Sep 1 1976
From The Space Library
NASA launched a Navy Transit Improvement Program (TIP-111) spacecraft on a Scout vehicle at 2:14 pm PDT from the Western Test Range into an elliptical polar transfer orbit with 787-km apogee, 341-km perigee, 90.2° inclination, and 96-min period. Although orbit was achieved, the spacecraft's solar panels failed to deploy and the Navy was reported planning corrective action. The NASA portion of the launch was adjudged successful 21 Sept. (MOR 490-601-76-02 [prelaunch] 17 Aug 76, [postlaunch] 24 Sept 76; SSR, 31 Oct 76, 31; Pres Rpt 76, 99)
Marshall Space Flight Center announced selection of Science Applications, Inc., of Los Angeles and Rockwell Intl. Corp. for negotiation of contracts to study space industrialization. The study program would lead from Shuttle Spacelab and early space-station experiments to permanent, practical, commercial use of space. The space-industrialization accomplishments so far achieved would be expanded into disciplines other than communications and meteorology; the study program would attempt to define a balance between future opportunities (satellite power systems) and relatively immediate benefits (space processing of materials). Possible areas of activity would include development of new techniques and materials, new development of earth resources, and eventually the movement of people to space for tourism or medical purposes, and the industrialization of the moon. The parallel studies would proceed in two phases, each requiring about 8 mo, and would cost about $200 000 each. (MSFC Release 76-160)
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