Nov 2 1978
From The Space Library
NASA announced plans to launch NATO-IIIC, third and final comsat in a new series to serve the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), on Nov. 15 from Kennedy Space Center. A U.S.-NATO agreement had specified launch on a Delta rocket, and NATO would reimburse NASA $8.9 million for the launch vehicle and services. A Delta had previously successfully launched Nato IIA and IIB in March 1970 and February 1971, respectively; Nato IIIA in April 1976; and Nato IIIB in January 1977.
NATO-IIIC would provide in-orbit backup to Nato IIIA and IIIB in the NATO Integrated Communications System (NICE). At a geosynchronous orbital altitude of 35 900km (22 300mi), NATO-IIIC would orbit earth once every 24hr synchronized with earth's 24-hr rotation period, keeping the satellite on station over the same spot above the equator. Once in its transfer orbit, the satellite would be controlled by U.S. Air Force Satellite Control Facility network on behalf of NATO.. The U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Organization (SAMSO) served as satellite contracting agency for NICS. Ford Aeronautic and Communications Corp., Palo Alto, Calif., built NATO Ill. (NASA Release 78-171; MOR M-492-207-78-03 [prelaunch), Nov 15/78; Spaceport News, Nov 10/78, 1)
NASA reported successful static firing of a Space Shuttle main engine Oct. 30 at the National Space Technology Laboratories, Bay St. Louis, Miss. The firing lasted for more than 13min, testing its ability to return the Shuttle orbiter to a landing site in case of mission abort during launch. The main engine operated continuously for 823sec, longest burn time an engine should require during an actual mission. A Shuttle orbiter would use 3 main engines having a normal burn time of about 8min. (NASA Release 78-173)
FBIS reported the longest manned flight in history- 139da 15hr-had ended Nov. 2 at 14hr 5min Moscow time, after completing a program of scientific-technical researches and experiments on board the Salyut 5oyuz orbital complex. The Soyuz 31 module landed in a preset area of the Soviet Union 180km southeast of Dzezkazgan (Kazakhstan). A preliminary medical checkup at the landing site indicated the cosmonauts had withstood the long flight well.
Vladimir Kovalenok and Alexander Ivanchenkov's flight to Salyut 6 had begun June 15 in Soyuz 29. The international crew of Soyuz 30, including Poland's Miroslaw Hermaszewski, had joined the occupants of the orbital complex June 28 and returned to earth July 5. Soyuz 31, whose crew included the GDR's Sigmund Jahn and returned in Soyuz 29, 29, docked there Aug. 27 and later returned the Soyuz 29 crew. Fuel for the joint engine installations, equipment, life-sustaining materials, and materials for studies and experiments had been regularly delivered to Salyut 6 by automatic transports Progress 2, 3, and 4.
On Nov. 16 a Soviet medical expert said the cosmonauts had readapted quickly to earth's gravity and had suffered no significant physical disabilities, the NY Times reported. These cosmonauts had exercised more during their flight than had previous crews, and the extra activity apparently helped them to readjust after their return. Only on their first day back had the cosmonauts been seriously affected by body weight, causing some uncoordinated movements. Red corpuscles and hemoglobin in the blood had dropped insignificantly, and white blood cells had increased moderately. Kovalenok had been underweight by 51b, regained in 3 da; Ivanchenkov by 8.51b, regained in 12. On their second morning back on earth, they had asked to walk in the park, 4da earlier than the medical experts had planned; their pulse rates increased by only 15 to 20 beats a min after 1400 steps. Soviet medical experts were quoted as saying that it took the cosmonauts about 10da to readjust completely to earth's gravity. (FBIS, Tass in English, Nov 2/78; NYT, Nov 17/78, A27; W Post, Nov 3/78, A 14; Av Wk, Nov 6/78, 21, 13/78, 21; DISBD, Nov 3/78, 15; AID, Nov 3/78, 17 Langley Researcher, Nov 17/78, 1)
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