August 1971
From The Space Library
Gabriel Board appointed June 18 to examine and reevaluate philosophy, practices, and procedures in Centaur quality assurance and workmanship program reported findings and recommendations to House Committee on Science and Astronautics' Sub- committee on NASA Oversight: "Aggressive and creative" new policy with "thorough and conservative approach to the use of new hard-ware in flight" was needed to improve Atlas-Centaur quality and workmanship. Board recommended enhanced emphasis on employee motivation, manufacturing, engineering, and planning, quality assurance planning "with preventative aspects dominant, workmanship training, inspection training, quality audit, and vendor control improvements." (Review of Recent Launch Failures, Subcom Print, 10/71)
USN participation in space shuttle program was urged by L/Cdr Preston E. Beck (USN, Ret.), in U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings. USN experience had shown close parallel between life support criteria and fuel management for nuclear submarines and that required for space shuttle. USN Office of Naval Research (ONR) and USN Systems Command should determine feasibility of using air entrainment, hydroskis, skids, and hydrofoils to permit sea-level landing point for shuttle spacecraft with one or more engine inoperable after reentry. Sea transport and barge storage of fuels and oxidizers for shuttle spacecraft would ensure safety of flight personnel and minimize interference with commercial air traffic. Space shuttle orbiter and booster structures could be moved only by flyout or by sea because of size. "The obvious answer is final assembly at the launch site using a seaborne logistic system." Naval Air and Material Center had facilities for development of space shuttle materials, testing of components and subassemblies, and supporting engineering. It seemed pertinent "that the Navy take the initiative in starting to support the space shuttle program. The key to many of the problems now being subjected to resolution is the sea." (U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings, 8/71, 103-5)
Electrical power development for space was summarized by AIAA Electric Power Systems Committee in Astronautics & Aeronautics article: "Batteries have continued to be employed beyond Explorer I for either primary power or as an element of power subsystem. Silver-zinc batteries provided 13.5 kilowatt-hours (Kwh) of electrical energy for the Mercury spacecraft, up to 63 Kwh for the early Geminis, and 65 Kwh for the Apollo Lunar Module. Specific energies have advanced to 90 watt-hours per pound (wh/lb) [198 wh per kg] in unmanned Agena vehicles. The continuing flight dependence on batteries was dramatically illustrated by the rescue phase of the Apollo 13 mission, which used the LM batteries for power after the failure of the cryogenic supply of the Service Module fuel cell system. Undoubtedly, batteries will remain a vital independent power source in manned missions and perhaps unmanned missions for many years." Committee recommended that "competitiveness of the isotope and reactor systems for powers in the tens of kilowatts be encouraged rather than inhibited and that the technology programs for both be kept viable, "felt "that achieving acceptance of a reactor power system for manned Earth-orbiting missions presents a major challenge to the power community in the 1970s," and criticized lack of resources "to pursue effectively all of the advanced reactor power-system options that have been carried along most of the 1960s." (A&A, 8/71, 22-30)
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