Oct 29 1980
From The Space Library
Newspapers said Voyager 1's Saturn approach had discovered two new moons, a 13th and 14th, and confirmed existence of three previously shown in Earthbound observations. Until the recent discoveries, the giant planet was thought to have only nine satellites. Closing on Saturn at 45,000 mph, Voyager 1 should come within 77,000 miles of the surface on or about November 12 and obtain high-resolution photographs of the planet and its satellites. It was already returning pictures with resolution far higher than those taken in 1979 by the less sophisticated Pioneer 11.
Images relayed over the past 10 days showed dozens of divisions never seen before between Saturn's rings, meaning that the six known rings would have to be recounted. “Almost everything we're seeing at Saturn right now is brand new," said Dr. Bradford Smith, head of the Voyager imaging team. JPL's Ray L. Heacock, project manager, said that 9 of Voyager's 10 instruments were working, 1 having failed after encounter with Jupiter, and the spacecraft was in good shape after traveling 1.3 billion miles through space. (NY Times, Oct 29/80, A-20; W Post, Oct 29/80, A-2; W Star, Oct 29/80, D-18)
MSFC said that it would static-fire for 581 seconds a test prototype of the Shuttle main propulsion system in one of two tests remaining before the first flight in March 1981. Rockwell International would conduct this 11th firing of the system at NSTL. The test would serve to evaluate thrust-vector controls, low-level fuel cutoff, and liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen pressurization. Final main propulsion-system test firing would be in late November. (MSFC Release 80-139)
Comsat General announced that it was providing consulting service to Alascom Inc., based in Anchorage, on a new generation of communications satellites to meet Alaska's future communications needs. Alascom was now leasing 15 to 17 transponders on a domestic Satcom to relay communications throughout Alaska, but growth by the late 1980s should require double that number. Comsat General would help design a spacecraft to meet increased transponder demand. (Comsat Gnl Release 80-5)
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