April 1974

From The Space Library

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Current revision

Skylab Program Director William C. Schneider and the three Skylab crews had been selected as recipients of the 1973 Robert J. Collier Trophy for "proving beyond question the value of man in future explorations of space and the production of data of benefit to all the people on earth," the National Aeronautic Association announced. The Collier Committee-while recognizing contributions to the Skylab pro-gram by the more than 26 000 engineers, scientists, flight controllers, and technicians-also had unanimously agreed that the trophy should be presented to Schneider on behalf of the crews for his leadership in this "exceedingly complex enterprise." The trophy was presented by Vice President Gerald R. Ford in Washington, D.C., ceremonies 4 June. (NAA News, April 74)

The report For the Benefit of All Mankind: The Practical Returns from Space was released by the House Committee on Science and Astronautics: America's space program could stand on its own feet as a "heroic manifestation of the evolutionary progress of humanity toward a higher and better life." During 1973 more than 2000 new examples of space-developed innovations and techniques had been reported under NASA's technology utilization program. Since the program's inception 11 yrs ago, more than 30 000 items had been reported. Hundreds of new products and applications had become a part of daily life. Under liberalized licensing procedures, NASA had granted five exclusive patent licenses during the year, the largest since the inception of the program. In addition to publications announcing innovations, NASA's seven Regional Dissemination Centers worked directly with 2000 companies each year. In 1973 more than 57 000 industrial inquiries had been handled. (Com Print)

Aircraft stalls and spins, greatest cause of fatal general-aviation accidents, had been intensively studied for the past 18 mos, NASA said in a report on its general-aviation technology program. More than 1000 spin tests had been made in Langley Research Center's spin tunnel; designs for test aircraft were nearly complete. Airport traffic flow and pilot approach-and-landing performance also were under study, and a program offering more precise flight path control and reduced pilot workload had significantly improved pilot landing ability. A five-year program was developing better training methodology to reduce pilot errors. (NASA Fact Sheet)

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