Sep 17 1976
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(New page: The Enterprise-Space Shuttle Orbiter 101, described by NASA as the flagship of "the new era of space transportation" and by Sen. Barry M. Goldwater (R-Ariz.) as "probably the best ...)
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The Enterprise-Space Shuttle Orbiter 101, described by NASA as the flagship of "the new era of space transportation" and by Sen. Barry M. Goldwater (R-Ariz.) as "probably the best investment the U.S. Congress has ever made"-was rolled out of Rockwell Intl.'s assembly facility at Palmdale, Calif., just before 1 pm EDT, to the strains of the theme from the Star Trek TV show and applause from about 2000 spectators. The audience included Sen. John B. Tunney (D-Calif.); Rep. Olin E. Teague (D-Tex.), chairman of the House Committee on Science and Technology; and Rep. William M. Ketchum (R-Calif.), "representing Antelope Valley" where the Orbiter was built. Also on hand were test-flight crewmen Fred W. Haise, Joe H. Engle, Charles G. Fullerton, and Richard H. Truly, the astronaut team who would put the Orbiter through approach and landing tests scheduled for 1979. Special guests were six members of the original Star Trek cast and ST creator Gene Roddenberry [see 8 Set.].
NASA Administrator James C. Fletcher told those attending that the ceremony was "a proud moment" that would mean "the evolution to man in space-not just astronauts." (Plans called for the Orbiter to serve as an all-purpose space trainer, carrying a crew of two or more plus up to five scientific or technological investigators working in space in a shirtsleeve environment.) Willard F. Rockwell, Jr., board chairman of Rockwell Intl., predicted "one of the most exciting chapters in American history" in the productive use of space that the Shuttle would make possible.
The first Shuttle in orbit was to carry 4500 kg of instruments to measure stress, and the second, a small satellite to be left in orbit; the last of six orbital test flights would carry a payload of about 30 000 kg or as many as six satellites to be left in orbit at altitudes up to 160 km.
Resembling "a space-bound DC-9," according to Thomas O'Toole in the Washington Post, the Enterprise was more than 36.5 m long and weighed nearly 70 000 kg, having gained more than 2200 kg over the past 2 yr. Strengthening the wings, landing-gear and payload-bay doors, parts of the fuselage, and the enormous fuel tanks during Shuttle development had added to both the weight and the cost of the vehicle, meaning that its price would be more than the $5.2 billion (in 1971 dollars) estimated by NASA. One change alone, from aluminum to a boron-epoxy composite for landing-gear doors, would cost about $9000 per kg to save 112 kg of weight. Replacing aluminum castings in the fuselage with titanium would cost about $18 000 a kg to save slightly more than 200 kg of weight.
Sen. Goldwater reminded those at the rollout that the first U.S. manned orbital flight (that of John Glenn in Friendship 7) had occurred 14 yr previously, in Feb. 1962, and predicted that the Space Shuttle would make manned space fight a "routine" experience. (NASA Release 76-149; NYT, 18 Sept 76, 1, 8; W Post, 18 Sept 76, A-2; W Star, 18 Sept 76, A-1; C Trib, 18 Sept 76, 1-7, 2-7; Av Wk, 20 Sept 76, 12; 27 Sept 76, 12; KSC Spaceport News, 17 Sept 76,1; JSC Roundup, 24 Sept 76, 1)
NASA announced plans to launch a third maritime satellite, Marisat-C, for Comsat General Corp. from Cape Canaveral on a Delta rocket 14 Oct. Marisat 1, launched 19 Feb., was in orbit over the Atlantic Ocean at 15°W; Marisat 2, launched 9 June, was in orbit over the mid-Pacific at 176.5°. The two Marisats currently provided communications services to the U.S. Navy as well as fulltime commercial voice and data communications to the maritime industry; Marisat-C, which would be in synchronous orbit over the Indian Ocean, would be used initially only by the Navy, which planned to lease UHF capacity it found to be surplus. Comsat General would reimburse NASA for the cost of launch vehicle, launch, and other administrative expenses, and would supply all ground station support. (NASA Release 76-156)
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