Feb 9 1993
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(New page: Robert M. Rados, 73, a retired NASA meteorologist, died of cardiac arrest February 3 at Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, D.C. Mr. Rasdos joined NASA in 1961. His work there inc...)
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Robert M. Rados, 73, a retired NASA meteorologist, died of cardiac arrest February 3 at Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, D.C.
Mr. Rasdos joined NASA in 1961. His work there included service as project manager for the TIROS weather satellite program and global atmospheric research. He retired in 1980. (W Post, Feb 8/93)
Space scientists at NASA's Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, California, think they have identified what matter in deep space is absorbing certain wavelengths of light from distant stars. Researchers Farid Salama and Louis Allamandola demonstrated that the light is absorbed by unexpectedly large organic molecules spread throughout the vacuum of space. These molecules, shaped like chicken wire, are called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).
Salama said, "We think PAHs are the by-product of old carbon-rich stars burning out. This challenges the traditional view of interstellar chemistry, which assumes that all interstellar molecules are produced in the interstellar medium." (NASA Release 93-025)
Daniel S. Goldin, NASA Administrator, who described himself as "an agent of change" in a late-November interview with Government Executive magazine, has set about instituting the "faster, better, cheaper" goals popularized over the past two years by the National Space Council.
Employee review teams set in motion by Goldin came up with 17 percent reduction in future program costs. Most of these savings would come from repackaging NASA satellites into smaller, less expensive parcels. Goldin also committed himself to diversifying NASA's top management. He noted that he had moved "four brilliant, distinguished black Americans" into senior slots and also had promoted women and pushed contracts for minority firms.
Goldin also addressed customer and supplier relations. Reaching out to what he calls NASA's "customer"-the American people-Goldin held a series of six "town meetings" around the country late last year to talk about NASA and answer questions. Goldin also was looking to change the Agency's relationship with its suppliers. A recent General Accounting Office report found that costs in a sampling of 29 NASA projects were running 75 higher, on average, than had initially been projected. Goldin declared war on the practice of companies under-bidding and hoping to make up the loss in later contracts. (Government Executive, Feb/93)
A Pegasus rocket launched from a B-52 bomber flying eight miles above the Atlantic Ocean propelled a Brazilian environmental satellite into orbit. The Pegasus was dropped off the wing of the B-52, which was modified by NASA. After five seconds of free fall, the rocket motors were fired one by one and lifted the satellite into an orbit about 470 miles high.
The satellite, which cost $20 million, was designed to monitor the Amazon River and surrounding rain forests. It was built by Brazil's space agency and launched by the Orbital Sciences Corporation of Fairfax, Virginia. The satellite was the first of a series of satellites planned by Brazil. (AP, Feb 9/93; UPI, Feb 9/93; USA Today, Feb 10/93; W Times, Feb 10/93; Phil Inq, Feb 10/93; NY Times, Feb 10/93; WSJ, Feb 10/93; W Post, Feb 10/93)
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