Nov 7 1994
From The Space Library
An article about technology transfer, in discussing progress made in this regard, mentioned that NASA had ordered that technology transfer be an integral part of every employee's job. It also indicated that NASA's Small Business Technology Transfer awards were judged as "balanced and fair." (Av Wk, Nov 7/94)
NASA, together with the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. Department of Defense Information Systems Agency, AT&T, and Foxworth & Dinkins, a Washington, DC-based marketing firm, sponsored a three-day conference at Clark Atlanta University November 7-9 that brought representatives of the 117 Historically Black Colleges and Universities to explore the opportunities for minority students in science and mathematics. NASA Administrator Daniel S. Goldin was one of the conference speakers. (Atlanta Business Chronicle, Nov 11-17/94)
NASA was scheduled to deliver in late October for the Clinton administration review a comprehensive plan for the United States to develop a reusable launch vehicle (RLV). Proposals were contemplated that would be funded by business with NASA providing the needed technologies, for two RLVs: the X-34 for small payloads and the X-33 single-stage-to-orbit that could lead to a replacement of the Shuttle. The goal was, eventually, to replace expendable launch vehicles (ELVs). With a declining budget NASA's future depended on cheap space transportation and thus far there was little evidence that such RLVs were likely in the near future. In late November it was reported that Boeing Company and McDonnell Douglas Corporation would announce on November 29 that they were joining to compete for initial contracts to build a next-generation Space Shuttle based on reusable rockets. McDonnell Douglas had led in the development of single-stage-to-orbit launch systems and Boeing was a major integrator of complex programs. (AV Wk, Nov 7/94; WSJ, Nov 29/94; Reuters, Nov 29/94; AP, Nov 29/94; LA Times, Nov 30/94; USA Today, Nov 30/94; H Post, Nov 30/94; Antelope Valley Press, Dec 1/94; SP News, Dec 5-11/94; CSM, Dec 6/94)
NASA was evaluating 28 proposals for innovative, low-cost planetary science missions and was expected to make selections by late January 1995. (Av Wk, Nov 7/94)
NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center and a consortium led by Texas Instruments' Metallurgical Materials Division were trying to use advanced aerospace materials to develop a demonstrator automobile engine significantly lighter and more efficient than the ones in present use. They planned to use high-temperature, high-strength materials developed for the defunct National Aerospace Plane. NASA would provide funding under its Aerospace Industry Technology Program. (Av Wk, Nov 7/94)
Seven European nations-Britain, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and Sweden-planned to combine their aeronautics agencies to create the Association of European Research Establishments (AEREA). The goal would be to streamline development, eliminate duplication, improve efficiency, and lay the groundwork for a unified European technology base. The seven agencies had a combined workforce of 19,930, including 8,695 scientists, engineers, and technicians. AEREA was designed in part to counter a "U.S. technology threat." (Av Wk, Nov 7/94)
The European Transonic Windtunnel (ETW), which was about to open, posed a challenge to the United States and to NASA. The project was funded by Britain, France, Germany, and the Netherlands and was one of the most advanced aeronautical research facilities in the world. U.S. officials had used the ETW as an example of why NASA should build at least two new tunnels to help U.S. companies compete with European rivals. ETW officials said the new tunnel was already booked through mid-1996. (Av Wk, Nov 7/94)
The Wide Field Infrared Explorer (WIRE) spacecraft was designed to use recent advances in large format infrared technology to answer some key questions concerning the formation of stars. The project-the fifth in a series of NASA Small Explorer program missions-was being designed to observe star-burst galaxies about 500 times fainter than those recorded at 25 microns by the Infrared Astronomical Satellite in 1983. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory worked with the Space Dynamics Laboratory at Utah State University to build the cryogenically cooled infrared telescope. The three-axis spacecraft, which would be provided by NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center-would be the same design Goddard developed for the Submillimeter Wave Astronomy Satellite, a Small Explorer mission planned for 1995. The WIRE spacecraft was to be launched on an Orbital Sciences Corporation Pegasus XL, which was scheduled to be air-dropped from an L-1011 carrier aircraft. (Av Wk, Nov 7/94)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
