Mar 17 1976
From The Space Library
NASA asked scientists to submit proposals for scientific experiments to be carried on the first Spacelab mission in late 1980, according to Dr. Noel W. Hinners, Associate Administrator for Space Science. Primary objective of Spacelab 1 would be to verify performance of systems and subsystems and to measure the environment surrounding NASA's Space Shuttle; secondary objectives would be to obtain scientific, applications, and technology data and to demonstrate Spacelab's ability to perform space research. The first flight would emphasize stratospheric and upper atmosphere research, but proposals from other scientific disciplines were also solicited.
Objectives of the Spacelab 1 mission had been planned jointly by NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA); the NASA announcement of opportunity would be sent to U.S. scientists and those in all other nations not members of ESA, and ESA would make a separate solicitation to its 11 member states. Responses would be coordinated between the two agencies. (NASA Release 76-49)
The U.S. Navy Dept. selected General Dynamics Corp. to develop its cruise missile, under a $34.8-million contract that would cover costs of integrating systems into the prototype. GD won the award after 2 yr of competition with Vought Corp., a unit of LTV; the Navy recently finished a series of tests comparing prototypes made by the 2 companies. Last week the Navy had ordered Vought to stop work on its version, after the company had reported cost overruns and the missile performed badly under testing. The cruise missile, a jet-powered weapon with an advanced guidance system, would fly at low altitudes to make detection difficult. The sea-launched version could be put into submarine torpedo tubes and fired from under water as well as from ships. In both the Navy version and the Boeing missile being tested by the Air Force [see 5 Mar.], McDonnell Douglas Corp. was maker of the guidance system and Williams Research Corp. the engine manufacturer. (WSJ, 18 Mar 76, 2)
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