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NASA launched from [[Cape Canaveral]] the [[High Energy Astronomy Observatory]] [[HEAO 2]] on an [[Atlas-Centaur]] launch vehicle [see Nov. 3]. This was the second in a series of three NASA high energy astronomy observatories designed to survey the entire sky for x-ray sources, make measurements of the gamma-ray flux, determine source locations and line spectra, and examine the composition and synthesis of cosmic-ray nuclei. The 20ft 70001b [[HEAO 2]] was equipped to provide precise pointing capability of 1 arc-minute or better, and would focus on specific x-ray sources for detailed examination. Orbiting the earth at 290mi altitude, [[HEAO 2]] had a design life of 1yr. Nicknamed "Einstein" by project scientists, the mission would operate under a consortium representing the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, Mass. Inst. of Technology, Columbia Univ., and [[GODDARD SPACE FLIGHT CENTER|GSFC]]. The spacecraft was built by TRW, Inc., under NASA direction. (NASA MOR S-832-78-02 [prelaunch] date?; NYT, Nov 14/78, C-3)

NASA reported that Cornell Univ. scientists had for the first time turned xenon, rarest of stable rare gases, into a metal by applying tremendous pressure on solid xenon. David Nelson, Jr., and Professor Arthur Ruloff of Cornell's department of materials science and engineering, in work sponsored by [[Lewis Research Center|LeRC]], reported pressures of 320 000 atmospheres applied to a tiny amount of solid xenon at - 241°C (-402°F)

had produced the metal. Xenon frozen solid would not conduct electricity; however, at the pressures applied in the Cornell experiment, the electrical conductivity of the frozen xenon increased more than a hundred billion times-that is, it behaved like a metal.

Because the xenon returned to the insulating (nonconductive) state when the pressure was removed, no engineering applications were apparent. However, Ruloff noted, "The production of metallic xenon is of considerable scientific interest. Furthermore, the development of these techniques is a step forward in high-pressure research." Ruloff believed that his group could make oxygen and krypton metallic, and possibly nitrogen, argon, and even hydrogen. If frozen hydrogen could be made metallic and remain in that state when the pressure was removed, it might have practical use as an extremely powerful rocket propellant, a superconductor, or an improved source for fusion energy. NASA would explore the possibility of making metallic hydrogen. (NASA Release 78-174)

NASA announced appointment of Arnold Frutkin as NASA associate administrator for external relations, effective immediately. Frutkin had served as deputy associate administrator for external relations since March 2, 1978 [see March 1], and acting associate administrator since June 4. Previously he had headed NASA's Office of International Affairs for 18yr. Frutkin would be responsible to the administrator for developing external policy and for coordinating NASA relations with the public, the international community, universities, state and local governments, and the Department of Defense and other federal agencies. Before joining NASA, Frutkin had been deputy director of the U.S. Natl. Committee for the Intl. Geophysical Year. (NASA Release 78-175) 

The U.S. Navy was assessing its current and future space systems with three studies completed and a fourth under way, Av Wk reported. The studies were "Soviet Threat," assessments of how Soviet spacecraft affected U.S. naval operations and how the Soviet systems could be used in war; "Current U.S. Navy Status," assessment of Navy dependence on current U.S. spacecraft systems and the implications for the future; "Mid-Term Look," study of Navy exploitation of space in the next 15yr and what new systems should be considered; and "Far-Term Look," a new study by the Natl. Science Foundation under a $200 000 Navy contract to forecast where Navy space systems were headed by the late 19905 and into the 21st century.

In a move with immediate impact on management of Navy-associated space systems, the Navy had put ocean-surveillance programs under the Chief of Naval Operations because of the importance of command, control, and communications in ocean-surveillance activities and to coordinate these elements more efficiently. Ocean surveillance previously was managed along with antisubmarine warfare. (Av Wk, Nov 13/78, 67)

*[[October 1978|October]]
*[[November 1978|November]]
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*[[December 1978|December]]