Nov 7 1977
From The Space Library
Dryden Flight Research Center announced it had scheduled four ferry-test flights of the Shuttle orbiter Enterprise mated to its Boeing 747 carrier for Nov. 14, 15, 17, and 18 to prepare for the orbiter's cross-country ferry flight in March 1978 from DFRC to MSFC for ground-vibration testing. Later flights would ferry orbiters from Rockwell International's facility in Calif. to Kennedy Space Center in Fla. for launch.
Besides determining the best speeds and altitudes for the ferry flights, the test would measure holding-pattern and engine-out performance in cruise and landing/takeoff. The 747 crew would be Fitzhugh Fulton, commander, and Tom McMurtry, pilot, with Victor Horton and Skip Guidry as flight engineers; the 4 had flown the 747 in recent approach and landing tests. (DFRC Release 37-77; NASA Release 77-233; JSC Release 77-74)
MSFC reported its engineers had prepared electronic simulations as dress rehearsals of Shuttle orbital missions set for 1978, with computers in the roles of major hardware. The simulations, carried out at JSC, would check out Shuttle avionics (electrical and electronic systems controlling the Shuttle during flight and sending signals to pilots and ground controllers monitoring the mission). MSFC's engineers would deliver to JSC in Jan. 1978 the Marshall mated-elements system (MMES) simulating items for which MSFC was responsible: main engines, solidfuel rocket boosters, and external tank. JSC would provide an orbiter simulator and a computer to simulate Shuttle dynamics, a system called SAIL (Shuttle avionics integration laboratory) able to simulate a Shuttle flight beginning 20min before launch under normal or abnormal conditions. The MMES could simulate failure of almost any MSFC element to see how the systems would react with one main engine out or if high temperatures or pressures should occur in vital areas. (MSFC Release 77-208)
NASA announced changes in organizations or titles for operational purposes during the transition period of its reorganization (Nov. 8 to Dec. 4) in the Office of Management Operations and the Office of External Relations, as well as establishment of the position of special assistant to the Administrator to direct implementation of the reorganization. (NASA anno Nov 7/77)
The Natl. Geographic Society announced that Gen. William J. Evans would be recipient for 1976 of the Gen. Thomas D. White Space Trophy given annually since 1961 to the USAF member, military or civilian, contributing most significantly to U.S. aerospace progress. Gen. Evans, commander of the Air Force Systems Command at Andrews AFB from Sept. 1975 to Dec. 1976, had played a key role in developing defense space systems. (NGS Release Nov 7/77)
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