Aug 27 1986
From The Space Library
A NASA Aries sounding rocket was destroyed by a range safety officer at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, 50 seconds after liftoff at an altitude of 77,000 feet, when a problem in the vehicle's guidance system was discovered. The rocket carried a 2,300 pound x-ray telescope, designed to study distant stellar objects emitting soft x-rays, jointly developed by Dr. Gordon Garmire of Pennsylvania State University and Drs. R. Novick and William Hain-Min Ku of Columbia University. (NASA Release 86-119; W Post, Aug 28/86)
The Official Flight Kit and Personal Preference Kits that were recovered during the mission 51-L (Challenger) salvage operation were returned to the institutions, organizations, and families of the crew they were flown for. In addition, NASA planned to present to each state and territory one 51-L crew patch, one U.S. flag, and the respective state or territory flag with the request that these items, which were flown, be displayed appropriately in memorial to the crew. (NASA Release 86-120; B Sun, Aug 28/86)
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics announced that NASA's budget should be doubled to ensure that the United States retains its lead in space programs. The Institute described the budget as "no growth" and said that it would "insure that the U.S. becomes and remains a second-class power in space." The report called attention to advancements made by the Soviet Union, Western Europe, and Japan, and also recommended attempting to develop a greater student interest in space science. (B Sun, Aug 28/86; W Times, Aug 28/86; CSM, Aug 28/86; P Inq, Aug 28/86)
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