic stations provided worldwide system that tracked each satellite, determined status of onboard systems, commanded satellite functions, and acquired data. Optical stations, which included laser capabilities at selected sites, provided specialized services in precision orbital tracking. (Transcript)
Ats 1 applications technology satellite (launched by NASA Dec. 6, 1966) had again helped save lives of two Alaskans, NASA reported. Satellite had been used in 1971 to summon medical aid for two stricken residents of remote sections of state. Recently, satellite had been used to alert Public Health physicians to plights of 11-yr-old girl with appendicitis and man severely injured in snowmobile accident. (NASA Release 72-74)
Finding by California Institute of Technology astronomers of waves 1000 km (600 mi) from crest to crest undulating outward from center of sunspots at speeds to 40 000 km per hr (25 000 mph) was reported at meeting of American Astronomical Society in College Park, Md. Astronomers believed waves-named Stein waves after Alan Stein, Cal Tech student who discovered them by accident in motion pictures taken through telescope-were sound waves caused by thunder on sun. (AP, B Sun, 4/6/72, A3)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
