Apr 1 1977
From The Space Library
Space News for this day. (1MB PDF)
NASA reported it had begun working on its plan to make Ames Research Center the lead center for helicopter research. Approved last summer, the plan resulted from NASA's assessment of its research to see where realignment would improve effectiveness and reduce costs. As lead center, ARC would do research on small- and large-scale helicopter hardware using its aeronautical facilities such as the 40 x 80ft wind tunnel and flight-simulation equipment, and flight-test items like the tilt-rotor and rotor-systems research aircraft.
A helicopter program office at NASA Hq would direct the overall helicopter program and coordinate research between ARC and the Langley and Lewis Research Centers. LaRC, working mainly on helicopter structures, would continue its studies of acoustics, airfoils, aeroelasticity, and avionics. LeRC would continue to emphasize propulsion, its first task being a proposed new program in helicopter transmission technology leading later to work on helicopter engines.
NASA estimated that over the next 3yr the change would result in adding 72 positions to the ARC staff; LaRC helicopter work would phase down during that period but would continue to employ 72. The expected growth in long-haul aircraft technology at LaRC would add up to little long-term impact on that center's manpower or the local economy. (NASA Release 77-8; ARC Release 77-19)
Dryden Flight Research Center announced it had commenced studies on turbulence caused by insects sticking to aircraft wings. It would use a small jet transport flown at low altitudes to collect insects on the wings, in turbulence tests at higher altitudes and greater speeds. The Johnson and Kennedy Space Centers would assist the studies aimed at developing high-speed fuel-efficient aircraft, by taking advantage of their differing insect populations. (DFRC Release 13-77; KSC Release 93-77)
KSC reported that the number of visitors in the first 3mo of 1977 was 283 734; the number in March, 114 845, highest so far this yr was 2.8% below the March 1976 level. The 3mo total was 9.3% less than the first 3mo of 1976. The visitor center had displays, exhibits, space science lectures, and space movies, plus a new hall of history opened in 1976. Visitors could see the Vehicle Assembly Building for Space Shuttle preparations and the Apollo Saturn on display nearby, drive around Pad A where Shuttle operations were in progress, and visit the Cape Canaveral Air Force station. (KSC Release 87-77)
LaRC announced that Dr. Charles Thiel, director of the Natl. Science Foundation's advanced environmental research division, would speak at the LaRC colloquium Apr. 11 on earthquakes. Dr. Thiel had been in charge of U.S. research on earthquake phenomena for the past 5yr and had traveled the world to view effects of quakes, analyze prediction techniques, and evaluate construction practices in quake-prone regions. His illustrated talk would cover causes and probabilities of quakes, with modern methods of forecasting and monitoring them. (LaRC Release 77-9)
NASA announced appointment of Dr. John R. Carruthers as first director of a new division in the Hq Office of Applications that would manage materials processing in space. Dr. Carruthers, formerly of Bell Labs, had headed crystal-growth and glass research in developing optical fibers for lightwave communications. (NASA Release 77-67)
Reform of the aviation industry was in order, Transportation Dept. Secy. Brock Adams told the aviation subcommittee of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Regulatory changes should include freer entry into the system, competition in routes and rates, and provisions for exiting the system. Any changes should protect service to smaller communities, he said, and should address the problems of how market shifts would affect airline users and of financial damage to airport owners and airline investors. Secy. Adams noted that the president should retain his authority over international aviation, since the Constitution required him to conduct foreign policy there as well as in other fields. (DOT Release 44-77)
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