Oct 16 1986
From The Space Library
NASA planned to proceed with construction of a second horizontal test stand for redesign and recertification of the Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Motor (SRM) at the Morton Thiokol, Inca, Wasatch facility in Utah. The newer test stand would more closely simulate the stresses on the SRM during an actual launch and ascent. (NASA Release 86-146; W Times, Oct 17/86)
Communications Satellite Corporation announced that it had found a way to double the life of an orbiting satellite by reducing fuel consumption. Satellites in a geosynchronous orbit appear stationary over the Earth, allowing ground stations to communicate. Because of gravitational forces, most coming from the moon, satellites tend to drift north or south to a degree where communication co be lost. To compensate for the drift, rockets are fired to bring a satellite back to its original orbit. Most of a satellite's fuel is spent firing its rockets. The new approach, elements of which are used by the military, allows the satellite to drift and be tilted by its rockets so that the antenna's "footprint" can be located. Ground stations receiving messages needed to undergo some modifications as well, however. (W Post, Oct 17/86; WSJ, Oct 17/86; NY Times, Oct 17/86)
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