Mar 22 1978
From The Space Library
LaRC announced it had begun a research program on problems of agricultural aircraft. Beginning in 1921, airplanes for agricultural use had required conversion from some other purpose; in 1950, the first aircraft was designed specifically for agricultural use. Agricultural aircraft had improved since then, but still relied on 1940s technology. The aerial-applications industry had recognized this, and asked NASA to study drift, swath guidance, liquid and dry material-distribution systems, and aircraft-handling characteristics causing pilot fatigue. The NASA study would also attempt to make the wake vortex of an airplane work for, rather than against, aerial applications. Aerodynamic concerns involved reducing drag for better fuel efficiency and developing appropriate high-lift concepts to improve takeoff, landing, and turning performance.
LaRC would conduct the study at its vortex-research facility, its fullscale wind tunnel, and in actual flight tests. The vortex-research facility would test small-scale models of the agricultural aircraft for Interactions of the aircraft wake with dispersed spray and granular materials. The full-scale tunnel and flight tests would use an Ayres Thrush S2R-800, one of the largest agricultural aircraft. (LaRC Release 78-130)
The Marshall Star reported that a NASA decision to boost the Skylab space station to a higher orbit could lead to reactivation and use of Skylab's onboard systems and instruments in a number of useful projects. MSFC had awarded parallel study contracts, each in the amount of $125 000, to Martin Marietta Corp. and McDonnell Douglas Astronautics Co. for independent reports on the possibilities and benefits of Skylab reuse. The 9-mo studies of the most effective ways to use Skylab in further missions, experiments, and demonstrations would concentrate on the experiments or equipment already aboard Skylab, for firsthand evaluation of how materials and equipment were affected by 10 or more yr in space; on crew quarters and other support, for Spacelab missions and experiments that could benefit from long duration and an additional energy supply; and on opportunities offered by the Skylab in itself, or in conjunction with other hardware elements, for new missions or experiments. For example, the relatively large facility (comparable to a 3-bedroom home) might provide a convenient platform for fabricating and constructing large space structures, or could aid in converting such structures into useful demonstrations or operational systems.
The ground station in Bermuda had begun operations Mar. 6 to 13 to reactivate Skylab, turning on command and telemetry systems and receiving data. Transfer of power from the airlock module to the Apollo Telescope Mount permitted reception of telemetry; the ATM solar arrays also provided power when turned toward the sun. Data received from the ATM computer indicated it was in good working order and had enough power. On Skylab's last working pass, controllers had used about 11 min to check the status of the trickle charge to batteries 2, 4, and 5; the charge had been turned off on battery 7, which had remained fully charged and ready for the next mission. Controllers also had performed some systems checkoffs, Bermuda reporting the command receiver as strong throughout the pass. Plans were to reactivate Skylab in mid-April, using the TAC system to reduce atmospheric drag and prolong Skylab's orbital lifetime for several months. (Marshall Star, Mar 22/78, l)
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