Dec 12 1985
From The Space Library
NASA announced it reached agreement with the Department of Defense (DOD) on a pricing and reimbursement policy for DOD use of the Space Transportation System during the period FY 89 through FY 91. The agreement established an average price of $60 million (in 1982 dollars) for each DOD launch, an average which was based on the estimated cost to fly and an exchange of launch and range support services between DOD and NASA.
The price reflected a fixed-base component of $30 million for each planned flight and an incremental component of $30 million for each actual flight. The annual fixed-based component total-$270 million a year, based on DOD projections of nine equivalent flights-would be paid regardless of the number of actual flights, while the $30 million incremental component would be paid for each actual flight.
By combining a fixed annual charge with a low variable cost per flight, the agreement insured that NASA would be able to cover its funding needs and DOD would continue to rely on the Space Shuttle as DOD's primary space launch vehicle. (NASA Release 85-169)
NASA announced that a Scout vehicle launched the Air Force AF-16 satellite [see U.S. Air Force/NASA and U.S. Air Force, Nov. 20] at 9:35 p.m. EST today from the Wallops Flight Facility.
The Scout launch vehicle, S-207C, performed satisfactorily and placed the spacecraft into an orbit with the following parameters: 418 km, apogee; 170 km, perigee; and 3Z05°, inclination.
The U.S. Air Force, in a brief statement released that same day, announced that NASA launched aboard a single booster from Wallops Island two instrument test vehicles, or ITVs, into low orbit, the Chicago Tribune reported.
“The satellites will be checked out and maintained in orbit for an unspecified time as part of the U.S. antisatellite program,” the Air Force said. An Air Force official commented later that it was “safe to assume there will be another [antisatellite] test during the first quarter of 1986.” (NASA MOR M490-605-85-01 [postlaunch], Jan 10/85; Chi Trib, Dec 14/85, A4)
President Reagan, at a White House ceremony, presented Distinguished Executive Awards worth $20,000 each to 32 career civil servants for their professional accomplishments, including in many cases, their plans and programs that saved millions of dollars, USA Today reported.
Among the recipients were Samuel Keller, NASA's deputy associate administrator for space science and applications; and Andrew Stofan, director of NASA's Lewis Research Center. (USA Today, Dec 13/85, 9; LeRC Release 85- 84)
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