Feb 6 1976
From The Space Library
U.S. airlines suffered a near-record deficit in 1975, according to year-end statements recently released that showed declines for nearly all the 11 trunk carriers and a total deficit of $87 million, second only to 1970's loss of $100.8 million. In 1974, the group had earned $250.8 million. Reasons given included rising fuel prices, costly strikes, and proliferating fare discounts. The recession in the first part of 1975 cut passenger traffic for all lines, and fuel costs continued to soar another 30% in 1975 after doubling the previous year. Increasing numbers of discount fares resulted in an average of 7.04 cents of revenue per domestic passenger mile for TWA, down from 7.51 cents for the same month a year earlier. Although January 1976 traffic had increased about 11%, and predicted profits from an increase of 2% in unit revenues might produce as much as $140 million for the 11 major carriers, this would represent only a 6% return on equity compared to the 12% considered fair by the Civil Aeronautics Board. (NYT, 6 Feb 76, 39)
A small-scale model of the Space Shuttle and its launch pad would be used in a test program begun at MSFC to reduce noise during a Shuttle launch. Sound energy could damage, sensitive instruments or other payloads carried in the Shuttle orbiter, and reducing launch noise by modifying the launch facility would be more economical than redesigning the launch vehicle itself or its associated payloads to tolerate anticipated levels of noise. The model would test various designs that sprayed water into, above, and below the rocket exhaust; firing the engines into a water spray would convert acoustic (sound) waves into thermal energy, which would dissipate as steam. Use of the water technique had significantly reduced-but not eliminated-the damaging noise. (MSFC Release 76-33)
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