Dec 29 1970
From The Space Library
European industrial consortium STAR (Satellites for Telecommunications. Applications and Research) was formed to compete for future ESRO contracts. Members were British Aircraft Corp., Contraves A. G. of Switzerland, CGE Fiar and MontedelMontecatini Edison Electronica S.p.A. of Italy, SABCA of Belgium, L. M. Ericsson AB of Sweden, Fokker FFW of the Netherlands, Dornier-System GmbH of West Germany, and Thomson CSF of France. AEG-Telefunken of West Germany would contribute on comsat work. (SF, 3/71, 81)
Dept. of Justice asked for legislation to force AT&T and other major communications firms out of ownership and management of ComSatCorp. It recommended overturn of FCC's "authorized user" de- vision (under which ComSatCorp could sell its services only to other communications firms) and earth station ownership decision (under which ComSatCorp could own only 50% of each earth station built, with communications firms owning other 50%). Recommendations were in letters from Assistant Attorney General Richard W. McLaren to Sen. Mike Gravel (D-Alaska), who had asked for investigations of links between ComSatCorp and other communications firms. (Aug, W Star, 1/8/71, B10)
Pravda published year-end review of U.S.S.R. space activities by A. Dmitriyev. Soviet leadership was swinging full circle back to belief that Soviet approach was distinctly superior to that of U.S. Automatic spacecraft were cheaper than manned spacecraft but Soviet efforts were encompassing across-the-board capabilities-manned as well as unmanned. Main directions were systematic research in near-earth space using automatic vehicles and manned craft, moon and circumlunar space as testing ground for Soviet cosmonautics, and research of distant planets, primarily Venus, with aid of automatic devices. Recent Soviet accomplishments had paved way for significant breakthroughs in all of these directions. (AF Mag, 6/71, 54-9)
DOT announced award of $1353 000 grant to JPL for research and design of "people mover" automated transit system. People mover to be constructed around and through Univ. of West Virginia at Morgantown-would consist of fully automated cars carrying-passengers at up to 40 km per hr (25 mph). (DOT Release 25970)
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