Nov 30 1978
From The Space Library
NASA announced that an experimental oceanographic satellite had achieved an unexpected technological breakthrough: for the first time, earth-contour measurements by a satellite microwave sensor had exhibited an accuracy comparable to that of conventional ground and aerial surveys used for small-scale mapping. An experiment sponsored by WFC had produced terrain contouring from Geos 3 (geodynamics experimental ocean satellite) radar-altimeter measurements at a height of 840km (520mi) above earth. As Geos 3 circled the globe at 7km/sec (4mps), the radar altimeter pointed vertically down and measured the distance between the satellite and the earth's surface with a precision of 50cm (20in). Nineteen Geos 3 passes over the San Joaquin valley of southern Calif. had recorded terrain elevations for 40 000km2(15 500Mi2), and comparison of the satellite-derived contours with U.S. Geological Survey small-scale topographic maps showed agreement within lm (3ft).
Since the altimeter had been designed as an ocean-sensing system, the acquisition of meaningful land data was unexpected. The ocean-optimized design of the altimeter and the nature of radar backscatter was expected to limit measurement of terrain variations to smooth or gently rolling topography such as a coastal plain, interior plain, or valley. The Geos 3 overland results showed that satellite-borne altimeters could measure terrain elevations for more rugged areas with accuracy sufficient to satisfy many small-scale mapping requirements, at a cost competitive with conventional methods. This technique would be particularly useful in remote areas of the world, such as arctic and desert regions where conventional surveying was difficult and expensive. (NASA Release 78-183)
NASA announced that a frame structure for mounting experiments inside the Space Shuttle orbiter's payload bay had arrived by ship in Savannah, and would be transported by tug to the Vehicle Assembly Building at KSC. Called an OFT (orbital flight test) pallet, the structure, fitted with NASA-developed subsystems, would provide electrical and other support to the experiments. This was the first of two pallet systems destined for use on two of the first six Space Shuttle flight tests.
Designed and assembled by British Aerospace Corp. for ESA as part of the joint ESA/NASA Spacelab program, the pallet structure was nearly identical to that of experiment pallets to be used in Spacelab missions beginning in 1981. It was 3m (10ft) long and constructed in a U-shape to fit into the 4:5m (15ft)-diameter orbiter payload bay. Later in the Spacelab program, five pallets would be available for space missions. MSFC was responsible for delivery and system integration of the OFT pallets. (NASA Release 78-182)
NASA's Office of Space Science (OSS) had become less optimistic about how much money it could expect from Congress for Spacelab in the 1980s, and was trying to reduce the estimated cost of such missions, Aerospace Daily reported. The cost of Spacelab operations, together with inherent limitations on the work it could support, was working against previous forecasts of heavy use.
Two yrs previously, OSS had viewed Spacelab as an opportunity for growth of NASA's science program and had projected annual Spacelab budgets of $250 million or so, excluding launch costs, by the mid-1980s. Dr. Noel Hinners, NASA's Associate Administrator for Space Science, said, "Now we don't have the same optimism," given the expected budget environment, Spacelab orbit staytime and schedule limits, and competition within OSS for continued development of free-flyers. A more realistic budget prospect now would be $100 to $125 million per yr, essentially permitting three missions per yr (one for physics and astronomy, one for solar terrestrial programs, and one for life sciences), and development of one facility-class instrument per yr once steady-state operations were reached about 1984. That level of funding would be about the same as that for one major flight of planetary spacecraft per yr. (AID, Nov 30/78, 127)
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