May 22 1976
From The Space Library
The Air Force's P76-5 satellite was successfully launched by NASA from the Western Test Range on a Scout vehicle at 0041 am PDT. The 72.6-kg spacecraft, designed to evaluate propagation effects of disturbed plasmas on radar and communications systems, was placed in a near-circular sun-synchronous orbit with apogee at 935 km and perigee at 863 km, inclination of 99.6°, and period of 105.9 min. The launch was requested by the Air Force Nov. 75 and agreed to by NASA 3 Dec. 1975, under a 1962 memorandum of understanding on joint NASA-DOD use of the Scout vehicle, and costs of the launch would be borne by the USAF. Mission objectives would be achieved, according to a postlaunch report. (MOR M-490-602-76-01, 21 Apr 76, [prelaunch] 5 May 76, [postlaunch] 24 Sept 76)
NASA announced issuance of a patent to engineers of Scott Aviation for a new type of breathing apparatus invented under NASA contract, suitable for use as emergency equipment for firemen [see 17 May]. The apparatus included an alarm system working on the compressed air delivered to the wearer through a face mask, warning by a whistle audible only to the wearer if the air pressure fell. The equipment was also lower in weight and bulk, more comfortable, highly visible, and easier to operate. The weight of the apparatus, fitting over the face and around the head, was supported from the hips. Scott Aviation had planned to deliver 50 sets of the equipment to the Boston fire department in July. (NYT, 22 May 76, 31)
Two engineers working for Lockheed Aircraft Corp. had reported that windmills could supply up to a fifth of U.S. energy needs by 1995, the Washington Post said. The engineers, Michael Dusey and Ugo Coty, reporting on a year-long investigation funded by the Energy Research and Development Administration, said that large wind-turbine generators could save 2 billion barrels of oil a year; construction of 54 000 generators with rotor blades more than 160 m end-to-end could furnish 1 trillion kw hrs of electricity annually. Other benefits would include reduction of it pollution and creation of a new industry that would employ thousands, they said. The Lockheed researchers put no price tag on their findings, but an earlier study by the University of Hawaii had said such windmills could cost up to $50 000; the price would be regained within 7 yr and the windmills could remain in operation up to 50 yr, according to the 1974 report by Hawaii's Donald Grace. A professor from the Univ. of Mass.-William Heronemus-had proposed some years ago a network of 957 windmills each about 113 m high just to meet the needs of the state of Vermont. (W Post, 22 May 76, F-1)
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
