Apr 20 1971
From The Space Library
Dr. George M. Low, Acting NASA Administrator, and Alan Gotlieb, Deputy Minister of Canadian Dept. of Communications, signed agreement at NASA Hq. for first cooperative international project for experimental communications technology satellite. Cooperative Applications Satellite C (CAS-C) would be launched into geostationary orbit by NASA in 1974 to conduct communications experiments with ground terminals operating at extremely high frequencies, test one-kilowatt solarpower-cell arrays that would unfurl in space like window shades, and test electric propulsion and stabilization systems. Canadian DOC would be responsible for design, construction, integration, and subsystems testing of spacecraft and for tracking, data acquisition, command, and control of spacecraft after it reached orbit. NASA would provide Thor-Delta booster, launch services, superefficiency power tubes and associated equipment, and environmental testing of integrated spacecraft. There would be no exchange of funds between DOC and NASA. Project was fifth in series of cooperative satellites which began with launch of Alouette 1 Sept, 28, 1962. (NASA Release 71-72)
National Space Club luncheon honored Dr. Hugh L. Dryden, late NASA Deputy Administrator, physicist, and Director of NACA from 1947 to 1958. Dr. Robert C. Seamans, Jr., Secretary of the Air Force, said in speech: "Dr. Dryden held that the decentralization of authority was a desirable goal and dictatorial control of projects, funds, and facilities should be avoided. He knew that ideas and skills would be widely dispersed. Even though the goals of applied research and development projects were concrete and specific, the approach to the goals had to be diversified. Freedom of the agencies and scientists engaged in the work was a necessity here, as it was in fundamental research, if the best use was to be made of their abilities. The concepts have lived and grown, and I believe, still represent the fundamental policy for the management of programs at NASA today." During luncheon, bust of Dr. Dryden, commissioned by National Space Club and executed by sculptress Una Hanbury, was officially presented to NAS President, Dr. Philip Handler. (Text; NSC News Letter)
MSFC announced award of $1 081 343 contract to Research, Inc., to design, fabricate, install, and check out electrical heating devices for space shuttle prototype heat protection systems. Device would be installed in an existing structural test facility at MSFC and would heat up to 1600 K (2500°F) on lower surface and 1300 K (1800°F) on top surface of test articles. Work on device would be funded in increments, beginning with $100 000 for preliminary design phase. (MSFC Release 717)
Astronaut Alan B. Shepard, Jr., received Golf Magazine's All- America Award for making first golf shot on moon during Apollo 14 mission (Jan. 31-Feb. 9), (NYT, 4/21/71, 57)
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