Mar 6 1973
From The Space Library
Listen to Lunar Science Press conferences on this date:
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Dr Sidney Fox (University of Miami), Dr Lawrence Nyquist (JSC), Dr Farouk El-Baz (Smithsonian), Dennis Williams (PAO)
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Dr Robin Brett (JSC), Dennis Williams (PAO)
The Air Force launched an unidentified reconnaissance satellite on an Atlas-Agena booster from Eastern Test Range at 4:30 am EST. Orbital parameters: 36 679-km (22 791.3-mi) apogee, 35 855-km (22 279:3-mi) perigee, 1435-min (23.9-hr) period, and 0.2° inclination. (UN Registry; Today, 3/7/73)
Cosmos 551 was launched by the U.S.S.R. from Baykonur Cosmodrome into orbit with a 292-km (181.4-mi) apogee, 202-km (125.5-mi) perigee, 89.4-min period, and 65.0° inclination. The satellite reentered March 20. (GSFC SSR, 3/31/73; SBD, 3/7/73, 35)
Dr. James C. Fletcher, NASA Administrator, testified on long-term objectives during the Senate Committee on Aeronautical and Space Sciences hearings on the FY 1974 NASA authorization. Among effects of space and aeronautics on "all Americans and, to a degree, people throughout the world, in 1985," he foresaw a rise in air cargo revenues from the current $1.6 billion per year to $14 billion per year, with development of automated handling and compatible aircraft. Trade and tourism would flourish with the use of hypersonic jet aircraft, "which we will be thinking about in 1985 and maybe other nations will have developed." Such an aircraft could fly from Washington to Peking in 11/2 firs. Hydrogen fuel that produced water rather than pollutant fumes would replace present- aviation fuels.
In space, Dr. Fletcher saw a proliferation of domestic satellites leading to economic use of long-distance telephone calls for "discussing almost anything." Large-scale digital computers-spinoffs of the space age-would be used educationally; "computer-aided instruction is the coming thing. This is the quickest way to learn if we can afford to build the system, and by 1985, we think we can." Other NASA objectives to be realized within the next 10 to 15 yrs were a satellite-operated search-and-rescue system that picked up signals from pocket-sized radios aboard life rafts, the use of space age sensors in preventive medicine and for rapid diagnosis, a global disaster-alert and relief-control system to monitor major disasters, biological space processing to separate viruses or bacteria in the production of vaccines, an international space laboratory, an international lunar expedition, and expanded planetary exploration. Dr. Fletcher said NASA could be called an environmental agency. "It is not just that space is our environment, but it is rather that . virtually everything we do, manned or unmanned, science or applications, helps in some practical way to improve the environment of our planet and helps us understand the forces that affect it. Perhaps that is our essential task, to study and understand the earth and its environment.” (Transcript)
The House Committee on Science and Astronautics' Subcommittee on Aeronautics and Space Technology opened its hearings on the FY 1974 NASA authorization. Rep. Ken Hechler (D-W. Va.), Committee Chairman, said the Subcommittee would be particularly concerned with "the extent of progress toward the enunciation of a national aeronautics and aviation policy." The Subcommittee had been partially responsible, he said, for the reduction of emphasis on aeronautics because it was "not aggressive enough in its insistence that more emphasis be placed on aeronautics during . . . the late 1950's when the Committee was first established, and the early 1960's when the tremendous emphasis on space tended to push aeronautics . . . into the background."
Roy P. Jackson, NASA Associate Administrator for Aeronautics and Space Technology, testified that reorientation of NASA's space and aeronautical programs to meet changing national goals had been completed "without jeopardizing the continuing development of a broad base for new knowledge, and the potential for meeting future, but presently unseen, needs." In the OAST aeronautics program the research and technology base took priority over experimental programs. The R&T base was "work that is unparalleled in the U.S. It is the data base from which springs new ideas for development in the future." When faced with the necessity to cut expenditures, "we had to consider primarily a reduction in our work on flight experiments and experimental programs." Among examples of meeting future needs, hydrogen as a long-term aircraft fuel for the distant future was a "concept of potential major importance to the reduction of air pollution, while simultaneously conserving our increasingly scarce petroleum reserves." Hydrogen eliminated hydrocarbon pollution and was "a more efficient fuel, but the reduction of NOX [oxides of nitrogen] may require additional effort." The "earliest likely commercial use of hydrogen as an aircraft fuel will be about 15 to 20 years hence." Hydrogen was "a low-density, cryogenic fuel which represents problems of relatively large, insulated tanks, the need for materials to keep their strength through wide temperature variations, very low temperature hardware including pumps, valves, seals and associated maintenance. In addition to cost, hydrogen is difficult to store and transport. . . . Our experience with the practical use of liquid hydrogen in NASA's space program suggests that there will be some complexities to solve but these should not be insurmountable."
Dr. Seymour C. Himmel, Deputy Associate Administrator for Technology in OAST, reported on the quiet, clean, short-haul experimental engine (QCSEE) program to integrate and demonstrate technology required for an environmentally acceptable and economical powered-lift propulsion system. "QCSEE will utilize a basic existing engine core, modified as required to mate with specially designed low-pressure spool fans and turbines to build up an experimental engine. This, together with appropriate flight-type acoustic nacelles and wing section installations, will be tested for noise and performance and operating characteristics. The design and test program will provide the technology base needed to help guide Government . . . environmental rulemaking and to provide industry with data to evaluate propulsion concept effectiveness and development risks."
George W. Cherry, Deputy Associate Administrator for Programs in OAST, described the status of aeronautics programs after revisions necessitated by FY 1974 budget restrictions. The General Electric Co. quiet engine contract had been completed and both engines delivered to NASA. Engines A and C were scheduled for extensive in-house research programs at Lewis Research Center. An in-house study underway at LeRC would determine the technical value of another contracted effort, for a second-generation quiet engine. "In the meantime, we are working to generate component noise design and performance data, so that a significant noise reduction below that demonstrated by the first Quiet Engine can be obtained in any future engine program. No important area in aeronautical propulsion has been terminated, although funding levels for certain portions of the aeronautics programs have been readjusted based on a review of priorities. The F-8 high-speed supercritical wing verification project was not cut back or terminated. During FY 1973, the project was completed according to plan. The results were very encouraging and gave confidence as to wind-tunnel test results at transonic speeds." A follow-on to the F-8 was under study. Depending upon results, a follow-on F-8 flight-test program might be undertaken in FY 1975. (Transcript)
The Subcommittee on Manned Space Flight of the House Committee on Science and Astronautics continued hearings on NASA's FY 1974 authorization. Dale D. Myers, NASA Associate Administrator for Manned Space Flight, identified locations for space shuttle development: Kennedy Space Center and Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., as the launch and landing sites; NASA's Michoud Assembly Facility for the external tank production; and the Rockwell International Corp. facility at Downey, Calif., for orbiter and systems integration. "The major unknown, at the moment, is where the Solid Rocket Boosters will be produced and tested. We expect that this location will be identified when the solid fueled rocket booster contract is awarded this November."
Philip E. Culbertson, Director of Mission and Payload Integration in OMSF, contrasted a typical operational communications satellite program using expendable launch vehicles with one using the space shuttle. Launched on the Titan IIIB-Centaur launch vehicle, each spacecraft was estimated at 467 kg (1030 lbs). To fulfill 1979-1990 requirements for reliable communications services, 26 spacecraft would be required. Use of the Titan IIIB-Centaur would require 26 new spacecraft and 26 new launch vehicles, at an average cost for each flight of $25.8 million.
"If the same program is carried out using the Shuttle and Tug, the cost changes significantly. First, with the Shuttle we can apply the low cost approaches to payload design. We are no longer constrained by weight limitations; therefore, we can ruggedize the spacecraft structure, simplify the design and verification test program, and thus reduce both development and unit spacecraft cost." The shuttle and tug combination could deploy and retrieve 2 satellites on a single flight, making 13 flights to deploy 26 spacecraft-10 new and 16 refurbished. On 8 of these flights 2 spacecraft would be deployed and retrieved. "The total cost for conducting the program would be $14.9 million per spacecraft flight, compared to the $25.8 million for the expendable approach-a savings of 42 percent."
M/G Robert H. Curtin (USAF, Ret.), NASA Director of Facilities, discussed disposition of facilities at Lewis Research Center's Plum Brook Station, which would be closed because of FY 1974 budget cuts. LeRC was discussing the station's availability and capability with potential user agencies-including the Electric Research Council, which planned to establish an electric power research institute, and the Business and Employment Council of the Governor of Ohio, which had recommended establishment of a state-funded Ohio Development Center. LeRC was studying possible use of the station's reactor for environmental research by the Environmental Protection Agency. The Plum Brook space power facility was being prepared to test the shroud for NASA's Viking spacecraft but "there are no additional programmatic needs for the use of this facility and it is anticipated that it will be placed in a standby mode by the end of Fiscal Year 1974.” (Transcript)
NASA Associate Administrator for Applications Charles W. Mathews continued testimony before the House Committee on Science and Astronautics' Subcommittee on Space Science and Applications during FY 1974 NASA authorization hearings: The ERTS-B launch was changed from November 1973 to the first quarter of 1976, permitting an instrument to measure the heat energy radiated from the land and the water surface to be incorporated. These data would be used to locate, map, and identify pollution in large lakes, bays and estuaries, as well as to obtain temperature information over land areas. NASA had shifted the emphasis of the earth observation aircraft program because of ERTS 1 (launched July 23, 1972) and Skylab (scheduled for May launch). "Heretofore the aircraft program was principally used to test instruments and to investigate techniques. It is now to be used in support of investigations associated with Earth observation spacecraft. The net effect is an increase . . . of aircraft flights, sensors and data processing. The aircraft program capability will be devoting approximately 80 percent of its time to this latter effort and the remainder will be used in experimental work on new instruments.” (Transcript)
The Thor-Delta launch vehicle and "its entire missile launch system" were being sold to Japan by McDonnell Douglas Corp., Director Andrew Biemiller of the American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) Dept. of Legislation said in testimony before the House Committee on Finance's Subcommittee on International Trade. Biemiller told the Subcommittee that the U.S. aerospace industry, "where the U.S. has held technological supremacy," was "steadily being exported abroad." Dept. of State spokesman Charles W. Bray, III, later told the press in Washington that the sale had been approved under a 1969 agreement on space cooperation. Japan would be obligated to use the rocket system for peaceful purposes only. (CR, 3/6/73, S3977-9; Doder, W Post, 3/7/73, A10)
The decision to publicize weather information from a secret Air Force satellite system was announced by Under Secretary of the Air Force John L. McLucas at a Washington press conference. Information would be made available to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration from "several" satellites orbiting at altitudes of 800 km (500 mi), providing more precise information on cloud cover than available from the higher altitude NOAA satellites. A USAF-NOAA meeting March 19 would arrange for transfer of information. (W Star & News, 3/7/73, A6)
NASA and space shuttle contractors held the third quarterly space shuttle Review at Marshall Space Flight Center. Attended by 400, the review provided information on external tanks and Solid Rocket Boosters. (Marshall Star, 3/7/73, 1)
NASA and the Dept. of Defense were in disagreement over use of a high-frequency. radio link between the earth and space, Thomas O'Toole said in the Washington Post. NASA wanted to use the frequency to transmit voice, data, and televised instructions to the ATS-F Applications Technology Satellite, to be launched in April 1974. The Air Force and the Army feared interference with their own radio signals. A move to lower the frequency for satellite communications would cost NASA as much as $4 million to install a new transponder and could delay the launch four months. (O'Toole, W Post, 3/6/73, 5)
U.S.S.R. sounding rocket launchings, first step in joint Soviet-French meteorological studies, had begun from French Kerguelen Island, Tass reported. The first rocket had studied a vertical cross-section of the atmosphere over the island and reported temperature, pressure, and wind velocity in the upper atmosphere. (Tass, FBIS-Sov, 3/9/73, Ll)
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