Nov 13 1972
From The Space Library
Space shuttle program requirement review was held by prime contractor North American Rockwell Corp. at Downey, Calif. Work on shuttle orbiter stage under $2.6-billion contract had been accelerated and design of system had been altered to trim rising weight and cost of both orbiter and overall system. Orbiter weight had in-creased from 114 800 kg (253 000 lbs) to 125 600 kg (277 000 lbs) ; gross weight of overall system was up from 2.2 million kg (4.8 million lbs) to 2.4 million kg (5.3 million lbs). NR Space Div. Vice President and Program Manager Bastian Hello said orbiter currently planned would be about 38 m (126 ft) long, with 25.6-m (84-ft) wingspan. Manned Space Flight Center Space Shuttle Program Manager Robert Thompson announced schedule for shuttle flights: first horizontal flight (orbiter only), 1976; unmanned vertical flight, 1977; first manned orbital flight, early 1978; first operational flight, early 1979; regular operations (60 flights per year), end of 1982. Program officials said program cost was estimated at $5.15 billion. (Miles, LA Times, 11/27/72; NR Pro)
NASA policy on autographs was outlined by Dr. James C. Fletcher, NASA Administrator, in memo to officials of Hq. program and staff offices and field installations: "1. No autograph should be treated as a commercial commodity; nothing of value should be requested or accepted in exchange for an autograph. 2. Multiple autographs for the same individual or concern are discouraged; multiple autographs should not be provided when it is apparent that they will be used commercially by the requesting individual or concern." Policy applied to all NASA employees on and off duty but did not affect official signatures for official purposes or signing of autographs for non-commercial purposes. (Text)
Apollo 17 Astronaut Eugene A. Cernan piloted lunar landing training vehicle on last flight before vehicle's retirement. First flight had been Oct. 8, 1968. All prime and backup commanders of lunar landing missions had practiced lunar module landings in LLTV at Ellington Air Force Base, Tex. (MSC Roundup, 12/8/72, 1)
Dr. Charles A. Berry, NASA Director of Life Sciences, was chosen President of American College of Preventive Medicine at annual meeting in Atlantic City, N.J. (NASA Activities, 12/15/72; NASA P10)
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