Nov 2 1976
From The Space Library
Two NASA laboratories had spearheaded "the most ambitious effort so far to detect radio emissions from distant civilizations," Walter Sullivan reported in the New York Times. The project, known as SETI (search for extraterrestrial intelligence), would use a specially constructed device called a multichannel spectral analyzer with various radio telescopes to scan simultaneously a million different frequency bands within a range known to scientists as the "waterhole." This part of the spectrum lies between the frequencies emitted by hydrogen atoms adrift in space (1420 mhz) and those from hydroxyl, composed of one hydrogen and one oxygen atom (1662 mhz), which combines with hydrogen to form water; the frequency range had been chosen as "a logical rendezvous for intelligent creatures trying to make contact for the first time." Ames Research Center would have primary responsibility for program management and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory would use its worldwide network of antennas besides providing instruments for the multichannel system, including a data processor capable of handling 6 million channels. NASA officials noted that the search would not depend on deliberate efforts at communication by other civilizations, citing the detectable radio energy emitted by the earth in normal space operations, television transmissions, and so forth. (NYT, 2 Nov 76, 16)
Landsat data analyzed by computer had distinguished accurately between stands of hardwood and pine, offering an improvement in routine forest management, NASA announced. Forestry specialist Darrel Williams at GSFC had achieved an overall accuracy in classifying forest categories of 90%, in comparison with airplane photographs of the same tract, a commercial forest in N.C. owned by the Weyerhaeuser Corp., chosen so that the data could be checked against a known base available continuously. Aerial photos used in forest inventory might be updated only every 3 to 5 yr, because of the expense of airplane flights, whereas Landsat could provide repetitive coverage much more frequently. Use of the Landsat data, besides replacing conventional photographic coverage, could permit continuous land evaluation for insurance and tax purposes and provide evidence of unauthorized cutting, among other benefits. (NASA Release 76-179)
Britain and France announced their decision to build no more Concorde supersonic jetliners beyond the 16 now under construction or in the air. After a meeting in London with France's transport minister Marcel Cavaille, British industry minister Gerald Kaufman told a news conference that future projects would concentrate on less exotic subsonic aircraft that would stand a better chance of making money. The Concorde, a project begun by treaty in 1962, had already cost about $1.92 billion for research, design, and development; each plane, with support facilities, would cost about $49.6 million. Nine had been built and sold-five to British Airways, four to Air France-and, of those remaining, three would go to British Airways and two to Air France, while preliminary purchase agreements had been signed with Iran for two others. British Airways had begun supersonic commercial flights in Jan. 1976 with its Concordes between London and Bahrein; Air France had begun similar service at about the same time between Paris and Rio de Janeiro. On 24 May 1976, a trial service began from London and Paris to Dulles Intl. Airport at Washington, D.C. Banned by the New York Port Authority from landing at JFK Intl. Airport, pending results of environmental testing at Dulles, the Concorde was losing money for both its state-owned sponsors; Air France reported losses of from $30 to $32 million in the first 9 mo of Concorde operation. Potential customers for the Concorde had made it clear that they would be interested only in the Europe-to-New York City route, most lucrative of the international flights. Kaufman added that the two countries had not become disenchanted with supersonic transport even though their future plans were to build smaller planes; "the fact that you're going for bread and butter now," he said, "doesn't mean that you'd be disenchanted with caviar later." (NYT, 3 Nov 76, 61; W Post, 4 Nov 76, A-3; W Star, 3 Nov 76, A-5)
Michel Bignier, Director General of the French ONES from Jan. 1972 to June 1976, assumed his new duties as director of ESA'S Spacelab program. (ESA newsletter, Nov 76, 2)
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