Jun 17 1974
From The Space Library
A Boeing 747 aircraft had been chosen to transport the space shuttle orbiter and related hardware from the West Coast to Kennedy Space Center, NASA announced. The 747 would also be used in approach and landing tests of the reusable orbiter. Bought from American Air-lines, a used 747 would be modified and equipped with fittings to permit quick installation of the orbiter or hardware on top of the aircraft. Flight profile tests would begin immediately; modifications were to be-gin after November. Ground and flight tests would begin in late 1976. Takeoff weight with the orbiter was estimated as 35 000 kg. (NASA Re-lease 74-160)
Dr. William R. Lucas assumed duties as Director of Marshall Space Flight Center succeeding Dr. Rocco A. Petrone, who had been transferred to NASA Hq. as Associate Administrator [see 5 March]. Dr. Lucas, who had been with MSFC and predecessor organizations for 22 yrs in scientific and management positions, had been part of the group transferred from the Army in 1960 to form the nucleus of MSFC. He had served as Deputy Director since 1971. (MSFC Release 74-109; Marshall Star, 17 Feb 71, 1)
17-18 June: The international Mission Definition Group, sponsored by NASA and the European Space Research Organization at Ames Research Center, concluded that backup hardware from the Pioneer 10 and 11 missions (launched. 2 March 1972 and 5 April 1973) could be used for an orbital mission to Jupiter in the 1980s. The U.S. and European scientists brought together to discuss the possible mission found the Pioneer-class spacecraft best suited for a study of Jupiter's unusual magnetic field. The group recommended that 70% of a 40-kg payload be designed to study energetic particles and magnetic fields, with the remainder for visual, ultraviolet, and infrared images. The spacecraft might also carry a probe to explore Jupiter's atmosphere.
The possible mission to Jupiter was one of eight potential areas of space cooperation identified by NASA and ESRO during a joint review of space science program planning in February. After studying the Group's report, NASA and ESRO would decide whether further consideration should be given a future international mission to Jupiter. (NASA Release 74-168; NASA proj mgr, interview, 5 May 75)
17-28 June: A nine-man NASA delegation participated in joint tests with Soviet representatives in Star City, near Moscow, to evaluate lighting and facilities for TV and photography in the Soyuz spacecraft. Tests were made in a mockup of the Soyuz spacecraft. The U.S.-U.S.S.R. Apollo-Soyuz Test Project mission, scheduled for July 1975, would include TV coverage from both spacecraft transmitted to the U.S. and U.S.S.R. simultaneously. (JSC Release 74-114; NASA prog off, interview, 30 April 75)
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