Jul 5 1978
From The Space Library
NASA announced it had awarded Computer Sciences Corp., Falls Church, Va., a $40 million contract for 3yr of institutional computer systems engineering, development, and production operations work at Johnson Space Center, Under JSC management, the corporation would perform systems engineering and definition, applied software development, and computer systems and related facility planning and development for the central computing facility, as well as computer operations, equipment operations, job scheduling and processing, dispatch services, job quality control, maintenance of tape libraries, production coordination, and other related tasks for the facility and mission control center. (NASA Release 78-95; JSC Release 78-29)
NASA announced it had awarded Martin Marietta Corp. a $32 million contract to develop a teleoperator retrieval system (TRS), a reusable TV equipped propulsive device for use by Space Shuttle crews to deliver, stabilize, and recover satellites in orbit. Managed by Marshall Space Flight Center, the contract called for delivery of flight hardware by September 1979.
The TRS, a low-thrust box-like spacecraft operated from the Space Shuttle by remote control, could be carried in the orbiter cargo bay or left in space after completion of a mission for retrieval by the next Space Shuttle. First mission far the TRS would be a docking with Skylab to boost it into higher orbit or to aid a controlled reentry; a camera on the forward end of the TRS would permit an astronaut to maneuver it for rendezvous and docking, or for other purposes. The TRS would return to the Space Shuttle using its own guidance and control system. (NASA Release 78-96; Marshall Star, July 5/78, 1; DFRC X-Press, July 14/78, 2; JSC Roundup, July 7/78, 1)
Kennedy Space Center announced it had awarded Boeing Services International, Inc., a 1-yr $24 071 643 extension of a ground-systems operational contract, which brought the contract total to $67 143 012. Services by Boeing would include facility and utility operations and maintenance for propellants; cranes, doors, and platforms; elevators; services and shops; nondestructive evaluation; and life support and industrial operations. (KSC Release 63-78)
MSFC reported that electronic simulators for Space Shuttle main engines, solid-fuel rocket boosters, and external tanks had passed tests designed to check the Shuttle's avionics during simulated missions. JSC would conduct Shuttle-flight simulations in a Shuttle avionics integration laboratory (SAIL) for which MSFC engineers had provided a mated elements system. All Shuttle avionics would work together in the SAIL for the first time in Shuttle-flight simulation that would include part of the countdown under normal, abnormal, and certain failure conditions. (Marshall Star, July 5/78, 2)
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