Feb 26 1974
From The Space Library
NASA Associate Administrator for Manned Space Flight Dale D. Myers testified during the Senate Committee on Aeronautical and Space Sciences hearings on the FY 1975 NASA authorization that space shuttle subcontractors, vendors, and suppliers had been selected in 32 states. Of the major subcontractors, 30 had already begun work. By June 1974 the total major subcontractor team would be at almost 100% of the required level. Shuttle employment was 16 000 and would reach 27 000 by June 1974 and 37 000 by June 1975. The first major subsystem test of the shuttle main engine would be made before the end of June 1974. Fabrication of Orbiter 1 would begin by the end of 1974, with the first horizontal flight test scheduled for the second quarter of 1977, the first manned orbital flight for the second quarter of 1979, and initial operational shuttle capability for 1980. (Transcript)
Dr. Philip E. Culbertson, Director of Mission and Payload Integration in NASA's Office of Manned Space Flight, testified on manned space systems in development, before the House Committee on Science and Astronautics' Subcommittee on Manned Space Flight during FY 1975 authorization hearings. Dr. Culbertson said 986 payloads were projected for the 12-yr period beginning in 1980, with one third each for applications, science, and the Dept. of Defense. Duplication of the accomplishments expected from the space shuttle sortie (Spacelab) program would require automated spacecraft, sounding rockets, a manned space station, and a system for manned transport. The shuttle, with effective integration of payloads and the ability to service in-orbit spacecraft, offered a potential savings of $14 billion over expendable systems from 1980 to 1991. Studies had shown that 725 flights were required to fly the projected 986 payloads, an average of 60 flights a year. At a 10% rate of discount and a 10% rate of return, the space transportation system would break even if the shuttle were flown only 25 times a year. (Transcript)
26-28 February: NASA Associate Administrator for Applications Charles W. Mathews-testifying during the House Committee on Science and Astronautics' Subcommittee on Space Science and Applications hearings on NASA's FY 1975 authorization-said the 1974 decision to phase out NASA communications activity had been reconsidered because of
industry unwillingness to risk capital on advanced communications re-search and development. Private industry could meet short-term commercial needs but "continued NASA activity is essential to identify and meet long term national needs." The investment level in advanced communications R&D would increase from $1.0 million in FY 1974 to $1.4 million in FY 1975. R&D included investigations into advanced antenna techniques to define radiation pattern contours to fit geographical boundaries and eliminate unwanted spillover; technology to open near-and far-infrared wavelengths for communications; new techniques in solid-state, high-power devices to replace traveling wave tubes; and use of millimeter-wave regions to expand the spectrum for satellite communications.
The ATS-F Applications Technology Satellite scheduled for 1974. launch would conduct health and education telecommunications and radio beacon experiments and measure charged particles and magnetic fields over the U.S. for one year. The satellite would then be moved over India to beam educational TV to 4000 villages. ATS-F (to be Ats 6 after launch) also would be used to extend coverage during the 1975 Apollo Soyuz Test Project docking mission. Following completion of the Indian experiments, ATS-F would be moved back over to the U.S. to continue experiments there. (Transcript)
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