Mar 9 1983
From The Space Library
NASA said that it had joined with the Department of Energy (DOE) and the DOD in a program to advance technology of nuclear-reactor power systems for use in future civilian and military space missions. The SP-100 pro-gram would assess promising concepts with the aim of beginning engineering and ground testing within a few years. Research would proceed on thermoelectric and other power-conversion systems; high-temperature metals and materials; radiators for dissipating waste heat in space; and high-temperature nuclear fuels. A project office at JPL would provide day-to-day management of SP-100. (NASA Release 83-30)
LeRC issued a request for proposals to design, build, and launch an ACTS system, including flight spacecraft, ground system, and operations. Launched by the Space Shuttle in 1988, ACTS would serve for two years in communications experiments. (NASA Release 83-28; LeRC Release 83-14)
Tass announced the docking of Cosmos 1443, probably an advanced version of earlier Salyut craft, with Salyut 7 that had been orbiting since April 1982. Cosmos 1443, launched unmanned from Baykonur March 2, weighed about 20 tons and was larger than the Soyuz or Progress spacecraft. The 21-ton Salyut 7 was about the size of a small house trailer., said the New York Times. The linkup was thought to demonstrate the Soviet Union's ability to assemble larger space stations. (FBIS, Tass in English, Mar 10, 11/83; NY Times, Mar 11/83, A-12; W Post, Mar 11/83, A-24)
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