Aug 14 2007
From The Space Library
NASA announced that it had awarded US$250,000 to participants of the Personal Air Vehicle competition, one of seven NASA Centennial Challenges. Four teams had competed for overall best performance and for prizes for noise reduction, handling, efficiency, short takeoff, and top speed. The competition promoted the use of self-operated, personal aircraft that could serve as on-demand transportation, part of the future solution to U.S. transportation needs. The Comparative Aircraft Flight Efficiency Foundation (CAFE Foundation) had administered the challenge, which took place at the Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport in Santa Rosa, California, on 4-12 August. Frank Vance Turner of Rescue, California, owner of a short-wing Pipistrel aircraft, won the US$100,000 Vantage Prize, as well as the CAFE Efficiency Prize, the Short Runway Prize, and second prize for Top Speed, for a total of US$160,000 in prize money. David and Diane Anders of Visalia, California, owners and pilots of an RV-4 aircraft, won the Noise Prize and first prize for Top Speed, for US$65,000 total winnings. John Rehn of Santa Rosa, California, owner of a Cessna 172 aircraft, won the US$25,000 Handling Qualities Prize.
NASA, “NASA Names Winners of Personal Air Vehicle Challenge,” news release 07-199, 14 August 2007, http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2007/aug/HQ_07199_personal_air_vehicles.html (accessed 14 June 2010).
STS-118 Mission Specialist Richard A. Mastracchio and ISS Expedition 16 Flight Engineer Clayton C. Anderson undertook the third EVA of STS-118. Over the course of 5 hours and 28 minutes, the pair relocated the S-band antenna subassembly from the P6 Truss to the P1 truss, installed a new transponder on P1, and retrieved the P6 transponder. The spacewalk ended early when Mastracchio’s spacesuit was damaged. The suit had a cut in the left thumb of the glove. Mission Control instructed Mastracchio to return to the ISS airlock as a precaution against further damage that could potentially allow air to rush out of the suit. Anderson quickly finished the task he had been working on and followed Mastracchio to the airlock.
NASA KSC , “STS-118”; Mark Carreau, “Spacewalk Ends Early After Cut in Space Suit Found,” Houston Chronicle, 16 August 2007.
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