June 1978
From The Space Library
“Of Air and Space” article appears in National Geographic Magazine
NASA reported that the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) had awarded Dr. Jose Chirivella and Wesley Menard of JPL the 1977 Manly Memorial Award for the best annual paper dealing with engines. Dr. Chirivella, principal investigator of hydrogen enrichment in the aircraft piston-engine program, and Menard, supervisor of JPL's combustion research group, had achieved fuel savings of 10 to 20% in aircraft piston engines. The aeronautical-propulsion division of NASA's Office of Aeronautics and Space Technology had supported the research. (NASA Activities, June 78, 11)
NASA's annual procurement report for FY77 said that agency procurements had totaled $3532 million, a 10.2% increase over FY76. Approximately 80% of the net dollar value had been placed directly with business firms, 5% with educational and other nonprofit institutions or organizations; 8% with the Calif. Inst. of Technology (for operations conducted by or through JPL), and 6% with or through other government agencies. Of procurements placed by NASA with other government agencies, 90% had resulted in contracts with industry; about 48% of funds under JPL contracts had been for subcontracts with or purchases from business firms. Thus, about 90% of NASA's procurement dollars had gone directly or indirectly to private industry.
Of total direct awards to business firms, 73% were competitive procurements. Small business firms had received $255 million (only 9%) of these direct awards, since most of them were for large continuing R&D contracts for major systems and items of hardware, generally beyond the prime contractor capability of a small business. However, small business had received $119 million (22%) of the $522 million in new contracts worth $10 000 and more with business firms. Small business had also received $496 million (18%) of subcontract awards from 87 of NASA's prime contractors, including $59.382 million awarded to minority small business enterprises.
During 1977, 48 states and Washington, D.C., had participated in NASA prime-contract awards of $10 000 and over, 83% of which were placed in labor-surplus areas located in 41 states. Of NASA's prime contractors, 86% reported their larger subcontract awards had gone to 1684 different subcontractors in 45 states and Washington, D.C. (NASA procur rpt FY77)
The USAF announced that SAMSO had awarded three cost-plus-incentive contracts for the first three stages of the MX missile system. Systems-definition contracts had gone to Thiokol Corp.'s Wasatch Division, $4 635 775; Aerojet Solid Propulsion Co., $3 445 066 (stage two); and Hercules, Inc., $3 493 191 (stage three). A requirement to design explosive ordnance-initiation devices for stage separation and thrust termination accompanied the stage-one contract with Thiokol Corp.
The 3-stage system-definition contracts called for studies, analyses, systems engineering, and missile/stage-interface definition to be completed by the end of 1978. Options for full-scale engineering development would include design, development, fabrication, and testing of hardware for the three stages. The MX program, a follow-on to the Minuteman intercontinental ballistic missile, was aimed at ensuring the survivability and effectiveness of U.S. ICBMs. (AFSC Newsreview, June 78, 3)
The USAF announced it had issued to industry an RFP to investigate the feasibility of using widebody aircraft to supplement the B-52 as cruise-missile carriers. RFPs to aid in selecting one or more contractors had gone to Boeing, Lockheed, and McDonnell Douglas, all producers of domestic widebody transport aircraft. Proposals called for concept tradeoff and design studies to verify aircraft suitability for the carrier mission. The studies would include the prototype widebody aircraft built by Boeing and McDonnell Douglas for the advanced medium short takeoff-and-landing (STOL) transport program. Subsequent developmental efforts were in the planning stage. (AFSC Newsreview, June 78, 16)
ESA reported that its council and communications satellites program, board had unanimously approved at March and April meetings a first series of five operational Ariane launchers [see Apr. 24]; two operational satellites for intra-European telephone, telegraph, and telex communications and television relay (ECS-1 and -2); and a second maritime communications satellite (Marots-B). Three of the five Ariane launchers would be financed from ESA programs for the scientific satellite Exosat (to be launched in early 1981), Marots-B (mid-1981), and ESC-1 (end of 1981). One launcher had been earmarked for the French earth. observation satellite SPOT; the fifth launcher was a reserve.
The council also had agreed that a preliminary phase of the H-sat program should revise the proposed satellite design to require only minor modifications (reducing the time scale) to go from an experimental "heavy" platform and payload to an operating direct-broadcast satellite. Other design modifications required to move from, a qualification to an operational Ariane had delayed the scheduled H-sat launch. (ESA newsletter, June 78, 2)
The NAA newsletter reported that competition had become more intense for world-record flights in general aviation. Robert Mucklestone was attempting to regain his around the world title in Class C-1 Group 1 (2204 to 3858lb) that he had first captured in 1975 from Dr. Alvin Marks, who in 1969 had beaten the record of British aviatrix Sheila Scott, who had traveled a 33 000mi route in 33 days with a total average speed of 36.15mph, including ground time. In 1977 Harold Benham and Jack Rood in a Beechcraft Bonanza Model 35 had bested Mucklestone's record. Whatever the outcome of Mucklestone's current flight, two Texans (William Wisner and Frank Haile) had planned a flight in July 1978 to break the record in that class. (NAA newsletter, June 78, 7)
Researcher William Bainbridge, who had polled registered voters in the Seattle area about attitudes on the space program, reported widespread enthusiasm for the knowledge and practical benefits derived from the space program, Astronautics and Aeronautics magazine said. Bainbridge had offered his poll sample a set of 49 statements as "not good," "moderately good," or "extremely good" reasons for continuing the space program: communications satellite benefits had received most positive responses; scientific knowledge attained through space exploration ranked second. The unconventional idea that ranked highest-communication with extraterrestrial intelligence-was approved by 53% of those polled. Bainbridge felt his results showed public appreciation of the practical and scientific results of the space program, and an anticipation of more benefits from new projects. (A&A, June 78, 60)
- May
- June
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
