January 1974
From The Space Library
A 65% noise reduction during landing had been demonstrated by 38 United Air Lines, Inc., flight crews in an in-service evaluation of a NASA-developed landing technique under visual and instrument flight conditions, NASA announced. Using the NASA technique, a Boeing 727 aircraft approaching on a two-segment path exposed only a 50-sq-km area to greater than 90 effective perceived decibels of noise. The program was closely coordinated with the Department of Transportation, the Federal Aviation Administration, and the Environmental Protection Agency. Program guidance was provided by a Panel on Noise Abatement Flight Procedures with members from FAA, DOT, aircraft and avionics manufacturers, airlines, and pilots' associations. (NASA Aeronautics Update, Jan 74)
Dr. James C. Fletcher, NASA Administrator, said in his article "Are Skylab and the space shuttle Worth the Investment?" in Government Executive that everything done in the Skylab program-with total runout costs of $2.6 billion through FY 1974-had been necessary for future progress in space. He believed the Skylab team had "taken another giant leap for mankind comparable to the first step upon the Moon or the first satellite in Earth orbit."
And even if the shuttle were not expected to save $1 billion a year in launch and payload costs, as it was-after an $8-billion 1972-1991 investment-the U.S. "should still build it. We cannot run Spaceship Earth without it." We could not "begin to think of obtaining solar power from collectors in space without the Shuttle; we cannot hope to unlock the still hidden energy secrets of the Sun and stars without improved space observatories launched by the Shuttle; we cannot hope to develop the tools for management of natural resources and protection of our environment on a global scale without manned and unmanned Earth observatories launched and serviced by the advantages of a 'hydrogen economy' in the future unless we are willing to support such important steps toward that future as a hydrogen-fueled Shuttle. In short, there is no new frontier in space for America and mankind without the Shuttle." (Govt Exec, Jan 74, 38-42)
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