May 24 1970
From The Space Library
Radio interference experiment on board NASA's Sert H satellite (launched Feb. 3) topped operating. Experiment had supplied more than three months of useful data and indicated operation of electric engine in space was unlikely to interfere with radio communications between ground and spacecraft at signal strengths measured. Halt would not affect mission's primary objective, operation of ion engine in space for six months. (NASA Release 70-79)
FRC announced NASA had assumed operational control of one of two YF-12 aircraft being flown in joint NASA-USAF program to obtain information from sustained cruise flight at mach 3 and altitudes in 23 000-m (75 000-ft) range for use in development and operation of commercial and military supersonic aircraft and proposed Space Shuttle. Two NASA flight crews, each consisting of pilot and flight test engineer, had been assigned to program. Pilots, Fitzhugh L. Fulton, Jr., and Donald L. Mallick, were former XB-70 pilots for NASA. (FRC Release 9/10)
JPL engineers had completed preliminary design for model of long-life unmanned space vehicle for exploring outer planets in late 1970s, New York Times reported after interviewing Dr. Frank E. Goddard, JPL Assistant Director for Research and Advanced Development. Spacecraft would have dish antenna 4 m (14 ft) wide and 9-m (30-ft) handle bar with instrument packages and nuclear power generators at either end. Antenna would be mounted on area housing computer designed to operate spacecraft, detect its own failures automatically, and repair itself. Dr. Goddard had said that flight model might differ in minor ways, "but what we're doing should point the ways it should be different." Called TOPS for Thermoelectric Outer Planet Spacecraft, craft was designed to draw electricity from four radioisotope thermoelectric generators. (Wilford, NYT, 5/24/70)
Technical progress made through space program was described by Dale D. Myers, NASA Associate Administrator for Manned Space Flight, in commencement address at Whitworth College in Spokane, Washington: Chrysler Corp. was using computer-controlled equipment derived from Apollo checkout equipment to test distributors in its automobile ignition systems. U.S. Bureau of Public Roads had found automotive safety device that originated in Apollo spacecraft couches was trimming 97-km-per-hr (60-mph) impact to equivalent of 8 km per hr (5 mph) when used in conjunction with special highway guardrails. Nationwide insurance company had announced collision premium reductions of 20% for cars equipped with device. (Text)
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