Feb 2 1978
From The Space Library
NASA announced plans to launch on Feb. 9, 1978, the first spacecraft in a new worldwide military communications system. DOD's Fleet Satellite Communications (FltSatCom) satellites would provide vital communications for the Navy, Air Force, DOD, and the Presidential Command Network [see Jan. 20]. The spacecraft would go into synchronous-transfer orbit on an Atlas Centaur from ETR's launch complex 36.
FltSatCom, a highly versatile military-communications system built by TRW Defense and Space Systems, would offer 23 operating channels: the Navy would use 1 fleet-broadcast and 9 fleet-relay channels for communications between naval aircraft, ships, submarines, and ground stations, ship-to-ship and ship-to-shore. The system could offer reliable secure communications between naval units, even relatively small vessels equipped with inexpensive antennas and simple equipment, anywhere in the world except in extreme polar regions. The Air Force would use 12 narrowband channels as a part of the Air Force Satellite Communications System (AfSatCom) linking the national command authority with Strategic Air Command (SAC) units and other arms of the Air Force; DOD had reserved 1 channel. The Naval Electronic Systems Command would manage the FltSatCom program.
The spacecraft would consist of two major hexagonal elements (a payload module and a spacecraft module), with the majority of electronic equipment mounted on 12 panels enclosing the payload and spacecraft modules. The payload module would contain UHF and X-band communications equipment, and antennas-the UHF-transmit antenna, built of ribs and mesh to open like an umbrella; and the receive antenna, a separate deployable helix. The spacecraft module would contain earth sensors, an apogee kick motor, attitude and velocity control, telemetry tracking and command, electrical-power distribution, and a solar array folded around the spacecraft module until reaching final position in orbit, to be deployed by spring-loaded hinges. The 1875kg (41321b) spacecraft weighed about 390kg (8601b), more than any satellite previously launched into synchronous orbit on an Atlas Centaur, NASA's standard launch vehicle for intermediate-weight payloads. (NASA Release 78-17; MOR M-491-202-78-01 [prelaunch], Feb 3/78)
Former NASA Administrator Dr. James C. Fletcher received NASA's Distinguished Service Medal at a ceremony at NASA Hq on Jan. 30, 1978. Dr. Frank Press, President Carter's science adviser, made the presentation in recognition of Dr. Fletcher's "distinguished leadership . . . outstanding scientific and administrative abilities . . . and contribution to the nation's significant achievements in the exploration of space and utilization of space to manage the earth's resources." Dr. Press noted, "His decision to proceed with the development of the Shuttle orbiter exemplified the perceptive leadership which foresaw space as a giant laboratory where men will work to improve the future of all mankind." Dr. Fletcher, who was NASA administrator from April 27, 1971 until May 1, 1977, was a consulting engineer and vice president of the National Space Institute in Washington, D.C. (NASA Release 78-18, Langley Researcher, Feb 24/78, 1)
A detailed article on manned spaceflight in a recent Chinese technical journal had raised speculation that the People's Republic of China might biting Salyut had been without precedent in spaceflight. Progress 1 had also recorded dynamic characteristics of the Salyut 6/Soyuz 27/Progress 1 complex and had corrected the station's orbit. (FBIS, Tass in English, Feb 8/78; Feb 6/78)
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