Jun 18 1975
From The Space Library
Western Union Telegraph Co. and RCA Global Communications, Inc., had been selected for negotiations leading to phase-one contracts to provide detailed systems-design proposals for the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS), NASA announced. TDRSS, to be developed and operated by industry to meet NASA service requirements, would consist of three or more specialized satellites in synchronous orbit to continuously relay tracking information and data and voice commands to and from NASA satellites.
Western Union and RCA would both provide a technical, cost, and business proposal for leased services to be provided in the phase-two operational period. The proposals would be evaluated and a single contract for phase two would be awarded. The selected contractor would provide tracking, command, and data-acquisition services for essentially all spacecraft orbiting below 5000 km, including the Space Shuttle and Spacelab, as well as automated spacecraft to be orbited by the Space Shuttle, for a 1- to 10-yr period beginning in 1979. TDRSS spacecraft and ground stations would be the property and responsibility of the selected contractor. (NASA Release 75-176)
Scientist Herbert F. Wischnia was using Oao 3 (Copernicus, Orbiting Astronomical Observatory launched 21 Aug. 1972) satellite and its onboard optical telescope to look for possible flashes of an ultraviolet laser from another world, the Christian Science Monitor reported. Although radio signals would be a better way to communicate once contact was established, Wischnia believed that an optical telescope could pick up a whole spectrum of frequencies at a glance. A radio telescope required years to cover a significant band of frequencies because of the complex data processing necessary; an optical signal, once detected, would probably indicate which radio frequency would provide further information. The biggest difficulty was making the initial contact.
CSM reported that Wischnia was looking at three stars likely to have planets, all older than the sun and about 11 light yr distant. (Cowen, CSM, 18 June 75, 25)
Marshall Space Flight Center announced award of two contracts for parallel studies on space-processing equipment for Space Shuttle and Spacelab missions. TRW Systems Group was awarded $299 981 and General Electric Co. was awarded $284 974 to provide preliminary designs for equipment that could be used to process various materials, such as metals and crystals, in space, (MSFC Release 75-125)
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