Apr 1 1975
From The Space Library
NASA commemorated the 15th anniversary of the launch of Tiros 1 (Television Infrared Observation Satellite), the world's first weather satellite. Since its launch 1 April 1960 at Cape Canaveral on a Thor-Delta booster, 30 experimental and operational weather satellites of increasing complexity had been launched to provide continuous information on earth's environment. Over the 15-yr span the weather satellites had taken more than 2.2 million photographs while traveling through 12.1 billion km of space. Not a single major hurricane or storm had gone undetected or untracked.
President Ford issued a statement in recognition of the Tiros 1 anniversary: "More accurate daily weather forecasts... have had an immeasurable impact in making the lives of millions more pleasant, productive, and secure. No major storm anywhere goes undetected by NASA or NOAA [[[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]] satellites. We can be proud that people everywhere can benefit from this practical application of U.S. space science and technology." (NASA Release 75-73; NASA Activities, April 75)
A prototype of a flexible tunnel to connect the Space Shuttle airlock with the forward end of the Spacelab was being tested at Marshall Space Flight Center. The tunnel would provide a pressurized passageway for crew members and scientists to move to and from the orbiting laboratory without spacesuits. The flexible circular tunnel, built by Goodyear Rubber Corp., would accordion-fold to 0.6 m and extend to a length of more than 4.3 m. Made rigid by steel rings, the tunnel was constructed of layers of aluminum foil, Capran film, and nylon cloth covered by a spongy meteoroid shield.
MSFC engineers' were testing the tunnel, which would be exposed to the space environment when the Orbiter bay doors were opened, for structural strength, airtight integrity, and materials compatibility. (MSFC Release 75-63)
Marshall Space Flight Center had issued a single-source request to Sunstrand Corp. to submit a proposal for the design, development, manufacture, test, and delivery of the auxiliary power unit for the Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Booster's thrust-vector control subsystem. The APU would include a gas generator, turbine, gearbox, fuel pump, electrical controls, control valves, instrumentation, mounting system, and the mechanical and electrical connections required to interface with other SRB subsystems.
Two APUs would be used during prelaunch and ascent phases of flight to provide hydraulic power to the thrust-vector control system of each booster. (MSFC Release 75-62)
The Air Force was again studying the feasibility of a nuclear-powered aircraft twice the size of the C-5, the Washington Star reported. In an interview with the Star, Dr. Lawrence W. Noggle, program manager for nuclear aircraft-propulsion technology at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, said that nuclear power could be used as an alternative power source for large subsonic aircraft. Other potential fuels under study were liquid methane, liquid hydrogen, and coal. A nuclear-powered aircraft, which would require larger engines to carry a larger cargo, could use conventional fuel for takeoff and landing and then switch to nuclear power at cruise speed. The Star quoted Dr. Noggle as saying, "We could use modified jet engines... with the reactor totally isolated from the engine through containment." He predicted that nuclear-powered aircraft could fly for days without refueling. (W Star, l April 75, A4)
NASA announced publication of the Skylab Earth Resources Data Catalog (JSC 09016), containing 35 000 photographs taken on 1973-74 Skylab Orbital Workshop missions. The volume described in detail the earth-resources equipment and techniques used aboard the station; explained how the photos could be used in disciplines related to land-resource management, marine resources and management, land surveys and mapping, and environmental applications; and supplied a detailed index for finding space photographs, as well as instructions on locating data available through other government agencies. (NASA Release 75-92)
NASA executed a $3.65-million supplement to a cost-plus-award-fee contract with Serv-Air, Inc., to continue to provide aircraft for earth-observation and astronaut-proficiency training at Johnson Space Center. Contract provisions also called for maintenance, modification, and related ground support of the JSC aircraft; maintenance and ground support of transient aircraft; engineering, design, fabrication, and installation of electronic and mechanical systems, subsystems, components and equipment; and related logistic functions.
This agreement provided for the third and final year of the contract which had an estimated total value of $7.57 million. (JSC Release 75-23)
1-4 April: In Montreal, the 89-nation International Telecommunications Satellite Organization held its third ordinary meeting of signatories in conjunction with the 25th anniversary of the Canadian signatory, the Canadian Overseas Telecommunications Corp.
Significant accomplishments of the meeting included agreement that domestic services provided for Chile by INTELSAT would be considered on the same basis as international services, thus increasing Chile's voting representation on the board of governors; that any signatory owning shares in INTELSAT totalling 1.25% or more would be entitled to representation on the board of governors; and that the capital ceiling of $500 million for payments and contractual commitments for development of INTELSAT V satellites, planned for launch in the late 1970s, would have to be increased by from $200 to $400 million. (INTELSAT Release, April 75)
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