Nov 9 1987
From The Space Library
NASA announced that the allowable end-of-mission landing weight for Space Shuttle orbiters would be increased from 211,000 to 230,000 pounds. The increase means that roughly 19,000 pounds more payload can be carried aloft. The new capability was made possible by structural analysis and additional review of forces encountered by the orbiter during maneuvers shortly before landing. NASA Associate Administrator for Space Flight Rear Admiral Richard H. Truly said that this new capability would add consider-able flexibility and efficiency to NASA's Space Transportation System. (NASA Release 87-168; Av Wk, Nov 9/87; W Post, Nov 10/87)
After a lengthy debate, the European Space Agency decided to fund an independent space program that would give it "full autonomy in space'" Only Great Britain, which has been pushing for cuts in the space exploration pro-gram, refused to go along. The decision was reached during the meeting in the Hague of ministers from the 13 member states, with France and Germany being the primary proponents of the new policy in space exploration.
The long-range plan adapted by the ministers included a $3.7 billion "Columbus" project calling for a crew-tended space module to be connected to the proposed U.S.-international Space Station; a free-flying human-tended Station to orbit near it; and a polar Earth-observation platform. The plan also called for about $4.4 billion for the "Hermes" miniature Space Shuttle, a reusable spacecraft with an ejectable cockpit for a crew of three, and $3.5 billion for the "Arian" 5 rocket, which would be used to boost the Hermes into space. (LA Times, Nov 10/87; NY Times, Nov 10/87; W Post, Nov 13/87)
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