Aug 9 1974
From The Space Library
President Nixon resigned as 37th President of the United States. Vice President Gerald R. Ford was sworn in as the Nation's 38th President. President Nixon had been facing possible impeachment after two years of bitter public debate over his conduct following the 17 June 1972 break-in of the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate compound in Washington, D.C., by agents of the Committee for the Reelection of the President. (Kilpatrick, W Post, 9 Aug 74, 1; Montgomery, NYT, 9 Aug 74, 13; PD, 12 Aug 74, 1014-1017)
NASA announced it had awarded RCA Astro Electronics Div. a fixed-price $15 282 143 NASA contract, with an additional incentive amount of $692 638 for performance in orbit, to provide two operational meteorological spacecraft-Improved Tiros Operational Satellite H and I-and parts for ITOS-J. The work, to be performed in Hightstown, N.J., would extend through 15 Feb. 1977. The satellites would support the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Operational Meteorological Satellite System through 1978. The noncompetitive procurement was a follow-on to an existing contract. (NASA Release 74-218)
The Federal Plan for Meteorological Services and Supporting Research-Fiscal Year 1975, published for presentation to Congress, called for pro-grams totaling $576.7 million, an increase of $5.7 million over 1974. Published by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and including proposed activities of all Federal agencies with meteorological programs, the 1975 plan proposed an improved NOAA severe weather warning system; use of new technology for more efficient observation, recording, analysis, and warning in the Dept. of Defense and other agencies; and expanded Federal Aviation Administration weather services to aviation. NASA proposed increases for research with the Nimbus satellite series. (NOAA Release 74-128)
Thiokol Corp. had been awarded an $8 900 000 contract for strap-on motors for the Thor-Delta launch vehicle, NASA announced. Delivery would run from May 1975 through May 1976. The contract called for 124, TX-354-5 (Castro II) rocket motors, 41 upper-burn nozzle closure plugs, and documentation for the Thor-Delta, which was managed by Goddard Space Flight Center. The Castro II strap-ons had a thrust of about 270 000 newtons (60 000 lbs) . (NASA Release 74-219)
Communications Satellite Corp. submitted its 11th annual report to the President and Congress. FY 1974 had included the launch of Intelsat-IV F-7 (23 Aug. 1973) and the COMSAT General Corp. award of a $65 900 000 contract to Hughes Aircraft Co. for four high-capacity satellites to be used by American Telephone & Telegraph Co. for domestic communications early in 1976. By 30 June, the number of communications satellite pathways had increased by about 60 to a total of 325, with earth stations in 55 countries. With the addition of 10 more users, the number of countries, territories, and possessions leasing satellite services had exceeded 100. Half circuits leased full time in the global satellite system had increased from 8434 in 1973 to 9627 by 30 June 1974, a gain of about 14%. This voice and record traffic had accounted for the majority of all intercontinental long-distance communications. Net in-come had risen to $36.3 million, a 45% increase over FY 1973. (ComSatCorp, 1974 Report to the President and the Congress)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
