Dec 9 1980
From The Space Library
The Washington Post reported that Dr. Paul MacCready had completed a round of test flights of his solar-powered airplane Solar Challenger to prepare it for a Paris-to-London flight in June 1981. In six days of tests at the air park in Marana, Ariz., the Challenger had not achieved a planned 63-mile flight over the desert [see December 4]. Trouble with the propeller pitch control and related equipment continued, and MacCready said that he wanted to consider some changes before resuming the tests. The plane's 47-foot wingspan and stabilizer carried 16,000 solar cells to gather sunlight and convert it to power for the 2.7-hp motor that turned the propeller. (W Post, Dec 9/80, A-20)
Responding to press reports on the Ariane, ESA issued a statement on its program of four flight tests, the second of which failed when the first stage malfunctioned. ESA had identified the trouble and taken steps to rectify it.
Test 3 would now take place in June 1981 and test 4 in the autumn of that year, a timetable ESA said was compatible with its commitments to put scientific and communications satellites into orbit in late 1981 and 1982. Financing arranged at the outset, which included 20% for contingencies, would cover the additional studies and tests needed. (ESA Info 31)
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