Sept 22 1975
From The Space Library
NASA and the Air Force Systems Command's Space and Missile Systems Organization had jointly contracted for procurement of 12 advanced meteorological satellites, saving more than $37 million, AFSC announced. Both agencies had developed satellites to observe and report worldwide weather conditions and were negotiating procurement of improved, longer lived meteorological spacecraft. The contracts for long-lead time parts for the new satellites-nine for NASA and three for the Air Force were a follow-on to an earlier Air Force procurement program for a meteorological satellite identified as Block 5D. Although some of the systems differed, similar technical requirements permitted the basic spacecraft to serve both agencies. Use of an already developed basic design would save NASA about $33 million, and the joint production contract would save both agencies nearly $2.4 million in material and assembly costs. (AFSC Release OIP 186.75)
The appointment of Lt. Gen. Duward L. Crow (USAF, Ret.) as Associate Deputy Administrator became effective. Gen. Crow succeeded Willis H. Shapley, who retired. Before joining NASA in September 1974 as Assistant Administrator for Dept. of Defense and Interagency Affairs, Gen. Crow had been Assistant Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force since October 1973. He had previously been Comptroller of the Air Force.
Replacing Gen. Crow as Assistant Administrator for DOD and Interagency Affairs was Lt. Gen. William W. Snavely (USAF Ret.) who had been Air Force Deputy Chief of Staff for Systems and Logistics since January 1973. (NASA Release 75-260)
A NASA-developed low-cost highly efficient solar thermal-energy collector and a ball bearing design with a life expectancy 20 times greater than that of present ball bearings had been selected to receive Industrial Research magazine's award for two of the 100 most significant new products developed during the year, NASA announced.
Developed at Lewis Research Center in cooperation with Honeywell, Inc., the solar collector absorbed 20% more solar-radiated energy and produced a greater flow of high-temperature fluids. The flat-plate collector combined an efficient flow scheme, insulation, dual antireflective glass covers, and black chrome absorption coating to provide heating and cooling, with low cost and low pollution, for both commercial buildings and homes.
LeRC developed the bearing with General Electric Co. and Industrial Tectonics, Inc., using computer analysis for maximum performance and reliability. Advanced techniques for producing and melting steel provided a cleaner, longer lived material for the bearing, and advanced fabrication and machining methods contributed greater accuracies and surface finishes to the bearing rings. The bearing was lubricated through holes in the bearing's split inner ring rather than by a conventional lubricant jet pointed at the bearing rings. This advanced bearing design was expected to replace main shaft-thrust ball bearings presently used in large turbine engines, pumping systems, electric utilities, and petroleum pipeline operations. (NASA Release 75-258)
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