KHR-7 

March 1, 1984 

Chronology of KSC and 

KSC Related Events for 1982 

- 

National Aeronautics and 

Space Adml nis tra ti 3n 

John F. Kennedy Space Center 

KLC FOAM 16-12 IREV. 0 761 
FOREWORD 

Orbiter Columbia was launched three times in 1982. STS-3 

and STS-4 were develqpment flights; STS-5 was the first 

operational flight carrying a crew of four and deploying the 

first t@o shuttle-borne satellites, SBS-C and ANIK-C. A number 

of communications satellites, using expendable vehicles, 

successfully launched. 

Major changes in contracting were underway with procurement 

activity aimed at consolidating support services performed by 14 

different contractors into a single base operations contract. 

EG&G, Inc., a Massachussetts-based firm, was selected as the 

base operations contractor. 

This Chronology records events during 1982 in which the John 

F. Kennedy Space Center had prominent involvement and interest. 

Materials were selected from Aviation Week and Space Technology, 

Defense Daily, Miami Herald, Sentinel Star (Orlando), Today 

(Cocoa), Spaceport News (KSC), NASA News Releases, and other 

sources. The document, as part of the KSC history program, 

provides a reference source for historians and other 

researchers. Arrangement is by month; items are by date of the 

published sources. Actual date of the event may be indicated in 

parenthesis when the article itself does not make that 

information explicit. 

Research and documentation were accomplished by Ken Nail, 

Jr., New World Services, Inc., Archivist; with the assistance of 

Elaine Liston. 

Address comments on the Chronology to Informatioq Services 

Section (SI-SAT-52), John F. Kennedy Space Center, Florida, 

32899. 

M. Konjevich 

Information Services 
JANUARY 1982 

January 4: Air Force and National Aeronautics and Space 

Administration space shuttle program officials are studying 

the possibility of conducting some shuttle launch servicing 

operations at NASA's Kennedy Space Center for initial 

Defense Department shuttle missions to be flown from 

Vandenberg AFB, California. 

The purpose of the move would be to enable Air Force project 

engineers to focus on launch pad activities and software 

development and checkout in preparation for the first 

Vandenberg shuttle mission, scheduled for 1985. (AVIATION 

WEEK & SPACE TECHNOLOGY, 1-4-82, p. 22, Vole 116, NO. 1) 

January 6: Three fuel cell generators have passed a critical 

inspection and will be re-installed in the space shuttle 

Columbia this week, the space agency reported, boosting 

chances for another launch as early as March 22. 

NASA spokesmen said the fuel cell problem that forced the 

Columbia's second test flight to end three days early in 

November was not found in the two other generators that flew 

last time or in a replacement fuel cell. 

The results of the inspection at the United Space Technology 

Corporation's Windsor Locks, Connecticut plant removed a 

major question mark from the schedules for the shuttle's 

remaining two flight tests. 

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration said the 

three fuel cells were being shipped to the Kennedy Space 

Center at Cape Canaveral Monday from the Connecticut 

factory. They were to be installed in the reusable rocket 

plane Tuesday night. (THE MIAMI HERALD, 1-6-82, p. 3E) 

<> The warning was clear to U.S. Sen. Lawton Chiles and NASA 

officials sitting by his side -- if space center wages are 

undercut in contract rebidding this year the Shuttle won't 

get off the ground. 

- 1- 
Union leaders for workers at Kennedy Space Center pounded 

their message home Tuesday afternoon. 

"We don't trust the government and we are suspicious ... if 

you injure one, you're going to injure all of us. Not one 

bird is going to fly without organized labor," warned Andy 

Younger, a spokesman for the International Association of 

Theatrical and Stage Employees. 

Camped at opposite ends of a T-shaped table in Brevard 

Community College's administration building in Cocoa, union 

and space agency officials argued the question of wage 

busting. The unions claim new federal regulations that 

govern the way contracts are bid could pave the way for nonunion labor and lower wages. 

But the discussions were mostly academic. Chiles and U.S. 

Rep. Bill Nelson, D-Melbourne, who practically served as 

referees, told the unions the new regulations are something 

they will have to libe with. 

Under revisions in the Service Contract Act the entire 

county, not just Brevard's government installations, will 

determine the prevailing wage rates when contracts are up 

f of bidding . 

If one company bids lower than the previous contract, it 

would be allowed to call a hearing to see if the workers' 

wages are in line with wages in the greater community. 

Unions call this wage busting and Younger made an 

impassioned appeal to Chiles "for protection." 

While Bob King, NASA's chief of industrial relations, said 

he could give no "iron-clad" assurances there wouldn't be 

some wage changes, he emphasized "wage busting is not our 

in tent . I' 

Chiles said he and Nelson had wanted a meeting between the 

parties and that even if the groups left as far apart in 

viewpoints as when they arrived, views were candidly aired. 

"The fears are greater than the reality. What's needed is 

to set up a dialogue," said the Florida Democrat. 
The one representative who didn't attend the meeting was 

someone from the Department of Labor, who drafted the 

revisions. 

Said Chiles, "They were a no-show. Maybe they got the idea 

we were inviting them to a public hanging." Heads eagerly 

cooded in agreement from the union side of the table. 

(TODAY, 1-6-82) 

<> It was an overlooked particle of aluminum the size of a flea 

that started the chain reaction of events that grounded the 

multibillion dollar, 122-foot-long Space Shuttle during its 

second flight in November. 

While NASA officials in Washington announced Tuesday their 

findings on the cause of flooding inside a Shuttle fuel 

cell, technicians at Kennedy Space Center successfully 

connected a peach-colored fuel tank with two booster rockets 

in preparation for the third flight. 

The tiny speck of aluminum blamed for the fuel cell 

breakdown apparently clogged a suction tube that pulls water 

out of the area where oxygen and hydrogen create 

electricity. 

"The water and the aluminum reacted together to form 

aluminurn hydroxide -- a very corrosive element that ruined 

the cell," said James Kukowski, NASA spokesman. The speck 

apparently blocked a hole 1/21,00Oths of an inch wide. 

Kukowski said aluminum is a particularly reactive metal 

which can cause a great deal of daaage under the right 

conditions. 

He pointed to a space suit firo two years ago at Johnson 

Space Center "that may have been caused by contamination 

from a very small piece of aluminum and oxygen under 

pressure. 

"It's ideal for construction but tiny particles of it are 

very difficult to find and can be a problem. 

"Looking for these things is a matter of quality control," 

Kukowski said. (TODAY, 1-6-82, p. 12A) 

-3- 
January 8: The historic first two launchings of the Space 

Shuttle Columbia in 1981 contributed to a record-smashing 

year attendance at NASA's John F. Kennedy Space Center. 

Over two million people.visited the KSC Visitors Center in 

1981, by far the largest turnout recorded since the Visitors 

Center opened in 1966. 

The two million visitors who viewed the various exhibits in 

the Visitors Center represented an increase of over 300,000 

people from 1960's attendance figures. The attendance 

records for every month of 1981 were the highest figures for 

those months since 1973. 

To accommodate the burgeoning influx of visitors, the 

Visitors Center will embark orI a $6.5 million expansion plan 

in 1982. Design reviews will be completed and groundbreaking for new facilities will begin early in the year. 

Construction cf a five-story Imax theater, one of the most 

unique movie theaters in the world, is scheduled to begin 

early this year, and is slated for completion in late 1983. 

(KSC NEWS RELEASE NO. 5-82, 1-8-82) 

January 11: Martin Marietta Denver Aerospace of Denver, 

Coloracio, has been awarded a multi-million dollar addition 

to its contract with NASA's Kennedy Space Center. 

Martin Marietta will provide the hardware for the checkout, 

control and monitor subsystem in firing Room 3 of KSC's 

Space Shuttle Launch Control Center, which is now being 

prepared for regular shuttle operations. The company will 

also provide some similar equipment for the shuttle Launch 

Processing System at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. 

The value of the contract addition is $9,078,367, bringing 

the total value of the contract since 1975 to $111,193,217. 

(KSC NEWS RELEASE NO. 6-82, 1-11-82) 

January 12: They posed with wide-eyed children before popping 

flashcubes and they worked the crowd like politicans looking 

for a vote. A Shuttle crew returned to Kennedy Space Center 

on Monday. 

- 4- 
Joe Engle and Dick Truly, the men who flew the Space Shuttle 

Columbia into Earth orbit in November, thanked "the troops" 

and said it was a valuable learning experience, despite the 

flight's problems. 

"We learned 10 times as much with all the problems than had 

it been a vanilla mission," Truly said. 

"Flying in space has got to be one of the biggest thrills 

anybody has ever had," he added. "This country is the only 

one in the world capable of building such a complex 

spacecraft." 

As part of the official ceremony at KSC's Visitors 

Information Center, Shuttle Launch Director George Page 

unveiled a plaque -- complete with red, white and blue 

mission logo -- commemorating the flight. 

It was an opportunity for Engle to quip, "I was dead sure 

you'd get down to 31 seconds to unveil the plaque and you'd 

announce we're going back to Houston; he'll do this next 

week. I' 

The 49-year-old Engle was referring to the point at which 

the countdown stopped before the Columbia's second liftoff. 

The astronauts also came with gifts -- a flag and crew patch 

that went aboard the Columbia. 

And co space center workers, Truly said, "We couldn't have 

done it without you...nor the next one (flight crew) or the 

next one or the next one. 

The Columbia's second mission was cut short by an electric 

power cell that went bad, and the astronauts both said they 

wouldt?'t mind another crack at flying the spacecraft. 

Dr. Robert Gray, director of the Space Projects office, said 

"This flight was just as critical as the first flight afid we 

knew we had a winner when they cane back. We are well on 

our way to getting ready for the next flight an8 we think 

we're here to stay in this business." 

-5- 
From the Visitors Information Center, the astronauts were 

quickly hustled past crowds of tourists into an eight-door 

black limousine. 

From there they toured the Shuttle hangar and launch control 

center technicians . 

While some in the crowds were a little awed with the whole 

thing, there were those who expected something different. 

"I expected they (the astronauts) would be a little taller," 

said George Sunshine, visiting from Fort Lauderdale. Not to 

be outdone, his wife Helen added, "Oh, I thought they'd be a 

lot younger looking." (TODAY, 1-12-82, p. 1Ai 

January 13: A fire-spewing helicopter borrowed Tuesday from 

the U.S. Forestry Service blackened brush and sent dense, 

dark smoke swirling over the Merritt Island Wildiife Refuge. 

About 20 workers supervised the successful controlled burn 

of 4,OGO acres, said Don Whitmore, fire information officer 

with the U.S. Fish an2 Wildlife Service. 

Smoke billowed across the Indian River to Titusville, 

drifting on northeast winds. 

Whitmore said the planned burning of the underbrush reduces 

the intensity of forest fires sparked by lightning or other 

natural causes. 

Winter is normaily dry and the county is already in the 

middle of a prolonged drought. 

Clearing the dense vegetation also improves the wildlife 

habitat, enabling animals to roam more freely, he said. 

Within the month, the fire officials hope to burn off 12,000 

more acres, Whitmore said. Tuesday's burn area lies on the 

east side of the river, south of State Road 402. (SENTINEL 

STAR, 1-13-82) 

-6- 
January 15: NASA's John F. Kennedy Space Center has awarded a 

contract to Precision Fabricating and Cleaning, Inc., P.O. 

Box 69, Sharpes, Florida. The contract calls for PF & C to 

manufacture hydraulic and gaseous regulation panels to be 

installed in Space Shuttle operational areas at KSC and at 

Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. The manufacturing 

is to take place at PF & C's Sharpes facilities. 

The fixed-price contract carries a $54,921 price tag and 

covers the period from when the contract was awarded on 

December 17, 1981, until November 19, 1982. The contract is 

one that has been set aside for award to a small business 

firm. (KSC RELEASE NO. 10-82, 1-15-82) 

January 16: Nature's scrimmage with the space agency ended 

with the thunderclap of rocket ignition Friday night at Cape 

Canaveral Air Force Station. 

An RCA communication satellite, destined to provide expanded 

cable television service, was sent speeding into space at 

8:54 plm. after a close watch on wind conditions throughout 

the day. 

Powerful winds at 30,000 feet forced a postponement of the 

satellite launch Thursday. 

A crystal clear night, the sight of the 116-foot Delta 

forcing its way to the end of the Earth could be seen 

throughout Brevard County. 

The nine solid-rocket boosters could be seen dropping away 

from the Delta rocket as tiny pinpoints high in the sky. 

NASA launch officials said the cold weather during the past 

week did lower temperatures on the booster rockets, reducing 

their power somewhat. But it wasn't enough tc keep the 

rocket from climbing to an altitude of 80 miles in just 

three minutes. 

Once operational in late February, the RCA SATCOM IV will 

carry 24 color television transmissions to cable 

subscribers. RCA officials said seven of those channels 

were auctioned in New York last November. 
It was the first time space age technology had ever been 

auctioned and it brought in $90 million in bids as 53 firms 

competed. 

"We have more potential customers than we can supply," said 

RCA executive Andrew Inglis. 

The cost of the launch, satellite and insurance totaled 

about $70 million. 

SATCOM IV, like all communication satellites, will orbit 

22,000 miles above the Earth. (TC!DAY, 1-16-82, p. 10A) 

<> Assembling the Space Shuttle for flight into Earth orbit is 

becoming easier and space agency engineers predict they'll 

launch the Columbia on its third mission during the week of 

March 22. 

Engineers said Friday fewer damaged tiles and a familiarity 

with the spacecraft, borne from experience, are giving 

technicians an edge they didn't have between the first and 

second missions. 

"We have a real good shot at it (late March launch). There 

is nothing we haven't done before," said Gene Thomas, 

Columbia project engineer. 

Thomas predicted the Columbia would be moved to the 

Shuttle's assembly building February 5 and rolled out to the 

pad by February 21. 

A date should be announced within two weeks. 

If all goes according to schedule, the time it takes to 

prepare the reusable spacecraft from landing to liftoff will 

have been drastically reduced. (TODAY, 1-16-82, p. 10A) 

January 18: NASA's John F. Kennedy Space Center has awarded a 

contract to the Holloway Corp., Route 2, Titusville, F1, 

The contract calls for Holloway to supply 10 Direct Current 

Power Rack Assemblies for Space Shuttle launch facilities at 

-8- 
Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. The provisions of 

the contract are to be carried out at Holloway's Titusville 

facilities. 

The fixed-price contract carries a price tag of $136,770, 

and covers the period from the contract award date on 

January 14, 1982, until December 13, 1982. The contract is 

one that has been set aside for award to a small business 

firm. Holloway Corp. submitted the low Did oct of three 

proposals received by KSC. (KSC RELEASE NO. 11-82, 1-18-82) 

January 19: NASA's Kennedy Space Center has awarded a 

construction contract to New World Cmstruction, P.O. Box 

1827, Titusville, F1. The contract calls for construction 

of a storage shed at the Space Center to shield oxygen 

bottles that are used for a variety of purposes from the 

elements. 

The fixed-price contract is for $38,334, and is scheduled 

for completion 120 days after a notice to proceed is 

issued. The mntract, which was awarded January 12, 1982, 

was one set aside for award to a small business firm. New 

World submitted the lowest bid out of seven proposals 

received by KSC. (KSC RELEASE NO. 12-82, 1-19-82) 

<> The fuel cell failure on the second Shuttle flight last 

November was a "one-time problem," caused by a sliver of 

metal in one of the cell's water aspirators, and will not 

necessitate any changes in the fuel cell units, NASA said 

last week. The faulty fuel cell as beer1 replaced on 

Columbia and all three cells have been checked out and 

reinstalled on the Orbiter. 

James Harrington, chief of Orbiter operations at Kennedy 

Space Center, said that NASA continues to aim for launch Gf 

the third Shuttle flight during the week of March 22, 

although he said the agency has a lot of testing to do. 

(DEFENSE DAILY, 1-19-82, p. 83, Vole 120, NO. 11) 

January 20: Marshall's Induced Environment Contamination 

Monitclr (IECM?, a 1,000-pound package of ten instruments 

used to check the environment in and around the cargo bay of 

the Shuttle Orbiter for conta3inants that could interfere 

with scientific equipment, has been serviced at Marshall 

-9- 
following its maiden flight c;n STS-2 and returned to Kennedy 

Space Center for the third Shuttle flight in March. In 

addition to its normal functions, the IECM during the STS-3 

will be picked up by Remote Manipulator System to test the 

system's maneuverability. (DEFENSE DAILY, 1-20-82, p. 91, 

Vol. 120, No. 12) 

<> RCA's latest communications satellite successfully powered 

into Earth's orbit Tuesday afternoon. 

A rocket motor attached to SATCOM IV fired at 2:53 p.m. 

putting the satellite into an orbit that matches in time 

with the rotation of the Earth. 

The orbit, 22,000 miles up, wi.11 keep the satellite over one 

spot on Earth. 

RCA officials said they still have to position the sateilite 

exactly where they want it and test onboard systems before 

it is operational in late February. 

Launched Friday from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station aboard 

a Delta rocket, SATCOM IV will carry 24 color television 

transmissions to cable subscribers. (TODAY, 1-20-82) 

January 21: The space agency has set March 22 as the official 

launch date for the space shuttle Columbia's third test 

flight, a week-long orbit around the earth. 

Formal approval of the date that engineers have been aiming 

toward for several weeks came Wednesday from Major General 

James Abrahamsoil, the new chief of the rocket plane's 

development program. 

Mission No. 3 will be flown by actronauts Jack Lousma, a 

45-year-old veteran of the Skylab space station, and spaze 

newcomer Charles Fullerton, also 45. 

Officials plan to launch the Columbia from Cape Canaveral at 

10 a.m. EST. The reusable winged spaceship is to land at 

Edwards Air Force Base, California, at 10 a.m. PST March 29. 

-10- 
The shuttle will carry a variety of scientific instruments. 

3ne instrument will measure magnetic fields generated by *,he 

spaceship. The fields could distort sensitive measurements 

of natural magnetic fields around the Earth. 

Still another device will look for particles that might come 

from the shuttle in flight. (THE MIAMI HERALD, 1-21-82, p. 

2A 1 

January 22: Visiting space enthusiasts had a rare opportunity 

to personally meet astronauts Dick Truly and Joe Envle last 

week as the crew of the second voyage of the Columbia gave 

their thanks to the KSC employees who got them off the 

ground last November. 

An overflowing crowd of SpaceporL visitors greeted tne 

astronauts as they stepped into Theater No. 1 of the 

Visitors Information Center last Monday Jan. 11, invoking 

rippling cheers from the more than 300 people that packed 

the cavernous room waiting to see the space travelers. 

"Nothing could make us happier than coming back to where we 

took off fron," Trulv told the audience. "I'm just sorry it 

took us two months to get back here." 

It was well worth the uait for the astronauts as well as the 

audience. 

In commemoration of the shortened but still historic flight, 

a plaque emblazoned with the red, white and blue mission 

symbol was presented to the two men by Shuttle Launch 

Director George Page. 

"We learned ten times as much on this mission with aAl its 

adversity than we could have had on a vanilla mission with 

no problems,n Truly said. 

KL'C officials on hand agreed with Truly's contention about 

the flight. 

-11- 
"We've learned a lot from you guys on this mission," said 

Dr. Robert Gray, manager of the Shuttle program office, to 

the two astronauts. "We think we're here to stay ir. this 

business." 

To show their appreciation to the KSC launch team, Engle and 

Truly presented a plaque consisting of a flag and crew patch 

that flew in space to KSC Director Richard Smith on behalf 

of KSC workers. 

"here at Kennedy we've got absolutely the greatest launch 

team anywhere in the world," Engle said, presepting the 

gift. The plaque is to be permanently placed in the Launch 

Control Center to commemorate the mission. 

Not to be outdone, Smith presented "with a great deal of 

pride" two framed photographs of the launch to the 

astronauts, and referred to the mission as a "learning 

experience." 

After the ceremony, a sniling Engle and Truly posed for 

photos with visitors on the podium, and shook enough hands 

to melt the effects af the 30 degree weather blasting 

outside on that frosty afternoon. (SPACEPORT NEWS, 1-22-82, 

pp. 1 & 2, Vol. 21, No. 2) 

<> Two Martin Marietta Corporation teams have been awarded 

Aerospace Awareness Panel Team Awards here recently. 

Martin's Launch Equipmept Test Facility Team received one of 

the awards for the team's efforts in isolating and 

correcting deficiencies in the Space Shuttle's Gaseous 

Oxygen Vent Hood system. The six-member team worked to 

support the NASA Design Engineering Directorate to complete 

a redesign of the vent hood in the time between the first 

and second Space Shuttle launches. 

Members of the team are: Carl Fischer (team leader), Hugh 

Devlin, Charles Sweeney, Edward DeBusman, Robert McConnell 

and Delmar Henry. 

The Martin TPS Repair Team was also honored with a team 

award. The team repaired the debonded thermal protection 

system panels on the external tank for the first Space 

-12- 
Shuttle launch. The team developed special repair 

techniques and timelines, allowing the launch schedule to 

proceed unaffected. 

Members of the TPS team are: Cal Moser, Dick Jones, Lee 

Stewart, Ron Blackard, Dick Hare, Jerry Rucker, Chris 

r'eagan, Terry Jones, Ray Kern, Andy Friday, Jim Mattheus, 

Phil Moody, Allie Hilton and Harry Driggers, Others are: 

Coilg Powell, Carl Nousman, Bob Bunch, Joe Bering, ."lax 

Taylor, Tom Levitt and Kevin Ely. (SPACEPORT NEWS, 1-22-82, 

p. 3, VOl. 21, No. 2) 

January 24: An Apollo moon rocket lying on its belly in the 

shadow of the Space Shuttle's hangar may slowly rust away if 

it isn't moved, according to officials of the National Air 

and Space Museuc. 

But caretakers for the 364-foot-long rocket on loan to 

Kennedy Space Center say that's news to them -- especially 

since they recently completed an $80,000 refurbishing job. 

KSC's Saturn V rocket is one of three on display in the 

United States and because of their size, they all must be 

displayed outdoors. 

The Saturn V disFlays are worth $35 million each, said a 

spokesman fcr the Space and Rocket Museum in Huntsville, 

Alabama. 

But museurn officials, based in Washington, D. C., said 

Brevard's salt air may be eating away the display. 

In a letter to U.S. Representative Bill Nelson, D-Melbourne, 

the museum's director wrote, "I need to take a good look at 

the current facilities and status of all the artifacts we 

now have on loan at KSC. For example I worry that the 

Saturn V might not be adequately protected for posterity in 

its current location outdoors." 

Museum officials haveri't decided where or when they will 

move the rocket but said they want some kind of enclosed 

exhibit. 

- 13- 
Arnold Richman, KSC's visitors information director, said 

the museum's concerns about the rocket are "news to me." He 

said a six-month refurbishing job that included 

sandblasting, repainting and anti-corrosion work should 

stave off any deterioration. 

Richman said when museum officials inspected the rocket in 

October, the work had not been completed. 

He predicted the space center would add lecture tapes to the 

area around the rocket 

Paul Hanle, chairman of the museum's space science 

department, said, "All of KSC's artifacts were examined and 

it was determined this one should probably be indoors. If 

we can build something here (at RSC) we certainly would." 

On display since 1976, the Saturn V is built from excess 

rocket parts left over from the end of the Apollo program 

and parts used for testing during the race to the moon. 

The other Saturn V displays are at the Johnson Space Center 

in Houston and Huntsville, Alabama. (TODAY, 1-24-82, p. 1B) 

January 25: Satcom 4 last week was drifting toward its 

assigned 83 W. Long. orbital position following firing of 

the apogee kick motor Jancary 19, which will place it into 

synchronous orbit, and deployment of its two solar arrays 

the next day. 

The satellite was laonchef January 15 by a McDonnell Douglas 

Delta 3910/PAM into a 19,408 x 105-mile orbit following a 

one-day delay caused by high-altitude shear winds and the 

presence of a ship in the zone where Castor 4 solid 

propellant rockets were to impact. Performance of the nine 

Castor motors was slightly low because of the cold weather 

conditions here while the vehicle was on the launch pad. 

Temperature of the propellant in the motors was 17F below 

normal. Most of the performame decrease of the first stage 

was made up by the second stage, and apogee was 15 miles 

below nominal. 

-14- 
Following apogee kick motor burn, the 2,385-pound Satcom 

payload was in a 22,300-mile circular orbit at 103 E. Long. 

It is expected to reach its assigned longitude in February 

and will become operational for cable television relay late 

that month. Each of the 24 channels can carry an FM/color 

television transmission. (AVIATION WEEK & SPACE TECHNOLOGY, 

1-25-82, p. 20, Vol. 116, NO. 4) 

January 26: The Reagan Administration will seek about $6.5 

billion for NASA's 1983 budget, a 9 percent increase over 

1982, according to an internal memorandum prepared last 

Friday by the House Budget Committee staff. 

At the funding level, NASA's glamor project, the Space 

Shuttle, will be kept on schedule and one of its most 

spectacular current scientific missions, Voyager, will be 

kept alive for its mission to Uranus and Neptune. 

NASA's next big project, the $700 million Galileo mission to 

Jupiter, is still scheduled to be launched in 1985 but will 

not arrive until 1989, a trip 30 months slower than an 

alternative launch plan under NASA consideration. (TODAY, 

1-26-82, p. 1A) 

<> Boaters going to or from South Florida and points north who 

have charted a course around an aging fender system on an 

Intracoastal Waterwey bridge at NASA's Kennedy Space Center 

will soon find a modern concrete fender system in place. 

A bridge repair contract has been awarded by KSC to Baker 

Marine Enterprises, Inc., of 7402 N. 56th St., Tampa, Fla. 

The contract calls for Baker Marine to overhaul an aging 

fender system on the Space Center's Haulover Canal Bridge, 

which forms a stretch of the Intracoastal Waterway system. 

The fixed-price contract is for the amount of $260,980, and 

is to be completed 180 days after the contract was awarded 

on January 21, 1982. The contract is one that has been set 

aside for award to a small business firm. Baker Marine 

submitted the low bid out of 10 proposals received by KSC. 

(KSC RELEASE NO. 17-82, 1-26-82) 

-15- 
January 27: NASA's John F. Kennedy Space Center has awarded a 

supply contract to ITT's Surprenant Division, located at 172 

Sterling St.8 Clinton, Massachusetts. The contract calls 

for ITT to furnish 15,000 feet of electrical power cable to 

replenish KSC's cable stock. 

The fixed-price contract carries a price tag of $41,2508 and 

is scheduled to be completed 240 days after receiving orders 

to proceed. The work is to be performed at ITT's Clinton 

facilities. (KSC RELEASE No. 19-82, 1-27-82) 

<> In a move designed to increase worker safety, NASA's John 

F. Kennedy Space Center has awarded a construction contract 

to Commercial Fire Sprinklers Inc., of 254 Fifth St.8 

Orlando, Fla. The contract calls for the firm to install 

sprinklers and safety showers with eyewash units at KSC's 

Central Supply Building. 

The fixed-price contract has a value of $278705, and is to 

be completed 90 days after the contract was awarded on 

January 20, 1982. The contract is one that has been set 

aside for award to a small business firm. Commercial Fire 

submitted the low bid out of six proposals received by KSC. 

(KSC RELEASE NO. 20-82, 1-27-82) 

January 28: For those of us who have been vitally interested 

in the U.S. manned space program from its very inception, it 

is difficult to realize that it has been well over 20 years 

since the original, seven-member astronaut corps was 

selected. 

Donald "Deke" Slayton, one of those bright, close-cropped 

young nen selected in 1959 to fly America's first space 

missions, announced in Houston yesterday that he plans to 

retire frcm the space program before his 58th birthday on 

March 1. 

He is a guy who has both given a lot to and received a lot 

from the space program. His true love of and dedication to 

the program was demonstrated by his willingness to stick 

with the program for many years after it appeared he might 

never qet to fly in space. Although he was slated to be the 

second astronaut to fly, a heart problem knocked him out of 

-16- 
that mission. He held onto the dream of making a space 

flight ana 10 years later was found physically fit to fly 

this country’s only international space mission, the 

Apollo-Soyuz test project in July 1975. 

Thanks, Deke, and best of luck. (TODAY, 1-28-82) 

<> Many years ago when tourists were shown the inside of the 

massive Vehicle Assembly Building they made futile attempts 

to take souvenir photographs of the endless dark corners 

with the aid of a puny flashbulb on an instamatic camera. 

Today, a remodeled lighting system in the VAB is winning 

awards throughout the United States and Canada. 

In a competition sponsored by the Illuminating Engineering 

Society of North America, the VAB system was triumphant over 

32,000 other commercial entries in the final judging in 

Toronto last August. The VAB lighting system was cited for 

excellence of design and technical engineering, the 

innovative approach to the task of efficiently illuminating 

such a building and for maintaining a large safety factor 

for the electricians who installed the systen. 

The VAB lights were changed because of the switch from the 

36-story Saturn V to a shuttle vehicle only half as tall. 

The requirements were different and there was also a need to 

become energy conscious. 

In a ceremony on January 28 in Orlando, a certificate of 

merit, given for winning over all U.S. entries, and 

certificate of special citation, given for the final win in 

Toronto, was presented to NASA by Michael Ciska of Hubbell 

Lighting Corp., W. Va., the company that manufactured the 

system. Peter A. Minderman, Director of Design Engineering, 

accepted the avrards for NASA. In addition to the internal 

engineers and staff at KSC, others involved in the work 

include design by Russell 6 Axom Architects and Engineers, 

Daytona Beach; engineering by Hubbell Lighting and Sylvania 

Lamp Division; and installation by United Electric, Daytona 

Beach. (SPACEPORT NEWS, 2-5-82, p. 4, Vol. 21, No. 3) 

-17- 
FEBRUARY 1582 

February 1: Before he pushed the button that would send John 

Glenn orbiting the earth, Tom O'Malley paused. He wanted to 

say something to the young astronaut in the Mercury capsule 

who was about to make history. No more technical lingo, no 

more instructions. Just a wish of goodwill, from one man to 

another. 

"May the wee ones be with you John," said O'Malley, then 

vice president and general manager of launch operetions at 

Kennedy Space Center fQr Rockweil International Corp. "Good 

Lord," he prayed, "ride all the way!" 

Glenn never forgot the message from "that dyed-in-the-wool 

Irishman" who sent him 'round the world. And on the recent 

occasion of O'Malley's retirement, Senator Glenn (D-Ohio) 

recouiited that now-infamous message via telegram. 

Because O'Malley - is a man to be remembered. 

Sometimes with love, ,emetines without. As a saint, as a 

tyrant, as a doer and a mover. Always with respect, always 

with admiration -- and always as a man wortl- knowing. 

"'Whatever you hear that's good about me, it isn't true," 

quipped O'Malley, 66, who was involved in 14 manned launches 

including the world's first Space Shuttle mission during his 

aerospace career. "These people don't know what they're 

talking about." 

O'Malley, know3 for his tough-talking, hard-working brand of 

success, was honored Friday, January 29, at a retirement 

party and receptior, hosted by Rockwell and held at the 

social hall of Our Savior Catholic Church in Cocoa Beach. 

"I'm happy to be retiring and I've been very happy with my 

career," he said. "The Lord blessed me with the family I 

had to grow up in. There were a lot of us, so we learned to 

work early, we learned to work hard and we learned to work 

together. I' 

-18- 
O'Malley, who graduated in 1937 with a bachelor's degree in 

mechanical engineering from the Newark (N.J.) College of 

Engineering, joined Rockwell in 1967, first as manager of 

Apollo/Command Service Module Operations at KSC, then 

promoted in 197G to his most recent position. He first 

worked for the Curtis Wright Co. in New Jersey until he 

joined General Dynamics Corp., a move which brought him to 

Kennedy Space Center. 

Among the more than 200 friends, family members, community 

leaders and Rockwell employees and executives that attended 

the reception were: Major General (USAF ret.) David Jones, 

former ccmmander of the Air Force Eastern Test Range; Dr. 

Maxwell King, president of Brevard Community College; Sy 

Rubenstein, vice-president and program manager for Orbiter 

production at Rockwell and master of ceremonies for the 

evening; John Cannon, president of Barnett Bank; Nancy Rock, 

public relations director at Cape Canaveral Hospital; Paul 

C. Donnelly, vice president of United Space BooFters, Inc., 

and his wife, Marge; Cocoa Beach stockbroker Dale Holzen; 

Jack Korenblit, president of the Florida Association of 

Realtors; Chuck Hollinshead, public affairs director for 

KSC, and his wife, Linda; George Faenza, McDonnell Douglas 

executive; John Janokaitis, NASA official and A1 Reeser, 

general manager of launch operations, who replaces 

O'Malley. (TODAY, 2-1-82, p. 1D) 

<> America's aerospace giants have locked fists in what 

promises to be a spirited arm wrestle for a multimillion 

dollar contract to prepare the Space Shuttle from one launch 

to another. 

Since November, teams of aerospace compaqy executives have 

been quietly observing, taking notes and reporting back to 

their corporate headquarters on Shuttle processing at 

Kennedy Space Center. 

Some of the eight firms, such as outsider Grumman Aerospace, 

are unafraid to talk about this Shuttle sweepstakes while 

the well-entrenched Rockwell International is keeping its 

plans secret. 

By early 1984, me company, possibly working with several 

others in a team, will do the work of seven major firms 

preparing the Shuttle for its routine airline-style flights 

into space. An3 for the most part the firms outbid will be 

left out in the cold. 

- 19- 
Only one of the firms -- General Dynamics Corp. -- has 

dropped out of the running, pulling back its team at the 

space center. 

Essentially, there are two keys to winning this contract -- 

making the Shuttle an efficient, dependable operation and 

doing it at the best possible price. 

NASA is looking forward to a 20 percent or more savings over 

current operations, said Andrew Pickett, manager of the 

space center's advanced planning and technology office. 

Most of that savings will come from maintaining the work 

force at the same level despite the addition of two more 

Shuttle Orbiters, Pickett said. 

But the biggest part of turning the Shuttle into a workable 

transportation system is launching the ship into orbit with 

commercial and military cargo. 

The final contract decision will be made by NASA 

Administrator James Beggs in mid-1983. 

Despite what some are calling a horse race, contractors 

already on the job and interested in the new contract have 

cooperated with the challengers. 

Some of the firms that lose out on the Shuttle Processing 

Contract may work with the winner as a team, but executives 

say somebody is going to be left out of the largest 

aerospace program in this quarter of the century. 

The Shuttle Processing Contract isn't the only move toward 

consolidation at KSC. 

A single contract will be awarded late this year for 

operating the space center and third contract will be 

awarded for cargo processing in 1984. 

A total of 26 contractors will be consolidated into three 

main contractors. (TODAY, 2-1-82, p. 1A) 

-20- 
<> Successful launch of the European Space Agency Ariane 

vehicle last month has intensified competition between this 

vehicle and the NASA/McDonnell Douglas Delta to orbit 

communications payloads in the 2,000-2,500-pound weight 

class. 

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is being 

forced to ease rules that require choice of vehicle method 

30 months prior to launch date. In addition, the agency may 

be forced to consider ways to lower the Delta launch price 

to customers as a means of being more competitive both to 

Ariane and the space shuttle. 

One NASA official said Delta is the only one Of the three 

launch methods where the launch price a customer pays must 

equal the cost to NASA. 

He was referring to the fact that both Ariane and shilttle 

launches are heavily subsidized, while NASA is reimbursed 

fully for Delta launches. (AVIATION WEEK 61 SPACE 

TECHNOLOGY, 2-1-82, p* SO, Vole 116, NO. 5) 

February 2: NASA's John F. Kennedy Space Center has awarded a 

supply contract to SFecialty Maintenance and Construction, 

Inc., of 4330 Drane Field Road, Lakeland, Fla. The contract 

calls for 23 hypergolic fuel "vacuum cleaners" to be 

supplied to the Space Center. Hypergolic propellants are 

used to power some onboard systems of NASA's Space Shuttle 

Orbiter. 

The fixed-price contract has a value of $147,114, and is to 

be completed by November 15, 1982. The con',ract, which was 

awarded on January 26, 1982, is one that has been set aside 

for award to a mall business firm. Specialty Maintenance 

submitted the low bid out of six proposals received by KSC 

and will carry out the provisions of the contract at their 

Lakeland facilities. (KSC RELEASE NO. 21-82, 2-2-82) 

February 3: Fartin Marietta Aerospace has been awarded a $9.1 

million contract addition for ground computer checkout 

systems for the Space Shuttle launch site at Rennedy Space 

Center. The firm will provide hardware for checkout, 

control and monitor systems in firing room three at KSC's 

Space Shuttle Launch Control Center. 

-21- 
The equipment will be built at the firm's Denver facility. 

Installation is scheduled to begin in June. (TODAY, 2-3-82, 

p. 14C) 

<> A 3 million-mile journey began at the stroke of midnight 

Tuesday as the Space Shuttle Columbia was moved from its 

hangar at Kennedy Space Center to the building where it will 

be attached to the fuel tank and booster rockets. 

Originally planned for Thursday, the Columbia's journey from 

its hangar to the Vehicle Assembly Building was moved ahead 

one day after technicians were able to finish repair to heat. 

protection tiles. 

A tractor with huge tires, each weighing 183 pounds, 

transported the Columbia the 300 yards from the hangar to 

the garage in just 18 minutes. 

Space center workers applauded and cheered as the 100-ton 

Columbia was carefully eased out of its hangar tail first. 

Alongside the Columbia, cornouflaged soldiers with M-16 

rifies and guard dogs peered at spectators lined up against 

the barricades and ropes. 

Inside the 52-story garage, the entire Shuttle stack -- fuel 

tank, booster rockets and spaceplane -- will be assembled. 

Total tile repairs were far less for this flight than the 

two previous, space center spokesman Mark Hess said. He 

pointed to only 469 tiles removed since the Columbia last 

landed ifi November to the 1,500 tiles removed after the 

first flight. 

Several tiles were damaged during the Columbia's last tow to 

its garage when a forklift brushed up against the ship's 

rear. This time, the tiles were unharmed. 

"We've learned more about maintaining the Shuttle every time 

we go through something like this," Hess said. 

Later today, preparations will begin to hoist the Columbia 

above the 100-foot-high bullet-shaped fuel tank and booster 

rockets. 

-22- 
After the Shuttle is fully assembled, it will be moved to 

the launch pad by February 21. (TODAY, 2-3-82, p. 12A) 

February 4: A miniature greenhouse has been delivered for 

integration with the payload of the third Space Shuttle 

flight, scheduled for the week of March 22. 

Called the Plant Growth Unit, the compact greenhouse is 

managed by Dr. John Tremor and Ror.ald Mancini, both of 

NASA's Ames Research Center, Mountain View, California, in 

conjunction with the principal investigator, Dr. Joe R. 

Cowles of the University of Houston. 

Tremor delivered the primary unit to NASA's Kennedy Space 

Center, Florida, where Shuttle payload integration is taking 

place. A backup unit was delivered to Cowles for his 

experimental use. (NASA NEWS RELEASE NO. 82-15, 2-4-82) 

<> As dawn broke Wednesday at Kennedy Space Center the Shuttle 

Colunbia was being raised by two powerful cranes and dangled 

just a few feet above the floor of the Vehicle Assembly 

Bui Id ing . 

Through the early morning about a dozen technicians 

painstakingly attached a steel sling around the front and 

back of the 100-ton plane. Then, with the aid of a crane 

that can lift more than twice that weight, the Shuttle will 

be lifted the height of a 19-story building early today. 

/Mark/ Hess /NASA spokesman/ said the lifting is the easy 

part, lasting only 10 minutes. Through mid-Friday, workers 

do the hard job -- fitting the hundreds of electrical and 

mechancial connections between the candle-shaped fuel tank 

and the two booster rockets. 

Hess said the difficulties before the last launch aligning 

the spaceplane with the fuel tank will be corrected by the 

introduction of soze new tools. 

Compared to Shuttle processing before the second launch, the 

Columbia's refurbishing this time around was cut by 35 days. 

-23- 
Most of that time savinss was due to fewer repairs needed 

for the fragile heat protection tiles. (TODAY, 2-4-82, p. 

16A) 

February 5: The third iaunch of the Space Shuttle Columbia 

from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida, has been set for 

March 22, 1982, at 1O:OO a.m. EST. 

The crew for the third Shuttle mission, STS-3, is Jack 

Lousma, commander, and C. Gordon Fullerton, pilot. 

Objectives of the STS-3 flight, the third in a series of 

four development flight tests, will be to continue 

engineering evaluation of the reusable spacecraft with 

particular emphasis on its thermal characteristics. In 

Columbia's cargo bay will be a space science Fayloid (OSS-1) 

with astronomy and space plasma physLcs instruments. Also 

in the bay will be the Canadian-built remote manipulator arm 

which will be extensively tested for the second time. 

Following seven days and three hours in Earth orbit, the 

Columbia is scheduled to land on the dry lake bed at Edwards 

Air Force Base, Cclifornia, on March 23, 1982. (NASA NEWS 

RELEASE NO. 82-20, 2-5-82) 

<> Widows of two Space Shuttle workers killed in 1981 by toxic 

gas filed seFarate lawsuits Friday/Feb. 5/ that seek more 

than $25 million total from NASA and two other agencies 

involved in the accident. 

Barbara Bjornstad of Titusville and Nancy Cole of Merritt 

Island sued in federal court naming NASA, Pan American 

Airways and Wackenhut Services, Inc., a security agency. 

The suits contend all three agencies failed to take 

necessary precautions that could have prevented the men from 

entering ths Shuttle's nitrogen-filled aft chamber March 19. 

That day, the aft chamber was supposed to be filled with 

air. The men, part of a five-member crew from Rockwell 

International hired to check out the Orbiter's rocket 

machinery, had received clearance to enter. 

-24- 
Rockwell technician John Bjornstad, 518 died the same day 

and Forrest Glenn Cole, 50, died two weeks later at Shands 

Teaching Hospital in Gainesville. The three other 

technicians were treated and released. 

Federal investigators determined that NASA and Rockwell were 

at fault. 

The suit states that NASA was negligent in failing to notify 

the men that pure r.itrogen was in the Shuttle chamber, that 

Wackenhut failed to provide security, and that Pan American 

failed to provide adequate medical facilities at the Kennedy 

Space Center. (TODAY, 2-6-82, p. 1B) 

<> The mating of the space shuttle Colambia to its external 

fuel tank was ahead of schedule Friday /February 5, 1982/ as 

Kennedy Space Center workers readied the orbiter for its 

third test mission in March, NASA officials said. 

After running into trouble refurbishing the shuttle after 

its first mission last March, NASA workers developed some 

new tools to help them "mate" the orbiter with its fuel 

tank, said Nstional Aeronautics and Space Administration 

spokesman Mark Hess. "It was a troublesome spot for us last 

time. Between the two missions we looked at it hard and 

came up with some new tools to help us with this mating 

process," he said. 

Hess said Friday thSt the hookup crew was 16 hours ahead of 

where it was during the iitating process for the second 

mission. 

He said the shuttle would be fired up t&ay for seven days 

of dry-run tests. Late Thursday night, the spacecraft was 

hoisted, nose up, into launch position inside the Vehicle 

Assembly Building. 

Workers then tightenee the bolts and finished the mechanical 

job of placing "metal on metal" Hess said. Next, they began 

the critical job of hooking up the "umbilical lines" -- the 

lines that carry fluids, gases, propellants, communications 

and data links between the orbiter and its tank. 

-25- 
At the end of the week, Mission 3 astronauts Jack Lousma and 

Gordon Fullerton will arrfre for the simulation tests. 

(SENTINEL STAR, 2-6-82) 

<> Calling himself a "NASA groupie," Vice President George Bush 

officially welcomed Spacelab, the $1 billion, European-built 

space shuttle laboratory to the United States. 

:n a speech to about 300 American and European space workers 

and dignitaries on Friday /Feb. 5/, Bush said: "I often say 

that we're doing our best to bring down the inflation rate, 

to bring down the interest rates, and the only thing we want 

to see go up is the qext space shuttle." 

The space shuttle is scheduled to lift off on its third 

mission March 22. 

NASA Adrcinistrator James M. Beggs lauded the Europeans' 

"splendid achievement" and said the United States looked 

forward to working with them in "the spirit of mutual 

development." 

Built by the European Space Agency, a consortiun of 10 

Western European nations, Spacelab has been hailed by NASA 

as the crowning piece of hardware for the shuttle. 

Dr. Johannes Ortner, the Austrian chairman of the Spacelab 

program, said, "He are grateful to the United States and 

NASA for having provided Europeans with the opportunity to 

design an5 construct this important part of the space 

transportation system. 

"We look forward to being a real and sericus partner" with 

the United States "for future space voyages," he said. 

After Bush's brief comments, the vice president toured 

Spacelab, posed for phctographs, and joked with the European 

and American scientists who will ride the shuttle. 

Wearing a sky blue Spacelab jacket, the vice president 

smiled and greeted the Dutch scientist Wubbo Ockels, saying, 

"Let me give you the basic American political handshake." 

(SENTINEL STAR, 2-6-82) 

-26- 
February 7: Two weeks of critical tests on the Columbia's 

electrical connections got under way yesterday as space 

officials prepared for the space shuttle's third launch, 

scheduled for March 22. 

"We want to check out that all the links are as they should 

be," said a spokesman for the National Aeronautics and Space 

Administration (NASA). 

Scrutiny of the connections between the orbiter and the 

external fuel tanks is the first item on the list of checkups that must be compieted before the shuttle can be moved 

to the launch pad February 21, he said. 

On Friday, NASJ! spdkesman #ark Hess said space agency 

workers were moving faster than expected to prepare for the 

third launch. 

The crew mating the shuttle to its huge external fuel tank 

was running 16 hours ahead of the pace it set on the second 

Colcnbia mission, Ress said. The speedup was attributed to 

tools developed for the task and to the experience of 

workers . 

Vice President Bush announced the launch date at a Friday 

ceremny aedicatipg the European-developed Spacelab, which 

is scheduled for a September 1983 launch on the shuttle. 

(PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 2-7-82) 

<> Space shuttle technicians, running two days ahead of 

schedule Sunday in preparations for Columbia's third launch, 

were delighted at the news that they won't be out of work 

ani time soon. 

Under President Reagan's proposed budget sent to Congress on 

Saturday, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration 

will get $6.6 billion for the next fiscal year -- an 

increase of $673 million or 11 percent. The space shuttle 

will get the biggest slice of the pie, with $3.5 billion. 

(THE MIAMI HERALD, 2-8-82, p. 6A) 

February 8: An extensive power check of all space shgttlccomponents began Monday /Feb. 81 in preparation for mock 

crbital and landing maneuvers by its astronaut crew this 

weekend. 

-27- 
Propellant, gas, electrical and communication links between 

Columbia and its external fuel tank and rocket boosters are 

being tested at the Vehicle Assembly Building to ensure 

their readiness. 

Astronauts Jack Lousma and Gordon Fullerton are due at the 

space center by midweek to prepare for their simulated 

flight tests -- orbital entry, an emergency return to Earth 

and a normal atmospheric reentry and landing. The tests are 

expectec? to take place Friday and Saturday in the assembly 

building. 

The .turnaround time" between Columbia's second flight and 

its third mission was still ahead of schedule and space 

agency officials were c-msidering the possibility of moving 

the shuttle out of the building to the launch pad several 

days ahead of the original plan., said center spokesman 

Rocky Raab. 

"In fzct we will soon be almost four days ahead of schedule 

and a pcssible rollout to the pad is under consideration for 

February 17," said Raab. 

The shuttle's next blastoff is scheduled for 10 a.m. March 

22. (SENTINEL STAR, 2-9-82, p. 6-C) 

February 11: A simulated launch mission of the space shuttle 

Columbia was aborted shortly after it began Thursday because 

of technical difficulties with a computerized system that 

runs the program. 

Space renter officials rescheduled the mock mission for 

Thursday night while technicians tried to find the problem 

in the "shared peripheral area" of the launch processing 

system, said space center spokesman Rocky Raab. 

The system is only used for simulations and would not have 

affected an actual launch, NASA officials said. It was not 

immediately determined whether the problem would cause any 

delay in the series of tests being carried out in the 

Vehicle Assembly Building. 

Rollout to the shuttle launch pad has been scheduled for 

Tuesday, with the beginning of Columbia's next mission set 

for 10 a.m. March 22. 

-28- 
Space shilttle technicians ssid Thursday that they will be 

able to move the shuttle to its oceanside launch pad next 

week despite a hydraulic leak and a faulty mechanical arm on 

the twin rocket boosters. 

Raab said technicians will repair the leak and replace a 

53-inch-long arm that steers the nozzle actuator of the 

booster rocket in flight. He said the repairs should be 

completed within the next two or three days. 

"These problems won't hurt the rollout a bit," said Raab. 

"It will just force us to reshuffle some of our tests. But 

the end result is that nothing changes." 

Raab said a crew of backup astronauts, Don Williams and John 

Lounge, were in the crew compartment Thursday and had just 

passed the simulated T minus zero or blastoff time when the 

computerized system failed. 

"They will have to find the problem, rewrite it (into 

computer software), test it and recycle the whole thing," 

said Raab. 

"We only use this launch processing system in running 

simulations," he said. "It is a computer program that fools 

the orbiter into thinking it's moving. It glitched out 

about a minute into the flight and now will have to be 

reprogrammed." 

Despite the problems, Raab said the fully assembled shuttle 

would be rolled from its towering Vehicle Assembly Building 

td the launch pad at 5 a.m. next Tuesday, a day earlier than 

planned. (SENTINEL STAR, 2-12-82, p. 5-C) 

<> Kennedy Space Center technicians have a light schedule today 

because work has gone smoothly preceding the three-mile 

rollout of the Space Shuttle to the launch pad Tuesday. 

Their only task today is to install explosive devices on the 

solid rocket boosters that will ignite the motors separating 

the boosters from the external tank after liftoff. 

-29- 
"They'll install explosive devices and that's it" until the 

rollout, KSC spokesman Rocky RaaL said Saturday. 

The Shuttle's third mission is still scheduled for March 22 

and no complications are expected before rolling the 

spacecraft from the Vehicle Assembly Building to Launch Pad 

39A at 5 a.m. Tuesday. 

Saturday was a "catch-up day" for workers who finished minor 

work on the Shuttle, Raab said. 

Included in Saturday's tasks was attaching of an actuator, a 

54-inch part that moves the rocket nozzle for steering. The 

device had Seen installed earlier in the week, but not 

completely attached. (TODAY, 2-14-82, p. 19A) 

February 17: Following a rigid time line, punctuated by exotic 

sounding milestones, men and women involved in the space 

shuttle program have been busily working since late last 

year to ready America's reusable spacecraft for its third 

trip into space. 

On November 14, the Space Shuttle 2 mission ended when the 

orbiter Columbia touched down on a dry lake bed in Dryden, 

California. For the next 10 days, the ship was prepared for 

its piggyback ride atop a 747 aircraft back to the Kennedy 

Space Center. After landing in Florida, the Columbia was 

hoisted off the 747, its landing gear was deployed and it 

was towed into the processing facility. 

The main landing gear tires were pulled off during 

turnaround activities for cold soak tests. Because the 

orbiter is expected to get very cold during the next 

mission, engineers wanted to expose the tires to extremely 

low temperatures to make certain they would withstand such 

an environment. Hundreds of other systems and components 

were thoroughly checked out and tested. 

The scientific package that will be aboard the next mission 

was inserted in the orbiter's cargo bay. This included a 

space science payload with astronomy and space plasma 

physics instruments. 

-30- 
While all of this was going on in the orbiter processing 

facility, another assembly operation was taking place in the 

vehicle assembly building, some 300 yards away. There, the 

external tank and the twin booster rockets were being 

assembled, (stacked), and finally mated. The main tank on 

the next mission will not be painted white as in previous 

missions but will instead show off the natural butterscotch 

color of the spray-on foam insulation. By leaving off this 

one coat of paint, the unit will save about 600 pounds of 

weight. 

After the orbiter was towed into the vehicle assembly 

building, a large handling sling was attached to the front 

and back of the orbiter, and the 100-ton vehicle was raised 

several inches off the floor for a final inspection of the 

landing gear and wheel wells. It was then raised to a full 

vertical position and then, suspended by a single 250-ton 

crane, the craft was lifted vertically 190 feet above the 

floor to a point where it was joined to the main tank, which 

was sandwiched between the two booster rockets. 

All over the space complex were signs announcing the ncmber 

of days until rollout. Scheduled rollout for the next 

mission was Friday, February 19, at which time the entire 

assembly conposed of the orbiter and the lifting rocket 

package would be rolled to the launch pad 39A some 3 1/2 

miles away. However the rollout was moved up to Tuesday, 

February 16. 

During 1983, a shuttle mission will transport the spacelab 

to orbit and return it to zarth. Spacelab is the product of 

the European Space Agency which is a combination of 10 

European nations. The hardware was formally delivered to 

NASA on February 5 in ceremonies at the Kennedy Space Center 

with Vice President George Bush accepting the versatile 

orbital research center on behalf of the U.S. 

The spacelab is a flexible laboratory system that features 

several interchangeable elements that can be put together in 

various configurations to meet the particular needs of a 

given flight. The major elements are a habitable module in 

which scientists can work in a shirt-sleeve environment, and 

platforms called pallets which can be placed in the shuttle 

cargo bay behind the module. These pallets will hold 

instruments requiring direct exposure to space. 

-31- 
In accepting the unit from the Europeans, Vice President 

Bush commented that “we will take tender loving care of it 

and be shooting for a 1983 launch.” Flying the mission for 

the U.S. will be astronauts Owen Garriott and Robert 

Parker. Garriott was science-pilot for Skylab-3 in 1973. 

Parker has not yet flown in space. 

Approximately 400 officials, contractors, NASA personnel, 

and members of the press attended the Spacelab arrival 

cerenony . 

The third space shuttle mission is currently running ahead 

of its projected timeline, and barring major problems, at 10 

a.m., Monday, March 22, the 4 1/2-million pounds of man and 

machine will thunder off the launch pad with astronauts Jack 

Lousma and Gordon Fullerton aboard. Following seven days 

and three hours in Earth orbit, the Columbia is scheduled to 

land at Edwards Air Force Base in California on March 29. 

It will be a spectacular mission and its success will 

depend, in large part, on those that were involved in the 

turnaround. (THE MONADNOCK LEDGER /Rew Hampshire/, 2-17-82) 

<> NASA is planning to use about 3,000 new lightweight 

insulation tiles on the third Space Shuttle Orbiter, 

Discovery (103), which will add about 3,500 pounds of 

payload capability to the vehicle. The new tiles will 

weigh 12 pounds per cubic foot, versus 22 pounds for the 

current tiles. There are about 30,000 tiies on an Orbiter, 

The fourth Orbiter, Atlantis (1.041, will make more extensive 

use of the new tiles. DiSCOVeKy is scheduled for delivery 

by Rockwell to NASA in the fall of 1983; Atlantis, in late 

1984. (DEFENSE DAILY, 2-17-82, Po 245, Vola 120, No. 30) 

<> The mated Space Shuttle Coiumbia, mounted on a mobile launch 

platform riding on a crawler vehicle, was successfully moved 

from the Vehicle Assembly Building at Kennedy Space Center 

to Launch Pad 39-A, at KSC, where it is scheduled to make 

its third flight March 22. The 3 1/2-mile trip to the pad 

began at 4:21 AM EST and was completed at 12:lO PM. The 

move started 39 minutes early to avoid a storm predicted 

yesterday afternoon. (DEFENSE DAILY, 2-17-82, p. 242, Vol. 

120, No. 30) 

-32- 
February 18: Work crews rechecked connections between the 

space shuttle's launch platform and ground systems Wednesday 

in preparation for a launch countdown dress rehearsal. 

"We're making sure everything is hooked up and in working 

order before the start of the dry countdown demonstration 

test," said Kennedy Space Center spokesman Mark Hess. 

NASA officials said there was a slight possibility the 

launch date could be moved up two or three days because 

everything had gone so smoothly until now. 

Jack Lousma and C. Gordon Fullerton, prim:.. crew for 

Columbia's third mission, scheduled for March 22, were set 

to imitate launch day procedures, engaging in flight and 

landing maneuvers this morning aboard a special Gulfstrean 

trainer rigged up to simulate the space orbiter. 

The test -- called a dry countdown because no propellants 

are loaded aboard the shuttle -- helps time sequence of 

pre-launch activities involving the astronauts and others. 

It ends after the make-believe liftoff at 10 a.m. Friday. 

The next major step in preparations for the third mission 

will be the test loading of supercold liquid fuels into the 

huge external tank on February 26. That will be followed a 

week later by the loading of propellants in the orbiter's 

maneuvering system and power units. 

Preparations will then begin €or a final countdown. 

(SENTINEL STAR, 2-18-82, p. 2-C) 

February 19: "Blueprint for Survival" has been the theme for 

KSC's observance of Black History Week which concludes 

today . 

Activities during the week planned to enlarge KSC employees' 

awareness of the contributions Black Americans make to our 

culture and shared heritage. 

The principal events for the week included a special Black 

History Week menu served in all cafeterias, a film, 

"Heritage in Black," and a concert, "From Bach to Gospel," 

given by the Bethune-Cookman College Concert Chorale. 

-33- 
Adding significance to this year's observance Of Black 

History Week was the creation of a new employee organization 

named the Black Employees Strategy Team (BEST). This group 

of 11 Black men and women was formed to monitor the overall 

climate of the Black work force at KSC. 

The BEST representatives were elected by Slack employees and 

the group is co-chaired by Evelyn Johnson and Sandra Rayner 

and will seek to promote equality and opportunities for 

Blacks in all phases of work. 

Advancement, recognition of accomplishments, plus developing 

a stronger bond with the Black community for the recruitment 

and participation of Black students in KSC programs are the 

primary goals of the BEST. 

BEST members will serve as KSC's representatives in the 

community to teach Black yotith hm to prepare for the job 

market. (SPACEPORT NEWS, 2-19-82, p. 4, Vol. 21, No. 4) 

<) A dense fog Thursday morning temporarily grounded training 

exercises for Shuttle astronauts Jack Lousma and Gordon 

Fullerton. 

Arriving from Houston late Wednesday, the astronauts were 

scheduled to practice landing a Shuttle aircraft at 7 a.m. 

Thursday on the Kennedy Space Center runway. 

But fog on the 15,000 foot Shuttle landing strip postponed 

the training exercises until late afternoon, said KSC 

spokesman Mark Hess. 

Meanwhile, a simulated countdown of the March 22 liftoff 

proceeded on schedule throughtout Thursday. 

And today, in the countdown's final two hours, the 

astronauts were set to awaken at 5:lO a.m., eat a hearty 

breakfast, don their spacesuits and take a seat in the 

Col umb i a . 

The 33-hour countdown before a mock launch is designed to be 

as realistic as possible, with the exception of fueling the 

spacecraft, said NASA spokesman Rocky Raab. 

-34- 
Even the engines will to through a mock run during the 

countdown. 

Following the coutdown, the men who will pilot Columbia for 

seven days in Earth's orbit will learn the ropes of escaping 

in emergency baskets. 

The baskets are for a quick exit from the cockpit to a 

bunker below in case the Shuttle experiences troubles on the 

launch pad. Later today, the astronauts will fly home from 

Patrick Air Force Base. (TODAY, 2-19-82) 

February 20: The men who plan to sail around the globe in the 

Space Shuttle next month said Friday that ever. if the media 

lose some of their enthusiasm for more routine launches, the 

American people will continue to be the program's biggest 

s uppor te r . 

Speaking briefly after a troublesome but successful mornins 

launch dress rehearsal, Jack Lousma and Gordon Fullerton 

said they tested the limits of their spacesuits and tried 

out the baskets that would whisk them to safety from the 

Shuttle cockpit in case of disaster on the pad. 

A computer problem during the 10:16 a.m. dress rehearsal was 

fixed easily, but the mechanical failure of a steering 

device inside a booster rocket would have grounded the 

Shuttle had it been an actual launch. 

A finicky computer shut down only four minutes before 

liftoff, delaying the start of the mock operatior. by 15 

minutes. 

"There was an element missing (in the computer program). 

When you tell the computer to do something it hasn't been 

programmed to do, it stops," said Rocky Raab, Kennedy Space 

Center spokesman. 

The computer program is used only for simulated flights and 

the problem would not have prevented an actual launch. "It 

was not a major wrinkle," Lousma said. 

-35- 
But a fa 

informat 

Shuttle, 

ilure in a booster rocket gyro, which sends 

ion to the spacecraft's computers to steer the 

would have halted the real thing. 

"The...failure evidently would have stopped a launch. But 

we went on with the countdown," Fullerton said. "We're glad 

it happened today, not a month from now," he added, 

referring to the scheduled March 22 launch date. 

Raab said the one of three gyros that failed was being 

replaced late Friday. 

"The run was successful and accomplished our objectives," 

launch director George Page said of the two-day mock 

countdown. 

Although it did not delay the simulated liftoff, a heavy fog 

that shrouded the space center until past noon would have 

been enough to scrub an actual launch. 

Dressed in bright blue jump suits, the astronauts told 

reporters gathered at launch pad 39A that they got a feel 

for the multibillion-dollar Columbia. 

"We learned a lot from it. We saw what we can reach in our 

spacesuits. We recommend that every crew go through this in 

the fcture," said Shuttle pilot Fullerton. 

Proclaiming themselves flight-ready, Shuttle commander 

Lousma said he and Fullertcn were "100 percent trained" and 

could "fly a good mission if we were to fly tomorrow." 

Lousma, who served as pilot for Skylab in 1973, said his 59 

days experience in space would benefit him in the seven-day 

Shuttle mission. 

"It helps going up there once," he said. 

Aside from "a couple of doodads from my wife and family," 

Fullerton said he had no good luck charms for his first 

flight into Earth orbit. 

-36- 
The astronauts, both 45, arrived at the launch pad right on 

schedule at 7:35 a.m. Friday, after rising at 5:lO a.m. and 

ha'Jing the traditional breakfast of steak, eggs, orange 

juice and coffee. Smiling and waving, they wore their brown 

pressurizea flight suits and carried oxygen canisters. 

They donned helmets, entered Columbia's crew Compartment and 

were buckled in and connected to all systems shortly 

afterward. 

The "close-out crew" that helped the astronauts in their 

preparations finished its business and simulated a closing 

of t.le crew compartment hatch at about 8:30 a.m., 1 1/2 

hours from launch time. 

.... Following the simulation, the astronauts inspected the 

baskets that would carry them to a bunker in case of an 

accident on the pad. 

Traveling the 1,200 feet from the Columbia at 60 miles an 

hour, the basket-on-a-wire was demonstrated about noon. 

The astronauts returned to Houston late Friday afternoon, 

and KSC officials said Shuttle crews plan a light work 

schedule this weekend. 

Loasma and Fullerton will return to the space center two 

days before launch. (TODAY, 2-20-82, pp. 1A 6, 8A) 

February 22: Third space shuttle launch vehicle system 

processing continued ahead of schedule last week as the 

orbiter, external tank and solid rocket booster combination 

was moved to the launch pad February 16, five days earlier 

than a timetable established late last mcnth. 

STS-3 preparations were being conducted last week with six 

days of contingency time that could enable launch ahead of 

the March 22 date set by Vice President George Bush during e 

visit here February 5. No decision on an earlier launch 

date will be made until two key events are completed at the 

launch pad. These are the cryogenic loading test, to be 

conducted February 26, and the hypergolic loading, March 

4-7 . 

-37- 
George F. Page, director of shuttle ?perations, attributed 

the acceleration in processing to a combination of a normal 

learning curve, an absence of incidents and accidents, 

development of new aligning tools that facilitate the mating 

of shuttle vehicle elements and the elimination of schedule 

pressures. 

Processing team members, Page said, "know their jobs 

better. They have a opportunity to think. The pressure is 

down. They feel the schedule dates are more achievable." 

He said the March 22 launch date "is c damn 904 schedule." 

If this date is &dvanced, it will be a decision made by 

National Aeronautics slnd Space Administration headquarters 

in Washington. An earlier launch would impact not only the 

processing and launch teams here at Kennedy, but also the 

complete tracking and recovery networks. (AVIATION WEEK & 

SPACF TECHNOLOGY, 2-22-82, Po 20, Vola 116, NO. 8) 

Feburary 23: The Space Shuttle's 154-foot-long fuel tank got 

the once-over Monday in preparation for test loading and 

draining of chemicals, and engineers replaced a faulty 

steering mechanism on one of the booster rockets. 

At 2 p.m. Friday, liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen will be 

loaded into the apricot-colored fuel tank at Launch Pad 39A. 

"The fuel loadlirg is under the same conditions as launch day 

(March 22). This tank (for the third Shuttle mission) has 

never been filled before" with the supercold fuels, said 

Dick Young, NASA spokesman. 

He said fuel tanks for the first two missions were filled 

with the fiiels.-r:t a NASA lab in MississiFpi. 

Over the weekend, technicians replaced a booster rocket gyro 

that helps guide the Columbia after liftoff, 

Engineers discovered the problem in the left booster rocket 

during a countdown dress rehearsal Friday. 

Also being inspected was a broken switch on the instrument 

panel in the Orbiter's crew compartment, Young said. 

-38- 
The switch apparently went beyond its stop position and 

broke off dcring the simulated countdown last week but 

remained functional, he said. 

Astronauts Jack Lousma and Gordon Fullerton plan to meet the 

press Friday -- the final time before the seven-day mission. 

Th.) sews conference will be held in Houston and telecast to 

N9SA cent-:s around the country. 

If everything goes well following this week's test loading 

of the external tank, workers will begin loading propellants 

into the Orbiter early next month. (TODAY, 2-23-82, p. 10A) 

<> The pilot who violated air space surrounding the Space 

Shuttle as it readied for its first liftoff had his wings 

clipped for 90 days after a five-hour hearing Tuesday. 

Jerry Stevenson of Cocoa had his pilot's iicer;e suspended 

in a compromise decision handed down by an administrative 

judge sent to Melbourne from Washington, D. C. 

The Federal Aviation Administration disciplined Stevenson in 

Jcly with a 180-day suspension for flying his Cessna along 

the coastline near the Shuttle pad only minutes before 

launch April 12. 

But Stevenson appealed the suspension, contending he was 

given improper information by the Melbourne Flight Service 

about the restricted area. 

The judge's decision at an appeal hearing Tuesday cut the 

180-day suspension in half, but FAA officials said they 

still were pleased with the outcome. 

The hearing in Melbourne was held by the National 

Transportation Safety Board, serving as an appeal agency. 

The penalty could have been worse: some angry NASA officials 

had suggested the pilot have his license permanently revoked 

and charged a $1,000 fine. 

-39- 
NASA and FAA officials were incensed at Stevenson's action 

because it threatened the timing of the Shuttle's liftoff 

and possibly the safety of the astronauts and onlookers. 

"I don't think we have any feeling one way or another" about 

the lighter sentence, NASA spokesman Mark Hess said Tuesday 

night. "Our biggest concern is that pilots are aware of the 

restrictions concerning leunches...This just brings it to 

everyone's attention." 

Stevenson's license will automatically be reactivated at the 

end of the 90 days, although his record will permanently 

show the disciplinary action. 

FAA officials said they had to chase Stevenson's aircraft 

twice before finally forcing him to land. Flight officials 

suggested that Stevenson was violating Shuttle space to 

enable his brother, a professional photographer, to shoot a 

photograph for NEWSWEEK. 

Stevenson was unavailable for comment Tuesday. (TODAY, 

2-24-82, p. 1B) 

February 24: A replaced steering mechanism on the Shuttle's 

left booster rocket "tested out well" Tuesday, said Kennedy 

Space Center officials. 

The mechanism, a gyro providing steering guidance after the 

Shuttle's liftcff, failed during a launch dress rehearsal 

Friday and was replaced over the weekend. 

All remaining work on the Shuttle's heat protection tiles is 

set to be completed later this week. 

Only 449 of the Columbia's light silicon tiles were replaced 

between the second and third flights as opposed to 1,872 

replaiad after the first mission. 

While the tile replacement was completed before tire shuttle 

was rolled to the pad, there is some work that still needs 

to be done, said KSC spokesman Mark Hess. 

-40- 
That includes making sure a number of tiles are flush with 

one another on the skin of the spaceplane Columbia and that 

replaced tiles are sufficiently glued on, Hess said. 

(TODAY, 2-24-82, p. 16A) 

<> The Space Shuttle Columbia will lift off on March 22 and cot 

a day earlier, top NASA officials said Wednesday. 

Despite speculation the launch would be moved up by two or 

three days, there will be no change in the original date, 

announced Major General James Abrahamson, associate 

administrator for che Shuttle program. 

"General Abrahamson said, 'make sure the media understands 

we are launching March 22,'" said James Kukowski, a space 

agency spokesman in Washington, D. C. 

Kukowski said some additional time has been gained in faster 

-than-anticipated preparations for the Columbia's third 

mission, but that these two days will be "used to ease off 

on launch pad crews and give people some time off before the 

labnch. " 

The extra time also gives the space agency elbow room to 

troubleshoot any difficulties on the pad. "If there are 

problems, we do have that cushiov," Kukowski said. 

Discussion of an earlier liftoff surfaced February 16 after 

the fully assembled Shuttle was moved from its hangar to Pad 

39A. Launch director George Page said then that KSC 

engineers were only considering the possibility and it would 

"remain an open issue." 

The launch is scheduled for 10 a.m. (TODAY, 2-25-82) 

February 25: NASA's John F. Kennedy Space Center has awarded a 

construction contract to Holloway Corp., located on Route 2 

in Titusville, Florida. The contract calls for 

modifications to be undertaken in the Space Shuttle main 

engine and solid rocket booster operational areas at the 

space center. 

-41- 
The fixed-price contract has a price tag of $168,200, and is 

to be carried out in two separate tasks. The first part of 

the contract is to be completed four months after a notice 

to proceed is issued, and the second part three months after 

a notice has been issued. The contract, which was awarded 

on February 16, 1982, is one that has been set aside for 

award to a small business firm. Holloway submitted the low 

bid out of five proposals received by KSC. (KSC RELEASE 

NO. 36-82, 2-25-82) 

<> Cracking the night sky with a blue-hot plume of gas and 

firepower, a 116-foot-tall Delta rocket carried the pride of 

Western Unior.'s fleet of communications satellites into 

space Thursday. 

The launch at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station came at 7:04, 

delayed 15 minutes because of strong winds in the upper 

atmosphere. Boosted into the sky at 18500 mph by nine 

rockets, the satellite was at the edge of the Earth's 

atmosphere in less than four minutes. 

NASA officials called it a textbook launch of the $28 

million satellite. 

Added to a fleet of three satellites, kESTAFt IV is designed 

to relay pages of newspapers or magazines inclgding - Time 

Magazine, the Wall Street Journal and Sports Illustrated 

from widely separated printing plants. 

At 22,640 miles above the globe, the satellite has an 

excellent vantage point to catch the coded information 

beamed to it from a ground-based station. WESTAR IV will 

relay it at the speed of light to antennae across the 

country. (TODAY, 2-26-82, p. 16A) 

February 26: NASA's John F. Kennedy Space Center has awarded a 

$3 million-plus services contract to Wiltech of Florida 

Corp., located at 3015 Briarwood Lane in Titusville, Fla. 

Wiltech is to take over the component refurbishment and 

chemical analysis services at the space center. 

The cost-plus-award-fee contract carries a price tag of 

$380548939 and covers the period from March 1, 1982, through 

February 28, 1983. The contract is one that has beeir 

awarded to a small business firm. (KSC NEWS RELEASE NO. 

38-82, 2-26-82) 

-42- 
February 28: A critical pre-launch loading of toxic fuel in 

the Space Shuttle Columbia's maneuvering systems is set for 

this week as the reusable spacecraft nears its third 

mission, officials said Sunday. 

Kennedy Space Center spokesman Hugh Harris said loading of 

the highly toxic propeilant nitrogen tetroxide was scheduled 

for Thursday, and would take several days to complete. 

Harris said space agency officials have built safeguards 

into the propellant-loading operation to avert a repeat of a 

spill during the same point in pre-launch operations last 

August 22. 

The propellant spilled down the Columbia's aluminum skin a;id 

338 heat-protective tiles either came unglued or had to be 

removed after the fluid corroded the adhesive binding them 

to Columbia's skin. 

NASA engineers blamed a "quick disconnect" shutoff valve for 

the two-tc-three-gallon spill down the right side of the 

Shuttle's nose area. 

"We have changed a lot of procedures," Harris said Sunday, 

adding that officials have instituted "safeguards with 

respect to the quick disconnect." 

Most launch pad workers took the day off Sunday, Harris 

said, and will return today to prepare for the critical 

operation. 

A trial-run fill-ap of the 154-foot high, half-million 

gallon external tank was carried out without problems 

Friday, said Shuttle operations director George Page. 

(TODAY, 3-1-82, p. 10A) 

-4 3- 
MARCH 1982 

March 2: Kennedy Space Center technicians laid the groundwork 

Tuesday for loading a highly toxic and combustible 

combination of propellants into the Shuttle Columbia's 

maneuvering engines later this week. 

The operation, known as hypergolic loading, should start 

midnight tonight and be completed by midnight Sunday. It is 

the last major work at Launch Pad 39A before countdown and 

the March 22 liftoff. 

A 30-hour checklist of tasks began late Tuesday to prepare 

hoses and lines that lead from widely separated ground 

storage tanks to five engine compartments on the spacecraft. 

The pad will be cleared of all but the propellact-loading 

crews in special safety suits when the monomethyl hydrazine 

and nitrogen tetroxide begin to flow into the orbital 

maneuvering system and the reaction control system. 

The two orbital maneuvering system engines are used to put 

the Columbia in orbit and get it out of orbit before 

re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere. The three reaction 

control system engine compartments are used to steer the 

spacecraft in orbit. (TODAY, 3-3-82, p.8A) 

March 5: Despite an hour delay due to mechanical problems with 

a cooling system, the world's largest communications 

satellite was sent into space Thursday night from Cape 

Canavcral Air Force Station. 

An Atlas Centaur rocket broke from the grip of Earth's 

gravity with an ear-splitting liftoff at 7:23 p.m. 2nd in 

less than four minutes it was lost from veiw in a cloud 

bank. 

After four minutes artd 16 seconds at a healthy 8,000 mph, 

the two-stage rocket separated and the satellite was on the 

outer edges of the atmosphere. 

-44- 
NASA officials blamed the delay on ground-based equipment 

that keeps rocket systems at their proper temperatures 

failing at about 5 p.m. 

It took about an hour to diagnose and fix the thermal 

conditioning system, said a space center spokesman. The 

thermal conditioning system uses nitrogen to keep the 

satellite's compartment and other delicate electronic 

systems on the rocket at very precise temperatures. 

Although there was an ever-present haze over the launch pad, 

weather was Rot a factor in delaying the launch. 

"We had a weather briefing at 4 (p.m.1 and it was clear 

sailing from then," said Dick Young, space center spokesman. 

The 16th INTELSAT will be operational by early May, 22,000 

miles above the Indian Ocean. 

Communications satellites are placed in a geostationary 

orbit -- an orbit that is synchroncus with the Earth's 

rotation so the satellite remains over one point in space as 

it circles the globe. 

The $35 million satellite will have the capacity to transmit 

12,000 voice circuits and two color television channels. 

And at 21 feet high, it is the largest commercial satellite 

in both size and capacity. 

INTELSAT is funded by a consortium of 106 nations ranging 

from Monaco to Uganda. Aside from satellites, the INTELSAT 

system consists of 204 antennas scattered on every 

continent. As the need for telephone communications across 

borders increases, more satellite will be put into orbit. 

(TODAY, 3-5-82, p. 10A) 

<> It took a little longer than they expected, but Kennedy 

Space Center technicians began the job of loading 

combustible propellants into the Space Shuttle Columbia at 8 

a.m. Thursday. 

By late afternoon, technicians at launch pad 39A were 

i.1ling tanks on the left maneuvering engine compartment and 

the forward steering engine tanks. 

-45- 
It will take until Sunday to fill the five engine 

compartment tanks with the 1,316 gallons of nitrogen 

tetroxide and 1,317 gallons of monomethyl hydrazine, said 

Dick Young, space center spokesman. 

The monomethyl hydrazine costs about $50 a gallon, according 

to NASA figures. The nitrogen tetroxide, on the other hand, 

comes cheaper at about $5 a gallon. 

So far the operation has proceeded without a hitch. "It 

looks as if everything is humming along OK," said Mark Hess, 

space center spokesman. 

Pumping the highly combustible propellants from widely 

spaced storage tanks was delayed for eight hours by a poorly 

functioning pump and a snag in setting up some fuel lines. 

The seven-day mission is still set to start at 10 a.m. March 

22. 

An average of 15 to 20 workers are at the launch pad for the 

loading, taking pains to avoid repetition of an accident 

that delayed the seccn3 Shuttle lauwh by a month. 

Toward the end of the carefully controlled loading 

Operation, the auxiliary power units an8 hydraulic power 

units are filled with more than 100 gallons of hydrazine 

fuel. 

When the job is completed, launch pad crews wiil begin 

putting computer flight programs aboard. 

By Monday they will adjust the spacecraft's guidance system 

and stow equipment the astronauts might need in case they 

have to go outside the ship. (TODAY, 3-5-82, p. 10A) 

March 7: It was almost as if their bodies were coated in a 

harsh, biting ash. 

Only hours after the first Space Shuttle launch in April 

1981, as many as 13 workers in the launch pad area at 

Kennedy Space Center mysteriously began to suffer from 

headaches and sore throats. Some were nauseated. 

-46- 
One space center guard, who asked not to be identified, 

remembered, "It lasted only a couple of days. My eyes were 

watering. I had a raspy throat. It felt like it has 

swelling." His temples and the top of his head also ached. 

It took two teams of inspectors (the first team also became 

ill when it arrived in the pad area) to find the cause of 

the sickness at launch complex 39A. 

They found that parts of the pad had been coated with a 

layer of white powdery material varying in thickness from a 

thin film to a quarter inch. A clear liquid also was found 

on the underside of metal handrails. 

The substances, which also damaged launch pad facilities, 

corrosive and irritating residue left behind in the exhaust 

cloud from the Space Shuttle's powerful solid-fuel rocket 

boosters. 

were discovered to conFist mostly of aluminum oxide -- a 

Chemicals in the exhaust cloud also are known to deplete 

ozone in the Eartn's atmosphere and pose a risk of acid 

rain. 

Environmental health and medical personnel came to the aid 

of ailing pad workers along with persons associated with 

Project BEST, a group that has extensively studied the 

booster rockets' environmental impact. 

Dr. Paul Buchanan was one of those who saw the ill 

technicians. "There were several reports of distress after 

the crew went out. It was like they were covered with a 

very astringent deodorant," he said. 

"Inspectors went out and they too got the same feeling. 

Then we (Buchanan and others in KSC's biomedical office) 

went out. We made a complete sweep of the pad." 

The pad workers were given immediate medical attention and 

no one affected was sick more than a couple of days. 

"What they (physicians) noticed was a dryness of the mucous 

membranes. They were not pink in the nose and throat, as 

they should be," Buchanan said. "We told them to load up on 

orange joice and take saline nase drops." 

-4?- 
The space center guard who described his launch pad illness 

said he was fine after his eyes were flushed and he took a 

couple of Tylenol capsule tablets. 

"If we wanted a blood test, we could have had one," he 

said. nNASA told us there was no harm." 

Estimates on the number of people affected vary. Pad 

personnel said as many as 10 became ill, KSC officials said 

fewer than five. 

But physicians agree short-term exposure to the aluminum 

oxide residue is only an irritant. 

NASA took notice of the risk posed by human contact with the 

rocket byproduct after the first launch and moved the VIP 

viewing site for the second launch back a mile. 

Post-launch procedures changed for the second mission. 

Cleanup and inspection crews, the first to go to the pad 

following launch, were outfitted with plastic gloves and 

surgical masks to keep particles out of their respiratory 

tracts and away from their faces, Buchanan said. 

The pad also was washed down within 24 to 48 hours. 

The new measures were successful and there was no repeat of 

the problem for the second launch in November, Buchanan 

said. 

Rut he warned there is no assurance the low-lying cloud of 

rocket exhaust particles won't travel with a stiff wind to 

mor? populated areas. 

Any long-term exposure could produce some lasting nose and 

throat soreness and leave one vulnerable to infection from a 

drying of the mucous membranes, Buchanan said. 

In the first launch most of the aluminum oxide particles 

were deposited in an area within 100 yards of the launch 

pad, but some were found about four miles north of the pad 

inside the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. 

-48- 
According to the official NASA report on the environmental 

effects of the first flight, fallout particles were foutld 

along Titusville Beach Road and about a half mile west cf 

the beach . 

After the sec0r.d flight, wind conditions were under 10 miles 

an hour and contaminants were found only in the immediate 

pad area, Buchanan said. 

Of more concern to NASA physicians is the danger of 

hydrochloric acid fallout over a wide area. Hydrochloric 

acid is another booster rocket residue that can be carried 

greater distances by stiff winds. 

"Damage from acid fallout could take the form of metal 

corrosion or even chemical burns to humans and animals. 

Acid particulate fallout is expected to occur on subsequent 

launches, 'I Buchanan said. 

While the space agency expects most wind patterns to carry 

the hydrochloric acid fallout seaward, Buchanan said it is 

"conceivable" the clocld couid travel outside Kennedy Space 

Center, across the Indian River and into Titusville. 

But that would be a serious constraint to liftoff. "I don't 

think we would launch in the face of such a wind," he said. 

NASA was warned citrus growers in the refuge area that acid 

rain could fall and ruin fruit. 

Buchanan cites as an example the launch of a solid-fuel 

rocket at Homestead Air Force Base near Miami in the 

mid-1970s. The exhaust cloud merged with a small rain cloud 

that was beginning to shower water on some nearby groves. 

"That cost the government some money," he said. "We're 

sensitive to this problem. Grove owners here at the space 

cenLer have been warned that acid rain is a possibility. 

But none have moved out." 

NASA officials recommended in their official report 

following the first launch, "the Shuttle's operation on a 

wildlife refuge should be monitored to prevent any 

significant deterioration of air quality in the area." 

-49- 
Buchanan said while there is no indication of problems yet, 

constant exposure to the pollutants would be a hazard. 

Aside from the harm to living things, fallout from the 

Shuttle's booster rockets can take its toll on property. 

Reports of launch pad damage following the first mission 

showed the same white powder that gave workers trouble also 

was responsible for considerable steel corrosion. 

This was evident most "where the deposit has chemically 

attacked and removed a portion of the galvanizing" on steel 

structures, according to a post-launch investigation. 

"The galvanizing thickness had been reduced to the point 

that bare steel was exposed in spots," the report 

continued... 

. . . .The booster rocket residue, with its high content of 

hydrochloric acid, also was responsible for ecting away at a 

steel hose. 

While this hydrochloric acid could easily ruin an automobile 

and any other exposed metal on building or machinery, there 

is a low probability the exhaust cloud would drift farther 

than the space center area, said Bill Jones, an engineer 

with KSC's office oF design engineering. 

As for danger to autcmobiles in che space center during a 

launch, Jones said provisions have been made and will 

continue to protect the property of guests and employees 

during a launch. Plastic car cwers were sold during the 

last launch in November. 

NASA engineers said they hope to prevent any further launch 

pad corrosion by immediately washing the steel structure 

with a 3 percent solution of acetic acid (vinegar) rinsed in 

water and immediately coated with a protective chemical. 

(TODAY, 3-7-82? p. 1A & 10A) 

March 9: Space Skuttle technicians Sunday completed loading 

the Space Shuttie Columbia with 1,678 gallons of nitrogen 

tetroxide and 1,688 gallons of hydrazine fuels, Gsed to 
power the Shuttle's orbital maneuvering system engines and 

reaction control system. NASA said the operation went well 

and everything is "right on schedule" for the March 22 

launch of the spaceship. Pre-launch countdown preparations 

were slated to start late yesterday, with the storage tanks 

for the Shuttle's fuel cells to be loaded with liquid oxvgen 

and hydrogen later this week. The fuel cells will be loaded 

next week. Final countdown for the launch will begin at 4 

AM March 18. (DEFENSE DAILY, 3-9-82, Vol. 121, NO. 7) 

March 11: United Space Boosters Inc. moved one step closer to 

building a new Merritt Island plant when the Canaveral Port 

Authority tentatively agreed Wednesday to lease the company 

about 13 acres of land. 

The proposed 200-acre site is on private land just north of 

SR 528 and the barge canal, with the port property in 

between. USBI ekecutives need to lease the port land so 

they can build a trench connecting the barge canal with 

their proposed plant. 

"This was one more step in the process of moving to Merritt 

Island," USBI attorney Harry Jones said. However, he added 

that the project is still in its study phase. 

The company, which praduces the solj.d-racket boosters for 

the Space Shuttle, wants to build on Merritt Island to avoid 

having to haul the empt) boosters eight miles north to the 

company's present facilities at the Kennedy Space Center. 

(TODAY, 3-11-82, p. 18C) 

<> Workers preparing the Space Shuttle for its date 150 miles 

above the Earth are "real keyed up and ready to go," launch 

director George Page said Wednesday. 

Preparations for a 

so well, Page said 

might move the date 

10 a.m. liftoff March 22 are proceeding 

there is a possibility the space agency 

of the fourth launch up a week. 

Originally set for July 7, then July 4, Page said the 

Defense Department's Shuttle mission could blast off as 

early as June 27. 

-51- 
"This is a preliminary one (date). We haven't locked one up 

yet," Page said in a news conference at Kennedy Spats 

Center. 

If the fourth launch is moved up, the fifth and possibly the 

sixth flights also nvould be advanced, Page said. 

There is no change, however, in landing plans. The Columbia 

will put down at Edwards Air Force Base in California on the 

fourth flight. A landing on KSC's airstrip won't be 

attempted until the fifth launch, now scheduled for November 

11. 

The sixth flight will be the maiden voyage of the Challenger 

spacecraft, which Page said is due to arrive at its KSC 

hangar from California on June 30. 

He predicted preparations for the sixth flight, set for 

January 20, will pose a new obstacle -- "We'll have two 

vehicles th :n." (TODAY, 3-11-82, p. 16A) 

March 12: As part of ar. innovative cost-cutting move, NASA's 

John F. Kennedy Space Center has awarded Speegel 

Construction Inc., of Cocoa, Florida, a contract to install 

64 railroad boxcars that will be used for office space at 

KSC. The refrigerator car bodies, which have been procured 

from the Topeka, Kansas, based Atchison Topeka & Santa Fe 

railway company, offer substantial advantages in pr;ce and 

durability over conventional trailers. 

The fixed-price contract has a value of $675,219, and is to 

be completed 140 days after the contract was awarded on 

February 4, 1982. The contract is one that has been set 

aside for award to a sms.11 business firm. Speegel submitted 

t'\c low bid out of six propcsa1.s received by kSC. (KSC NEWS 

Ri. 7ASE NO. 49-82, 3-12-82) 

Harch 13: A small Afghan flag will be aboard the Space Shuttle 

when it lifts off on its third test, the space agency said 

Friday. 

-5 2- 
On Wednesday, President Reagan proclaimed March 21 as 

Afghmistan Day and said he would dedicate Columbiz's 

upcoming flight scheduled to lift off on March 22 to the 

people of that country. 

The president took the action to dramatize the 

administration's opposition to the reported presence of 

100.000 Soviet troops in the Central Asian nation. The 

Soviets moved into the country more than two years ago. 

NASA said the flag, provided by the State Department, has 

been sent to Kennedy Space Center to be placed aboard the 

spaceship. (TODAY, 3-1.2-82, i. 14A) 

March 15: Construction -.?d modifications under way or in the 

planning stages here are aimed at supporting a space shuttle 

mission rate of 40 launches per year from two pads by late 

1986 . 

Added facilities are: 

*Modification of Launch Pad 39Br budgeted at $53.2 million 

and scheduled for completion in September 1986. 

*Modification and rehabilitation of a second mobile launch 

platform at a cost of $13.9 million, to be ready in July. 

*Construction of a solid rocket motor processing and storage 

facility, costing $12.6 million, to be completed in November 

1984. 

*Installation of a second active firing room that will be 

used to process Defense Department shuttles as well as 

augment National Aeronautics and Space Administration 

shuttle processing capability. The firing room will cost 

$3.1 million, not including computer consoles or cther 

equipment. It is scheduled to be ccmpleted in September and 

be operational in December. 

*Modification of two high bays in the Vehicle Assembly 

Building so that assembly flow of two shuttle vehicles can 

be accomplished sicultaneously. Some assembly stands and a 

-53- 
crane will be relocated to the new solid booster facility. 

This job, which will cost about $500,000, is scheduled for 

completion in September. 

About $20 million is also being spent to equip a second bay 

in the orbiter prDcessing facility to enable two orbiters to 

flow through processing at the same time. The second bay 

was built into the facility during original construction. 

Installztion of the equipment is scheduled to be completed 

in JcJy, 

Laucch rate capability has been aided by modifications in 

the vertical processing facility and life sciences building, 

completed in January. The vertical processing facility 

andcrwent a $6.5-million modification. The building was 

us-c:' to sterilize and prepare the Viking/Mars payload. 

No. 11) 

[AVIATION WEEK b SPACE TECHNOLOGY, 3-15-82, p. 68, Val. 116, 

<> Preparations were in such good shape Sunday for the March 22 

launch of the space shuttle Columbia that the ground crew 

took the weekend off. Officials said it was a mark of 

maturity for the launch system. 

The Kennedy Space Center workers were beset by one problem 

after another while preparing for the shuttle's maiden test 

flight a year ago. They were forced to work seven days a 

week to overcome a fuel-spill problem prior to the second 

flight in NGvember. 

But the date for the third test flight has remained locked 

in at March 22 since early January and there have been no 

major problems since the Columbia returned to Cape Canaverbl 

November 25. 

"It has been a real confidence builder to see how well they 

have been able to maintain their schedule," said astronaut 

Jack Lousma, the commander of the third flight for the 

reusable rocket plane. 

The only threat to the launch date has been weather at the 

California landing site, and that problem appeared to be 

going away. More than a half-inch of rain fell last week on 

the normally dry lake bed shuttle landing site at Edwards 

Air Force Base in the Mojave Desert. 

-54- 
Space agency officials in Washington said if the unpaved 

runways were wet on launch day, the flight probably would be 

delayed. 

But Airman George DaVall said Sunday that high winds have 

swept the base during the last few days and the winds act 

like a hairdryer and quickly remove the water from the 

lake bed. He said the runways were in good condition and 

drying rapidly. (THE MIAMI HERALD, 3-15-82, p. 5A) 

<> Only a half-dozen changes will be made in the countdown to 

launch the third shuttle mission as the National Aeronautics 

and Space Administration moves to standardize procedures to 

prepare the shuttle system for a high launching rate. 

There were a number of significant differences in the launch 

countdowns for the first two shuttle missions, particularly 

in ordnance, range safety and fuel cell activities, along 

with modification of the sound suppression system to reduce 

overpressure at solid rocket booster ignition. (AVIATION 

WEEK & SPACE TECHNOLCGY, 3-15-82, &. 19, Val. 116, NO. 11) 

March 17: (shut'-l fe'-ver); Condition in which Brevard 

County, Florida, is suddenly packed to the county line with 

excited visitors and local residents who buy T-shirts, camp 

in cars and look through binoculars until NASA launches the 

Space Shuttle Columbia. 

Symptoms: Jamed motel rcoms, long lines for NASA tours, 

the appearance Df xire service and television network news 

crews, and phoces that ripg constantly at the Titusville 

Area Chambei of Commerce and the NASA public affairs office. 

Duratim: From now until the big bird is hurled to the 

heavens on a trail of fire. 

Prevention: None, but if you like crowds, excitement, a lot 

of tourist doilars and breathtaking launches, who cares? 

Treatment: None. Sit back and have =. good time. (TODAY, 

3- 17-8 2 ) 

-55- 
March 19: The Solid Rocket Booster Decelerator Team at KSC has 

been awarded the Aerospace Awareness Panel Team Award for 

exceptional performance in support of STS launches 1, 2, and 

3, SRI3 build-up, and STS-1 post flight refurbishment. 

Team members from the Martin Marietta Corporation are Ken 

Eflin, Mark Faucher, Jesus Gonzalez-Alvarado, Robert Meyer 

and Craig Crowl. Members from the Pioneer Parachute Company 

are Tom Me+z and George Hinkel. 

The SFtB Decelerator Team was assigned to perform packing, 

refurbishment and assembly of the SRB parachute systems for 

the Shuttle development flights, and to establish a 

documentation system to manage and control the refurbishment 

process . 

The team was cited for developing a documentation system 

thst has resulted in an extremely efficient and effective 

refurbishment operation. 

The support that team provided Martin Marietta External Tank 

0pera:ions in designing and fabricating four environmental 

control enclosures allowed STS-1 ET insulation repair to be 

accomplished at the launch pad. This extensive effort aided 

in considerable savings in the STS-1 launck processing 

timeline. (SPACEPORT NEWS, 3-19-82, p. 2, Vol. 21, No. 6) 

<> Their itinerary included a warm greeting by KSC Director 

Richard Smith on March 3 and will feature photo sessions and 

a reception hosted by distinguished NASA officials and 

astronauts, Flus an invitation to watch the Columbia lift 

off from a special viewing site. 

Sounds like a whirlwind celebrity tour, you might sayVIP's from all corners of the country, perhaps. Guess 

again. 

These "celebrities" are KSC employees who are being honored 

for outstanding contributions to the space program at KSC. 

Fifty KSC civil service and contractor employees have been 

recognized for their consistently above-average performance 

and dedication in achieving their particular goals that help 

get the Space Shuttle off to a successful start. 

-56- 
"You people are an outstanding example of the loyalty and 

skill of the people who make this program Work," KSC 

Director Smith told the large gathering of honorees 

assembled in Theater No. 1 of the Visitors Information 

Center. "You are outstanding people and represent an 

outstanding team." 

The group is mainly composed of non-supervisory err.?loyees 

who have been selected by their supervisors for the Launch 

Honoree Award, one of the highest recognitions presented to 

employees in the Space Shuttle program. The program is 

offered on a yearly basis throughout NASA, and this year 210 

honorees from installations around the country will be given 

the red carpet treatment at KSC during the days before the 

Shuttle lifts off. 

This treatment will include a reception hosted by NASA 

officials and astronauts two days before the Shuttle 

launch. Ray Corey, a member of the honoree planning panel, 

told the honorees they should "get involved" with the 

astronauts. 

Among those whose work exemplifies the performance of all 

the honorees is Cosmo Tadaro, Boeing Services 

International's principal engineer in the Launch Equipnent 

Test Facility. Todaro determined that the design and 

installation of the Shuttle orbiter access arm controls 

would not function properly. In two days he modified the 

design, reworked the circuit patchboard and allowed testing 

to proceed an schedule. 

Carla Harper developed computer software of vital importance 

to Space Shuttle processing and launching. Harper, who 

joined KSC just over a year ago, is an associate program 

analyst for Conputer Sciences Corporation. The software she 

developed eliminated the need for an engineer to tehiously 

translate computer data into English to verify that all 

planned events occur in their correct time sequence. 

During STS-2 test activities at the pad, Lenford Williams, a 

Unified Services, Inc. custodian at Pad A, witnessed an 

accidental release of a chemical foam agent in the Mobile 

Launcher Platform. Williams' quick response allowed a 

clean-up that minimized a potentially long delay at the psd. 

-57- 
P-rnolds Strauss, Sr., lead engineer for Planning Research 

Corporation's mechanisms and hydraulic systems, designed a 

lightweight payload mechanism for /putting/ the payloads 

into the Shuttle cargo bay at the launch pad. (SPACEPORT 

NEWS, 3-39-82, pp. 1 h 7, Vola 21, NO. 6) 

<> To Lora Moses of the Titusville Area Chamber of Commerce it 

seems only neighborly that local residents would open their 

homes to visiting Shuttle watchers desperate for places to 

stay. 

But to big city reporters, it's an unusual twist to the 

Space Shuttle story. 

Moses said when word of "Operation Open Home" was 

transmitted nationwide by the Associated Press, she got, 

calls from Washington, D. C., and New Ysrk City radio 

reporters requesting telephone interviews. 

"They said they can't believe that homes are being opened to 

strangers down here," Moses said. "They were really 

impressed that people would do th3t.O 

Until Wednesday, Moses worried that there wouldn't be enough 

spots in private homes. Where the chamber had 103 home 

offers for the first launch of Columbia in April, it had 

only 19 by Tuesday afternoon. 

Moses said she has been flooded with offers of rooms in 

private homes since Mednesday morniclg when TODAY published 

her appeal for help. 

. 

4 "The phones have been ringing constantly with people 

offering their homes and people needing rooms. I figure the 

calls wil! ' 2ep coming in," she said. 

Moses said &he's sure that by Sunday, the number of families 

offering room will top April's 103. 

"We're getting offers from as far awzy as Palm Bay and some 

of them say there won't be any charge to their guests," she 

said. 

-58- 
Chamber officials have asked that local hosts charge no more 

than the going motel rate of $25-$40 a night. 

Moses said one woman was insistent that whoever stayed with 

her must like dogs. 

"No problem," she said. "We set her up with a 

veterinarian." 

One couple has traveled from Kent, England, to see Monday's 

launch. 

"They wrote a letter to the mayor asking for a room in a 

private home. They said they had not been able to get motel 

reservations. They're staying in Fort Lauderdale and will 

be here Sunday afternoon. We're going to find a nice home 

for them to stay in." (TODAY, 3-19-82, p. 1B 6 3B) 

March 20: Launch crews began unhooking the space shuttle from 

its earthiy umbilical cords Friday as the countdown for a 

Monday liftoff continued right on schedule. 

"Everything is going so smooth, it's almost scary," said 

NASA spokesman Karl Kristofferson. 

Workers at Kennedy Space Center fell about four hours behind 

schedule early Friday, but made up the time later in the 

day. There was only one hint of trouble as the countdown 

clock kept ticking: problems with the mass memory units 

that feed information to the shuttle's five flight 

computers. 

The two memory units have malfunctioned several times in 

recent months, and there is concern they might break down 

again during the final minutes of the countdown, when the 

shuttle computers perform thousands of tasks every second. 

A memory unit has been "robbed" from the Columbia's sister 

ship, the Challenger, to use as a spare part. The 

Challenger, still undergoing tests in Palmdale, California, 

will be de-livered to Kennedy Space Center in June. 

-59- 
"I wouldn't say we robbed it, I'd say we borrowed it," said 

Gene Thomas, orbiter project engineer. 

One of the shuttle's five flight computers also has been 

acting up, but NASA officials downplayed the problem. 

"There is no doubt in my mind we're going to launch Monday 

morning," Thomas said. 

Weather cmditions also are expected to be good at the 

Kennedy Space Center launch day. 

The 72-hour countdown entered an eight-hour rest period at 6 

p.m. Friday. The clock was to start ticking again at 2 

a.m. this morning, when fuel cells that supply power to the 

orbiter during flight are loaded with liquid hydrogen and 

liquid oxygen. A second rest period was scheduled for 10 

a.m. 

The astronagts are scheduled to arrive this afternoon at 

Patrick Air Force Base, flying separate T-38 jets. 

(SENTINEL STAR, 3-20-82, pp. A-1 h A-10) 

March 21: NASA's budding confidence about the anticipated 

success of America's third Shuttle mission was tinged with a 

bit of cockiness Saturday. As Shuttle pilot Gordon 

Fullerton stepped from his T-38 jet, he announced: "Things 

are almost looking too good -- the weather, the vehicle, the 

state of our training." 

Fullerton and Shuttle commander Jack Lousma, each at the 

helm of a supersonic jet, taxied onto a Patrick Air Force 

Gase runway at noon Saturday from Houston, about two hours 

ahead of schedule. 

And as of Saturday nigh,, NASA engineers readying the 4.5 

million-pound spaceship also had two hours to spar2 as they 

came out of a planned hold in the countdown at 6 p.m. 

At 1 a.m. today the steel canopy used to service the 

Columbia was moved back in preparation for fuel loading 

before dawn Monday. 

-6 0- 
Like the men who will ride the reusable spaceship for seven 

days and three hours starting Monday at 10 a.m., NASA 

engineers were sure they would keep their date 150 miles 

above the globe -- on time. 

"There is no reason why we can't make a punctual launch," 

John Talone, A Shuttle test operations engineer said. 

Said Lousma, "We plan to leave town 1 0 o ' c l o c k Monday 

morning. " 

Posing at Patrick Air Force Base with their families for 

photographers, Lousma and Fullerton predicted they would 

have no trouble bringing the world's only reusable spaceship 

down on the six-mile-long Northrup strip. 

"We're more trained there than anywhere else in the 

world...If we trained any more we woulan't be able to stand 

it," Lousma said. 

Said Fullerton, "We're really ready to do it, on time, on 

schedule, for the full duration, next week." 

Shortly after their two-hour flight from Ellington Air Force 

Baset the astronauts took another spiri in the azure Florida 

skies. Kot just for sightseeing -- the flights are designed 

to get the astronauts' ears accustomed to weightlessness. 

By 6 p.m. Lousma and Fullerton were having dinner at the KSC 

Operations and Checkout building, their home until they 

board the Shuttle. 

They will spend today rehearsing their landings in 

Shuttle-like aircraft, tour the launch pad, attend numerous 

briefings and get to sleep at 6 p.m. 

Weather conditions at both the launch and landing sites 

looked favorable as of Saturday night with scattered clouds 

and no chance of rain. 

But U. S. Air Force weather watchers admitted the final word 

on launch conditions comes after the 24-hour forecast 

today. (TODAY, 3-21-82, pp. 1A & 4A) 

-61- 
<> If the Kennedy Space Center's new press center looks vaguely 

farlliliar to some of the thousands of journalists flocking to 

it, it's not surprising. 

The huge white geodesic done has been on the space center 

before. 

In 1976, the 200-foot-wide dome stood in the shadow of the 

Vehicle Assembly Building, one of 15 erected to celebrate 

the Third Century America, the space center's Bicentennial 

observance. 

Brought out of storage to provide a headquarters for 

visiting journalists, the dome was erected to provide more 

space to the ever-expanding press corps. 

Press site manager A1 Seeschaf /said/ that with 2,700 

reporters, cameramen and photographers at Columbia's first 

launch and 2,200 for the second, the crowded and confused 

conditions were becoming intolerable. 

"We had 11 public affairs trailers," he said. "This created 

quite a problem of communication." 

Six trailers were occupied by NASA public affairs officers 

answering reporters' questions. Two others were occupied by 

public affairs helping reporters set up tours and 

intsrviews. Still more were set aside to handle the special 

needs of film, radio and teievision crews and provide 

seating space for press conferences. 

Workers started construction on the dome Decenber 23 by 

leveling the site ana pouring a concrete foundation. 

The next step involved building the framework by connecting 

aluminum poles at 127 joints. Next, workers added the 

"skin," opaque, vinyl-coated nylon, suspended from the poles 

by short chains. 

Before the project was completed February 23, workers had 

added a drop-ceiling, carpeting, partitions that created 

about a dozen office cubicles, 10 pay phones, four 

television monitors and long tables that serve &s desks for 

the first 77 journalists to ask for them. 

-62- 
A long, curved desk encircling half the pavilion, is manrAed 

by press representatives for KSC, the Johnson Space Center 

in Houston, the Marshall Space Flight Center in HuntsvillG, 

Alabama, the foreign press, National Research Council of 

Canada and the Department of Defense. 

Seeschaf, said that although visiting reporters have been 

giving the large, open building rave reviews, the,e*s a 

problem with the 8,825-square-foot building. 

"It's still not big enough. The press's interest has 

continued to increase. It's gone far beyond my highest 

expectations," he said. 

Still, Seeschaf said, there's nothing to worry about. There 

are always trailers. (TODAY, 3-21-82, p. 4A) 

<> Althou.jil Monday morning is the third time the Space Shuttie 

Csiiimia has shot into the heavens, the event has not lost 

its glitter for the "stars." 

Such big-name celebrities as sinqers Anne Murray, Gordon 

Lightfoot, Jimmy Buffett and actor Michael York have 

accepted NASA's invitation to the launch, according to 

Arnold Richman, chief of visitors services for the Kennedy 

Space Center. 

Shuttle viewers have come to expect celebrities' attendance 

at these historic events. 

Actor Robert Redford dazzled spectators at the "scrubbed" 

attempt of the second flight of the Shuttle. Both Redford 

and singer/actor John Denver left before the Columbia was 

successfully launched into space last November. 

Accordinq to Richman, never before has a Shuttle launch 

attracted so many celebrities. Approximately 3,000 VIPs 

attended the first and second launches, but NASA is 

expecting as many as 3,500 VIPs ;ct the third launch. More 

than 40,000 members of the general public are also expected 

to witness the launch. 

-63- 
ORIGINAL PAGE fio 

OF POOR QUALITY 

*- *. . 

SRA Rc,covery Ships, UTC k'rccdam and III'C Liberty, 

-64- 
NASA is expecting numerous former astronauts to attend the 

launch, including Col. Ed "Buzz" Aldrin, Frank Borman, 

Gerald Carr, Eugene Cernan, Pete Conrad, Donn Eisele, Ronald 

Evans, Fred Haise, Jr., Brigadier General Jim McDivitt, 

Donald "Deke" Slayton, General Tom Stafford and Lieutenant 

Colonel Alfred Worden. 

Bruce King, governor of New Mexico, where the Shuttle is 

scheduled to land at White Sands, also will be on hand to 

watch the Shuttle takeoff. 

Ambassadors and representatives from 36 countries and the 

United Nations are expected to watch the Shuttle shoot into 

the sky on Monday. Also in the diplomatic assembly will be 

John J. Louis, Jr., U.S. Ambassador to Great Britain and 

former director of the Gannett Co., parent company of Today. 

Twelve congressmen, including Florida's Bill Nelson and Don 

Fuqua will be at the launch. 

NASA is expecting more than 200 educators, including Edward 

Boling, president of the University of Tennessee, and J.M. 

Petlit, president of Georgia Tech. (TODAY, 3-21-82) 

March 22: Columbia shrugged off a pre-dawn fueling hitch and 

roared ;.i>to orbit this morning on its third, busiest and 

longest test flight. It was the first Lime the shuttle had 

lifted off on its original launch date. 

"The first part of the flight was a real barnbur.ler," 

commander Jack Lousma told Mission Control. He spoke as the 

Columbia was soaring 150 miles above the Earth with Lousma 

and pilot Gordon Fullerton in control. 

A problem with one of the ship's ai-xiliary power units was 

reported by ground monitors. But the astronauts were told 

to make a precautionary shutdown, and Columbia was sent 

further into space. The ship can fly and return with just 

one of the hydraulic units working. 

"The shutdown should have no impact," said John McLeaish, 

Mission Control spokesman. 

-6 5- 
The shuttle's third flight began in a burst of flame and 

smoke as the ship's three main engines and two solid fuel 

rockets flashed to life on Complex 39A at the Kennedy Space 

Center. The space ship, which weighed 2,239 tons at 

liftoff, rode a pillar of yellow flame into the partly 

cloudy sky. It left a long trail of smoke. 

Eight minutes, 34 seconds later the main engines had shut 

down and the astronauts were in orbit, streaking along at 

17,400 miJt!s an hour. 

The ascent was cheered by about 1 million people who had 

jammed viewing spots for the liftoff. Many camped tor days 

to claim choice sites along the Indian and Banana rivers and 

the Atlantic Beach. 

Fifteen seconds after ignition Columbia was obscured by low 

clouds. But when it emerged 15 seconds later into a bright 

blue sky, the crowd at the Kennedy Space Center thundered 

applause. 

One minute into the flight, Lousma said, "We're looking very 

ycod. " 

Liftoff had been delayed an hour because a heater had 

refused to start automatically and a technician had had to 

do the job. 

No matter that launch was a little late. It came on March 

22, th,? date the National Aeronautics and Space 

Administration had set three months ago and had very much 

wanted to meet. NASA was determined to demonstrate to the 

shutt?.e's paying customers that the craft cou1.d meet a 

timetable. 

But today, after about 50 seconds into its flight, the 

spaceship pierced through the most dangerous point in the 

ascent -- an area known as Max Q, where it was subjected to 

its maximum aerodynamic pressures. 

At 2 minutes, 6 seconds, Columbia shed its two 149-foot 

boosters, hurling them toward a planned parachute landing in 

the Atlantic. Ships waited there to recover them for reuse. 

-66- 
The shuttle continued d-iving upward under the power of its 

main engines, accelerating ever faster as they plunged into 

a thinner upper air. (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 3-22-62] 

<> National Aeronautics and Space Administration has droppe; 

astronaut backup crews from its space missions and has begun 

naming prime crew astronauts several missions in advance of 

flights. Backup crews have been dropped because of the 

growing number of astronauts who have either flown the 

shuttle or are highly trained and could take over a mission 

assignment quickly if a prime crew could not fulfill its 

duties. 

The naming of prime crews several missions in advance has 

been adopted because shuttle missions are becoming more 

closely spaced. The new policy had been sought by the 

astronaut office for prime crews who have been training for 

specific missions but were prohibited by NASA from 

acknowledging their flight assignments. (AVIATION WEEK & 

SPACE TECHNOLOGY, 3-22-82, p. 55, VOl. 116, NO. 12) 

<> (The following are excerpts cf NASA Administrator James 

Beggs' remarks last week to the Twentieth Godciard Memorial 

Symposium where he recommended a mannei! Space Station as the 

next U.S. project in space and invited other nations of the 

Free World to participate in the project). 

"....NOW th.: we have the Space Shuttle, what should we do 

over the next decade and beyond to expand the opportunities 

its capabilities offer? 

"There are two ways we could go. 

"The first is to modify the Orbiter itself to extend its 

orbital flight time, launch capability and range. But the 

Shuttle was never conceived as an end in itself; rather it 

was conceived as means toward an end. Many tend to forget 

that the Columbia and her sister ships originally were 

conceived to shuttle payloads routinely to a spat?,: station. 

And that brings me to the second alternative, which is more 

preferable and more logical: establishment of a permanent 

human presence in low earth orbit -- a manned space station 

-- using the Orbiter to tei., supply and service it...." 

(DE.ZENSE DAILY, 30220?2, 3. 124, Vole 121, NO. 16) 

-67- 
<> In his book, "The Right Stuff," author Tom Wolfe wrote, 

"Cocoa Beach was so Low Rent that nothing on this earth 

could ever change it...." 

Well, nothing except a few 1970s-vintage condominums that 

would pretty much crowd every camera angle in the film 

version of *The Right Stuff". 

OK, first the bad news. 

We're rrot going to be movie stars. 

Now, the good news. 

"The Right Stuff," the story of the Earth antics and the 

outer-space heroics of the United States' first seven 

astonauts, is going to be made into a movie anyway. 

Putting that all together: "The Right Stuff" movie is going 

to be made, but it's not going to be made here, as 

originally planned. 

It's not that Cocoa Beach, which served a playground and 

temple to our first seven space travelers, doesn't have the 

right stuff any more, says the film's publicist. 

It's just that Cocoa Beach doesn't have the same stuff. 

"Houston and Cape Canaveral just no longer look like what 

they looked like 20 years ago," Tom Gray said in a telephone 

interview from San Francisco, the film's base of operations. 

Instead, the movie makers' sights shifted to the vistas of 

the Pismo Beach, California, area, where, Gray said, they 

found -- intact -- that "tacky" toomtown-look Tom Wolfe so 

throughly described in the book which has led to the movie. 

(TODAY, 3-22-82) 

<> The Reagan administration is deeply committed to the future 

of the space program, convinced that to do otherwise would 

be penny-wise and pound-foolish, presidential counselor 

Edwin Meese said today. 

-68- 
"The fact that we have economic problems cannot keep us from 

going ahead with what is really the program of the future," 

Meese said on NBC's "Today" show. "There's so much to be 

gained from the space program that we can't afford as a 

nation not to support it fully." 

He said that cuts in the space agency's budget last year 

were minor and that they were needed "to stay within our 

spending limits. But actually, the budget for 1983 will be 

an increase of abcut half a billion dollars." 

He said one of the primary benefits of the shuttle program 

was that its success was likely to spur investment in the 

space program by other countries and private industry. 

In addition, the shuttle offers the potential for advances 

in computer technology, communications, materials 

processing, medicine and transportation, Meese said. (ST. 

LOUIS POST-DISPATCH8 3-22-82) 

<> A Miami television crew trying to find the press site at 

Kennedy Space Center Sunday night got a close look at the 

Space Shuttle -- a lot closer than security patrols wanted. 

The WPLG-TV crew, wandering through the sprawling facility 

in a large camper, had traveled within several hundred yards 

of pad 39A when a man dressed in battle fatigues and armed 

with an M-16 rifle appeared. 

"You must be lost," the guard said. After warning the news 

people about tight security, he pointed them back toward the 

press center -- three miles from the launch pad. (TODAY, 

3-22-82) 

<> Canadian Ambassador Kenneth Taylor, who made international 

news two years ago for his role in spiriting six American 

hostages out of Iran, was more than happy to stand by Monday 

and watch the world's spotlight fall again on the Shuttle 

Col umbi a. 

One -2 many foreign diplomats at Kennedy Space Center to 

view the Shuttle's climb into the clouds, Taylor said NASA's 

program generates "a tremendous amount of enthusiasm (in 

Canada). " 

-69- 
Taylor is no stranger to spoken words of praise. President 

Reagan honored him with a Congressional Gold Medal for his 

help in hiding six Americans who fled the U.S. Embassy in 

Tehran when it fell November 24, 1979. The embassy workers 

were secretly whisked out of Iran Janaury 29, 1980. 

After watching the Shuttle's billowing ascent into the 

clouds Monday, the 46-year-old Tsylor exclaimed, "Wasn't 

that exciting? Just tremeydous." 

Now a Canadian diplomat in New York City, Taylor said the 

third launch of the Columbia is being watched even closer by 

Canadians. Why? Because this Shuttle trip is the first 

time a Canadian-made mechanical arm inside the Shuttle will 

be asked to handle a payload. 

The robot-like arm, NASA hopes, will lift an 800-pound 

environment contamination monitor and suspend it in space 

for two hours. The equipment was designed to test 

contamination neasurements. (TODAY, 3-22-82) 

<> While waiting for Columbia's liftoff Monday morning, actor 

Jimmy Doohan proved that hi5 su' rt of space exploration 

goes beyond his role as Scotty in the "Star Trek" television 

series and movies. 

Working with a film crew, !loohan took advantage of his 

surroundings at the Kennedy Space Center press site by 

filming a sequence in an upcoming documentary he is 

narrating, "Americans in Space, The Shuttle Era." 

The film, being produced by an independent California firm, 

will be offered for sale to a television network or for 

distribution by a movie stuaio. 

An admitted space fanatic, Doohan also attended Columbia's 

second launch in November. (TODAY, 3-22-82) 

March 23: While Shuttle astronauts Gordon Fullerton and Jack 

Lousma suited up for Monday's launch, Bob McCall and Alan 

Cober watched their every move. 

-70- 
Ushered into the "white room" around 6:45 a.m., :he pair 

came not to prepare the astronauts for flight or offer 

technical assistance. Instead, for a precious five minutes 

cr so, they took down impressions they eventually will 

commit to canvas . 

McCall and Cober are part of an eight-member team of artists 

commissioned by NASA to produce artwork on the various 

phases and people connected with Shuttle 3. They're on the 

latest part of a nearly 20-year-old NASA project to build a 

permanent record of the space program. (TODAY, 3-23-82, p. 

2B 1 

<> It is fast becoming a part of Americana, the space shuttle 

strapped to the flame-tailed silo with the bullet head -- a 

source of pride, a subject of cheering. 

But for Fred Haise, it is a symbol of what might have been. 

Timing and age kept him from again taking the astronaut's 

ultimate, Monday's roaring roller coaster. Delays and 

downturns in the shuttle program, and damage and dullness 

that the years bring to eyes and reflexes made Haise a 

spectator instead of a prime player in Monday's launch. 

While waiting for the launch, he passed his retirement off 

with a practiced shrug. 

"It was a matter of looking ahead. I left the astronaut 

program, but I'm still in the space program planning 

projects. You cannot fly forever. Too many people try to 

go too long," Haise said. 

"I'm wearing glasses now." 

At 48, his trim build offsets the iron gray of his brush-cut 

hair and he still looks like he could climb into Columbia's 

cockpit. 

But in July 1979, he stepped away from the discipline he 

followed for 13 years. He stepped away from a sure chance 

to fly the shuttle into space. 

-71- 
Six of those years were spent on the space shuttle project. 

Haise made the desert dry runs in Columbia's sister ship, 

the Enterprise, proving NASA's big bird could fly. 

Dry runs don't match the rocket's rush. Nor do they bring 

fame. If the shuttle hadn't suffered maddening delays, 

Haise would have been commander for one of the first four 

launches and could have had both. 

Haise retired. 

"It's like sports. Eventually you reach a point where you 

age. And physically, other men can handle the job better," 

he said. 

"I sort of felt like I had my chance." 

But even Haise's earlier chance at glory, an Apollo moonshot 

in 1970, took a frustrating and nearly fatal turn. Apollo 

13 was aborted by an explosion that left the craft's main 

engines silent. Haise and his two fellow crewmen made juryrigged repairs to nurse their crippled craft home. 

"It's like y~u got all the way through your Ph.D. and 

flunked your oral exam. At the time, it was very 

disappointing. You train and train and train for something 

snd then fall short. Life is full of some of those things.'' 

;SENTINEL STAR, 3-23-82) 

<> The Space Shuttle Columbia, piloted by astronauts Jack 

Lousma and Gordon Fullerton, blasted off from Kennedy Space 

Center at 10:59 AM EST yesterday with a quarter million 

spectators in attendance and went into its circular 150-mile 

orbit at 11:41 AM with a 132-second burn of its dual 

maneuvering engines. NASA officials late yesterday 

afternoon said they are continuing to aim for a full sevenday mission. Launch was delayed for an hour when the 

nitrogen heater on the Mobile Launch Platform failed to 

operate. A problem was also encountered when one of the 

three Aaxiliary Power Units that power the Orbiter's 

hydraulic flight control systems overheated on the ascent 

into orbit and had to be shut down. Mission control 

reported later that the APU ;lad cooled down and that it was 

not expected to affect the duration of the mission. 

(DEFENSE DAILY, 3-23-82, Po 132, Vole 121, NO. 17) 

-72- 
March 24: While +he world's attention shifted Tuesday to 

Houston's Joh..bm Space Center to follow the Shuttle 3 

missior., workers at Kennedy Space Center focused their 

attention on bits and pieces of heat tiles that fell from 

the spacecraft at liftoff and waited for the return of the 

Shuttle's huge twin solid rocket boosters. 

A debris crew found pieces that may belong to 12 heat tiles 

Mission Control believes fell off the Shuttle's base heat 

shield c?uring liftoff. 

The tile remnants were scattered around Pad 39A and as far 

as three miles away on Playalinda Beach. 

The crew made its search for tiles after astronauts Gordon 

Fullerton and Jack Lousma reported a "fairly big chunk of 

white stuff" knocked against their cockpit window during 

Monday's liftoff. 

The latest NASA count shows 37 tiles to be either missing or 

damaged from Columbia -- 12 torn from the base heat shield 

area and 25 missing or damaged around the craft's nose. 

The crew started looking for the tiles around 7 a.m., said 

Karl Kristofferson, a NASA pubiic information officer. 

They also examined engineering films of Monday's liftoff and 

saw tiles falling off the Shuttle. 

Technicians then conducted their search along the Shuttle's 

takeoff path. Although crew found "one pretty large piece 

of tile, most of them (18) were 1 to 2 inches long, 

Kristofferson said. 

Technicians had given the launch pad area a cursory 

inspection two to three hours after Shuttle 3 blasted off 

Monday, Kristofferson said. 

Among the things they looked for were tiles on the pad, in 

the flame trench and around the mobile launcher -- the three 

spots where tiles from prior launches have been discovered. 

Apparently none was found during that Monday inspection, he 

said. 

-73- 
The tiles, perhaps the most maligned part of the Space 

Shuttle program, for the Shuttle's thermal blanket -- 30,000 

silica panels that keep Columbia from sizzling dangerously 

during re-entry. 

On its maiden mission last April, Columbia lost one tile and 

17 others were damaged. 

Difficulties in gluing the tiles on delayed the start of 

that mission. They would not bond to the Shuttle's skin 

until they were redesigned and injected with a bonding 

material. 

Shuttle 1 landed without difficulty. The tiles did even 

better on last Novbember's second flight. 

Meanwhile, NASA got some good news Tuesday night when the 

Shuttle's solid rocket boosters were towed into Port 

Canaveral in better condition than models used in two prior 

Columbia flights. 

NASA solid rocket booster vehicle manager Roy Ramsey said 

the 149-foot boosters suffered less damage on this mission 

because the booster covering was modified. 

The rockets, which powered Columbia's third liftoff Monday, 

were jettisoned after 126 seconds and splashed down on 

target, about 170 miles from Kennedy Space Center in the 

Atlantic Ocean. 

Just as planned, they had poured out as much thrust as 

400,000 subcompact cars stsrting in unison, all in three 

one-hundredths of a second. 

Then, 126 seconds into flight, small explosive charges 

shoved the huge cylinders away from Columbia leaving them to 

drop into the ocean. 

The only failure was in the flotation device used for one of 

the SRB's parachutes. A main parachute, which costs about 

$60,000, sankp Ramsey said. Each SRB is equipped with three 

main parachutes and two smaller ones. 

-74- 
SRB recovery ship UTC Liberty arrived in port at about 6:15 

p.m., with the Freedom right behind it, said Sue Butler, 

spokesman for United Space Boosters, in charge of recovering 

the rocket boosters. 

The solid rocket bDosters will be cleaned and disassembled 

at the space center, then returned to their mandfacturer, 

Thiokol Corp., in Brigham City, Utah, to be prepared for use 

on a later mission. 

Refurbishing a pair of booster rockets costs $12 million, a 

bargain compared with the $25 million price tag oli a new 

pair, according to NASA. 

Once in port, recovery crews began the 2 1/2 hour job of 

pumping out the remaining 160,000 gallons of water from the 

tanks. That done, one SRB began the four-hour ride to its 

dock at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. The second tank 

is scheduled to be moved there today. 

Launch pad 39A also got away with little damage, said NASA 

spokesman Mark Hess. "It was less than (Shuttle launches) 

one or two, and they (pad workers) didn't think those were 

too bad," he said. 

"Usually they find speakers and lights lying around on the 

ground. This time they didn't," Hess said. 

That the pad got by with nothing more serious than large 

scorch marks in the flame trenches was attributed to a prelaunch clean-up more thorough than any in the past and the 

addition of water jets designed to lessen the shock wave 

that bognces off the ground back toward the departing 

Shuttle. (TODAY, 3-24-82, p. 8A) 

March 25: With the third successful launch of the space 

shuttle, Columbia, the National Aeronautics and Space 

Administration has taken another step toward the goal of 

making such flights routine. This latest in a series of 

shakedown cruises is Lesting the spaceworthiness of the 

craft and performing several scientific experiments. 

-75- 
The shuttle has been the target of sharp criticism by 

influential members of Congress, who question both its cost 

and its value in this period of fiscal belt-tightening. But 

with each successive flight, NASA's unique reusable space 

plane demonstrates its flexibility and its potential as our 

extraterrestrial workhorse. It can carry a laboratory 

loaded with sophisticated scientific instruments far beyond 

the Earth's atmosphere: it can put sa..ellites into orbit 

with unexcelled accuracy; it can help erect a defense shield 

more than 100 miles above us. The shuttle, in short, is our 

best bet for maintaining our edge in the space race. (THE 

HOUSTON POST, 3-25-82, p. 28) 

<> Technicians examined launch pad 39A Wednesday /March 24/ and 

studied films of liftoff to determine whether ice built up 

on the space shuttle's fuel tank and then chipped off to 

destroy 37 heat-protection tiles. 

The shuttle's nose warmer -- also knuwn as the beanie cap or 

coolie cap -- is designed to keep the tip of the fuel tank 

warm even with supercold (minus 295 degrees Fahrenheit) 

liquid oxygen and hydrogen inside. 

But it's believed that ice still forms on top of the sub 

zero tank in the last few minutes before liftoff. 

The nose cap is designed by Planning Research Corporation of 

Washington, D. C. The firm, prime engineering contractor 

for ground support equipment at Kennedy Space Center, 

modified the cap after both of last year's shuttle launches. 

"There's been so much work done on it," said spkeswoman 

Janet Bonder. "What they're trying to do is keep ice from 

forming and chipping the tiles." (THE HOUSTON POST, 

3-25-82) 

<> Workers at Kennedy Space Center continued Wednesday to 

assess the side effects of the Space Shuttle Columbia's 

fiery liftoff, with some measuring environmental effects 

while others searched for pieces of tiles knocked from the 

Orbiter during launch. 

-76- 

KSC's environmental health officer, Dr. Ai Koller, said 

preliminary checks indicate the toxic ext.aust cloud that 

billowed from beneath the departing Colunbia did no 

permanent damage to plants or wildlife. 

And Columbia's roar appeared to represent nothing more than 

a temporary nuisance to the animals living near launch pad 

39A, he said. 

"There was nothing new or startling about (the environmental 

effects of) STS-3. It looks about the same as STS-1. We're 

beginning to get a pattern we can depend on," he said. 

Seashore Superintendent Don Gciton said the beach was closed 

until 12:30 p.m. so that pad workers could search for pieces 

of brittle heat protection tiles lost or damaged during 

Columbia's liftoff. 

Searchers scoured five miles of beach from the space center 

boundary to the Brevard-Volusia county line. Launch pad 39A 

is about two miles south of the beach. (TODAY, 3-25-82, p. 

1A) 

March 29: Liftoff of Columbia piloted by astronauts Marine 

Col. Jack R. Lousma and USAF Col. C. Gordon Fullerton at 11 

a.m. EST March 22 took the crew and Johnson Space Center 

controllers through a more advanced ascent profile than that 

flown by the first two shuttle launches. 

New abort options, dynamic pressure g-load modulation and 

changes in main engine throttling combined to make the 

ascent more complex than Mission 1 and 2. The auxiliary 

power unit (APU) system created ascent problems for the 

second resulting in a precautionary shutdown of one of the 

three units near the end of powered flight. 

Immediately upon liftoff from Pad 39A here the vehicle's 

twin Thiokol/McDcnnel Douglas solid rocket boosters began to 

maintain engine nozzle positions based on "assessment 

aerodynamics" of the vehicle on earlier flights. 

This was different from Mission 1 and 2, which used 

predicted rather than observed vehicle characteristics 

loaded into the command loops of the orbiter's general . 
purpose computers (GPCs). This change was expected to be 

noticeable to Lousma and Fullerton, who were told during 

their pre-mission planning to observe their attitude 

direction indicators to insure that pitch error needles 

remained within 1-1.5 degrees of the center reference datum. 

During the first two flights the crews observed up to -5 

degrees error needle deflections as Columbia flew with 

somewhat different characteristics from those predicted. 

Columbia completed its 180-degree roll as it passed through 

about a 5,500-foot scattered cloud deck. Mission commander 

Lousma called,"Oh, what blue skies," as the vehicle left the 

overcast behind. 

At 30 seconds Columbia began to fly a flight path angle that 

minimized vehicle g-loads. This steering profile was 

maintained until 1 minute 18 seconds at about 60,000 feet 

and Mach 3. 

Another change from previous flights occurred at 32 seconds, 

when Columbia's three Racketdyne main engines were throttled 

from 100% to 68% about 12 seconds earlier than during the 

first and second missions. This was to relieve maximum 

aerodynamic pressure on the vehicle in the Mach 0.6 to Mach 

1 regime, where additional structural load margins were 

desired. 

Lousma radioed an equivalent airspeed of 460 kt at 1 minute 

25 seconds into the flight compared with the 466 kt. 

predicted airspeed at the point in the profile where dynamic 

pressure peaks. 

Maximum dynamic pressure for Mission 3 at this point was 650 

psf. compared with 640 psf. obtained on the second flight. 

The way the dynamic pressure limits were handled in flight 

for this mission also varied significantly from the first 

two missions. During Lousma and Fullerton's ascent their 

vehicle dynamic pressure limit was varied as a function of 

Mach number at given altitudes, not as a function of maximum 

allowable dynamic pressure at a single point. 

-79- 
Columbia was commanded through a much steeper tra jeztory 

throughout its entire ascent compared with the first two 

missions, and its main engine cutoff targets were at a lower 

altitude. These changes were caused by a combination of 

factors, including Columbia's heavier flight mass, a revised 

abort philosphy and the vehicle's inherent performance. 

Lousma and Fullerton flew for the first time what is 

considered the nominal launch trajectory for the shuttle 

program -- a trajectory that follows a continually ascending 

line into orbit. On the first two launch trajectories the 

shuttle climbed initially, dove earthward for several miles 

and then climbed again to dchieve desired cutoff targets. 

Those trajectories were lofted early in the profile to allow 

the excess performance available to be used to assist the 

return to launch site abort trajectory option. Mission 3 

did not have excess performance to spare on a lofted 

trajectory because the orbiter had a heavier liftoff 

weight. (AVIATION WEEK 6 SPACE TECHNOLOGY, 3-29-82, pp. 

14-15, Vole 116, NO. 13) 

<> Martin Marietta's external tank that carried liquid hydrogen 

and liquid oxygen for the third spacc Phuttle mission landed 

as planned in the Indian Ocean, but vlrght analysts will not 

know if the tank tumbled iiitil motior! picture film is 

removed from the orbiter Columbia. 

First look data indicate the impact point was 98.7 degrees 

East Longitude, 32.7 South Latitude. Tumbling provides 

better ccntrol for landing. 

The Mission 3 tank weighed 75,770 pounds, 1,421 pounds less 

than the tank flown in Mission 2. During the COUhtdOWI,r 

time to drain back liquid oxygen was extended by 33 seconds, 

reducing the weight of residuals after main engine cutoff by 

about 550 pounds. It was determined after the first two 

flights that the tank contained too much residual oxidizer 

after it was no longer being pumped into the engines. 

No. 13) 

(AVIATION WEEK 61 SPACE TECHNOLOGY, 3-29-82, p. 17, Vole 116, 

<> Launch of the thirC space shuttle flight at 11 a.m. March 22 

was preceded by the smoothest, most incident-free countdown 

conducted so far in the shuttle prosram. qnly five 
countdown anomalies occurred, and the one that caused an 

hour delay in planned liftoff was attributed more to 

PrtiCedUreS than to equipment malfunctiac 

The delay from a scheduled 10 a.m. launch was caused by a 

thermocouple in the mobile launch platform gaseous nitrogen 

system used to purge liquid hydrogen tanks. The sensor 

recorded erroneous high temperatures and eventually was 

bypassed. The incident caused a scheduled hold of 1 hour 40 

minutes at the T-2 hours 5 minutes point to be extended by 

60 minutes. George F. Page, director of shuttle operations, 

said in the future the launch crew will react faster to 

problems such as this. 

NASA believes that with the experience of preparing three 

shuttle vehicles for launch, the fourth mission can be 

launched 78 calendar days, or 64 working days, after 

Columbia returns here fron its landing on the Northrup Strip 

at White Sards, N.M. This compares with 750 calendar and 

668 working days for the first launch: 198 calendar and 178 

working days for the second, and 114 calendar and 97 working 

days for the third. (AVIATION WEEK C SPACE TECHNOLOGY, p. 

17, Val. 116, N?, 13) 

<> The successful operation of the Space Shuttle Columbia's 

Remote Manipulator System -- a long, strong robot arm -- has 

evoked a great feeling of pride among Canadians. 

The 50-foot arm is Canada's contribution to the Space 

Shuttle program. And it is a vital contribution, because 

many of the planned uses of the space workhorse can only be 

carrieCI out through use of this unique lifting and 

positioning mechanism, 

The arm was built by Spar Aerospace Ltd. of Toronto, 

Ontario. Unofficially, there is talk that Spar Aerospact is 

one of several companies considering opening plants in the 

Titusville area for involvement in t1.e Shuttle's on-going 

commercial operations that will be starting after the 

current series of checkout f1igh;s is c2mpleted. 

The arm got its first real test Thursday when it grasped and 

lifted a scientifi: experiment package off a pallet in the 

Columbia's carso bay. The arm also proved to be quite adept. 

in putting the load back into its storage place, a maneuver 

called "rebirthing" in NASA parlance. 

-81- 
We congratulate the Canadians for the fine work they have 

done in connection with this key element of the Shuttle's 

development. (TODAY Editorial, 3-29-82, p. K?.; 

Uarch 31: At three minutes before 10 a.m. today, Lynn Barnett. 

and his 40-member landing site team received the bad news: 

the space shuttle Columbia would touch down as planned in 

New Mexico . 

it was not coming home after all. 

The immediate reaction, Barnett said later, was 

"unprintable." 

"We were very disappointed," he added. 

Barnett, landing site convoy commander, and his team began 

arriving at the Kennedy Space Center at 2 a.m. "At the time 

we came in we thought we'd be the prime site," said Barnett, 

an 18-year NASA veteran. 

"They held us off until the deorbital burn a little after 

10," he said. "It was just enough notice to go watch it 

someplace /on television/." 

By noon, most of Barnett's team had gone home and the convoy 

comander stood alme with reporters next to the three-mile 

runway that is planned as the shuttle's permanent landing 

strip after two more missions. 

The team, which is identical to the landing site team at 

White Sands, N.M. consists of firemen, crash crew and 

technicians to cocl and air-condition the spacecraft and 

vent any poisonous fumes that may have accumulated. 

Whe? Mission Control announced Monday that the Kennedy Space 

Center could be the backup landing site because of galeforce winds and blowing sand in New Mexico, "all hell broke 

loose here," in the words of a space center canteen worker. 

-8 2- 
The public affairs staff, dressed in Smithsonian mail-order 

Space Shuttle ties, ordered 50 special buses to transport an 

estimated 700-member press crew to any of nine outdoor 

viewing sites. The Brevard County sheriff's department put 

100 men on a 30-minute alert for crowd control. Motel room 

reservations went fast as tourists held on another day. 

"We were here at 3:15 this morning, ready to go," said 

Machelle Jackson, who staffed a food wagon. 

Durinij this mission, the third for the shuttle, NASA 

officials had hoped to avoid landing at the Kennedy Space 

Center before perfecting a pinpoint touchdown in desert 

crosswinds typical of the stiff breezes that whip inland 

from the Atlantic Ocean. 

Barnett and his crew were prepared for any emergency. 

"We've been on a ready mode since launch," he said. Daily 

standby alerts and two "dry runs" since the Columbia was 

launched eight days ago "bujlt up our conficJence we could do 

it," he said. (THE WASHINGTON POST, 3-31-82, p. A-6) 

-83- 
APRIL 1982 

April 1: With the space shuttle rapidly maturing, NASA is 

going to press for its long-sought goal of a multi-person 

orbiting station. 

"We're working hard at pulling the plan together and will 

present it to the administration later this year,' NASA 

Administratcr James M. Beggs said in a recent interview. He 

said it woald establish a permanent U.S. civil and defense 

manned presence in space, using the shuttle as a ferry 

vehicle. (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 4-1-82) 

April 5: As the Kennedy Space Center'? Life Sciences Support 

facility expands to prepare more nor-. -3umans for space 

flights, one rule remains unchanged - - animal admittance is 

by invitation only. 

Certain monkeys, gerbils and hamsters are welcome. So are 

rats, mice, turtles and frogs with the proper breeding. 

Those without acceptable lineage can stay home. 

The invited guests are destined for space aboard Spacelabs 3 

and 4 in 1984 and 1985. 

Dr. Carter Alexander, who retired Friday as the director of 

the space center's biomedical unit, said he and those who 

worked with him have gone to as much trouble to see that the 

animals don't catch diseases as they have for the humans. 

"No party crashers," Alexander says of the animals living in 

the wild arcund the old Canaveral Air Force Station hangar 

that has been transformed into an animal lab. 

"We really worry about rats, vermin and roaches getting into 

our pristine animal quarters,' he said. 

Currently, construction of offices, confezence rooms and 

plant labs continues in two-story lean-tos at the hangar, 

and some animals could begin moving in at the end of the 

month. 

-84- 
, ... 

The 60,000-square-foot lab will include seven animal holding 

rooms. They are separated by animal breed and the degree of 

cleanliness required. 

While facility Manager Jerry Moyer and his crew will work to 

keep every cage and its inhabitants clean, one area will go 

several steps beyond the common perception of clean. 

Like the astronauts, animals destined for space will spend 

the two weeks before flight in a super-clean room in which 

the air is carefully filtered and recirculated 12 times an 

hour and access is limited to a few healthy, relatively 

germ-free humans. 

Because part of each animal's system bears a close 

resemblance to some function of the human body, scientists 

will use them to see what precautions they should take to 

help astronauts deal with the effects of prolonged 

weightlessness. 

To defend against animal escapees who might damage valuable 

equipment or hurt technicians or astronauts, their handlers 

are equipped with tranquilizer guns and nets. (TODAY, 

4-5-82, p. 1B) 

<> Workmen were prepared to service the orbiter Columbia if 

adverse weather in White Sands, N.M., forced a landing here, 

and engineers and technicians were hopeful that the Kennedy 

turnaround operation could be tested at the completion of 

the thirZ shuttle flight. 

Landing on the 15,000-foot concrete runway at Kennedy will 

be part of the flight plan on Mission 5 or later, depending 

on when confidence is reached in the auto-land and crosswind 

capabilities of +ne orbiter. 

As a contingency landing site, this facility possesses a 

full set of access equipment and umbilicals in or6er to safe 

and purge orbiter systems. The runways are 33 and 15. 

At the time the orbiter landed at Northrup Strip in White 

Sands, Kennedy Clad scattered clouds and 12-kt. winds from 

the east, gusting to 20 kt. The temperature was 74F and 

visibility 7 miles. Mission 1 pilot, Robert L. Crippen, 

-85- 
flew shuttle approaches and landings for about an hour in 

the Grumman Gulfstream shuttle training aircraft. (AVIATION 

WEEK & SPACE TECHNOLOGY, 4-5-82, p. 18, Vole 116, NO. 14) 

<> The two solid rocket boosters used in the third shuttle 

launch were towed to a dock here March 23, and detailed 

inspection indicated they were in better condition than 

those retrieved after the first two missions. 

The boosters were jettisoned 126 seconds after ignition and 

hit the ocean 184 miles due east of Matanzas Inlet on 

Florida's east coast. 

Divers from the recovery vessels Freedom and Liberty secured 

lines to the spent boosters in calm seas. 

Although the impact caused some structural damage inside 

both aft skirts, United Space Boosters had added 50 gussets 

to the structure and plans to further strengthen aft skirts 

on future boosters with a total of 273 gussets. The fourth 

flight set will have this modification. 

One of two explosive nuts used to activate a parachute in 

the right booster did not function, and the parachute did 

not unreel completely. As a result, this booster came down 

f3qter than the other. The parachute was lost at sea. The 

other five maip parachutes were recovered. (AVIATION WEEK & 

SPACE TECHNOLOGY, 4-5-82, p. 47, VO~. 116, NO. 14) 

<i Improved weather prediction and decisioo processes are 

needed at the Kennedy Space Center to make the most 

efficient launch and landing judgments for operational 

shuttle missions, according to USAF Major General James A. 

ALrahamson, NASA associate administrator for space 

transportation systems. 

The decision process used during the first countdown for the 

second shuttle mission, whea weather was a significant 

factor, brought out the need for improved procedures and 

capabilities, some of which were used for the third shuttle 

mission. 

-86- 
These include4 apsignatinq Astronaut USAF Colonel Karol J. 

Bobko as the Drjrnary focal point for weather data reported 

by Astronaut P-v; 'Japtain John W. Young, who was airborne in 

a Gulfstre:.bt h- sracan 2 shuttle training aircraft. 

Bobko then passed return-to-launch-site abort runway 

visibility data to managers in the launch control center. 

This procedure was used when scattered heavy clouds moved 

over the launch site shortly before liftoff. 

Young first flew a shuttle-type approach to Runway 15 at 

Kennedy and said he could not see the aimpoint for the 

runway but could see the runway itself. 

Young's first approach was flown 30 minutes prior to 

liftoff. Ten minutes prior to liftoff he flew another 

approach but to Runway 33 and immediately recommended it be 

used instead of Runway 15. 

Young said he could see the aimpoint, precision approach 

path indicator lights and the Vehicle Assembly Building as 

references. 

Bobko, stationed at the runway, concurred and passed the 

information to thz launch control center. 

This procedure resulted in the crew changing their return-to 

-1aunch-site abort targets to Runway 33 instead of Runway 

116, No. 14) 

15. (AVIATION WEEK & SPACE TECHNOLOGY, 4-5-82, Po 19, Vola 

April 7: After a smooth flight.home from New Mexico, the space 

shuttle will be rolled back into its hangar today to prepare 

for a June 27 lau tch. 

Riding piggyback atop a Boeing 747 jumbo jet, the Columbia 

touched down at 3:58 p.m. on a three-mile concrete runway at 

Kennedy Space Center. 

More than 8,000 visitors, space workers and their families 

turned out to witness the homecoming, yelling and applauding 

as the shuttle appeared from the south. Another 100,000 

-87- 
spectators crowded the landing strip at Barksdale Air Force 

Base, near Bossier City, Louisiana, where the tandem 

aircraft stopped to refuel during the 1,543-mile overland 

journey. 

"Look at that sucker! There it is!" whooped Jack Oates, 

mayor of Rockledge, as the twc planes came into view. 

Although it was the fourth time the shuttle has arrived 

here, enthusiasm was undimmed. Some parents lifted their 

children atop searchlights and generators for a better view. 

"We'll probably see a lot more of this than we did of the 

royal wedding," Pat Nicholson, a visitor from Essex, 

England, said as the shuttle drew near. 

"It gives me tears and goose bunlps -- the whole works," said 

Kathryn Hining, 54, of Orlando, as she grasped the same tiny 

American flag she waved 1 5 y e a r s ago during Gemini launches. 

"My :.usband is dead now, but he helped put on the shuttle's 

heat tiles," she said. ''I wanted to come out and see it for 

myself ." 

The shuttle landed March 30 at White Sands Missile Range, 

New Mexico, a backup landing site that was chosen after 

heavy rainfall swamped Edwards Air Force Base in 

California's Mojave Desert. Four hundred Kennedy Space 

Center workers were scheduled to return late Tuesday night 

from White Sands, where they helped ready the shuttle for 

the flight back to Florida. 

Except for a few dozen missing tiles and some brown scorch 

marks, the shuttle appeared unscathed by its eight days in 

orbit. Wjth more than 5 million miles on the odometer, it 

still lc~oked as good as new. 

It took seven days for the shuttle to return to Florida this 

time, compared to 12 days after the second mission and 15 

days after the first mission. 

Most of that turnaround time was saved by draining toxic 

fuels in Florida, instead of New Mexico. 

-88- 
"We really didn't have the right equipment for that in New 

Mexico," said NASA spokesman Mark Hess. (SENTINEL STAR, 

4-7-82, pp. A-1 & A-5) 

Warch 8: Space agency engineers replaced a-torn solar sail on 

an Indian comunication and weather satellite Wednesday, 

confirming NASA's plans to launch at 1:48 a.m. Friday. 

The sail, used to maintain a balanced temperature on the 

spacecraft, was delivered to Cape Canaveral Air Force 

Station from its manufacturer in Palo Alto, California, 

Wednesday morning. It took about eight hours to install it, 

said NASA spokesman Mark Hess. 

A Thursday morning launch time was postponed after 

technicians noticed tears in the foil screen Tuesday. 

The satellite, INSAT l-A, is designed to provide a wide 

range of television broadcasts and weather emergency 

information to rural residents of India. (TODAY, 4-8-82, 

p. 10A) 

<> On two fronts, Kennedy Space Center engineers are working to 

re-fit, re-shape and re-fly the Shuttle Columbia by June 27. 

First, the 100-ton spaceplane was moved into its hangar at 

11:05 a.m. Wednesday. Secondly, the two booster rockets 

designed to propel it into the upper reaches of the 

atmosphere were bolted together late that evening in another 

bui Id ing . 

Despite being two hours ahead of schedule processing the 

Shuttle for the fourth flight, the space agency waq dealt 

one disippointment -- the cell-enzyme separation experiment 

spoi led. 

"We haveire, heard anyone say with 100 percent certr..inty that 

it didn't work. The astronauts reported the cell& were 

separating," Wel-h said. 

He said futur- pharmaceutical expe-iments are planned for 

the fourth and Axth missions to dup.'icate the research lost 

on the pas', mission. 

-89- 
With the Columbia now safely stored in its hangar, it will 

be the :ob of KSC technicians to strengthen as many as 822 

heat protection tiles and replace 36 missing after the 

rigors of liftoff March 22. 

"First there is a tile inspection and then a mapping out 

which tiles have to be removed and streqthened," said Mark 

Hess, NASA spokesman. 

By April 16 the already assembled booster rockets will be 

attached to the Shuttle's 154-foot-high fuel tank and in 

late May all three components should be strapped together. 

Hess said the biggest repair job inside the Columbia will be 

the toilet which broke down during the eight-day flight of 

astronauts Jack Lousma and Gordon Fullerton. (TODAY, 

4-8-32, p. 16A) 

April 9: The now familiar Space Shuttle decorates the cover of 

the 1982 Southern Beli phone directories that should be 

aelivered to Brevard residents within two weeks. 

TODAY photographer Scott Maclay shot the photograph at the 

November 12 Shuttle launch, and the newspaper provided the 

photograph to Sout9ern Bell. 

"The new cover is Southern Bell's way of recognizing the 

tremendous effort of all of those concerned in making 

Brevard the true space capital of the world," said Bell 

District Manager Pat Blumer. (TODAY, 4-9-82) 

April 11: India's first operational satellite roared into 

space early Saturday atop a U.S. Delta rocket. 

The twice-delayed launch of the INSAT-1 appeared to go off 

without a flaw on schedule aL 1:47 a-m. (12:47 a.m. Chicago 

time) . 

The spscecraft, an unusual design to provide both 

telecommunications and weather information for the world's 

second most populous nation, is the first of two INSATs that 

-9 0- 
India is paying $120 million to put into orbit. INSAT-I1 is 

scheduled to Le carried aloft in 1983 by the space shuttle. 

U.S. space technicians took advantage of a break in the foul 

weather that had plsqued central Florid& that previous two 

days to carry out the launch for India. There was a drizzle 

of rain as the rocket engine of the Delta ignited. One 

minute after liftoff, a pouring rain began. (CHICAGO 

TRIBUNE, 4-11-82) 

April 12: A newly launched U.S.-built. communications and 

weather satellite was beset by more trouble Sunday, failing 

to heed a radioed command to raise an antenna, Indian space 

officials said. 

Master Control Command at Hassan, 300 miles west of Madras, 

said the problem-plagued spacecraft, launched from Cape 

Canaveral Saturday, said tk sticky "C-band antenna," is one 

of the devices aboard the multipurpose satellite. Officials 

said maneuvers to put the satellite in its final stationary 

orbit had to be delayed at least 24 hours. 

The 2,534-pound satellite was to have been launched Thursday 

but the liftoff was postponed when technicians discovered a 

damaged Solar energy device. A Friday launch was scrubbed 

because of engine trouble aboard a U.S. plane which was 

supposed to monitor the launch. (TODAY, 4-12-82, p. 1OA) 

April 15: Think of it as a time machine -- where engineers and 

students of space science lay the groundwork for the next 

decade. The theories and papers proposed at each year's 

Space Congress in Cocoa Beach my become the space statiuns 

and voyages to the planets of the next decade or the next 

century. 

The 19th annual Space Congress? to run April 28-30 at three 

locations, is dedicated to the notion that space can work 

for mankind. With three successful Shuttle missions under 

NASA's belt and a fourth proceeding cn schedule, congress 

organizers believe space is no longer a forbidding realm. 

Xt's there to be exploited. "After more tha,i two decades 

devoted primarily to space exploration and experimentation, 

the time has come to reap the harvest of benefits," said 

-91- 
George Faenza, congress general chairman and director of 

McDonnell Douglas Technical Services at Kennedy Space 

Center. 

A variety of panel discussions and papers will investigate 

areas once reserved for a convention of science fiction 

writers . 

Manufacturing crystals for the electonics industry or 

artificial limbs in space, satellites that will supply solar 

energy to ground-based generators and international 

cooperation in building a space station are some of the 

subjects planned for discussion. 

Panels will also feature future Shuttle astronaut Kathryn 

Sullivan and Spacelab pilot Owen Garriott. 

Sponsored by the Canaveral Council of Technical Societies, 

the Space Congress is a non-profit symposium. So far 

registration is at a record 1,000, said congress organizer 

Melodie de Guibert. 

Panel discussions and the delivery of scientific papers will 

be spread out over three locations: the Cocoa Beach Theater 

and Drafthouse..., brassy's Nightclub..., and the First 

United Methodist Church of Cocoa Beach. 

The congress banquet, at the Patrick Air Force Base 

Officers' Club, April 28, will feature Hans Mark, NASA 

deputy administrator. (TODAY, 4-15-82, p. 6B) 

April 16: A TODAY special section devoted to the first Space 

Shuttle launch has won a top national award from the 

Aviation/Space Writers Association. 

The "Shuttle Logbook," published in April 1981, prior to 

Columbia's maiden space voyage, was named the winner in the 

space category for daily newspapers of 200,000 and under 

circulation. 

A $100 honorarium and scroll will be presented to the 

newspaper at the association's awards banquet next month in 

Fort Lauderdale. 

-92- 
I The 128-page section, one o the largest ever published by 

TODAY, represented a jojnt effort of several of the 

newspaper's editorial departments. 

Nearly 50 stories and numerous photographs, charts and 

illustrations made up tte section, which examined the 

Shuttle's past and future, explained details about the 

launch and space vehicle, and profiled key persons in the 

Shuttle program. 

The bulk of the section was planned and designed by three 

editors: then-Aerospace Editor David Bailey, who now works 

for the Florida Times-Union in Jacksonville, Metro Editor 

Mike Bales and Features Editor Stella Clark. 

(A copy of the "Logbook" referred to in this excerpt and 

subsequent logbooks are on file in the KSC Library Archives, 

Rm. 1533, Headquarters Building, KSC.) (TODAY, 4-16-82, p. 

3R 1 

<> Shuttle launch director George Page was reported recovering 

well from heart-bypass surgery Thursday evening, NASA 

officials said. 

Page, 57, was expected to spend the night in intensive care 

at Shands Teaching Hospital in Gaincsville. He was admitted 

to the hospital Tuesday following a routine medical checkup. 

"The operation went well...and Page is expected to return to 

work in about a month," said Anne Skinner, a Kennedy Space 

Center spokeswoman. (TODAY, 4-16-82, p. 2B) 

<> Brevard Sheriff's agents say they have no leads yet in the 

burglary of a safe containing about $10,000 from a Kennedy 

Space Center contractor. 

i 

"At this time we have nothing much. Our investigators are 

actively working on it. We are checking every aspect, 

including employees," said Sgt. Mike Linthicum of the 

Brevard Sheriff's Department. 

-33- 
The money belonging to Canteen Services, a space center 

contractor, was not government property, said Hugh Harris, 

space center spokesman. 

Brevard County sheriff's agents who handled the burglary 

said it occurred between the closing of business April 2 and 

opening April 5. 

Canteen Services supplies food services to all space center 

facilities. (TODAY, 4-16-82, F. 2B) 

<> Boeing Services International employee Sophia Cook put her 

ideas on a suggestion form and is now $1,193 richer for the 

effort. 

Cook, a heavy equipment fuel coordinator and locater in 

BSI's Heavy Equipment operation, saw a double effort being 

expended in two areas to accomplish preventive maintenance 

inspections and proofload testing. 

Her suggestion to combine the proofload test with the annual 

preventive maintenance inspection task on 100 forklifts will 

eliminate the need for 100 extra computer entries without 

loss of history to the files. 

Cook's suggestion reduced man hours needed to transport 

equipment from shop to shop and also reduced the amount of 

equipment downtime. 

Cook joined The Boeing Company at KSC in 1971 and became a 

BSI employee in 1977. The suggestion award was made through 

BSI's Employee Suggestion Program. (SPACEPORT NEWS, 

4-16-82, p. 2, Vri. 21, NO. 8) 

<> "Hurrah for us," is the cry from the KSC Toastmasters after 

winning top honors in the Area If Dramatic Reading and 

Annual Speech Contest, March 28, in Titusville. 

Mary May placed first in the dramatic reading contest with 

her r?ridition of "Casey Jones." May will represent the KSC 

group in the Eastern Division contest on May 1. 

-34- 
Y 

Max Mundy placed second in the dramatic reading contest and 

Margie Whitney received second place honors in the speech 

contest for her ideas on "Where Have All the Patriots Gone?" 

Toastmaster elections were held on April 1. Elected were 

Richard Miller, president; Margie Whitney, educational vice 

president; Nels Lovegren, administrative vice president; 

Mark Zuehsow, treasurer; Ashraf Mirza, secretary: John 

Troup, sergeant-at-arms. The officers will hold the 

positions for three months. (SPACEPORT NEWS, 4-16-82, p. 2, 

Vol. 21, No. 8) 

April 17: The space agency announced Friday that former NASA 

official Gerald Griffin will replace Christopher C. Kraft 

Jr. as director of the Johnson Space Center in Houston. 

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration's two main 

Space Shuttle offices will be merged, it was also announced. 

The agency said Griffin will rejoin NASA from his position 

as vice-president of Scott Science and Technology, Inc., of 

Lancaster, California. He will work initially in Washington 

on Shuttle operations planning, transferring later to 

Houston to succeed Kraft, who has been Johnson's director 

since 1972. 

Griffin previously served as deputy director of Kennedy 

Space Center in Florida and of Dryden Flight Research Center 

in Edwards, California, as a Houston flight director and as 

NASA associate administrator for external relations in 

Washington. 

Kraft announced this week that he will retire late this year 

after SS Columbia's first operational mission, now scheduled 

for next November. Kraft was flight director of the early 

Mercury man-in-space missions and has left his imprint on 

all 34 U.S. manned space flights. 

NASA also announced it is merging the Office of Space 

Transportation Systems and the Office of Space 

Transportation Operations, with the combined units adopting 

the name of the former. It will be headed by General James 

A. Abrahamsorl, currently chief of OSTS. 
Dr. Stanley Weiss, adminstrator of OSTO, was named NASA 

chief engineer, succeeding Walter Williams, who is 

retiring. (HUNTSVILLE TIMES, 4-17-82) 

April 21: Security and fire protection are among the essential 

tasks that Wackenhut Services, based in Coral Gables, 

Florida, performs at NASA's John F. Kennedy Space Center. A 

$9.6 million supplemental contract recently awarded to the 

firm insures that they will continue to provide these 

fundamental services to the nation's spaceport. 

The cost-plus-fee contract supplement carries a dollar value 

of $9,628,389, bringing the total value of the Wackenhut 

contract at KSC to $48,960,063. The supplement covers the 

period from when the contract was awarded on April I, 1982, 

through October 318 1982. (KSC RELEASE NO. 116-82, 4-21-82) 

<> Space Shuttle engineers spent the weekend painstakingly 

moving the mammoth external fuel tank that stands 15-stories 

high and weighs as much empty as 15 Cadillacs. 

With sensitive cranes, the engineers were able to adjust the 

tank by as little as an eighth-inch as it was fit srugly 

between the two booster rockets that will carry the Shuttle 

on its fourth mission. 

Engineers also are specially treating 800 of the Columbia's 

heat protection tiles with an alcohol-like substance that 

will strengthen their bonds with the spaceplane. 

Eventually all the Columbia's 32,000 tiles will be 

"densified" -- a process that hardens and smooths the tiles 

bottom surface, said James Harrington, chief of operations 

for Columbia at Kennedy Space Center. 

"When we found out that some tiles were not sticking, the 

idea was to densify the back surface. Right now we're 

having the critical tiles densified. We'll do it 

in~rementally,~ he said. Harrington explained NASA 

engineers now believe loose bonding caused 38 tiles to fall 

from Columbia during its March 22 liftoff. 

-96- 
NASA's second working spaceplane, the Challenger, will be 

built with all its tiles densified. The Challenger is 

expected to arrive at the space center's Shuttle hangar from 

its Palmdale, California, manufacturer by the third week of 

June. 

The hardware that gave astronauts Jack Lousma and Gordon 

Fullerton headaches has been removed and sent to the 

manufacturer. The toilet, which clogged early in the 

mission, should be back at the space center within two 

weeks. 

As many as 150 technicians are working in the Columbia's 

hangar around the clcck. As of Tuesday, 846 tiles heve been 

removed for repair and densification work. Technicians also 

have inspected the Shuttle's high pressure fuel pumps and 

have removed the main landing gear brakes for replacement. 

Some dust and gypsum were found in the crew compartment -- 

leftover from the week spent on White Sands Missile Range 

after its recent landing, Harrington said. But the 

spaceship "looks in far better shape this time than it did 

after the first two missions ," he said. 

Inside the space center's Vehicle Assembly Building, the 

peach-colored external fuel tank and twin booster rockets 

are ready for attachment to the Columbia to start by May 16. 

Bart Downey, KSC's manager for fuel tank operations, said 

more heaters -- designed to make sure no ice forms when 

engineers fill the tank with super-cold propellants -- will 

be installed before the fourth launch. 

Engineers speculated pieces of ice may have damaged some 

tiles during the last liftoff. 

As for meeting the June 27 launch date, NASA officials said 

they are optimistic, but a decision probably won't be made 

for at least another month. 

Although a launch on July 4 has been discussed by top NASA 

officials, there is no indication the space agency will 

shoot specifically for that date. (TODAY, 4-21-82, p. 1A) 

-97- 
<> Work toward getting the space shuttle Columbia ready for its 

fourth test flight is going well, and NASA is still aiming 

for a late June launch, officials said Tuesday. 

"The turn-around looks pretty goodr" said James Harrington, 

chief of orbiter operations. "Columbia looks in far better 

shape this time than it did after the first two missions." 

Columbia's third mission began March 22 and ended on March 

30, one day later than originally planned, at White Sands 

Missile Range in New Mexico. 

It was flown back to Cape Canaveral on the back of a jumbo 

jet earlier this month. 

Harrington said he saw no reason Columbia cannot go to the 

Vehicle Assembly Building in the middle of May for mating 

with its huge external fuel tank and its two solid-fuel 

booster rocketsr which are already joined. 

Harrington said the effort to increase the density of some 

of the shuttle's more than 30,000 heat-shielding tiles is 

also progressing well. 

"We've started tile operations and already have 800 tiles 

off Columbia to be densified before they are put back on," 

he said. The 800 includes 38 tiles damaged during the last 

launch . 

Several pieces of shuttle hardware are being replaced, 

including a turbo fuel pump in one of the three engines, 

officials said. (DAILY PRESS [from NASA CURRENT NEWS, 

82-281, 4-21-82) 

April 22: A future space shuttle mission will include a 

biology experiment devised by Winter Haven High School 

senior Aaron Gillette to test the effect of weightlessness 

on cells in a living saltwater sponge. 

Aaron was one of 10 high school students from around the 

country whose experiments were accepted by NASA. The 10 

spent two days this week touring Kennedy Space Center and 

-98- 
getting acquainted with NASA personnel. 

will include testing the effects of weightlessness on 

arthritis and human body chemistry. 

Other experiments 

Aaron, 17, said Wednesday the results of his 'fairly simple" 

experiment could provide biologists with a new understanding 

of the way cells in sponges and possibly the human body 

communicate among themselves. 

The experiment, involving the common saltwater sponge 

microciona porifera, has never been tried in space, said 

William Knott, a NASA biologist assigned to oversee Aaron's 

experiment . 

Aaron has high hopes the experiment will be aboard the fifth 

flight of the shuttle, tentatively scheduled for next 

November. The experiment is being sponsored by Martin 

Marietta's Orlando division, which will build the housing 

for the experiment. 

Knott said the sponge often is used to demonstrate how cells 

grow back together if they are separated by mesh or 

chemicals. His experiment will test whether sponge 

fragments will reunite in space as they do on Earth. 

Aaron thinks they won't grow back -- due to lack of gravity. 

If they do grow together, Aaron said, that will show that 

the cells of the sponge have some other means of 

"intercellular communication" in addition to gravity. 

The results of the experiment could shed some light on how 

cells in general, including those in the human body, 

communicate with each other, he said. 

"It's hard to see any application this would have now. 

We're just learning about a process...A lot of work has been 

done on this sponge, but not much progress has been made on 

intercellular communication." 

Aaron plans to major in biology at Western Carolina 

University at Cullowhee, N. C. (SENTINEL STAR, 4-22-82, 

pp. c-1 6 c-5) 

-99- 
April 26: Wearing jet-powered backpacks and wielding giant 

wrenches, space shuttle astronauts will try to replace three 

biown fuses aboard a crippled satellite in 1984. 

The rescue mission will cost at least $45 million, not 

including the expense of launching the shuttle. It is 

tentatively scheduled for the 13th shuttle flight in March, 

1984, but NASA is still trying to convince Congress that the 

Buck Rogers-style repair job is worthwhile. 

The stricken satellite, called Solar Max, was launched two 

years ago. Three fuses burned out in July 1980, sending the 

5,200-pound observatory spinning out of control and damaging 

four of seven scientific instruments that monitor the sun's 

activity . 

If NASA goes ahead with the repair mission, it would be the 

first time a satellite has ever been recovered in space. 

The tricky retrieval operation is expected to play a major 

role in top-secret military launches in 1985, /Don/ Turner 

said. /Turner is program manager for the repair mission/. 

(THE ORLANDO SENTINEL, 4-26-82, pp. A-1 & A-8) 

April 28: More than l,OOO engineers, scientists and students 

of space sciences are expected to participate in the 19th 

annual Space Congress, which opens in Cocoa Beach today. 

These annual sessions, sponsored by the Canaveral Council of 

Technical Societies, gives some of the top minds in the 

fields of space sciences the opportunity to focus on the 

future. And there's no "place" more certain to be involved 

in mankind's future than outer space. 

In the past, most of our manned space effort has been 

devoted to merely getting there and back safely. But we're 

progressing toward the day when the journey will become 

insignificant in relation to the purpose of the mission 

while in orbit -- be that scientific experimentation, 

medical research, industrial manufacturing or some other job 

beneficial to people on Earth. 

"After more than two decades devoted primarily to space 

exploration and experimentation, the time has come to reap 

the harvest of benefits," says George Faenza, director of 

-100- 
I".. . 

McDonnell Douglas Technical Services at the Kennedy Space 

Center. He is general chairman of this year's Space 

Congress . 

A variety of panel discussions and presentations of 

technical papers on space topics will be presented at three 

locations during the three-day event. 

As well as engineers and scientists, panels will include 

future Shuttle Astronaut Kathryn Sullivan and Spacelab pilot 

Owen Garriott. 

Featured speaker at tonight's banquet, which will be held at 

the Patrick Air Force Base Officers' Club is Hans Mark, NASA 

deputy administrator. 

Last year Mark expressed an open-minded attitude about 

restudying the idea of relocating NASA's mission control 

operation from the Johnson Space Center in Houston to the 

Shuttle's future operating base at KSC. Perhaps we're a bit 

prejudiced, but we think that is a move that makes sense. 

We hope he will play an instrumental role in helping bring 

about that logical consolidation. (TODAY, 4-28-82, p. 12A) 

April 29: A space platform that would unfold in orbit like a 

butterfly and grow giant solar wings was the hot topic at 

the 19th annual Space Congress. 

"It's a natural outgrowth of the shuttle program," Dr. Hans 

Mark of NASA told reporters Wednesday night before 

addressing 500 participants at the space conference at 

Patrick Air Force Base. 

Mark said whether or not Congress commits funds for a space 

platform, "we're going to go out and do it," 

Mark said he hopes a space platform would be placed in orbit 

in this decade. 

He said the National Aeronautics and Space Administration 

had not yet presented a firm proposal to Congress because 

"we don't know which way we're going to go yet." 

-101- 
,- 

The Soviet Union announced April 20 it had placed a new 

space station, Salyut 7, in orbit. An earlier space 

station, the Salyut-6, reportedly is slipping from orbit 

after having been closed down during the last manned Soviet 

mission in May 1981. It had been home to 16 cosmonaut 

teams, including Soviets Valery Rywnen and Leonid Popov, who 

set the space endurance record of 185 days in 1980. 

Mark, who served as secretary of the Air Force from 1979 to 

1981, found fault with the Soviet program, saying they 

should first develop a reusable space shuttle. 

"The Russians are going at it backward," he said. 

The Space Congress is an annual symposium dedicated to the 

exchange of space science and technological information. It 

draws NASA, military and private industry specialists who 

present technical papers, conduct panel discussions and give 

speeches. 

Engineers for two NASA contractors, TRW, Inc., and McDonnell 

Douglas Corp., discussed prototypes for the space platforom, 

which could be used to launch, deploy, retrieve and maintain 

satellites or other spacecraft. 

Larry Morata of McDonnell Douglas said the basic space 

platform would go up on the shuttle while folded in a COCOCY 

fashion. Once in orbit, the shuttle's robot arm would place 

it in space and help to unfold it "butterfly fashion," he 

said . 

Additional shuttle flights then would bring more modules and 

"wings, legs and feet, which would be added to make the 

platform grow eventually into a manned space station," 

Morata said. 

Marshall Norvick of TRW said space scientists are seeing 

"more and more interest in the commercialization of space." 

The platform would aliow versatile operations such as Earth 

observation stations, an infrared telescope beam developed 

for the shuttle and astronomy and weather satellites, he 

said. 

Peter Goldsmith of TRW and Martin Gerbasi of Lockheed Inc. 

presented a technical report on the development of "solar 

power wings" to be added to space platforms to provide the 

-102- 
heavy power demands necessary for their different 

functions. Sufficient power ..s especially important in 

placing satellites in higher orbit8 from the platforms. 

The NASA contractors are working on the development of 

light-weight, fold-out designs of solar power panels, which 

would be attached to the space station in modular form. 

These would permit flexibility and greater efficiency in the 

operations of the space station. (THE TIMES-HERALD, 

4-29-8 2 ) 

<> The first Florida landing of the space shuttle may be 

postponed until early 1983, NASA officials said Wednesday at 

the 19th Space Congress. 

Under the current flight schedule, the Columbia would land 

in Florida in November, after its fifth trip into space. 

But the space agency may switch that landing to Edwards Air 

Force Base in California for a test of the shuttle's ability 

to land in a crosswind. 

A California landing also would put the shuttle within 

towing distatxe of the Rockwell International assembly plant 

in Palmdale, California, where it will undergo major 

modifications after the November flight. The Rockwell plant 

is 36 miles from Edwards. 

The Columbia will be out of commission for seven months 

while Rockwell workers remove the ejection seats, update the 

cockpit controls, strengthen the fuselage and beef up the 

three main rocket engines. It will rejoin the fleet in July 

1983. 

In the meantime, the space shuttle Challenger will fly its 

maiden voyage in January 1983, with a scheduled landing in 

Florida . 

The three-mile concrete runway at Kennedy Space Center was 

built as the shuttle's primary landing strip, but so far 

only training jets have touched down there. No decision 

will be made on a Florida landing until the shuttle returns 

from its fourth mission in June, said Glynn S. Lunney, 

manager of the space shuttle program. 

-103- 
"It all depends on where we stand in terms of flight 

experience," Lunney told 1,100 delegates attending the 

three-day convention. (THE ORLANDO SENTINEL, 4-29-82) 

<> The Space Shuttle Enterprise, now used for tests at Edwards 

Air Force Base, California, almost became a World's Fair 

exhibit in Knoxville, Tennessee, but NASA officials found 

two drawbacks, 

First, it was too expensive a proposition flying it on the 

back of a Boeing 747 across the country, and "we'd have Lo 

knock down too many bridges" getting it to the fair grounds, 

said NASA Deputy Administrator Hans Mark. 

Mark, attending the 19th Annual Space Congress banquet at 

Patrick Air Force Base Wednesday night, said when the 

World's Fair opens Saturday, visitors will have to settle 

with a 12-foot-long model. 

Glynn Lunney, manager of the Shuttle program at Johnson 

Space Center in Texas, said Tennessee Senator Howard Baker 

asked the space agency to explore the prospect of bringing 

the 122-foot-long Enterprise to the fair. 

While the Enterprise never flew in space, it was used for 

landing and gliding tests in 1977. 

"He (Baker) asked us to look into the cost and logistics but 

it was prohibitive," Lunney said. (TODAY, 4-29-82, p. 14A) 

April 30: NASA's John F. Kennedy Space Center has awarded a 

$1,558,420 contract modification to International Business 

Machines Corporation, 7900 North Astronaut Boulevard, Cape 

Canaveral, Florida, for additional services under an 

existing contract. 

IBM is presently *=rider a three-year contract extension with 

KSC for systems engineering and software development 

services in support of the Launch Processing System used at 

the Spaceport for automated checkout and launch of Space 

Shuttle vehicles. This award, for additional work under 

that existing contract, brings the total value of the 

contract to $8519138954, 

-104- 
The cost-plus-award-fee contract modification covers the 

period from January 19, 1982, through September 30, 1984. 

(KSC RELEASE NO. 118-82, 4-30-82) 

<> Preparations for the Space Shuttle's fourth and final 

development test flight, now scheduled for late June, are 

establishing new records as expertise in Shuttle turnaround 

grows. 

Already, the massive external tank that stores the super 

cold propellants burned by the orbiter Columbia's three main 

engines, has been attached ta the twin solid rocket boosters 

in the Vehicle Assembly Building. The mating of the tank to 

the boosters on April 16 and 17 was performed in record 

time, in 4.5 work shifts -- compared with six shifts for 

STS- 3. 

Meanwhile, technicians have been working around-the-clock to 

get the reusable Columbia spaceship ready for its next 

flight, a 7-day mission that will complete the shakedown of 

the shuttle orbiter and booster systems as the nation's 

space transportation system becomes operational with flight 

five. 

Since Columbia's April 7 return to the hangar-like Orbiter 

Processing Facility, workers have completed three mayor 

operations: removal of the OSS-1 cargo carried onboard 

Columbiass third flight: draining of residual hypergolic 

propellants from steering modules located at the forward and 

aft ends of the reusable craft: and removal and inspection 

of high pressure fuel pumps on each of the orbiter's three 

main engines. 

Another system getting a lot of attention is the orbiter's 

complex network cf thermal insulation tiles. About 1,000 of 

the fragile tiles will be taken off Columbia. About 800 of 

the tiles that are removed will be densified. This process 

strengthens the bond of the silica tile to the felt shockabsorbing isolation pad bonded to the spacecraft's aluminum 

skin. Other tiles will be pulled off because they were 

damaged in flight, or are to be analyzed. 

The orbiter's toilet has also been removed and shipped back 

to its builder. During Columbia's third flight, th? 

sophisticated space "potty" would not operate properly at 

-105- 
its highest speed. And the S-Band communications 

transponder that failed during the extended third flight has 

also been returned to its vendor for analysis. 

On April 24, Columbia was shut down from active testing for 

about a week. While the orbiter was powered down, a heat 

interchanger on one of its sophisticated cooling systems was 

scheduled to be replaced, and changes that are peculiar to 

the STS-4 mission were to be made. The primary cargo on the 

Columbia for its fourth trip into space is a Department of 

Defense payload. 

Columbia is scheduled to spend rotighly two more weeks in the 

OPF before it is ready to be moved to the VAB for mating to 

the external tank and booster rockets. Only eight days of 

work are planned in the VAB, before the vehicle should be 

ready for its 3.5 mile ncrawln to the launch pad. 

(SPACEPORT NEWS, 4-30-82, pp. 1 L 2, Val. 21, NO. 9) 

<> The operational era of the Space Shuttle moves closer with a 

pathfinder vehicle for the Inertial Upper Stage now at KSC. 

Known as the IUS, the vehicle is designed tic0 transfer 

heavier cargo from low earth orbit to altitudes beyond the 

orbiter's reach. Interface testing and electrical checkout 

of the inert pathfinder is now underway in the Vertical 

Processing Facility. The IUS does double duty by being 

usable on either the Space Shuttle or the new Titan 34-D 

rocket to be launched by the Air Force. 

IUS is a solid fuel stage capable of carrying a satellite 

weighing up to 5,000 pounds into geosynchronous orbit or 

boosting spacecraft on interplanetary trajectories. During 

a Space Shuttle initiated mission, the IUS/spacecraft 

combination will be in the cargo bay. After reaching low 

earth orbit it will be ejected from the orbiter and the IUS 

will be ignited, functioning as an expendable stage. 

Unlike the single-stage Payload Assist Module (PAM) used for 

lighter payloads, the Inertial Upper Stage is a two-t3tage 

vehicle. But like PAM, the solid propellant concept was 

also chosen for IUS because of lower cost, compact design, 

simplicity, and inherent safety. 

-106- 
The Space Division of the Air Force Systems Command, 

developer of the vehicle, has awarded a contract to Boeing 

Aerospace Company for building nine IUS flight vehicles to 

be used during the 1980's. 

The first Space Shuttle launch of the Inertial Upper Stage 

is planned for STS-6, scheduled for January, 1983. It will 

boost the first Tracking and Data Relay Satellite into 

geosynchronous orbit from Orbiter Challenger, which will Se 

making its maiden flight. (SPACEPORT NEWS, 4-30-82, p. 4, 

Val. 21, No. 9) 

<> Believe it or not, the word "space" was once an Air Force 

no-no, recalled Dr. Charles A. Berry, former chief medical 

director of the nation's space program and long-time 

perE-nal physician to the astronauts. 

Chuck Berry revisited Brevard to speak to an overflow 

banquet crowd Friday night /April 30/ at Indiantic's Holiday 

Inn Oceanfront. 

Noting the cigarette smokers and the wine bottles on the 

tables, Berry -- who is founder and president of the 

National Foundation for Prevention of Disease -- commented 

to the assembled Missile, Space and Range Pioneers: 

"If there was ever an outfit that needs preventive 

medicine. . ." 

He reminded the pioneers -0 many of them former colleagues 

-- of days when, within the Air Force, "you couldn't say 

that word ('space') and you couldn't write it on a piece of 

paper anywherr I' 

There once were "great arguments carried on about whether it 

should be only monkeys" flown into space. 

"We had a fantastic number of arguments with some very 

erudite people and people in some very high places in 

government who said we really should not fly man." 

-107- 
... Monkeys were flown. One was Enos, said Berry, "and this 

monkey was very instrumented and had catheters in almost 

every place you could put them -- we made a few holes that 

weren't there and put some more in. And we put a little 

thing around his waist so that he couldn't get to then1 to 

tear them out." 

The happy excitement of seeing Enos' electrocardiogram, the 

first from space, was short-lived. 

'When we saw that electrocardiogram we wished we'd never 

seen it, because it had premature ventricular contractions, 

extra beats, thrown all through the damn thing. And we 

said, '...we're really in trouble. Maybe those people (the 

doubters) were right...." 

When Enos returned from sE;ace, Berry had to pick him 

up...'and, boy, was he mad! He had torn out all the 

catheters and things and he wP.ited to tear me out too!" 

Examination showed a catheter "was tickling the side of his 

heart, and every time it tickled his heart he got a 

premature ventricular contraction. It didn't have anything 

to do with being in space at all, it was just the damn 

instrumentation...' 

... In 1979, Berry was nominated for the Nobel Prize for, 

among other things, "his pioneering efforts and discoveries 

concerning man's capability to adapt to the space flight 

environment," states a biographical note. 

But Berry still has an eight-page list of the awful things 

people said would happen if man were weightless (he'd never 

sleep, he'd do nothing but sleep, etc.). "It was so 

ridiculous you didn't know what to belive." 

Nevertheless, Project Mercury was initiated. 

"A1 Shepard was put in a spacecraft to fly -- and that was 

only after we had spent two days arguing with the 

president's scientific advisers, textbook writers, all sorts 

of people like that, who said, 98e's going to have a heart 

rste of 180, he's going to go into cardiac failure...' 

-108- 
"If it had not been for President Rennedy, who overruled his 

scientific advisers, we probably would not have launched," 

Berry said. (TODAY, 5-2-82, p. 1B) 

-109- 
MAY 1982 

Way 3: Colombia vaulted into the space age last month with the 

signing of a contract to use the Space Shuttle to boost 

Latin America's first domestic telecommunications satellites 

alof t. 

The contract with the National Aeronautics and Space 

Administration reserves space for Colombia's first Satcom 

satellite on a June 1985 shuttle flight. 

Colombian Minister of Communications Antonio Abello Roca -- 

in Miami Beach for a trade show -- said Colombia's second 

satellite will probably be launched in 1986. (THE MIAMI 

HERALD, 5-3-82, Po 38) 

Way S: NASA has awarded IBM Corp., Cape Canaveral, a $1.6 

million contract modification on its present three-year 

contract with Kennedy Space Center for systems engineering 

and software development services. (TODAY, 5-5-82, p. 14C) 

Uay 7: Space agency officials searched Thursday for ways to 

cut $600 million from their 1983 budget without crippling 

the space shuttle program. 

A budget freeze backed by congressional Republicans 

threatened NASA with drastic delays in shuttle launches and 

construction, shut and elimination of funds for the space 

telescope, the Voyager interplanetary probes and an unmanned 

mission to Jupiter in 1985. 

"If we took a $600 million hit, the shuttle would certainly 

be affected," said NASA spokesman Miles Waggoner in 

Washington. "There's no place else where we could come up 

with that kind of money." 

A budget compromise approved late Wednesday / May 5 / by the 

Senate Budget Committee would hold NASA to its 1982 funding 

of $6 billion. PresiFcnt Reagan's originally requested $6.6 

billion for the space agency, with roughly $3.4 billion 

earmarked for the shuttle. 

-110- 
i 

NASA Administrator James Beggs talked with his staff 

Thursday on possible ways to cut space spending. Beggs has 

said repeatedly that the shuttle is NASA's top priority and 

must receive full funding. 

"They've got hard choices to make and they're not made 

quickly," Waggoner said. 'It's all at the 'what if' stage 

right now. Nothing is definite yet." (THE ORLANDO 

SENTINEL, 5-7-82, pp. A-1 & A-9) 

May 9: Plans to lanu the Space Shuttle Columbia at Kennedy 

Space Center after its fifth flight this fall apparently 

will be scrapped, a space agency spokesman said Saturday. 

Hugh Harris, public information chief for NASA, said a 

proposed early morning Shuttle landing after the fourth 

mission, scheduled for late June, probably will not provide 

a cross wind. 

NASA wants to test the Shuttle in cross winds on its broad 

landing strip in the California desert before landing it on 

the narrower concrete runway at KSC. 

The Shuttle's seventh mission in the spring of 1983 probably 

will be the first to return to KSC, Harris said. 

The announcement is bad news for those who count on Shuttle 

missions to boost tourism. A combination Shuttle launch and 

lanaing at KSC was expected to attract even more tourists to 

the county. 

Harris said NASA won't get a chance to test the Shuttle's 

ability to land in cross winds because the sixth flight will 

be carried out by Challenger, the second in the planned 

four-Shuttle fleet. Harris said that since it will be 

Challenger's first mission, NASA planners want to bring the 

spacecraft down in California. (TODAY, 5-9-82, p. 1A) 

May 9-15: KSC is celebrating Small Business Week May 9 through 

15 to recognize the tremendous contribution Kennedy's small 

business contractors make to operations here. 

-111- 
"We're helping to build America" is the theme for this 

year's Small Business Week. Norm Perry, Industry Assistance 

Officer and Small Business Specialist at KSC, said, 

"Everything we do here is touched by small business; even 

the big prime contractors have to have the support of small 

business." 

RSC awarded more than $67 million in contracts to small 

businesses in fiscal year 1981, for 14.25 percent of total 

contract awards. "We need lots of small items done quickly 

and small businesses are invaluable in providing that work," 

said Perry. 

Small business support companies at KSC are Atlantic 

Technical Services -- Mail and Distribution: BAMSI -- 

Keypunch Operations (minority owned); Bionetics Corp. -- 

Standards and Calibration Laboratory, Support and 

Environmental Monitoring; Expedient Services -- Roads and 

Grounds; HcGregor & Werner -- Printing and Reproduction; New 

World Services -- Library Sciences (woman owned); Unified 

Services -- Custodial Services (minority owned); and Wiltech 

of Fla., -- Component Refurbishment and Chemical Analysis. 

The major local small business support companies are 

Holloway Corp., Titusville, providing modification to the 0 

& C Building; Ivey's Steel Erectors, Inc., Merritt Island, 

for modification to the Life Science Support Facility; 

Precision Fabrication & Cleaning, Sharpes, for refurbishment 

of the tube-bank trailers and W & J Construction Corp., 

Cocoa, for modifications to Pad B, LC-39. (SPACEPORT NEWS, 

4-30-82, Po 2, Vole 21, NO. 9) 

May 11: NASA will form a special task force this month to 

develop plans for orbiting a permanently manned space 

station by /1990/, space center officials have announced. 

The proposed 15-member task force is the space agency's 

biggest move toward building the outpost which could cost 

more than $4 billion. 

In space chronology, the move is not without precedence 

since both the Space Shuttle and the Skylab programs started 

with NASA task forces. 

-112- 
Unless a space station is built, it could mean massive 

layoffs for the engineers who designed the Shuttle, NASA 

officials say. 

"We can't afford not to build it," says Terry Finn, deputy 

director of industry affairs in Washington. "If NASA 

doesn't think about its future, it won't have a future." 

(TODAY, 5-11-82, pe 12A) 

<> The Prudential Insurance Co. of North America has thrown its 

multibillion dollar corporation behind the private financing 

of the nation's Space Shuttle program, the Wilmington, 

Delaware, MORNING NEWS reported in today's editions. 

In a copyright story, company officials said Prudential's 

board of directors approved buying into Space Transportation 

Co. last month. 

Space Transportation Co. is the Princeton, New Jersey, firm 

that has proposed buying a fifth billion-dollar Space 

Shuttle for NASA in exchange for the worldwide marketing 

rights for commercial cargo space aboard the entire five 

Shuttle fleet. 

Prudential spokesman Joseph Vecchione told the MORNING NEWS 

that the company "now holds an equity interest in Space 

Transportation Co." (TODAY, 5-11-82, p. 1A) 

Hay 13: Someone forgot to tell John Young that he's being 

grounded . 

Visiting Orlando Wednesday, the 51-year-old astronaut said 

no one has told him that his space shuttle mission in 

September 1983 will be his last, even though the 

announcement was made two weeks ago. 

Young, who commanded the shuttle Columbia's maiden voyage a 

year ago, said he has no plans to hang up his spacesuit. 

'Not if I'm healthy," said the five-flight space veteran. 

"Why would I retire?" 

-113- 
Young's retirement from active duty was announced April 29 

by General James Abrahamson, associate administrator of NASA 

and head of the shuttle program. 

Asked whether NASA had too many astronauts, Abrahamson told 

the House Subcommittee on Housing and Urban Development that 

many older astronauts -- including Young -- would fly one 

more mission before retiring or taking other positions in 

the space agency. 

The retirements would will give younger members of the 

78-member astronaut corps a chance to gain flight 

experience, Abrahamson said. 

Young was recently picked to fly the ninth shuttle mission, 

when a six-man crew will perform 75 experiments in a 

Spacelab, a laboratory carried in the Colunbia's cargo bay. 

He heads the astronaut corps. 

Officials at Johnson Space Center in Houston were not aware 

of any decision to ground Young and wondered if there was 

some mistake. Abrahamson could not be reached for comment 

Wednesday. 

Young was appearing in Orlando at a conference of the 

Association of Educational Data Systems. (THE ORLANDO 

SENTINEL, 5-13-82, pp. E-1 6 B-7) 

May 14: A cluster of blocky, corrugated steel shaped stands in 

a sandy field at Complex 39, huddled like a flock of angular 

sheep shielding themselves from the sun. 

The growing gaggle of whitewashed rail cars, freight 

carriers that once plied the rails of the Kansas-based 

AtchiSon, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Company, is a 

collection of retirees. Sixty-four cars, decommissioned to 

make way for new and larger rolling stock, have been given a 

new lease on life -- as offices for more than 300 KSC 

contractor and Civil Service employees. 

"The complex is designed to be located (across from the VAB) 

for about three years, then it will be moved out to Pad B 

when that becomes operational," said Terry Xrzywicki, design 

engineer for the project. 

-114- 
Raw material for the endeavor rests on a rail siding 

adjacent to Contractor Road, a long line of dusty veterans 

with the bulk of the Vehicle Assembly Building looming over 

them like a shepherd watching his flock. There is no hint 

here of the modern off ice complex this will become. 

"Boxcar City" was born out of the need to provide 

replacement housing for workers to be moved from operational 

areas of Complex 39. Some will be moved out of the VAB 

because their functions don't demand accomdations that 

close to ordnance operations. Others will move to free 

firing room space in the Launch Control Center. 

A permanent facility appeared to be the long-term solution, 

but an interim step was needed -- perferably to provide 

something that could be relocated and reused elsewhere. 

Planners fell back on a solution for an earlier need. At 

Launch Pad A, the shock wave from a launch would damage 

standard prefabricated steel structures. 

Sturdier railroad boxcars, provided a goad trade-off against 

the cost of permanent facilities stressed for the location, 

and proved able to withstand conditions ranging from rocket 

exhaust to hurric-7e force winds that would damage or blow 

away conventional trailers. After three launches the cars, 

sited only 300 yards from the pad, have shown few effects 

from the Shuttle's earthquake-like vibrations, except for a 

few minor fixtures that were shaken loose. 

While regarded as portable and "temporary," the boxcar units 

are expected to far outlive conventional trailers. 

*These cars have been traveling all over the country for 20 

to 30 years, and since they're still in this shape, you can 

see how long they'll last,* said Bob Pastermack, project 

engineer for the complex. 

A "long time," engineers say, could be two to four times the 

five year average life of a conventional trailer in the same 

application. 

And with long service comes another bonus -- lower energy consumption and cost. 

-115- 
I 

"Boxcars are better insulated than trailers," said Ted 

Hyatt, who works in the Energy Conservation Project Office. 

"They don't have windows, and centrally located 

air-conditioning and heating facilities help energy 

efficiency." Utility costs can be as little as half of 

those experienced in trailers. To relieve the blandness of 

the flat, white exteriors, the boxcar side on each row that 

faces the VAB will be painted in red, gray and white 

stripes, and crowned by a silhouetted orbiter on one end. 

As the renovation proceeds through the four-month process, 

the once stark interiors will be refurbished into 

surroundings that will rival many commercial office 

buildings. (SPACEPORT NEWS, 5-14-82, p. 3, Vol. 21, No. 10) 

Hay 17: NASA's Kennedy Space Center recently began 

installation of experiments on the Spacelab 1 pallet in 

preparation for the first flight of the European Space 

Agency-developed Spacelab, scheduled for September 1983. 

Configuration for the first flight, a seven-day joint 

NASA/ESA mission, will consist of a manned habitable module 

and the experiment-supporting pallet. One European and one 

American payload specialist will fly on the mission, along 

with the commander, pilot and two astronaut mission 

specialists. 

Ceremonies marking the delivery of the first European 

Spacelab payload to NASA were held May 7 at facilities of 

ERNO, Spacelab prime, at Bremen, West Germany. 

Spacelab 1 will carry 36 different instruments, 12 provided 

by NASA and 24 by ESA, including a metric camera, microwave 

remote sensing equipment, fluid physics module and the 

material science double rack (which itself contains 33 

different experiments). (DEFENSE DAILY, 5-17-82, p. 87, 

Vol. 121, No. 11) 

<> Scheduled space shuttle orbiter end-of-mission landings at 

the Kennedy Space Center, Florida, have been delayed until 

Mission 7 in April, 1983, under project planning that adds 

to the conservatism of the program for evaluating the 

landing characteristics of orbiter vehicles. 

-116- 
i 

Earlier 

landing 

concept 

gaining 

planning scheduled t?e first Kennedy end-of-mission 

for Flight 5 to be launched this November. The 

of slipping planned Kennedy landings has been 

momentum for some time...... 

..... Edwards' concrete Runway 22 offers under-and over-run 

advantages that do not exist at the Kennedy runway.... 

No. 20) 

(AVIATION WEEK & SPACE TECHNOLOGY, 5-17-82, Po 25, VOl. 116, 

<> Two Shuttles will be roaring off launch pads at Kennedy 

Space Center every month by 1987, says the man who 

supervises activities at the nation's space port. 

While his reusable spacecraft team prepared Columbia for its 

fourth and final test mission in late June, KSC Director 

Richard Smith talked confidently of launching 24 Shuttles 

annually in five years and 30 per year by 1992. 

Columbia will be joined by three more Orbiters -- Challenger 

in mid-June, Discovery in 1983 and Atlantis in 1984. 

Three will take off and land at KSC's billion-dollar 

installation, with its work force of 12,000. A fourth will 

operate out of Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, 

beginning in 1985. 

Smith, 53, a veteran of 31 years in rocket and space 

development, said in an interview that his experts are busy 

pinpointing ways to cut down the processing time between 

Shuttle flights -- a necessity in achieving higher launch 

rates. 

"We want to make turnaround time as short as we can," he 

said. "I'm pleased with the faster pace here." 

He noted that seven months elapsed between Columbia's first 

and second missions in 1981. and four months between the 

second and third flights. He expects the spacecraft to be 

ready this time in 90 days. 

"Ne can reduce ground time to 60 days and later to 45 days," 

Smith said. "But to do that requires improvements in ground 

-117- 
and flight equipment. We haven't yet identified all the 

areas where changes must be made." 

By early 1983, when Challenger makes its debut, Smith said 

KSC would be able to move faster than Johnson Space Center 

in Houston, which develops flight plans, trains astronauts 

and updates mission control computers for every Shuttle 

flight. 

In that event, Johnson would have to speed up its operations 

or Kennedy engineers slow down theirs, but he didn't 

elaborate, 

Meanwhile, the Air Force is building facilities at 

Vandenberg AFB, which is better suited geographically to 

launch Shuttles on polar orbits. These orbits expose more 

of the Earth to military satellites carrying sophisticated 

cameras and sensors. 

Smith said his experienced launch teams will prepare several 

Shuttles for the Vandenberg missions, ferrying them from 

Florida when they are ready for launch. KSC engineers and 

technicians will travel to California to assemble huge solid 

rockets that augment Shuttle thrust. 

"The real issue in military usage is the long range defense 

requirenent," Smith said. "They may need a dedicated 

Shuttle fleet for space missions." 

In such a case, Smith believes it would be easier for NASA 

to set up a "quasi-commercial operation" at KSC to process 

Shuttles for domestic and foreign civilian use. 

And NASA is already moving to do this with a proposal to 

consolidate all of the processing work under one civilian 

aerospace contractor. 

This would release several hundred government personnel for 

other assignments and more advanced projects. 

E, three-Shuttle fleet requires more facilities. 

-118- 
By 1985, Smith's crews will have modified a second pad, used 

in the moon launches, for the Shuttle. 

And one or two additional bays will be equipped in the 

cavernous Vehicle Assembly Building, where Shuttles are 

mounted vertically with solid rocket boosters and fuel tanks 

before transfer to launch pads. 

Smith believes the next logical project for NASA is a manned 

space station, assembled in orbit from sections carried in 

Shuttles. The reusable spacecraft would also ferry 

personnel and supplies. 

"KSC will play a big role in any future station," he said. 

"The expertise acquired here in ground servicing of (space) 

vehicles and spacecraft is invaluable. The same techniques 

are applicable to a permanent facility in orbit." 

Does he anticipate the transfer of Shuttle mission control 

operations from Houston to KbC? 

"You don't move highly specialized facilities and a large 

group of people," he said. (TODAY, 5-17-82, pp. 1A & 8A) 

May 18: NASA's John F. Kennedy Space Center has awarded a $7.2 

million contract to W & J Construction Company in Cocoa, 

Florida, to construct a complex of new buildings to process 

and store solid rocket booster segments. 

Under the terms of the fixed-price contract, W & J will 

provide the labor, equipment and materials to construct the 

Solid Rocket Booster Rotation/Processing Facility and two 

SRB Segment Storage Buildings. The awarc was made to a 

small business firm. Construction of the facilities is to 

take about 18 months. 

Live solid moter segments arriving at Kennedy Space Center 

for assembly are now received, processed and inspected in 

the Vehicle Assembly Building. The aft skirts and aft 

propellant segments of the solid rocket boosters are also 

currently arsembled in the VAB. Moving these operations to 

a separate building will reduce hazardous conditions in the 

VAB and speed shuttle turnaround time by eliminating 

scheduling conflicts between the hazardous solid rocket 

booster rockets . -119- 
When complete, these facilities will enable KSC to store two 

sets of solid rocket boosters and to support more than 20 

launches a year. (NASA RELEASE NO. 128-82, 5-18-82) 

<> Work on a second Space Shuttle, the Challenger, is nearing 

completion and the ship will be delivered to NASA late next 

month, the manufacturer, Rockwell International, said 

Moncjay . 

The 100-ton spaceship is scheduled to roll out of its 

assembly plant in the desert near Palmdale, California, 

about June 30, company spokesman Jerry Syverson reported. 

Then it will be towed over a desert highway to nearby 

Edwards Air Force Base -- a half-day journey -- to be 

mounted atop a Boeing 747 jumbo jet for a flight to the 

launch base at Kennedy Space Center. 

The shid's first liftoff is scheduled for January. 

Challenger may still be at Edwards when the first Shuttle, 

Columbia, returns there from its fourth trip into space. 

The third and fourth Shuttles, Discovery and Atlantis, are 

to be completed in 1983 and 1984, respectively. 

Each is designed to make 100 or more roundtrips into space. 

(TODAY, 5-18-82, p. 12A) 

May 19: Space veteran Columbia's journey of only 300 yards 

from its hangar to the neighboring Shuttle assembly building 

was on hald by early today. 

NASA officials predicted it wouldn't be until early this 

morning before the Columbia would be towed to the building 

where it will be attached to its already joined fuel tank 

and twin booster rockets. 

Slower than expected preparations inside the '.anjar were 

responsjbile for the delay. The move was also aLcyed by a 

welding job on a fractured Columbia main engine valve. 

-120- 
The valve in the No. 1 main engine is designed to supply 

gaseous oxygen to the engine. The oxygen keep8 the engine 

at a pressure necessary for the flow of fuels. 

Hairline fractures were discovered in the valve over the 

weekend and the repair was accomplished by Monday, said Mark 

Hess, a Kennedy Space Center spokesman. But, Ress said, the 

problem "threw a kink in the works," and set the Colcmbia 

schedule back 12 hours. 

By late Tuesday, a six-hour procedure for weighing Columbia 

was about half complete, Hess said. Weighing the Shuttle is 

essential to enable engineers to predict engine 

performance. Once the Columbia was secure inside the 

Vehicle Assembly Building, it wes to be hoisted into a sling 

and bolted to the fuel tank and rockets. 

Hess said Tuesday's delay would not affect the move of the 

fully assembled Shuttle to launch pad 39A on May 26 or the 

start of the seven-day mission on June 27. 

"There is time built into the schedule to catch up, if 

needed," said space center spokeswoman Ann Skinner. "Rut a 

decision on the actual launch date is not expected to be 

made until the Shuttle leaves the VAB for the pad." 

Carrying a secret Department of Defense cargo, Columbia will 

be manned by Henry Hartsfield and Thomas Mattingly for the 

last of four test flights. (TODAY, 5-19-82, p. 12A) 

<> A European Ariane rocket will lift the communications 

satellite WESTAR VI on its 1983 mission because it's cheaper 

than America's Delta rocket, a Western Union official said 

Tuesday. 

"Ariane Space (the European agemy) offered us such an 

attractive package that we cocldn't turn it down," said 

William Zeigler, launch operations manager for Western 

Union . 

WESTAR VI will be carried into space in December 1983. (THE 

ORLANDO SENTINEL, 5-19-82, pa B-6) 

-121- 
Uay 22: Astronauts Thomas Mattingly and Henry Hartsfield 

remained tight-lipped Friday about the military cargo they 

will fly into orbit next month aboard the space shuttle. 

"I think we just ought to stay off the DOD subjects," said 

Mattingly, the 46-year-old commander of the Columbia's 

fourth test flight and an Apollo 16 veteran. 

In their final press conference before a scheduled June 27 

launch, Mattingly and Hartsfield called the shuttle a 

"freeway to the future" and predicted heavy commercial 

traffic for America's "space truck." 

But they brushed off questions about the shuttle's first 

paying customer, whi-h is the Pentagon, and defended the 

role of the military in space. 

"Space is a place, no different than the oceans and earth we 

live on," said Mattingly, interviewed via closed-circuit 

television from Johnson Space Center in Houston. "Whatever 

social and political things go along with people also go on 

in space." (THE ORLANDO SENTINEL, 5-22-82, p. A-1) 

Way 23: If the U.S. Air Force doesn't start paying its fair 

share of Space Shuttle costs, the nation's space program 

faces a pssible finanical crisis, key members of the House 

Science and Technology Committee say. 

'The military has been getting a free ride," said Rep. Don 

Fuqua, D-Fla., committee chairman. 

Fuqua said without more money for the Shuttle program -- 

especially from the military -- NASA will fall into debt, 

forcing cuts in some of the agency's non-Shuttle programs. 

"It's a financial bind," he said. "And the losers will be 

the things like aeronautics research and planetary 

programs." (TODAY, 5-23-82, p. 1A) 

-122- 
c 

May 24: NASA's John F. Kennedy Space Center has awarded the 

Watson Paving, Inc. of Cocoa Beach, a $348,568 contract to 

resurface the northtmnd lanes of Kennedy Parkway, Florida 

Route 3. 

The paving will include the nine mile section of road 

between the intersections of Routes 3 and 405 near the Space 

Center's Industrial area, to Gate 4 south of Florida Road 

402 (the beach road). 

Work under the fixed price contract is underway and is due 

to be completed by August 10. The award for this contract 

is set aside for small business firms. (KSC RELEASE NO. 

138-828 5-24-82) 

<> NASA's John F. Kennedy Space Center has awarded Atlantic 

Technical Services of Longwood, Florida, an extension valued 

at $613,366 to its current contract fer providing mail 

services for the Space Center. 

ATS is responsible for the operation of the postal and 

in-house distribution services for the entire Space Center. 

Classed as a small business firm, ATS is in its second year 

of providing mail and distribution services in support of 

NASA and contractor elements at the Rennedy Space Center. 

This extension will cover the period through October 318 

1982. 

The new award brings the aggregate value of the parent 

contract to $2,535,504. (NASA RELEASE NO. 135-82, 5-24-82) 

<> The Space Shuttle Orbiter Columbia was moved from the 

Orbiter Processing Facility to the Vehicle Assembly Building 

at Kennedy Space Center last week and mated to its solid 

rocket boosters and External Tank in the VAB. The mate6 

vehicle is scheduled to be rolled out to Launch Pad 39A on 

May 26 with launch planned for June 27. The STS-4 mission 

will be piloted by astronauts Thomas Mattingly and Henry 

Hartsfield, with landing scheduled July 4 at Edwards AFB, 

California. This final Shuttle R & D flight will mark the 

launch of the first DOD cargo into space by the Shuttle (DOD 

82-11. The DOD payload will reportedly include the 

Martin-built Space Sextant and Air Force instruments 

-123- 
designed to define the infrared and ultraviolet signature of 

the Earth's horizon and to measure the environment near the 

Orbiter. (DEFENSE DAILY, 5-24-82, p. 125, Vol. 122, No. 16) 

<> Seven giant corporations will wrestle for control of the 

space shuttle during the coming year. 

The winner will capture a multibillion-dollar contract to 

service the reusable spaceship for the next 15 years, 

involving as many as 5,000 spaceport jobs. 

Losers in the bidding war will have to scramble for smaller 

contracts, or find themselves edged out of the shuttle 

program entirely. 

"It's certainly a major, major piece of business for whoever 

gets it," said a spokesman for Grumman Aerospace Corp., one 

of the prospective bidders. 

Two former space center officials and a retired astronaut, 

Fred Haise, are deeply involved in the contract battle. 

Haise, an Apollo 13 veteran who piloted the space shuttle 

Enterprise during approach and landing tests five years ago, 

is heading up a 15-man assessment team for Grumman. 

Twenty-three companies asked to compete for the contract, 

but NASA narrowed the field to eight: United Airlines, 

Rockwell International, Martin Marietta Aerospace, Grumman, 

Boeing Services International, Lockheed Corp., General 

Dynamics, and United Space Boosters, a subsidiary of United 

Technologies. 

One of the companies, General Dynamics, dropped out of the 

running earlier this year during a preliminary round of 

talks with the space agency. (THE ORLANDO SENTINEL, 

5-24-82, pp. A-1 L A-4) 

nay 25: NASA's John F. Kennedy Space Center has awarded Zvey's 

Steel €rectors, Inc. of Merritt Island, a $118,755 contract 

to build additional emergency exits for the Vertical 

Processing Facility. 

-124- 
Ivey's will install exterior stairs at the upper four levels 

of the building tc be used for emergency egress from 

workstsnd levels to ground level. The stairs will be built 

on the west exterior of the building. 

This fixed price contract will beinq the last wtek of Hay 

and the projected completion date is September 3, 1982. 

This is an award given to small business firms. (KSC 

RELEASE NO- 139-82, 5-25-82) 

May 26: NASA's John F. Kennedy Space Center has awarded 

Speegle Construction, Inc. of Cocoa, Florida, a $63,777 

contract to increase storage space in the low bay of the 

Vehicle Asssmbly B..ilding. 

Speegle will also add supporting framework to existing 

storage racks. In addition to modifying the storage space, 

Speegle Inc. will alter the existing extinguisher piping and 

sprinkler system, and will install lighting fixtures beneath 

the decking being constructed. 

The fixed price contract calls for the work to be finished 

by October 12, 1982. Actual construction will begin the end 

of July. (KSC RELEASE NO. 140-82, 5-26-82) 

Hay 27: At 1 mph, it's not exactly the Grand Prix. 

But the men who drive the space shuttle to its launch pad 

say the trip can be hell on wheels. Turns are wicked, quick 

stops are impossible and the responsibility is awesome. 

"It's caused a lot of people some misery," said lead driver 

Dick Beck, 44, who drove his fourth shuttle to the launch 

pad Wednesday /May 26th/. 

"At 1 mph, most people figure nothing could ever happen, but 

it does. If you go off the road, that's the end of the 

program. Some guys can't take that kind of pressure." 

It was still dark when Beck climbed into the cab of the 

crawler Wednesday to start the twin 2,750-horsepower engines 

that propel the 12 million-pound vehicle. 

-125- 
As usual, he stowed his lunch of ham sandwiches and soda 

pop. And, as usual, he put the tank-like machine in gear 

and set out for the pad. 

The 3 1/2-mile trip ususally lasts eight hours. The crawler 

clanks along like a moving city. 

ship or a submarine. 

Beck thinks of it as a 

"It takes about 10 of us to run it, not just me." 

Beck and another driver, Lester Fansler, take turns at the 

helm, usually working one-hour shifts. They drive standing 

up, like captains at the helm of a ship. 

The size of the crawler takes some getting used to. Each 

shoe of the crawler tread weighs 1 ton. There are 57 shoes 

per belt, and four sets of belts. 

The launch platform it carries is the size of a major-league 

baseball diamond. 

To prevent the shuttle from toppling, 16 hydraulic jacks 

constantly tilt the launch platform, keeping it up right. 

The jacks are controlled by mercury gauges, one in each 

corner of the crawler. If a stiff breeze is blowing, the 

launch platform is hydraulically angled to compensate for 

the wind. 

There are two turns along the route to the pad. They look 

gentle enough, but to hear Beck describe them they pack all 

the dread and menace of a roller coaster ride. 

He maneuvers the crawler with a stick control, not a wheel. 

The momentum of the vehicle is so colossal that Beck starts 

easing into the turn long before he comes to a bend in the 

road . 

Even the straightaways require total concentration. 

relies on a crew of spotters on the ground to keep the 

crawler on course. 

Beck 

"If you look away for one second the guys on the ground are 

yelling at you," Beck said. 

it under control, you better watch out." 

'As soon as you think you got 

-126- 
The hardest part, Beck said, is maneuvering the shuttle out 

of the vehicle assembly building, and navigating the final 

few inches up the launch ramp. The shuttle has to be 

positioned within 2 inches of a central point and it takes 

two drivers, one at each end of the crawler, to accomplish 

the feat. 

During critical maneuvers, Beck slows the crawler to onetenth of a mile an hour. Once on the pad, the launch 

platform is lowered onto six pedestals and the crawler is 

backed down the pad again. 

There are two crawlers at Kennedy Space Center. Both of 

them are 17 years old, and each has about 600 miles on the 

odometer. The gas mileage is nothing to brag about: 180 

gallons to the mile. 

Beck made his first ride down the crawlerway when the Saturn 

V rocket was hauled to the pad for the Apollo-Soyuz mission 

in 1975. 

"I was the new guy on the block then and I only drove a 

little bit," said Beck. 

In 17 years, the crawler crews, sometimes called the creepy 

crawlers, have never been late for a rollout. The crawler 

has never broken down in transit to the pad. 

"There's a little pride in this," said Beck, who drives a 

'69 Camaro in his off-hours. "It's just like a ball game. 

You get up for it." (THE ORLANDO SENTINEL, 5-27-82, pp. C-1 

c c-9) 

<> The Space Shuttle, supported on a massive tractor, arrived 

at its launch pad Wednesday /May 26/ afternoon before a 

soaking rainstorm and lightning swept through Brevard 

County . 

The Shuttle's 3 1/2-mile journey from the Vehicle Assembly 

Building to the pad began almost an hour ahead of schedule 

under partly cloudy skies, at 7t09 a.m., when it seemed 

inclement weather was headed for Kennedy Space Center later 

in the day. 

-127- 
By 1:09 p.m. the spaceship with its booster rockets and 

peach-colored fuel tank attached was at pad 39A "under the 

lightning rod," said Roy Tharpe, a chief engineer with the 

Shuttle rollout team. By 4:32 p.m. the Shuttle was fully 

secured to the pad. 

Tharpe said that with the smooth rollout of the Shuttle to 

the pad, the biggest hurdle remaining before the June 27 

launch is the mock countdown Saturday. Astronauts Thomas 

Mattingly and Henry Hartsfield will go through the motions 

of launch day with a largely computerized countdown inside 

the Columbia cockpit. 

By June 5, the Defense Department's secret cargo will be 

rolled into the Columbia's open cargo bay out of a fully 

enclosed room inside a steel structure next to the nowupright Shuttle. 

The package of military instrunlents, packed in a canister, 

was hoisted by crane to the ultra-secure and contaminantfree room Saturday. 

Technicians still have to install the last five of 

Columbia's 1,050 heat protection tiles that had to be 

removed, strengthened and reglued to the spaceship's 

aluminum skin following the last mission. (TODAY, 5-27-82, 

pe 16A) 

May 28: A group of McDonnell Douglas Technical Services Co. 

employees have received an Aerospace Awareness Panel Team 

Award for their work in verification of the OSTA-1 software 

interface. 

The team members are Mary minefield, Pete Ward, Chris 

Camerino, Jim Kidd, Gerry Mook, Herb Wilson, Don Chappell, 

Chuck White, John Newsome and Bob Fine. 

This MDTSCO team was assigned to design and develop a test 

to verify that the OSTA-1 payload interface was compatible 

with the Columbia. The stumbling blocks in this project 

included the fact that OSTA-1 was the first shuttle cargo, 

the development schedule was cut by three months, and they 

were using test equipment for the first time. 

-128- 
The team was cited for providing a timely response to 

changing requirements, and for "individual dedication, 

personal time secrifice and unselfish devotion" in 

successfully completing the OSTA-1 interface test on 

schedule. (SPACEPORT NEWS, 5-28-82, p. 2, Vol. 21, No. 11) 

<> Miss Baker, one of the first two animals recovered alive 

from an American space flight, celebrated her birthday and 

the.23rd anniversary of her historic journey Friday /May 

28/, literally a museum piece but still adored by the 

nation's children. 

Niss Baker, at 25, the oldest squirrel monkey in captiviy, 

gets an average of 100 letters a day at the Alabama Space 

and Rocket Museum, where she lives in a plexiglass home amid 

space-age exhibits and replicas of flying machines. 

"Sometimes they address their letters to "Miss Baker, Space' 

and they find their way here,' said Lee Sentell, a spokesman 

for the space center. (TODAY, 5-29-82, p. SA) 

May 29: It took two tries, but the space shuttle Columbia 

finally performed right on cue Saturday /May 29/ during a 

major dress rehearsal for its June 27 launch. 

The mock countdown had to be scrubbed once when computer 

problems flared up 31 seconds before launch. The problem 

was fixed, however, and astronauts Thomas Mattingly and 

Henry Hartsfield took the controls a second time to complete 

the test. 

If it had been a real countdown, the launch would have been 

postponed for another day, Mattingly said, since the final 

countdown was not completed until 3:20 p.m. 

Three main problems cropped up during Saturday's countdown, 

stopping the count four times. One involved the shuttle's 

hydraulic system, which had been deliberately turned off. 

"The computers hadn't been told it was off," said NASA 

spokesman Hugh Harris. 

pressure and there was none. 

"TheX kept looking for hydraulic 

-129- 
Another problem developed when the radio and tracking 

station on Merritt Island temporarily lost touch with the 

Columbia. 

But the most serious malfunction came 31 seconds before 

launch, when computers gave conflicting commands to the 

vents that equalize pressure inside the shuttle's cargo bay 

during launch. 

The vents were simultaneously ordered to open and close, 

sending a power surge through the Columbia's on-board 

electrical system that tripped several circuit breakers. 

As a result, the astronauts crawled out of the shuttle 

cockpit and doffed their flight suits. After eating lunch 

and attending briefings, they returned for a second try. 

"The second attempt went without a glitch," one space 

official said. (THE ORLANDO SENTINEL, 5-30-82, pp. A-1 & 

A-14) 

-130- 
JUNE 1982 

June 1: Space technicians Tuesday /June 1/ prepared the 

shuttle Columbia for its next major test -- today's loading 

of supercold fuel into the orbiter's external tank. 

A space agency spokeswoman said loading of 1.6 million 

pounds of supercold liquid hydrogen and oxygen fuel was 

scheduled to begin about 8 a.m. 

Hydrogen, at 423 degrees below zero, and oxygen, at 297 

below, are the primary propellants for the shuttle's three 

main engines. It should take about 90 minutes to fill the 

tank with liquid hydrogen and some three hours to load the 

liquid oxygen. 

The test will also involve a aock countdown, leading to a 

simulated blastoff, set for 2 p.m. When the test is 

completed, the propellants will be drained out of the tank. 

The propellants will be reloaded into the tank about five 

hours before the shuttle's fourth and final test flight, a 

7-day mission scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. June 27. (THE 

ORLANDO SENTINEL, 6-2-82, p. 8-21 

June 5: Ivey's Steel Erector's Inc. of Merritt Island was 

awarded a $118,755 contract by NASA to erect additional 

emergency exits for the vertical processing facility at the 

Kennedy Space Center. 

Also, NASA has awarded Watson Paving Inc. of Cocoa Beach a 

$348,568 contract to resurface the northbound lanes of 

Kennedy Parkway and SR3. (TODAY, 6-5-82, p. 14C) 

<> Top-secret Department of Defense cargo was loaded Saturday 

/June 5/ into the Space Shuttle for use on its fourth 

mission in space, officials said. 

The installation at the launch site was conducted by Air 

Force personnel and employees of defense contractors who had 

security clearance. 

-131- 
"I can confirm that the payload was installed, but I don't 

know anything else," said NASA spokesman Dick Young. The 

Air Force also refused comment. 

NASA and the Air Force would conduct tests between the 

Orbiter and the military payload before the June 27 launch, 

Young said. Those are computer tests to make sure the 

electrical connections between the Shuttle and cargo are 

functioning. 

The Pentagon has refused comment on the mysterious payload 

except to say that it would not be placed in orbit and would 

return to Earth with Columbia. Speculation at Kennedy Space 

Center is that the cargo contains infra-red sensors to 

conduct night photography from high altitudes. (TODAY, 

6-6-82, p. 18A) 

June 7: Technicians late last week were inspecting turbine 

bearing housing seals on two of the space shuttle's main 

engine fuel pumps following successful test loading of 

cryogenic propellants in the external tank. 

Decision to inspect the seals on the No. 1 and No. 3 engine 

fuel pumps was made by National Aeronautics and Space 

Administration after it was discovered that the No. 2 engine 

fuel pump seal was cracked. Officials do not believe this 

activity will impact the launch, which is scheduled for 11 

a.m. EDT June 27. Extra time was needed for leak checks 

ifter the inspections. 

The space shuttle vehicle system has been at Launch Pad 39A 

since May 26, when it was rolled out of the Vehicle Assembly 

Building. In addition to the external tank loading test on 

June 2, demultiplexer setup caused orbiter vent doors to be 

given conflicting commands during this demonstration, and 

the computer aborted the test on the first try. It was 

successful on the second attempt. 

Alfred D. O'Hara, director of shuttle processing, said the 

Orbiter Columbia weighs 172,076 pounds compared with a 

predicted 172,234 pounds. He said the countdown preparation 

cycle will begin June 15 and the launch countdown will be 

under way June 23. 

-132- 
! 

Meanwhile, the 57 European Space Agency experiments that 

will be flown in the first Spacelab arrived here late last 

month on a Lufthansa Boeing 747. 

Erno facilities in Bremen. Spacelab 1 will be the payload 

on board the ninth shuttle mission, scheduled September 30, 

1983. 

They were shipped from the 

The European experiments involve 24 instruments that will 

obtain data in the disciplines of atmospheric physics and 

Earth observations, astronomy and solar physics, plasma 

physics, life sciences and material sciences. NASA will 

have 12 instruments on Spacelab 1. (AVIATION WEEK & SPACE 

TECHNOLOGY, 6-7-82, p. 21, VOl. 116, No. 23) 

June 8: Despite fears of a menacing wind out of the north, 

Western Union's fifth in a series of communications 

satellites was launched minutes after sunset Tuesday. 

Meteorologists at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station 

launch site were concerned early in the evening that the 28 

mph wind at 18,000 feet would interfere with steering of the 

Delta rocket that carried the satellite into space. 

A weather balloon sent up about 20 minutes before liftoff 

found the winds had died down, and NASA engineers gave the 

signal for a fiery rocket ignition at 8:24 p.m. 

Against the backdrop of calm skies streaked red with the 

colors of sunset, the 116-foot-tall rocket lofted into the 

atmosphere at a speed of more than 10,000 mph. 

Within two minutes all nine of the rockets solid-fuel 

booster rockets had spent their fire power and were 

jettisoned into the Atlantic Ocean from as high as 30 miles 

UP 

Western Union's $30 million satellite, WESTAR V, is designed 

to provide Muzak to subscribers, color television channels 

and to transmit computer-coded pages of the Wall Street 

Journal from its Massachusetts plant to printing presses in 

Orlando. 

With WESTAR V, Western Union is the first company to have 

five communications satellite operating in Earth orbit. 

-133- 
The 1,280-pound satellite is equipped with 24 transmitter/ 

receivers, and all are booked by companies renting the 

satel?ite*s services. Western Union earns about $75 million 

a year from satellite services, said Warren Bechtel, a 

company spokeaan. 

One of WESTAR V's customers is Citicorp, the first finanical 

institution to own space on a satellite. With two of the 

transmitter/receivers Citicorp will handle by satellite the 

bulk of its conferences and data transmissions between 

offices across the country. 

Once op-rational in August, WESTAR V will circle the Earth 

22,000 miles above the Galapagos Islands in the Pacific. 

(TODAY, 6-9-82, p. 16A) 

June 10: Seventeen days before its fourth launch, workers at 

Kennedy Space Center spent a second full day Wednesday 

piping highly combustible propellants into the Space Shuttle 

Columbia's supplementary fuel tanks. 

The area was cleared of all workers except those in 

protective clothing who were involved in the fueling 

operation, which began Tuesday afternoon and concludes 

Saturday. 

"These are crucial tasks necessary to get the thing ready 

for launch on the 27th," said Ken Senstad. 

"It's going very smoothly and they're on schedule," said the 

NASA spokesman. 

Columbia's main fuel supply, stored in its oversized 

throwaway fuel tank, won't be put in until hours before 

liftoff. Columbia's fourth and final test flight aloft is 

scheduled to begin June 27 at 11 a.m. 

Wednesday's operations focused on caring for the tanks which 

fuel the Shuttle's orbital maneuvering system and reactioncontrol system engines -- the engines which operate while 

Columbia is in space. The engines burn a highly combustible 

mixture of hydrazine and nitrogen tetroxide. 

-134- 
The propellants are stored in separate areas at the corners 

of the launch pad and are fed by transfer lines into tanks 

located on the Shuttle. 

Measures have been taken to prevent a repetition of a spill 

of nitrogen tetroxide last September which delayed the 

Shuttle's second mission about a month. The chemical 

loosened bonding material and 379 heat protective tiles 

around the spacecraft's nose had to be replaced. (TODAY, 

6-10-82, p. 16A) 

June 11: A senior flrght test engineer for General Dynamics, 

Convair Divisicrn, :s wearing a big smile these days along 

with honors presented with the corporation's Extraordinary 

Achievement Award. 

For. "Red" Hagerman actually started smiling last February, 

when the reason for the award occurred, and the veteran 

space worker saved the launch of INTELSAT 5-D from potential 

disaster . 

During preparation for the terminal countdown demonstration 

of the Centaur Propulsion test at Atlas-Centaur Complex 36, 

Hagerman detected an abnormal sound above the competing 

"racket" of gas venting during the 2.5-second valve cycling 

exercise . 

Hagerman was able to isolate the souna to the area of the 

Centaur main engine, and the valve cycling operation was 

stopped and rechecked to allow the problem to be secured. 

The noise turned out to be coming from a stress corrosion 

crack in the liquid oxygen pump inlet valve. Pressurized 

helium gas utilized to open and close the vitally important 

valve was leaking from the crack. 

* 

The crack was repaired and a potential multi-million dollar 

loss was avoided when the valve functioned satisfactorily 

du:- hg the subsequent launch of the INTELSAT 5-2 spacecraft 

atop Atlas-Centaur Number 58. 

Supervisor Sy Baker credited Hagerman's long years of 

experience with the timely detection of the problem. The 

engineer has been with GDC since 1958, working his way 

-135- 
through night school to attain e bachelor's degree in 

Mechanical Engineering in 1975. (SPACEPORT NEWS, 6-11-82, 

Po 2, Vole 21, NO. 12) 

June 12: NASA's John F. Kennedy Visitors Center had 95,232 

visitors last month, the second busiest May in the center's 

16-year history. 

The previous record, of 114,987 visitors, was in May 1981. 

Attendance for the year is down 2.8 precent so far, to 

672,999 from 692,889 a year ago. For all of last year, 2 

million visitors passed through the center. (TODAY, 

6-12-82 1 

June 13: An ambitious, privately owned company developing its 

own space-for-profit transportation system is talking with 

top space agency officials about leasing a launch pad at 

Cape Canaveral. 

Space Services, Inc., based in Hotxton, has received a 

positive reaction from NASA on a proposal to lease Launch 

Complex 36 to fire unmanned spacecraft into high Earth 

orbits, a company spokesman said. 

Representatives of the firm, including former Kennedy Space 

Center Director Lee Scherer, have conferred with present KSC 

Director Dick Smith and NASA Administrator Jim Beggs on the 

plan. 

"We've run into no opposition and we're putting together a 

written proposal now," said Walt Pennino, SSI public 

relations representative in Washington. 

"The time is approaching for the commercialization of space 

and this is one of a number of proposals NASA is 

considering," said Scherer, a consultant with SSI and vice 

president of an energy firm located in the city of Cape 

Canaveral. 

-136- 
! 

"Beggs has said the time has come," Scherer added, "It's 

probably time to turn expendable (launch) vehicles to a 

commercial company so that NASA can concentrate on the 

Shuttle." 

SSI's test launch of a liquid-fueled rocket at its site on 

Matagorda Island, off the Texas coast, ended in failure last 

August. It is trying again with a solid-fuel rocket in 

September. 

But its operations from the Cape Canaveral site would 

involve Atlas Centaur rockets, carrying commercial satellite 

payloads on a fee basis. 

Pennino said General Dynamics which mtkes the powerful Atlas 

Centaurs for NASA's use, is willing to sell to SSI if the 

leasing agreement is reached. 

There is concern among many officials involved in the space 

program that unless the U.S. government soon begins to work 

closely with private industry, much of the business not 

handled by the Space Shuttle in the future will go to an 

aggressive European consortium. 

The French-made Ariane rocket already is taking business 

away from NASA's expendable rocket program. 

The largest American communications company, Western Union, 

recently announced it is buying an Ariane to launch its 

sixth satellite next year because it is $7 million cheaper 

than the cost of using a Delta rocket from Cape Canaveral. 

Western Union also said it would receive "more attractive 

financing" from French and West German banks. 

The potential profits in space -- to be made in fields 

ranging from communications satellites to manufacturing -- 

are talked of in many billions of dollars. 

"The Reagan administration is studying this (commercialgovernment tie-in) closely: they are drafting the policy," 

Scherer said. "I hope to see some statement from President 

Reagan on July Fourth on this." 

-137- 
1. 

Reagan is scheduled to greet the returning Space Shuttle 

astronauts after Columbia's final test mission, ending at 

Edwards Air Force Base in California, on July 4. (TODAY, 

6-13-82, p. 18A) 

June 15: The Space Shuttle's July 4 landing at Edwards Air 

Force Base has been pushed to later than originally 

scheduled to test the craft in crosswinds, the space agency 

said Monday. 

The landing of the Columbia at Edwards Air Force Base 

originally was scheduled for 7:38 a.m. Pacific Coast time, 

but has been rescheduled for 9:13 a.m., to increase the 

chances that the Shuttle will land in a crosswind, NASA 

said. This is a situation in which the Shuttle has not yet 

been tested. 

The wind grows stronger at the base later in the morning. 

In a tongue-in-cheek article, AVIATION WEEK 6 SPACE 

TECHNOLOGY magazine reported that the landing was 

rescheduled to give President Reagan, who may appear at the 

landing site, an extra hour of sleep. (TODAY, 6-15-82, p. 

10A 1 

June 16: P.J. Coodwin Corp., Merritt Island, was awarded a 

contract as part of the $8 million Kennedy Space Visitors 

Center expansion program. 

The coritract includes a 10,000-square-foot souvenir sales 

and operations building at $510,776; and a 7,200-square-foot 

central receiving building at $175,307. (TODAY, 6-16-82, 

p. 14C) 

<> Astronaut space suits were loaded aboard Space Shuttle 

Columbia Tuesday /June 15/ as preparations continued for a 

five-day launch countdown beginning next Tuesday. 

Work crews at the launch pad also installed heat-protection 

skirts on the bottom of the twin rockets which help propel 

the Shuttle into orbit. And they conducted a number of 

safety checks aboard the spacecraft, said spokesman Mark 

Ness at Kennedy Space Center. 

-138- 
"Nothing out of the ordinary. 

well, right on schedule," said Hess. 

Everything gaing along pretty 

Later in the week, flight computer programs will be put 

aboard the Columbia as technicians run through a series of 

systems checks to make swe everythinq is in order for the 

start of the countdown. 

The seven-day mission is set to begin on Sunday, June 27, 

with a touchdown expected at Edwards Air Force Base in 

California on July Fourth. (TODAY, 6-16-82, p. 10A) 

<> The Applied Technology Division of Computer Sciences 

Corporation has won an extension to its current contract to 

provide communications and instrumentation support services 

to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. 

The contract extension is valued at $30,765,993, bringing 

the total value of the company's contract with NASA to 

$186,132,473. Under the contract the company provides 

communications and instrumentation support such as operation 

and maintenance of the checkout, control and morritor 

subsystems within the Space Shuttle ground launch processing 

system, and provides computer operations and maintenance 

support for a variety of functional offices. 

The cost plus award fee contract extension covers the period 

from June 1 through December 31, 1982, with a cost plus 

fixed fee option to extend until February 28, 1983. (KSC 

RELEASE NO. 151-82, 6-16-82) 

June 17: A NASA official has turned down Brevard County 

Sheriff Jake Miller's request for federal assistance to pay 

his deputies overtime for handling huge shuttle launch 

crowds. 

Because Miller couldn't afford to pay overtime for the last 

launch, he resorted to granting 1,200 hours in compensatory 

time . 

A NASA legislative assistant, Patrick Templeton, has 

notified U.S. Rep. Bill Nelson that NASA thinks tourist 

dollars brought into Brevard by the shuttle should offset 

any law enforcement expenditures. 

-139- 
Miller's suggestion of funding the grant by raising the 

ticket price for tours at Kennedy Space Center also wzs 

turned down. Templeton said it would be unfair to expect 

people coming through the tour center to foot the bill for 

handling launch traffic. 

Miller said he intends to pursue any other funding he can 

find. "While we all love the shuttle, I was hoping the 

federal government would realize the impact it has on the 

county. This is a unique situation." 

In his recent budget request to the Brevard County 

Commission, Miller asked for a 65 percent increase. Among 

his reasons was managing large shuttle crowds. (THE ORLANDO 

SENTINEL, 6-17-82) 

<> Kennedy Space Center, saying that "it appears that there 

will be a need to develop additional launch vehicles to 

accomplish objectives beyond the capability" of the Space 

Shuttle, is issuing RFP's for a study of ground operations 

for an Advanced Space Transportation System. 

KSC said the advanced STS system is to be compatible with 

the Space Transportation System class of payloads. 

The study will take launch vehicle configurations being 

developed and determine the impact of each configuration 

will have on the launch site. The study will define any new 

facilities, modifications to existing facilities, impacts on 

ongoing STS activities, ground support quipment, ground 

operation activities, estimated manpower and costs 

associated with the processing and launch of each 

configuration covered by the study. 

Advanced STS concepts bein? studied include cargo vehicles 

using components o€ the STS -- the SRB-X and the Space 

Shuttle Cargo Vehicle -- which are a decade away, if built. 

Studies also continue on advanced fully-reusable shuttles, 

both single and two-stage versions. (DEFENSE DAILY, 

6-17-82, p. 261, Vole 122, No. 33) 

<> NASA associate deputy administrator Philip E. Culbertson has 

told the House Space Subcommittee that NASA believes it 

needs a fifth Space Shuttle Orbiter in order to guard 

-140- 
against downtime or even possible loss of one of the four 

Orbiters now being built but he said that the Reagan 

Administration has not yet made a decision to buy a fifth 

vehicle, with its more than $1 billion cost a major 

consideration. (DEFENSE DAILY, 6-17-82, p. 260, Vol. 122, 

No. 33) 

June 18: Two veteran spacecraft now probing the far reaches of 

the solar system are searching for a possible new and 

mysterious object, but scientists said Thursday they had no 

idea as to what it might be. 

"It's very likely there's something out there," said John 

Anderson, who heads the project. "The question is, what 

will we find? That's impossible to predict. There's a 

whole range of possibilities...We're keeping an open mind." 

Anderson suggested several possible explanations for the 

object, but said it was hard to choose the most likely 

because each raised new problems of its own. His list 

included a 10th planet. 

He told a news conference at NASA's Ames Research Center 

that a planet seems unlikely since, to avoid detection, it 

would have to be very dark, and it is difficult to figure 

opt how that could happen. 

"My thinking is more on it's being a star-type object of 

some kind," he said. 

Such a star, he said, would have to be dark since it has not 

been seen. That raises the possibility of "a brown dwarf," 

a cold star too small to have ignited the nuclear reactions 

that power the sun. 

He said it could be a permanent part of the solar system 

billions of miles away or "it might be a vicitor, a dark 

star that just happens to be in the neighborhood and will be 

moving on" after 100,000 years or so. 

If the object is still farthex awayl he said, it might be 

the corpse of a dead star that collapsed into a neutron star 

where matter is so dense that if the Earth were that dense 

it would fit into a thimble. 

-141- 
. , .. 

"Or we could go even farther out and have a black hole" -- a 

region of space, perhaps the graveyard of a giant star, 

where mass becomes so concentrated that nothing, not even 

light, can escape its gravitational pull. The problem with 

a black hole, however, is that energy is releas2d just 

outside its confines as matter breaks up and falls into the 

invisible abyss. 

In fact, Anderson said, "There are problems with all these 

possible explanations." 

Anderson, of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, is 

heading the new experiment by the two Pioneer spacecraft 

that left Earth a decade ago and are now farther from home 

than any working probe has ever gone. The spacecraft gave 

man his first close look at the planets Jupiter and Saturn 

and are now on opposite sides of the sun and moving away at 

more than 30,000 mph. (TODAY, 6-18-82, p. 14A) 

June 20: The first shovelfuls of dirt will be turned at the 

site of an $8 million expansion to Kennedy Space Center's 

visitor information center during a ceremony at noon Friday. 

KSC Director Dick Smith will lead the ground breaking 

ceremony. 

The expanded center is scheduled to open by 1983 and will 

include P new theater complex with a five-story, 70-footwide screen and a 500-seat demonstration auditorium. 

Space center officials say the expansion is necessary to 

accommodate the projected tourism increase to the area with 

routine Space Shuttle flights. The renewal of manned space 

flights drew a record of more than 2 million people in 1981, 

a 26 percent increase over 1980. (TODAY, 6-20-82, p. 28) 

<> Sally K. Ride, slated to be America's first woman astronaut 

to blast into orbit next year aboard the Space Shuttle 

Challenger, said Saturday that she expects no particular 

difficulty in adapting to the weightless environment of 

space flight. 

-14 2- 
Ride, who has a doctorate in astrophysics, acknowledged that 

in terms of experience with women in space, "there's no 

data. If the Russians got any data when (Soviet cosmonaut) 

Valentina Tereshkova went up in 1963, they haven't let us in 

on it. So we really don't have any information. In that 

sense, everything's unknown." 

"But on the other hand, there's really no reason to expect 

that a woman would react either better or worse than a man 

does. !!en seem to adapt to it really very well, she told 

reporters . 

"It appears as though there's about a one-to two-day 

adjustment period, where your body is just getting used tc 

being weightless. After that, the body adapts very well." 

The 31-year-old astronaut from Encino, California, is to go 

into space as a mission specialist aboard the seventh 

Shuttle flight, currently scheduled for April 20, 1983. 

That will be the second flight of the Shuttle Challenger. 

(TODAY, 6-20-82, p. 16A) 

June 21: A NASA physicist predicts that man's knowledge of the 

heavens will take a giant step during the next 10 years when 

researchers are able to supplement traditional telescopes 

with space-based systems. 

The space-based radio astronomy system, called a Very Long 

Baseline Interferometer, would link an orbiting radio 

astronomy antenna to one or more antennas on Earth. (THE 

ORLANDO SENTINEL, 6-21-82, p. A-6) 

<> Spaceport workers are starting frantic activity to get ready 

for the space shuttle Columbia's scheduled blastoff this 

Sunday on its fourth and final test mission. 

While most of the ground crow had a rare day off, a skeleton 

team of abut 100 workers mode last-minute preparations 

Sunday for the start of the 90-hour countdown, set to begin 

at 5 p.m. Tuesday. 

-143- 
Dick Young, a space agency spokesman, said technicians 

"powered up" the orbiter and solid-rocket boosters Sunday to 

make sure everything was installed and the connections were 

secure. 

Technicians also worked on "power-shooting" a ground 

electric power supply that failed Friday. Young said the 

power failure delayed countdown preparations but should not 

interfere with the start of the countdown. 

The Columbia will carry scientific instruments and a payload 

of secret military cargo, including an infrared radiation 

detector, on its final test flight commanded by Apollo 16 

veteran Thomas Mattingly. The pilot will be space rookie 

Henry Hartsf ield. 

The spaceplane is scheduled to land July 4 at Edwards Air 

Force Base, California. (THE ORLANDO SENTINEL, 6-21-82, p. 

A-10) 

<> The appointment of George F. Page as Deputy Director of 

NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Florida, effective July 5, 

1982, was announced today by General James A. Abrahamson, 

Associate Administrator for the Space Transportation System. 

Director of Shuttle Operations at Kennedy since 1979, Page 

won international acclaim for his leadership as launch 

director for the first three launches of the Space Shuttle. 

Page has had a distinguished career in both manned and 

unmanned areas of the space program. From 1964 to 1975, 

Page directed Kennedy operational planning and integrated 

systems testing of the Gemini and Apollo spacecraft. 

This series included the historic lunar landings and the 

extremely successful Apollo/Soyuz joint program with the 

Soviet Union. Page was named Director of Unmanned Launch 

Operations in 1975, and directed mote than 54 major launches 

from Kennedy and the Western Test Range at Vandenberg Air 

Force Base, California, during the next four years. 

A graduate of Penn State University with a bachelor's degree 

in aeronautical engineering, Page was given the 

Distinguished Alumni Award for 1982, He has earned numerous 

-144- 
other awards including two NASA Exceptional Service Medals 

and two Meritorious Executives in 1981 and has been 

nominated for the rank of Distinguished Executive this year. 

Page and his wife Dorie reside in Cocoa Beach, Florida. 

(NASA NEWS RELEASE NO. 82-102, 6-21-82) 

<> National Aeronautics and Space Administration last week 

added 3 hours of clock time and 6 hours to the first hold in 

the shuttle Mission 4 countdown to provide added time to 

service the Defense Department infrared telescope. 

Launch target time of 11 a.m. EDT June 27 is not affected, 

but the call to stations that marks the beginning of the 

launch countdown has been advanced to 5 p.m. June 22 from 2 

a.m. the following morning. The countdown itself will last 

90 hours and built-in holds will total 24 hours. 

Countdown events remain the same as those developed earlier 

this month, except for starting the clock 3 hours earlier 

and makeing the first hold at T-40 hours last 14 hours 

instead of 8 hours. This will provide front-end time to 

service the cryogenic-helium-cooled infrared telescope. A 

key to a normal count will be the completion of cargo 

servicing 42 hours before launch. 

Three time blocks will be tested during this count, two of 

which NASA wants to become standard for future countdowns. 

They are the initial phase, from T-87 hours to the first 

hold at T-40 hours, and the final phase from T-9 minutes 

when the ground launch sequencer takes over the count until 

launch. The middle block of time will vary according to 

payload and crew size. For Mission 4, the middle block 

lasts nearly 58 hours because of the requirement to open the 

payload bay doors to service the cargo and then close out th 

payload bay, retract ground handling mechanism, close doors 

and stabilize the payload bay environment with gaseous 

nitrogen. (AVIATION WEEK 6 SPACE TECHNOLOGY, 6-21-82, p. 

19, Vole 1.16, NO. 25) 

June 23: Computer Sciences Corp. (CSC), headquartered in El 

Segundo, California, has been awarded a $30.8 million 

extension to its contract to provide support services to the 

National Aeronautics and Space Adminsitration at Kennedy 

Space Center. 

-145- 
I' 

CSC designs and engineers computer-communications Systems, 

manages clients' computer facilities, operated a world-wide 

remote computing service called Infonet and is a Prime 

contractor to the NASA center. (TODAY, 6-23-82, P- 14C) 

<> Four companies have submitted proposals for a Base 

Operations Contract, the first of three comprehensive 

contracts to be awarded by NASA's Kennedy Space Center, 

Florida, to strengthen the Space Transportation System 

launch function. 

The Base Operations Contract will cover institutional 

support services, now provided by 13 different contractors, 

into a single mission contract which includes utilities, 

facilities, and administrative services, technical services, 

and health and protective services. 

The contract could cover a period of an many as 10 years and 

involve expenditures of more than $500 million over the life 

of the contract. 

Proposals, opened June 17, were received from: 

*BENKO Joint Venture (Bendix Field Engineering, Wackenhut 

Services, Inc., Planning Research Corporation and Computer 

Sciences Corporation), Cape Canaveral, Florida. 

*Boeing Services International, Cocoa Beach, Florida. 

*EG&G, Wellesley, Massachusetts. 

*Lockheed Engineering and Management Services Co., Inc., 

Houston, Texas. 

The proposals are being reviewed at Kennedy and a source 

selection may be made by early October. It is projected the 

Base Operations Contract winner would begin work about midNovember. 

The contractor selected would be fully responsible for 

management, operation, maintenance and engineering for 

Kennedy Space Center utilities, facilities, certain 

technical and administrative operations and health, fire and 

security services. 

-146- 
This is the first of three comprehensive contracts that NASA 

plans ta establish at Kennedy as the most effective and 

economical method of conducting Space Shuttle missions when 

the system becomes operation*tl. The other two single 

mission contracts will be a Shuttle Processing Contract 

responsible for refurbishment, assembly, checkout and launch 

of Space Shuttle, and a Cargo Processing Contract. (NASA 

RELEASE NO. 82-105, 6-23-82) 

June 24: The countdown for Sunday's liftoff of the Shuttle 

continued problem-prone Wednesday /June 23/ while the 

astronauts for the fourth mission rehearsed in a flight 

simulator in Houston. 

Kennedy Space Center workers conducted a variety of tests to 

ensure the Columbia's systems will operate properly during 

the week-long mission set to begin at 11 a.m. Sunday /June 

27/. 

Technicians spent the day cleansing and testing the 

Shuttle's three electricity-producing fuel cells, as well as 

loading liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen to fuel those 

cells. The spacecraft's two computet memory units also wsre 

checked. 

Members of the Air Force Rescue and Recovery Team practiced 

their rescue methods, using a mockup of Columbia. Should 

the Shuttle be forced to abort and land in water, the team 

would have the r .ponsibility of pulling the crew from the 

downed spacecraft. 

"We're proceeding on schedule with no problems," said KSC 

spokesman Mark Hess . 

At 7 p.m. today the countdown will stop for 14 hours during 

a scheduled hold. 

At Houston's Johnson Space Center, Navy Capt. Thomas 

Mattingly, 46, and Henry Hartsfield, 48, climbed into the 

Shuttle simulator to practice various aspects of the 

mission. 

"It was their call on what they rehearsed, where they feel 

at this point they need to concentrate their training," said 

NASA spokesman John Lawrence. 

-147- 
Later the astronauts huddled with flight directors for a 

thorough review of the flight plan. They are to arrive at 

Patrick Air Force Base Friday afternoon. (TODAY, 6-24-82, 

p. 14A) 

June 25: The successful launch and insertion into orbit of 

Western Union's Westar, making the corporation the first in 

America to have five communications satellites operating 

above the Earth. 

The fifth in a series of domestic communications spacecraft 

owned and operated by Western Union, Westar roared away from 

Launch Complex 17, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, atop a 

two-stage Delta vehicle 3t 8:24 p.m. on June 8. 

Routine tests indicated performance has been "picture 

perfect," spokesmen for the corporation said, and 

communications testing was initiated on June 18. Service is 

expected to begin on about July 20. (SPACEPORT NEWS, 

6-25-82, p. 1, Vol. 21, NO. 13; 

<> Mike Hunter, electrical engineer for the external tank, is 

the first recipient of Martin Marietta's newly initiated 

Employee of the Month Award. 

Following STS-3 launch uncertainties regarding dynamic 

loading of the external tank's liquid oxygen aft dome, 

several additional measurements for the STS-4 tank were 

required. 

Hunter was given the responsibility of coordinating and 

implementing all Michoud Assembly Facility requirements, to 

be accomplished prior to testing to avoid impacting testing 

and launch schedules. 

His dedication and perseverance were credited with 

accomplishment of the task without either impact to 

schedules or significant overtime. 

He was selected by an elected board of Manned Flight 

Awareness representatives. (SPACEPORT NEWS, 6-25-82, p. 7, 

Val. 21, No. 13) 

-148- 
<> As the Space Shuttle program moves closer to a regular and 

busy mission schedule, scientists and engineers at KSC are 

considering future sources for the millions of gallons of 

liquid hydrogen that will be needed for the orbiters' main 

engines. 

Approximately half a million gallons of liquid hydrogen, 

mostly burned as fuel in the orbiter's three main engines, 

are expended during each flight of the Shuttle. More than 

150,000 gallons can "boil away" during pre-launch and launch 

procedures. About lOO,OOO gallons are used each time the 

giant external tank is filled and emptied. 

Whether the needed hydrogen will continue to come from 

relatively distant sources -- or from a manufacturing plant 

at or near the center -- are questions being examined by the 

KSC teams. 

Currerltly, the liquid hydrogen, which must be kept at -423 

degrees Fahrenheit, is produced from natural gas at a 

Louisiarra plant for 62 cents per gallon and shipped in 

insulated 13,000-gallon truck tankers. Beginning next 

spring, the super-cold substance will also be shipped in 

specially designed rail cars holding 34,000 gallons each. 

Estimated use of liquid hydrogen at KSC this year totals 

approximately 2,0008000 gallons. By 1990, however, 

speculates James Spears, chief of the KSC special projects 

development office, 15 million gallons might be needed for 

all uses. By the year 2000, he added, the use cmceivably 

could climb to 50 million gallons. 

The KSC teams are studying production of liquid hydrogen 

from both fossil and non-fossil sources. 

A polygeneration plant, for example, could use a coal 

gasification unit to begin a process that would produce 

hydrogen, heat for steam, oxygen and nitrogen gases, sulphur 

and energy for production of electricity. Even the slag 

waste product might be useful as a building material. 

Possible non-fossil sources for hydrogen include a type of 

blue-green algae which produces hydrogen rather than oxygen 

as it grows in sea water. Certain bacteria that give off 

hydrogen as they metabolize sugar offer another potential 

source. 

-149- 
Spears said the ideal hydrogen production facility, though 

not now rconomically workable, would be a solar-powered 

plant to split sea water into hydrogen and oxygen through 

electrolyeis. The plume of steam from the combustion of 

hydrogen and oxygen in the Space Shuttle's engines would 

return to the sea to complete the cycle. 

Such a process was envisioned by author Jules Verne when he 

had Cyrus Harding, a character in 'The Mysterious Island,' 

predict that one day water would be used as fuel, split into 

hydrogen and oxygen to furnish an inexhaustible source of 

heat and light. (SPACEPORT NEWS, 6-25-82, p. 2, Vol. 21, 

No. i3) 

<> All Carol Burnett 'lad to do was say SO. 

As soon as NASA officials heard the coiiedienne was 

interested in space travel, they invited her to Sunday's 

launch of the Space Shuttle Col*mbia. 

On a Barbara Walters' special recently, Burnett mentioned 

she would love to nave been an astronaut (if she hadn't been 

a star) . Before she knew it, NASA officials were on the 

phone inviting her to be a guest at Columbia's lift-off. 

Carol, who played the gin-guzzling orphanage head-mistress 

in "Annie,' had already made plans to attend the London 

premiere of the movie this week. Now she's planning to 

return home to California via Florida, to cheer on the 

Columbia . 

Burnett is one of 3,500 VIPs expected to attend the fourth 

launch of the Shuttle, according to NASA officials. 

Other celebrities who have accepted launch invitations 

includle musical stars Eric Clapton and Jimy BtJffett. 

Guitarist Eric Clapton, who is known for his hits 'Layla" 

and "Lay Down Sally," has played everything from rock to 

reggae. He was part of the British invasion of the mid-60s 

playing in such super groups as Cream and Blind Faith. 

-150- 
Buffett, a Floridian whose favorite cause is the manatee, 

attended the last two launches. The singer/songwriter's hit 

*Margaritaville" gained him national attention in 1978 and 

he's followed that up with several successful albums. 

NASA officials are delighted that the commanders of the 

Shuttle missions, 1, 2 and 3 -- John Young, Joe Enqle and 

Jack Lousma -- will also watch STS-4 from the VIP site. 

Other astronauts expected to attend are: Jerry Carr, James 

LOVL 41 a Fagene Cernan, James Irwin, Donn Eisele, Charles 

"Pete" Conrad, Jr., Edwin *Buzz* Aldrin, Jr., Fred Hayes, 

Roc Evans, Stuart ROosa, Edgar Mitchell and Fred Haise. 

Numerous foreign dignitaries from as far away as Australia 

and Iceland and representatives from the United Nations are 

planning to attend the launch. 

At least 24 members of Congress and six U.S. senators are 

expected to be here. They include Congressman Bill Nelson, 

D-Melbourne; Congressman Don Fuqua, D-Fla., chairman of the 

U.S. House of Representatives' Science and Technology 

Committee; and Congressman Ron Flippo, D-Ala., chairman of 

the House Subcommittee on Space and Science Applications. 

Although there is no long list of Hollywood stars invited to 

the launches, if a celebrity expresses an interest in the 

space program, he or she may receive an invitation, 

according to NASA officials. 

Previous launches have attracted such big names as actors 

Robert Redford and Michael York, singer/actor John Denver 

and entertainer Orson Bean. 

Amy Carter, daughter of former President Jimmy Carter; John 

J. Louis, Jr., the U.S. Ambassador to Great Britain; Ed 

Meese, counselor to President Reagan; and former senator 

George McGovern attended the last launch. 

NASA officials at the Kennedy Space Center make 

recommendations to the NASA on who should be invited to the 

launch to the NASA Washington, D. C., office, where the 

final invitation list is made. 

-151- 
VIPs receive their invitations six weeks before the launch 

and are asked to RSVP at least two weeks before the launch 

date. (TODAY, 6-25-82, p. 1D) 

June 27: A1 O'Hara was just a year out of college when he 

started toying with rockets. 

Now he gets to play with the world's most elaborate toy when 

he takes over as space shuttle director. 

It is a job that the 50-year-old Miami native has trained 

for since 1979, sitting at the right hand of former launch 

director George Page, who was just named deputy director of 

Florida's spaceport. 

Rocketry was a bit of an accident for O'Hara, an unexpected 

twist the Army provided in 1955 when they sent him to train 

at the Rocket and Guided Missile Agency in Huntsville, 

Alabama. 

In four years, O'Hara became director of advanced programs 

at Huntsville's Army Missile Command, a post he held until 

1963 when he joined NASA. 

With a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from the 

University of Miami and a master's degree in education 

administration from Stetson University, he has participated 

in the Apollo, Skylab and Apollo-Soycz launches. 

A former chief of site management for NASA's shuttle 

operations division, he has been director of space 

transportation system processing for the past four years. 

It is a long title that means he has been the second in 

command for shuttle launches. 

As No. 4 prepares for liftoff, there are few worries. 

"We've got a great bunch of people, you've got to have 

confidence in the whole team. The weather looks good. 

-152- 
"We have confidence in the system. The thermal protection 

system, we have found, is quite forgiving. We can lose a 

few tiles and still be okay. We also have learned how to 

turn the thing around much more quickly. 

"IR our business we're conservative; we have to be. But 

it's making money when it's in orbit, not when it's on the 

ground. " 

Like may NASA officials, O'Hara spends a lot of time 

thinking about the future. 

"This is the end of the test program. The next big 

milestone is creation of a space station. We have to 

continue exploring, moving ahead. Pushing technology to the 

ultimate is what our country's been known for all along." 

O'Hara won NASA's exceptional service medal in 1969 and its 

outstanding leadership award last year. He, his wife, 

Patricia, and their four children live on Merritt Island. 

(THE ORLANDO SENTINEL, 6-27-82, p. A-11) 

<> A severe thunderstorm soaked the space shuttle Columbia and 

peppered it with hail Saturday on the eve of its final test 

flight, damaging some of the ship's heat-resistant tiles. 

Officials decided to move a service tower near the shuttle 

to get a closer look at the extent of the damage to tiles on 

the ship's rudder and body flaps. They hoped the 

"dimplelike" spots could be ignored or repaired by the time 

of today's launch scheduled. 

The storm marred what had been the smoothest countdown of 

any shuttle flight to date. 

As of 8 p.m. Saturday, officials were optimistic that the 

scheduled 11 a.m. liftoff would take place even if some tile 

repair was necessary during the night. 

The inspection for storm damage late Saturday took place 

during a glanned 8-hour hold and did not affect the 

countdown. 

-153- 
Lightning struck the service tower during the mid-afternoon 

storm and alarms were triggered on the pad area. (THE 

ORLANDO SENTINEL, 6-27-82, pp. A-1 6 A-10) 

<> Neither rain nor hail kept the Shuttle Columbia from riding 

herd on a corkscrew of r'lame and smoke as it bolted from its 

Kennedy Space Center launch pad almost a thousandth of a 

second shy of 11 a.m. Sunday. 

The fourth and final test flight of the Space Shuttle was 

the first to lift off without a single failure in the $10 

billion machinery. And astronauts Thomas "Ken" Mattingly 

and Henry Hartsfield were the first to launch early -- 135 

milliseconds early at 10:59:59.8647 a.m. said Alfred O'Hara, 

Shuttle launch director. 

The only casualties in the mission so far are the Shuttle's 

twin booster rockets. The rockets, which give the Shuttle 

its initial kick with 48 million horsepower of thrust, sunk 

38500 feet to the bottom of the Atlantic about 160 miles 

directly east of the space center. 

The morning Shuttle countdown was an engineer's dream, 

despite some evening hail and rain Saturday that put as many 

as 400 dings in the Columbia's fragile heat protection 

tiles. They were repaired by 12:30 a.m. Sunday during a 

built-in hold without any loss in the countdown. 

With unprecedented clockwork, the countdown proceeded on 

schedule with full cooperation of a state-of-the-art 

technology that finally had been tamed. Each of the 

previous Shuttle launches was begun late, after mechanical 

failures caused delays. 

An elevator which carries inspection crews to the top of the 

Shuttle's fuel tank shut down briefly after dawn, but was 

repaired in minutes. 

O'Hara said in a post-launch press briefing the Columbia 

might be maneuvered belly to the sun so any water collected 

between the tiles from Saturday's rainstorm could evaporate. 

-154- 
He said fixing the tiles, mostly on the right Colombia wing 

and rear, was accomplished by brushing on an alcohol and 

bonding agent mix. And he said the Columbia probably would 

have flown without the repair work. 

"We had the option to fix it before the launch and we did," 

he said. (TODAY, 6-28-82, p. 1A) 

June 28: Comedienne Carol Burnett, who said she would like to 

be an astronaut, watched Columbia's blastoff Sunday from the 

press section rather than the VIP site because it was closer 

to the launch pad. 

"The first thing I remember reading was FLASH GORDON," she 

said. "I've always been interested in the space prosram and 

space travel. " 

Wearing a red camisole with an American flag pin, an outfit 

she called appropriate for the occasion, Burnett watched the 

launch with her daughter, Jody Hamilton. 

"What else can I say? It was a perfect launch,' she said. 

U.S. Rep. Bill McCollum, an Altamonte Springs Republican, 

was on hand for the first scheduled shuttle launch but never 

saw it fly because the mission was aborted. This time he 

wasn't disappointed. 

"I'm a great believer in the space program so I'm very happy 

to be here," he said, taking a br-ak from a cheese Danish. 

He enjoyed the laanch with his wife, Ingrid, and three 

sons, Douglas, 9, Justin, 7, and Andrew, 16 months. 

McCollum said he wouldn't turn down a ride in the shuttle if 

offered. 

"I suppose I would if I were invited. They're not inviting 

congressmen these days. Maybe my boys can go up. They sure 

want to." (THE ORLANDO SENTINEL, 6-28-82) 

-155- 
<> It was, as launch director A1 O'Hara put it, "very close to 

perfect . " 

And NASA officials credit their success to a variety of 

calculated changes developed during the past three test 

launches. And on the intangible quality NASA likes to call 

"the learning curve." 

Every hour the shuttle is in the air, NASA is learning, and 

re-evaluating its methods. 

Gradual procedural changes have been made to solve the two 

most troublesome elements of earlier launches: the finicky 

auxiliary power units and the complex liaison between 

computers on the shuttle and the back-up computers at 

Kennedy Space Center and Houston's Johnson Space Center. 

Non-essential holds in the countdown have been scrubbed. 

Some of the systems tests have been streamlined. 

The three units that supply hydraulic power for the rudder, 

speed brake, flaps and landing gear operate during liftoff 

and landing and are shut down during orbii. 

During each previous launch, at least one of the units had 

to be shut down during liftoff because of clogged oil 

screens or a sudden freeze-up of the cooling unit that 

sprays a tiny mist of water against the power unit. 

For the fourth launch, a smaller water nozzle was 

installed. That meant less cool water, and less chance of 

freezing . 

To ease its computer headaches, NASA took another look at 

the intricate ground-launch sequencer, the tool that ties 

together each of the redundant computer banks on the ground 

and in orbit. 

That linkage allows full control of the shuttle even if 

several computers malfunction. 

-156- 
The two-clay delay during the first launch was partially the 

result of a glitch in the sequencer, forcing what NASA calls 

a "recycling" to double-check all the data. 

Each recycling meant more delays, often forcing holds in the 

launch countdown. 

The problem: The computers had been set to automatically 

recycle, double-check, even halt a systems test or a 

preflight operation if any discrepancy appeared. 

NASA officials now say some of those early delays were the 

result of simply being too careful. . 

"In the beginning, we were concerned with our limits being 

very, very tight," O'Hara said. 

"We've got a lot of redundant systems. We started asking 

ourselves, 'Do you test them every time?' Just how much 

testing do you do?" 

He likened it to buying a spare battery, or a spare 

generator for an automobile. Would it be necessary to check 

that backup equipment daily, considering how often it might 

be needed? 

So the computers have been reprogrammed. When two numbers 

don't precisely match, the computers alert a technician, 

without necessarily beginning a recycling or a timeconsuming series of new tests. 

"A lot of these things, we were realizing the man can 

monitor it on his CRT (computer screen) without it being 

automatically programmed," O'Hara said. 

And then there's the .ur.illative effect of experience. 

"America has a right to be very proud. We have good 

hardware, good controls. Most of the men and women here 

have been through the Apollo program, this program. 

"You just learn the system." 

-157- 
Public information chief Hugh Harris, a seven-year veteran 

at Kennedy Space Center and a 20-year NASA spokesman, put it 

this way: 

"The confidence level goes up every launch. It's more 

relaxed. They know they can do it now. They can handle the 

problems as they come up. 

"It's crisper, more precise." 

And while launching on time isn't NASA's big priority, 

Sunday's launch did put to rest concerns that Columbia 

simply is too complex a vehicle to operate without some 

problems. 

After hailstorms, lightning strikes, heavy rain and midnight 

repairs, the shuttle lifted off the pad at 10:59.865 a.m. 

That's 135 milliseconds early. (THE ORLANDO SENTINEL, 

6-28-82, p. A-18) 

<> Even the fourth time around, the launch of the space shuttle 

Columbia wasn't old news. 

Sunday's liftoff didn't attract the throngs of reporters and 

television anchor stars who flocked to the Kennedy Space 

Center in the first three times, but Columbia's thundering 

blastoff still was a hot story. 

While some of the novelty of shuttle flight coverage has 

worn off for reporters, editors and producers of the 

nation's news operations, most of those surveyed said the 

shuttle story is still far from routine. 

"We're not bored yet, I assure you," said Tom Farrell, a 

science editor with the NEW YORK TIMES. 

Still, most news organizations are scaling back their 

coverage. 

-158- 
NASA officials said there were 1,576 reporters accredited 

for Sunday's launch, 700 fewer than at the third launch in 

March. More than 4,000 reporters attended the first launch 

of the shuttle in April 1981. 

About 20 reporters from foreign countries, including Italy 

and Japan, covered the launch. 

All three major networks covered the liftoff live, but 

devoted less time to it than during previous launches. NBC 

gave it 1 1/2 hours, ABC one hour and CBS 20 minutes. 

NBC's Tom Brokaw was the only network anchorman to report 

live from the Kennedy Space Center. 

Producer Don Brown of NBC said Brokaw has "a sincere 

interest in space. We like to put our best foot forward." 

He said public interest continues to be strong. "It's the 

only good news in town," he said. 

CBS producer Mark Kramer, explaining why his network devoted 

only 20 minutes to the launch, said that by coming on the 

air at 10:56 a.m., "We still caught the drama and the single 

most important moment.' 

News weeklies such as TIME and NEWSWEEK won't have much on 

the launch in this week's editions because the takeoff took 

place Sunday, one full day after their usual deadlines. 

"The timing is lousy for us," said NEWSWEEK Managing Editor 

Kenneth Auchincloss. 

Beyond the spectacle of the shuttle launch and the allure of 

space flight in general, coverage of the Columbia's fourth 

mission focused cn the military payload and the fact that it 

was the last of four shuttle "test flights." 

United Press International's space writer, A1 Rossiter, Jr., 

said his organization's reporting staff was reduced by one 

from the last mission. But, he said, the fact that some 

other news organizations aren't sending their own reporters 

to cover the launch means that more of them will be 

depending on wire services. 

-159- 
Editors say they provide the coverage because they believe 

the public is still interested in the shuttle program. But 

eventually, they predict, the shuttle won't merit ally more 

attention than the one or two paragraphs given to the 

frequent launchings of unmanned satellites. (THE ORLANDO 

SENTINEL, 6-28-82) 

<> When will the shuttle land at Kennedy Space Center? 

NASA still doesn't know, but the best guess is for an April 

1983 landing in Florida. 

Launch director A1 O'Hara said the shuttle's return from its 

fourth and final practice mission probably will not provide 

the crosswind landing experience NASA had hoped to have 

before trying a touchdown on the three-mile KSC landing 

strip. The landing is scheduled for Edwards Air Force Base 

in California. 

That means the fifth mission, set for Nov. 11, won't end in 

Florida either. The sixth is the first launch of the second 

shuttle craft, Challenger, set for Jan. 20, 1983. 

NASA wants to try Challenger out at the huge Edwards salt 

beds before limiting its landing area. 

So the seventh flight, Challenger's second, is the earliest 

hope for a launch and landing at KSC, O'Hara said. It is 

Set for April 20, 1983. (THE ORLANDO SENTINEL, 6-28-82, p. 

A-16 1 

June 29: Columbia sailed through space with only minor 

problems Monday, but its reusable rocket boosters remained 

at the bottom of the sea. 

Space officials blamed faulty parachutes for the loss of the 

$36 million rocket casings. 

returned to port Monday. Salvaging the casings seemed 

unlikely. However, the ships left markers above the spot 

where the boosters sank in 3500 feet of water, 150 miles off 

the Florida coast. 

Two booster recovery ships 

-160- 
t 

In an announcement late Monday, NASA said the "decelerator 

system malfunctionec? " causing the boosters to sink. 

It was not clear, however, whether the parachutes were 

shredded or failed to open fully. The boosters dropped 

right on target, leaving some officials to believe the 

parachutes must have opened at least partway. 

The rocket boosters are designed to hit the water at about 

60 mph. Each booster is attached to three parachutes, 

spanning 115 feet in diameter each. They are each built to 

withstand a load of 180,000 pounds. 

The nose cones of the two rockets, which splashed down 

separatzly, were recovered as planned. Several other chunks 

of hardware, which broke free from the boosters after 

impact, were also recovered. (THE ORLANDO SENTINEL, 

6-29-82, p. A-1) 

June 30: Thomas E. Utsman has been appointed director of 

Shuttle operations to succeed George Page on Jllly 5. 

Page was named Kennedy Space Center deputy director earlier 

this month. 

Utsnian, who now serves as director of technical support, 

will oversee all planning, managing and technical direction 

of Space Shuttle operations. He began work at Kennedy Space 

Center in 196: and lives in Cocoa Beach. 

A native of Detroit, the 45-year-old Utsman earned a degree 

in mechanical engineering from the University of Michigan in 

1958 and a masters degree in management from Florida State 

University in 1968. (TODAY, 6-30-82, p. 10A) 

<> A mechanic who was injured in a March 1981 accident aboard 

the space shuttle that killed two co-workers has sued NASA 

and two Kennedy Space Center contractors. 

The suit, filed Monday in U.S. District Court in Orlando by 

Jimmy Harper, is similar to a suit filed last week by 

another Rockwell International mechanic injured in the 

-161- 
accident. It charges that NASA, Pan American World Airways 

and Wackenhut Services failed to provide safe working 

conditions on the shuttle. 

Harper, of Titusville, was one of five Rockwell employees 

who blacked out after breathing nitrogen gas inside a 

shuttle engine compartment after a countdown test. Two of 

the men died. 

Harper and a co-worker were released from the hospital 

shortly after the accident, but later were called in for 

further observation. Harper contends he has been severely 

and permanently injured in his head, neck, limbs and 

nervous system. He is asking for an unspecified amount of 

damages . 

Pan American is under contract to NASA to provide medical 

services at the space center, and Wackenhut provides fire 

and rescue service. Pan American Insurance Co. and 

Wackenhut Insurance Co. also are named as defendents in the 

suit. (THE ORLANDO SENTINEL, 6-30-82, p. 8-21 

<> More than 178,000 people used ATbT's pay telephone number 

(903-410-6272) Sunday to listen in on the conversationE 

betdeen the crew of the Space Shuttle Columbia and ground 

control in Houston. (DEFENSE DAILY, 6-30-82, p. 331, Vol. 

122, NO. 42) 

-162- 
JULY 1982 

July 1: Thomas Utsman, director of technical support for the 

Kennedy Space Center, has been named director of launch and 

landing operations for the Space Shuttle, succeeding George 

Page, who has been named deputy director of KSC. Utsman, 

44, has worked at KSC since 1963, serving as associate 

director of design engineering and operations management and 

deputy director of technical support. (DEFENSE DAILY, 

7-1-82, p. 7, VOl. 123, NO. 1) 

<> NASA's John F. Kennedy Space Center bas awarded a joint, 

venture contract to KAMAG Transporttechnik GmbH and Co. of 

Ulm/Donau, West Germany and Precision Fabricating and 

Cleaning, Inc. of Sharpes, Florida, to provide transporter 

units for Space Shuttle launch preparations. 

The contract has a basic value of $2,883,548 and is for the 

construction, testing and delivery of two self-propelled 

transporter systems in support of Space Shuttle operations 

at KSC and Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. An option 

for a third such transporter may also be exercised. (KSC 

RELEASE NO. 164-82, 7-1-82) 

<> With a Marine Corps band playing the theme from "Star Trek," 

America's new, improved-mode? Space Shuttle was delivered to 

NASA Wednesday in ceremonies outside the Rockwell 

International assembly hangar. 

Paul J. Weitz, who will command Challenger on its maiden 

flight next January, accepted a symbolic key to the 

Shuttle's hatch on behalf of "all us taxpayers who are 

Eooting the bill for this magnificent flying machine." 

George Jeffs, president of Rockw<,ll's North American Space 

Operations, congratulated morc than 1,000 employees for 

meeting the delivery scheddle set 2 1/2 years aqo and 

referred to the veteran Columbia orbj king high overhead. 

"That baby was built out here, too," he said. 

-163- 

"This means we now have a fleet of Space Shuttles," said 

Rep. William Thomas, R-Calif. "As small as it is right now, 

it is going to grow," 

Weitz said Columbia's current flight, last of four test 

missions, means 'basically we rre getting down to the 

business of operating these things in space." 

Challenger, mounted atop a modified jumbo jet, is to be 

flown next week from Edwards Air Force Base to Kennedy Space 

Center where NASA will add its big engines and ready it for 

space flight. 

Though it looks identical to Columbia, this new Shuttle is a 

bit different, Rockwell says the most important change is 

that Challenger is certified "operational" -- the ship and 

its on-board systems are supposed to make at least 100 

fliahts before requiring a major overhaul. 

Columbia's systems, considered development models, are not 

certified for 100 nissions. But, NhSA says, once Challenger 

is on the job early next year, the veteran spaceship will be 

taken out of service apd its systems upgraded. (TODAY, 

7-1-82, p. 16A) 

July 4: One of Space Shuttle Columbia's racket boosters was 

photographed by a U.S, Navy television camera Saturday on 

the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean and found to be pretty much 

intact. 

The report set NASA officials to thinking about recovering 

some of the booster's components, such as data recorders, 

electronics assemblies and parachutes. 

The giant chutes on the boosters failed to deploy after the 

spent rockets were jettisoned during Columbia's launch last 

Sunday. The rockets, instead of floating as they were 

supposed to, plummeted 38500 feet to the bottom. 

NASA said the Navy has "two systems with light salvage 

capability" -- one in Baltimore, the other ih San Diego -- 

and that one will be brought ir! for better inspection and 

possible salvage. 

- 16 5- 
The television camera used Saturday was aboard an underwater 

sled. (TODAY, 7-4-82, p. 1644) 

July S: More than 1 million telephone calls were made to a 

special number allowing Americans to listen in on live 

conversations between the Columbia space shuttle and Mission 

Control, American Telephone & Telegraph Co. said Sunday. 

The company logged 1,025,295 calls during the weeklong space 

flight, said Carolyn Zachary, spokeswoman for AT&T's Long 

Lines division. She said 8,000 of the calls were made in 

the last nine mingtes of the flight Sunday. (THE MIAMI 

HERALD, 7-5-82) 

<> Following are excerpts from the text of the White House fact 

sheet on national space policy issued Sunday: 

The president announced today a national space policy that 

will set the direction of U.S. efforts in space fer the next 

decade....The president's directive reaffirms the national 

commitment to the exploration and use of space in support af 

our national well-being, and establishes the basic goals of 

United States space policy which are to: 

* strengthen the security of the United States: 

* maintain United States space leadership: 

* obtain economic and scientific benefits through the 

exploitation of space: 

* expand United States private sector investment and 

involvement in civil, space and space-related activities: 

* ... cooperate with other nations in maintaining a freedom 

of space for activities which enhance the security and 

welfare of mankind. 

The principles underlying the conduct of the United 

States space program, as outlined in the directive are: 

* The United States is committed to the exploration and use 

of space by all nations for peaceful purposes and for the 

benefit of mankind.... 

-166- 
* The United States space program will be comprised of two 

separate, distinct and strongly interacting programs -- 

national security and civil.... 

The United States Space Transportation System (the Shuttle 

Program) is the primary space launch system for both 

national security and civil government missions. 

*The United States will pursue activities in space in 

support of its right to self-defense... 

... The directive establishes the following policies 

governing the developnent and operation of the Space 

Transporation System: 

* The STS is a vital element of the United States space 

program, and is the primary space launch system for both the 

United States national security and civil government 

missions.... 

* The United States is fully committed to maintaining world 

leadership in space transportation with an STS capacity 

sufficient to meet appropriate national needs. 

* The STS program requires sustained commitments by each 

affected department or agency. The United States will 

continue to develop the ST'C through NASA, in cooperation 

with the Department of ?efenr .... * For the near term, the STS will continue to be managed and 

operated in an institutional arrangement consistent with 

current NASA-DOD Memoranda of Understanding. Responsibility 

will remain in NASA for operational control of the STS for 

civil missions and in the DOD for operational control of the 

STS for national security missions.... 

... In accordance with the provisions of the National 

Aeronautics and Space Act, the directive states that the 

civil space program shall be conducted: 

* To expand knowledge of the Earth, its environment, the 

solar system and the universe; 

* To develop and promote selected civil applications of 

space technology; 

* ...To further United States domestic and foreign policy 

objectives.. . . 

-167- 

W 
The directive states the following policies which shall 

govern the conduct of the national security Frogram: 

* Survivability and endurance of sFIce systems, including 

all system elements, will be pursued commensurate with the 

planned use in crisis and conflict, with the threat, and 

with the availability of other assets to perform the 

mission.... 

* The United States will proceed with development of an 

anti-satellite (ASAT) capability, with operational 

deployment as a goal. The primary purposes of a United 

States ASAT capability are to deter threats to space systems 

and the United States and its allies and, within such limits 

imposed by international law, to deny any adversary the use 

of space-based systems that provide support to hostile 

military forces. 

* The United States will develop and maintain an integrated 

attack warning, notification, verification, and contingency 

reaction capability which can effectively detect and react 

to threats to United States space systems..... (TODAY, 

7-5-82) 

<> President Reagan pledged support for the space program in 

his Fourth of July address, but made no firm commitment to 

building a manned space station or a fifth shuttle orbiter 

as NASA had hoped. 

In a speech filled with references to the Old West, Reagan 

said the shuttle proved Americans still have the “know-how” 

and ”true grit” to tame the savage wilderness. 

His words echoed across the bleak Mojave Desert of 

California, where the aerospace industry has bloomed into an 

industry of billions of dollars. As governor of the state, 

Reagan was largely responsible for funding a space shuttle 

task force in 1971 to win the main shuttle contract for 

California. 

The task force succeeded. In July 1972, exactly 10 years 

ago, Rockwell International got the $2.3 billion main 

contract for the shuttle. 

The Mojave is still Reagan country. And if his Independence 

Day speech didn’t spell happy trails for NASA, at least it 

didn’t sound like Death Valley days either. 

-168- 
"I see it as a strong statement of support for what we are 

doing," said Lt. Gen. James A. Abrahamson, NASA associate 

administrator for space transportation systems. "He 

supported us -- that's the key." 

With the dummy space shuttle Enterprise behind him as a 

prop, Reagan said the country must "never forget the 

benefits we receive are due to our country's commitment, 

made a decade ago, to remain the world leader in space 

technology." 

"We must look aggressively to the future by demonstrating 

the potential of the shuttle and establishing a more 

permanent presence in space," Reagan said in his only 

reference to a space station. (THE ORLANDO SENTINEL, 

7-5-82, p. A-1) 

<> Launch of the space shuttle on its final development mission 

June 27 within milliseconds of a target liftoff scheduled 

more than three months earlier has given program officials 

confidence to move into the operational phase that will 

carry the burden of U.S. military, commercial and scientific 

space activities for the next 20 years or more. 

The first operational shuttle launch, Mission 5, is 

scheduled for November 11. Two commercial communications 

satellites will be carried into a 160-mile orbit by the 

shuttle orbiter and then propelled into a geosynchronous 

orbit by a solid spinning upper stage. The payloads are 

Satellite Business Systems C and Telesat of Canada Anik D 

satellites. 

The 90-hour Mission 4 launch countdown, plus 24-hour hold 

time, gave National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 

Defense Department and aerospace contractors an opportunity 

to test what they hope will be a standard set of countdown 

tasks. Differences will be dictated by payload servicing 

requirements and by the number of astronauts in the crew. 

Mission 5 will be the first to carry a crew of four. 

No. 1) 

(AVIATION WEEK & SPACE TECHNOLOGY, 7-5-82, p. 19, Vole 117, 

<> Martin Marietta's external tank used to fuel the space 

shuttle's main engines with cryogenic propellants for 

Mission 4 landed as predicted in the Indian Ocean. Based on 

-169- 
data at the time of separation from the orbiter Columbia, 

splashdor-? point was 83.07 East Longitude, 28.41 South 

La ti tude. 

The empty tank weighed 75,895 pounds, 107 pounds more than 

the Mission 3 tank. The added weight came from more 

instrumentation . 

The impact point data indicate that the tumble valve 

functioned properly. Confirmation that the tank tumbled 

will come from motion pictures taken by the orbiter. Film 

will be processed uhen it is removed from Columbia after 

landing. (AVIATION WEEK & SPACE TECHNOLOGY, 7-5-82, p. 19, 

Vol. 117, No. 1) 

<> National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the U.S. 

Air Force placed numerous personnel at Dakar, Senegal, to 

support trans-Atlantic abort modes for the fol;rth shuttle 

launch. 

Yoff Airport, Dakar, unlike Rota, Spain, which was used 

during previous missions did not have a permanent U.S. 

presence. This required sending substaiitial personnel to 

West Africa. 

The bulk of the personnel was from Kennedy Space Center, 

which is responsible for recovery of orbiter vehicles at all 

landing locations. 

Kennedy sent at least 14 personnel to Yoff. This included 

five Wackenhut Corporation employees to coordinate crash and 

rescue operations and to help safe the orbiter in the event 

of a successful emergency landing. 

Four Rockwell International personnel also were sent to help 

remove the crew and tow the vehicle to a remote site at the 

airport . 

Five NASA Kennedy personnel headed by ground operations 

manager William Lockwood were at Dakar and in charge of 

safety, security and logistics during the launch. A Kennedy 

design engineer was present taking core samples of taxiways 

and potential parking sites to insure the load-bearing 

capabilities of those areas would support the orbiter. 

-170- 

W 
At least three Johnson Space Center personnel, including 

astronaut Ron Walker, were at Dakar to assist the orbiter 

crew in their final approach to Yoff Airport in the event an 

emergency landing became necessary. 

Air Force support included a McDonnell Douglas C-9 medical 

evacuation aircraft and crew plus a mobile Tacan crew. 

No. 1) 

(AVIATION WEEK & SPACE TECHNOLOGY, 7-5-82, Po 18, Vole 117, 

July 6: It's a leaner, cleaner flying machine than its 

predecessor. But the Shuttle Challenger, which arrived at 

the sweltering Kennedy Space Center Monday /July 5/ morning 

on the spine of a Boeing 747, is so far unchallenged by the 

rigors of Earth orbit. 

Almost 1000 space center workers and their families made 

themselves comfortable with lawn chairs and picnic coolers 

near the 3-mile-long Shuttle runway when the Challenger-747 

duo made a graceful but dusty touchdown at 11:48 a.m. 

Shuttle veteran Columbia will return to the space center 

from Edwards Air Force Base, California, July 16. Space 

center director Dick Smith predicted its next flight, 

scheduled for November 11, could be pushed ahead as much as 

three weeks. "I want to beat it a few weeks. We'll be 

ready," he said. 

The new, improved 1983 model Shuttle will make its flying 

debut when the Challenger roars from Kennedy Space Center in 

January. (TODAY, 7-6-82, p. 1A) 

<> NASA's Kennedy Space Center is issuing RFP's for an eightmonth study to provide an overall analysis of ground 

operations and deployable spacecraft processing associated 

with the modules and other elements of modular, 

incrementally-deployed manned, low-Earth-orbit Space 

Stat ion . 

NASA is hoping to start constructing the Station in about 

three or four years and have it in space by 1990. 

-171- 
The study will use experience gained from previous space 

programs to determine approaches to Space Station ground 

processing and operations, including indentification of new 

and innovative methods. 

Sgecifically, the study is to determine optimum methods of 

testing, checkout, integration, servicing, troubleshooting, 

logistics support, quality control, safety, data analysis 

and problem reporting and tracking. 

The study will also estimate manpower, equipment facilities 

and costs involved in carrying out the ground operations 

tasks. (DEFENSE DAILY, 7-6-82, p. 12, Val. 123, NO. 2) 

July 7: Pan Anerican World Airways Inc., Cocoa Beach, has been 

awarded a $1.33 million NASA contract extension for services 

at Kennedy Space Center and Canaveral Air Force Station. 

The extension began July 1 and ends October 31 and brinm 

t'le cumuletive contract total to $14 million. 

Pan American has provided medical and environmental services 

for the space center and Air Force station for the past five 

years. (TODAY, 7-7-82, p. 12C) 

<> This past weekend was a star-spangled extravaganza for the 

U.S. space program. In rapid-fire sequence as the cameras 

rolled, the Columbia completed its fourth successful 

mission, the new Shuttle, Challenger, embarked on its 

journey to Kennedy Space Center and President Reagan 

outlined his administration's policy on space. Of the three 

the last event was least impressive. 

The space policy is fine, as far as it goes, but it doesn't 

go far enough.... 

"The STS is a vital element of the United States space 

program, and is the primary space launch system for both 

United States national security and civil government 

missions..." the policy states. But without leadership from 

the White House and a committment toward specific goals, the 

program could be further victimized by budget-cutters in 

Congress who are busily looking for sacrificial lambs. 

-172- 
I 

The administration's apparent indecisivness on space also is 

showing up in other ways. Private investors interested in 

financing a Shuttle are said to be reluctant to put up any 

money until they are assured they can have a relatively free 

hand in operating the vehicle for business purposes. That 

seems to be a reasonable request, yet the White House seems 

uncertain about whether to go alrq with such a plan. 

An interagency group headed by National Security Adviser 

William Clark is studying specifiz space projects and will 

make recommendations to Reagan abmt funding priorities. 

Let us hope those recommendations, anU the president's 

subsequent decisions, reflect the support the space program 

must have if the United States is to retain its superiority 

in that field. (TODAY, editorial, 7-7-82, p. 8A) 

July 8: Engineers worked Wednesday to remove a tail cone from 

the Space Shuttle Challenger for shipment to California and 

installation on the Shuttle Columbia, which needs it for a 

cross-country trip next week. 

The tail cone, which fits over the spacecraft's main engine 

pods to improve its aerodynamics during shipping, will be 

dismantled and flown to Edwards Air Force Ease by the end of 

the week, Kennedy Space Center spokesman Dick Young said. 

It was installed on Challenger for its flight from 

California orr Sunday and Monday bolted atop a modified 

Boeing 747 jetliner. 

Columbia, which completed its Courth and final test mission 

Sunday, also will be returned to Kennedy flying piggyback on 

the ferry plane. 

Challenger's first orbital flight is scheduled for January. 

Work on Challenger will continre as Columbia is prepared for 

its fifth mission, set for Novsmber. After that, Columbia 

will be taken out of service temporarily for refurbishment. 

Young said Columbia was drained of fuel and propellants 

Wednesday in preparation for its trip to Kennedy. It is 

scheduled to leave California on July 15 on the overnignt 

return trip to its launch site. (TODAY, 7-8-82, p. 14A) 

-173- 
July 9: Kennedy Space Center Director Richard G. Smith has 

announced the appointment of Robert G. Long to serve as 

KSC's director of center support operations. 

Long succeeds William M. Lohse, who is retiring effective 

today after 40 years of distinguished federal service. 

Long, who has served a Lohse's deputy since May, 1980, began 

his federal career with the U.S. Army's Corps of Engineers 

at Charlotte, N.C., in January, 1955. He joined NASA at 

what is now the Kennedy Space Center in June, 1962, and 

served in a number of major managerial positions during the 

Apollo and Skylab program era and the build-up for the Space 

Shuttle program that followed. 

He was appointed director of administrative operations and 

support services in Janaury, 1976, remaining in that 

capacity until he became deputy director of center support 

operations in May, 1980. 

Long was born in Charlotte, N.C., and attended public 

schools there. He was graduated from Virginia Military 

Institute with a bachelor of science degree in civil 

engineering in 1952, and served for two years as an 

engineering officer in the U.S. Air Force. i 

Long and his wife, Natalie, live on south Merritt Island. 

(KSC RELEASE NO. 171-82, 7-9-82) 

<> Federal officials investigating safety conditions as the 

Shuttle launch pad announced Friday /July 9/ they found the 

facility met Occupational Safety and Health Administration 

standards but some space center firefighters say they are 

not happy with the decision. 

It was complaints by five firzfighters of exposure to 

poisonous Shuttle fuel fumes in mid-June that prompted a 

more than 10-day investigation of pad 39A at Kennedy Space 

Center, OSHA officials said. 

"No citations will be issued. We investigated the 

complaints and there were no violations of OSHA Standards," 

said Howard Stephens, supervisor for industria!. hygiene at 

OSHA's Tampa office. And he said a spill of some of that 

-1?4- 
same chemical on June 29 was not a result of any belowstandard procedure or equipment at me pad. Stephens wosld 

not comment on the case beyond that, 

While the government was calliig ?:he case closed, some 

firefighters said they were disappointed with the OSHA 

findings. Gerald Driskell, a firefighter and official of 

the Transport Workers Union, called for greater launch pad 

safety procedures. 

"OSHA and NASA are on the pad only when they have to be 

there. The firefighters and security people have to be 

there continuously," he said. 

As the Shuttle becomes an operational space vehicle and it 

is on the launch pad with greater frequency the presence of 

toxic fuels will be more routine but safety precautions 

cannot be lax, firefighters said. 

Driskell recommended a continual, round-the-clock chemical 

"sniff test" to detect fumes while firefighters maintain a 

24-hour presence on the pad. 

"It's like an old water pipe--it can work fine for 10 years 

but you don't know when it's going to bust," said Driskell, 

referring to machinery that contains the toxic fuels. 

But NASA officials said Friday as the Shuttle becomes 

operational, it would be too great an expense to have a 

constant monitoring. (TODAY, 7-10-82, p. 1A) 

<> Twenty years ago today, the Telstar satellite linked Europe 

and North America via television and triggered a 

communications revolution that would shrink the entire 

globe. 

It's still up there, long sllent after its 1962 launch from 

Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, but a whirling monument to 

the birth of what is now grandly called the Information Age. 

Designed and built by the American Telephone & Telegraph 

Co. and its Bell Laboratories, Telstar was the world's first 

true "active" satellite, able to receive, amplify and 

retransmit radio signals in space. 

-175- 
"It is a noteworthy anniversary because if wo sit back and 

look at what's happened to domestic and international 

communication in the last two decades....it's really been 

quite extraordinary," says AT&T spokesman Pic Wagner. 

"I was 10 years old and living in London and my father made 

us gather around the TV set," recalled Jonathan Miller, now 

the managing editor of the Washington-based publications 

Satellite Week and Communications Daily. "I remember the 

BBC portentously counting down, 5-4-3-2-1, and then nothing 

happened. The British ground station was aimed at the wrong 

spot and they missed the signal. 

"So we sat and sat and waited for the satellite to come back 

around again, and suddenly we saw a picture of the American 

flag flying in the wind," he added. "It was really quite 

amazing. There was a sense of simultaneous participation on 

both sides of the Atlantic." 

By today's standards, of course, Telstar can only be called 

primitive. Weighing just 170 pounds with a diameter of 34 

1/2 inches, the satellite could handle only a few telephone 

calls or one television transmissioL at a time. And it 

worked for only 226 days before its electronics fell prey to 

high-altitude radiation. 

The satellite also had to be boosted into a highly 

elliptical orbit, looping around the Earth at a high point 

of 3,531 miles and a low of 592 miles. Telstar was thus 

accessible to ground antennas in Europe and the United 

States for only short periods of time during each orbit. 

Telstar was launched at 3:35 a.m. on July 10, 1962, abodrd a 

Delta rocket and the first telephone conversation occurred 

at 7:23 p.m. between then-Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson 

in Washington and Frederick R. Kappel, ATsT's chairman, who 

was at Andover, Maine, where ATsT had built its satellite 

transmitting antenna. (TODAY, 7-10-82, p. 10A) 

July 13: Later this week, a two-t~rrned, deep-sea robot will 

probe the wreckage of the Space Shuttle's rocket boosters 

which sank in the Atlantic minutes after Columbia's fourth 

launch last month, NASA officials said Monday. 

-176- 

i 
The AT&T-built robot will search for the boosters' tape 

recorders which NASA officials hope will help explain what 

went wrong after the two rockets peelad away from the 

Shuttle two minutes after liftoff and splashed down 150 

miles east of Kennedy Space Center. 

The $36 million booster casings, which are reusable, art 

supposed to float. On Columbia's first throe missions they 

worked properly, but on the fourth launch, they sand in 

3,100 feet of water. Space agency officiils have said 

Columbia, scheduled to fly its fifth mission in late October 

or early November, won't be launched again until they 

determine why the caniste?-s sank. 

The robot is scheduled to sail from Baltimore today aboard a 

NASA booster recovery ship and will arrive here Thursday or 

Friday. 

Armed with claw-like pincers, underwater television cameras, 

sonar and a metal cutter, the remote-control robot will try 

to retrieve tape recorders located inside the boosters. The 

tape recorders are similar to the crash-proof "black boxes" 

carried aboard commercial airliners to record cockpit 

conversations. 

"They record the sequence of events and if the right signals 

got through the pyrotechnics that command stages to separate 

and the parachutes to open," NASA spokesman Mark Ness said. 

NASA has said the parachutes that slow the boosters descent 

apparently failed to open properly, but investigators are 

trying to pinpoint the exact cause of the malfunction. 

The robot, called Scarab, for Submersible Craft I ssisting 

Repair and Burial, is the size of a compact car and can 

probe depths of up to a mile. The robot will be controlled 

by technicicns aboard the UTC Freedom, one of the Shuttle's 

two booster recovery ships. 

It is not anticipated that the boosters will be recovered. 

At least one is broken up in large pieces. (TODAY, 7-13-82, 

p. 10-A) 

-177- 
July 14: A study to determine the best ethods for setting up 

a central management complex to direct Space Shuttle 

operatians at Vandenberg APB is being conducted by Boeing 

Services International for the Air Force Space Division. 

The central management complex will be built within the 

Shuttle launch and recovery facilities at Vandenberg. Under 

a $235,000 contract awarded by Kennedy Space Center and to 

be completed by the end of next month, Boeing will: 

1) Recommend integrated management structures to coordinate 

the Yarious management styles of contractors and government 

agerxies and determine the approptiate flow of information 

between the parties. 

2) P,ecomrt.end facility layouts, computer equipment and 

information systdms; identify which parts of the complex 

should be hatomated and which should be manual, and design 

the layout of management rooms where charts depicting 

program status will be displayed. (DEFEPSE DAILY, 7-14-82, 

p. 61, VOl. 123- No. 8) 

July 15: "The most recent NASA estimate for operational 

turnaround time (achievable by STS-30, the 30th flight) is 

51 days for processing an Orbiter from landing to launch. 

This represents an increase of 20 days from the previous 

estimate, based on a post STS-1 reassessment. The current 

51-day turnaround and processing procedures at KSC (Kennedy 

Space Center) will allow only 14 flights per year. Current 

SFB (Solid Rocket Boosters) stacking operations use8 by RSC 

in turnaround appesr to be a primary limiting factor. The 

14 flights per year is less than the planned flights per 

year for FY '86 and subsequent years" -- NASA Office of 

Inspector General Audit Report, May 27, 1982. (DEFENSE 

DAILY, 7-15-82, p. 71, vole 123, KO. 9) 

<> Landing moments before a cooling th~:ndetshower, the Space 

Shuttle' Columbia returned to Kennedy Space Center Tnursday 

morning and NASA engineers saiC they plan ta remove the 

sgacecraft's secret defense department cargo Sunday. 

Coiumbia, slightjy scorched from a fcurth mission in space, 

rade the 2,000 mile jouiney across the IJnited States 

attached to tne top of a Boeiog 747 in two days. 

The 180S3-m,:e jaunt ended with B routine landing on the KSC 

rmway at 10:33 a.m. 

-178- 
Columbia will make this piggy-back ride from the Shuttle 

landing site at Edwards Air Force Base, California, only one 

more time -- following the end 0' the fifth mission in late 

October or November. After that, subsequent flights of 

Columbia will launch and then land at Kd's 3-mile-long 

runway . 

The combo was towed to the steel crane that unhooks the 

spaceship from the 747 following the landing. Columbia was 

scheduled to be moved to its hangar by early this morning, 

said Herman "Fritz" Widick, Orbiter processing manager. 

Widisk said the hangar, which now houses Columbia's sister 

Shuttle Challenger, will be cleared of all personnel except 

most entrusted to remove the Shuttle's secret Air Force 

cargo. Publications close to the aerospace industry have 

speculated the instruments include an infrared camera 

designed far early warning missile detection. 

The instruments and their tape recorders of data will be 

shipped to defense department labs for analysis. 

With Columbia's arrival, KSC engineers have two mannrJ 

spacecraft being processed here at the same time -- trle 

first time that has happened since the Skylab program in the 

early 1970s. 

Challenger, scheduled to make its first space voyage in 

January, arrived at KSC from its California manufacturer 

July 5. 

Widick also expressed confidence Columbia can be launched 

for its first satellite-carrying, operational flight before 

the planned November 11 date. "October 29 is very 

achievable, although 5t is still only a target date," he 

said. 

Columbia will carry a crew of four anc! two satellites into 

orbit on its next flight. After that, it will be 

temporarily retired for a major overhaul while Challenger 

steps in. (TODAY, 7-16-82, p. 16A) 

<> NASA's John F. Kennedy Space Ceiiter has awarded Boej.ng 

Services International, Inc., Kennedy Space Center, Florida, 

-179- 
a supplemental agreement valued at $46,833,660 to an 

existing contract. The award provides for Boeing to perform 

Ground Support Operations services for a sixth contract year 

at the Space Center. 

The contract modification covers a one-year period fron July 

1, 1982, to July 30, 1983. This agreement brings the total 

value of the cost plus fixed fee contract to $308,932,101. 

(KSC RELEASE NO. 175-82, 7-16-82) 

<> h'3SA's John F. Kenneay Space Center has awarded Boeing 

Services International Inc. of Kennedy Space Center, 

Florida, a one-year, $11,752,020 extension of its contract 

to provide supply and transportation services to KSC. 

This extension will mark the fifth consecutive year that 

Boeing has provided such services to KSC. Tf.2 basic 

contract went into effect in July, 1978. The services 

include shipping, repair, supply and distribution of 

manufactured items. The extension brir9s the cumulative 

contract value to $53,228,250, (KSC RELEASE VO. 172-82, 

7-16-82) 

July 17: An anniversary cake for 1,800 people was devoured in 

90 micutes Friday /July 16/ as thousands gathered to 

remember the first mocn landing 13 years ago and to have a 

peek at the future. 

Former astronauts arhd space center alunni assembled in the 

visitors center auditorium Friday morning to tell hundreds 

of tourists what they remembered about July 16, 1969, and to 

emphasize its importance. 

"The landing on the moon and return will probably be 

considered the greatest events to happen in this century," 

said Bob Murkshe, co-chairman of the Apollo 11 Commemoration 

Association. 

"As time goes by things tend to get a little fuzzy. fJe 

formed the committee...to make sure people did not forget." 

(THE ORLANDO SENTINEL, 7-17-82, pp. C-1 61 C-7) 

-180- 
July 18: The space shuttle Columbia will make its first 

commercial trip into space on November 11, after all. It 

seems that while the shuttle and its cargo will be ready to 

go in October, NASA's paying customers won't be. 

Last Tuesday /July 13/, the space agency announced that it 

had shaved 13 days from the "turnaround" time between flight 

four and flight five and that the next launch would be 

October 29. 

That apparently surprised Satellite Business Systems of 

McLean, Virginia, and Telesat Canada, Inc., who are shipping 

two communications satellites aboard the shuttle to be 

placed into space. 

A NASA source said the fi-ms told the space agency that 

their work on the ground such as lotting receiving 

equipment ready, was predicated or. the November 11 target 

date. 

So NASA, on Friday /July 16/, announced that as the new 

launch target date. 

The satellites, in the cargo bay, will be expelled by spring 

-like devices at an altitude of about 172 miles. 

Columbia then moves a short distance away and a rocket 

called a solid spinning upper stage will ignite to boost the 

satellites to a "parking" orbit 22,300 miles above Earth. 

At that height, a satellite rotates in step with Earth and 

thus remains over the same spot all the time. (THE MIAMI 

HERALD, 7-18-82) 

<i * Now that space flights are routine, they will be used to 

solve those scientific mysteries which for centuries have 

p1aq:ied mankind. First, let's find out if its easier to 

remove the first olive from the jar at zero gravity. 

* Also, is there dandruff in space or does it just float 

away? 

* Then, let us discover whether or no.: a game of billiards 

in space must be played with tennis rackets. 

-181- 

I 
* After which, we can probe the unknown for the answer to 

the question -- is there a place in orbit where you can go 

out for a good time on a Saturday night without spending an 

arm and a leg? 

* NASA has been talking about using the Space Shuttle for 

fancy experiments with chemicals and metallurgy, but I think 

people are more interested in developing a non-gravity 

peanut butter that won't stick to the roof of your 

spaceship. (TODAY, "MARK RUSSELL", 7-18-82, p. 15A) 

Zuly 19: The Air Force is studying a miniature version of the 

space shuttle that would launch from the top of a jumbo jet. 

The spacecraft, called an air launched sortie vehicle, 

resembles the rocket ship in the James Bond movie 

MOONRAKER. It is designed to fly unmanned but could be 

modified for manned missioqs, according to a report by the 

Boeing Aerospace Co. 

The minishuttle could begin flying as early as 1988, Boeing 

predicted . 

Military payloads already make up the bulk of the shuttle's 

future miscions. But unlike the shuttle, Boeing's smaller 

version could take off from virtually any large airport in 

the world on a few minutes notice. 

On a typical flight, the minishuttle would ride to about 

37,000 feet atop a Boeing 747 jetliner. With the carrier 

plane pointing in a 60-degree flicht angle, the spaceship 

wzuld fire nine small rocket engines to reach orbit. 

Once in space it could act as a tanker, delivering a small 

cargo. It also would be ideal for spying missions, able to 

fly over any point on earth on short notice. (THE ORLANDO 

SENTINEL, 7-19-8 2 ) 

July 20: Because of bad weather and a balky camera, officials 

failed Monda). to photograph the two rocket boosters that 

sank in the Atlantic during the fourth space shuttle launch. 

-162- 
A NASA spokesman said strong currents and trouble with the 

video camera of a special deep-sea robot device forced two 

special recovery ships to return to the Cape. 

After installing a new cable, the ships will leave port 

later this week to make another try at photographing the 

casings in 3,500 feet of water, 160 miles east of the 

spaceport. 

Officials are trying to learn why the rockets did not hit 

the ocean and float after peeling away from the shuttle 

orbiter Columbia 2 minutes after blastoff on June 27. 

Officials agree that parachutes failed to open, but they do 

not know why. (THE ORLANDO SENTINEL, 7-20-82, p. B-6) 

July 23: Cal Burch has been appointed Chief of the Launch 

Operations and Physical Security Branch. He is succeeding 

G.E. Morford, who retired. 

Burch will manage the electronic security, communications 

security and physical security systems. Physical Security 

includes guards, grounds, badges, alarms, payload and VIP 

protection. 

A 1967 graduate of Auburn University, Burch began his 

federal career in 1968 as a military police officer in Viet 

Nam. ?e worked in the Division of Security of the Atomic 

Energy Commission and assisted the security inspector for 

the Department of Energy. 

Having just completed his first month with KSC, Burch says 

he enjoys the operational end of security and is lopking 

forward to working with all elements of KSC. (SPACEPORT 

NEWS, 7-23-82, p. 6r VOl. 21, NO. 15) 

<> A group of Kennedy Space Center contractors and governmervt 

employees are being awarded $100 for discovering new 

technological items a; a result of a contract with NASA. 

The winners and their inventions are as follows: William 

J. Steinway, Marietta, Georgia, with the Georrlla Institute 

of Technology, is responsible for developing a high 

- 18 3- 
resolution soil layer depth measurement. Frank E. Winner, 

Merritt Is'ani, of Martin Marietta developed an explosion 

proof electrwrc position indicator. 

Charles I Ziilespie, Titusville, with Rockwell 

Internal 'on-L invented a tool that would seal a vent door 

without damage. James E. Myers, Rockledge, also with 

Rockwell, invented a waterproofing tool. 

Robert W. Johnson, Gainesville, of USDA Soil Conservation 

Service, together with Robert A. Glaccum, Miami, with 

Technos, Inc. and Ronald 2. Wojtasinski, Cocoa Beach, 

representing NASA, came up with a soil sensing technique 

using radar. This would allow scientists to monitor changes 

in the earth and test the soil for building, sanitaticn and 

agriculture purposes. 

Feng-Nan Lin, William L. Moore and Floyd E. Lundy, Jr. all 

from Titusville, and representing NASA, designed a butterfly 

valve that regulates the flow of water for the sound 

suppression water system. That system absorbs vitration and 

sound by remote control during space launches. 

To be eligible for an award, the new technology must be 

under contract and in connection with the space program and 

be approved for publication in "NASA Tech Briefs". The 

awards are provided as part of the NASA awards system. 

(SPACEPORT NEWS, 7-23-82, p. 3, Vol. 21, NO. 15) 

"The Kennedy Space Center's excellent performance in 

processing and launching the Space Shuttle has been 

recognized again on the highest levels," noted KSC Director 

Dick Smith as he released congratulatory messages on the 

STS-4 mission from NASA Administrator James M. Beggs ... 

Said Beggs in a telex to the KSC Director: 

"In his remarks on the landing of the Space Shuttle 

Columbia, President Reagan stated that '...now we will move 

forward to capitalize on the tremendous potential offered by 

the ultimate frontier of space.' 

"Clearly, the President's remarks reflected his confidence 

in our ability to do the job -- a confidence that has been 

-184- 
built and fostered by NASA's proven excellence on Mercury, 

on Apollo, and more recently, on the Space Shuttle. They 

have been great successes. 

"However, che credit for these successes belongs to every 

member of the NASA team. All of you have continued to 

demonstrate the same selfless dedication to total 

performance that has characterized NASA since its inception. 

'It would be impossible for me to give everyone at Kennedy 

Space Center t.he individual recognition that is so highly 

deserved. Nevertheless, I would be most appreciative if you 

might convey to every member of the KSC team -- both our 

civil service personnel and our contractors -- my thanks and 

appreciation for a job very well done." 

Noted Smith: "The dttentior, of the world is fdcused on what 

we do here and how well we do it. Once again, all of you 

have come through magnificently. And I'd like to add my 

personal thanks to those of Administrator Beggs and Deputy 

Administrator Mark." (SPACEPORT NEWS, 7-23-82, p. 1, Vol. 

21, No. 15) 

July 24: America's first astronaut baby was born Monday to 

astronauts Dr. Rhea Seddon Gibson and Robert "Hoot" Gibson. 

The baby boy developed a slight breathing problem and was 

transfered to a Houston hospital, a space agency spokesman 

said. 

Paul Seddon Gibson, weighing seven poands, two ounces, was 

born at 4:lO a.m. at Clear Lake Hospital near the Johnson 

Space Center. Mrs. Gibson became the first of eight feaale 

astronauts to give birth. 

The infant began having difficulty breathing about 4 p.m. 

and was flown by helicopter to Hermann Hoppital's neo-natal 

care unit, about 20 miles away, said Steve Nesbitt of NASA. 

'Thereg€ no real serious threat," Nesbitt said. 'The 

hospital in Clear Lake really doesn't have the kind of 

facilities to handle cases that need more than the normal 

attention." (TODAY, 7-24-82) 

-1SS- 
<> Eskimo igloos in the Arctic regions of Canada will be warmed 

by that black box called television thanks to a satellite 

that will circle the globe at 22,COO miles up. 

Anik D, scheduled to launch aboard a Delta rocket from Cape 

Canaveral Air Force Station August 19, will bring television 

to some of the most remote parts of western and Arctic 

Canada, said William Zatychec, director of TELESAT Canada's 

satellite division. 

"Some people don't want to live up there unless they have 

communications with South Canada," he said. 

With 24 transmitter/receivers, Anik D will have the 

capability to transmit television, telephone and data to 

subscribers throughout the country. Each transmitter/ 

receiver can accommodate one television program or about 500 

tele;?>om calls. 

Zatychec said the $30 million satellite will orbit the Earth 

over western Canada near Winnipeg and should be operational 

about six weeks after launch. 

"Essentially, Anik D will more than double satellite 

communications in Canada,'' Xatychec said. 

Anik D will join four other Aniks already in space and one 

following will have the distinction of being one of the 

first satellites to be launched aboard the Space Shuttle's 

fifth mission in November. 

The 2,500-pound satellite will be launched between 7:22 and 

5:43 p.m., August 19. 

Anik, bwnich means "little brother" in Eskimo, oi-igirally was 

set to launch August 12. But delays in launching the 

LANDSAT satellite at Vandenbe17 Air Force Base, CAlifornia, 

July 16, -re responsible for postponing the Anik 'aun21. 

(TODAY, 7-24-82) 

July 28: Four Kennedy Spac Center recurity guards were 

hospitalized carly Tuesday after thev were exposed 

poisonous fumes at the Space Shuttle 1 inch pad, NASA 

off ic: als said. 

-18 6- 
All were released from Jess Parrish Memorial Hospital in 

Titcsville by noon, 11 hours after they were admitted at 

1 a.m., hospital officials said. 

"They are in excellent condition," said Chris Healy, the 

hospital's assistant director of nursing services. 

The guards were held for observation after they complained 

of sore throats and headaches, Healy said. 

The incident brings to three the number of toxic fuel leaks 

at the pad since early June. 

The guards, all employees of Wackenhut Services, Inc., were 

Joseph Varanay, 58, of Rockledge; Kathleen Carroll, 30, of 

Cocoa: Susan Barton, 26, of Titusville; and Kent Banks, 25, 

of Merritt Island. 

They are expected to return to duty today or Thursday. 

(TODAY, 7-28-82, p. 1A) 

July 29: After landing on desert runways on its first four 

flights, the Space Shuttle Columbia will probably return 

next time to tk? concrete strip near its Kennedy Space 

Center launch pad, a senior NASA official said Wednesday. 

Deputy Administrator Hans Mark, appearing before a 

congressional committee with the astronauts who returned 

from space earlier this month, said also that the $36 

million loss of the Shuttle's two rocket boosters may have 

been cawed by two miscalibrated sensors. 

.. landing at Kennedy Space Center on Flight Five has been a 

an-again, off-again proposition. Officials had hoped first 

to get some experience lar.ding in the kind of crosswinds 

that blow across KSC's 15,000 foot runway. 

But the crosswinds weren't there on the previous flights -- 

three on the desert floor, one on a conxete runway on the 

desert -- and Mark said the Kennedy landing "probably" would 

be attempted without the cross wind experience. 

-187- 
"There is a debate, but most of us think we ought to go to 

Kennedy," he said. The previous "official" word had been 

that a KSC landing would not be attempted until the seventh 

flight, next year. 

Mark appeared with Flight Four astronauts Thomas K. 

Mattingly, Jr., and Henry Hartsfield before the House 

Science and Technology Committee. Columbia's next trip into 

space is scheduled for November 11-15, 

The spent rockets that boosted the Shuttle on its way to 

orbit plunged to the bottom of the Atlantic, instead of 

being lowered by giant parachutes to be recovered by waiting 

ships as planned. 

The 150-foot long boosters have three main parachutes, each 

attached by lines, called r-sers, at two points. To 

facilitate the boosters' recovery, the risers are supposed 

to be cut by two explosive charges when the booster hits the 

water -- each charge cutting three alternate lines. The 

explosives are triggered by a sensor that reacts to shock. 

Mark said the sensors are calibrated to ignore the shock of 

the chute- .Jpening. On the last flight, he said deployment 

of the 115-foot diameter parachutes apparently triggered one 

sensor on each booster, cutting half the risers and 

preventing the chutes from opening. (TODAY, 7-29-82) 

July 30: The House by voice vote has adopted a resolution 

congratulating NASA, the astronauts and the contractor and 

subcontractor team for the successful completion of the 

Space Shuttle flight test prorjram and the entry of the U.S. 

"into a promising new era of space flight..." The Senate 

passed an identical resolution last week. (DEFENSE DAILY, 

7-30-82, p. 158, Vole 123, NO. 20) 

-188- 
AUGUST 1982 

August 2: A remote-controlled submarine operated by Lanhambased East Port International has located and photographed 

one of the two space shuttle booster rockets that sank 100 

miles off the Florida coast after the June 27 launch. 

The tiny submarine, named Scarab 2, began searching for the 

two $24 million boosters two weeks ago. It carries no crew 

and is operated from a surface ship. 

Roy Ewing, manager for technical services at East Port, 

dsclined to disclose when the submarine first located the 

booster rocket. But he confirmed that film and videotape of 

the 150-foot-long, 80-ton booster have been sent to the 

National Aeronautics and Space Administration at Marshall 

Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, for review by 

scientists. 

"We've shot a lot of hours of film and of videotape," Ewing 

said. Several cameras are momted on the submarine's allaluminum housing, in addition to two claw-like contraptiow 

that can grasp and manipulate objects on the ocean floor. 

Ewing said the submarine is now looking for the second 

booster . 

A NASA investigations board at Marshall will examine the 

rocket booster pictures to determine what, if any, action to 

take next, NASA representative Lyn Cywanowicz said. 

Cywanowicz said ;hat nothing else has been done with the 

boosters so far and that nothing has been brought to the 

surface. 

East Po-t's Ewing said the search-and-survey project NASA 

contracted the firm to undertake has been running a little 

behind schedule because of minor delays. 

Some repairs have been made on Scarab because of problems 

with debris it encountered in the 3,500 feet of water where 

the boosters sank, he said. (THE WASHINGTON POST, 8-2-62! 

-189- 
August 3: More than 10,000 space center employees ha-re been 

told they could be laid off next month if Congress doesn't 

grant a $31 million budget request to pad the NASA payroll 

until the end of the fiscal year. 

But NASA aides in Washington and U.S. Rep. Bill Nelson of 

Melbourne agreed Monday that the budget bill probably will 

pass easily, and that the chance of employee "furloughs" for 

up to 10 days, as proposed, is slim. 

Space center employees received notice last week of 

potential layoffs because a federal law requires that they 

be warned a month in advance of any layoff of less than 30 

days, /Mary Kerwin/ said. (THE ORLANDO SENTINEL, 8-3-82, 

p. El) 

August St Retiring Johnson Space Center director Christopher 

C. Kraft Jr. said Wejnesday the Reagan administration should 

spend more money for space research instead of bombers and 

missiles. 

Kraft, who played a key role in the U.S. manned space 

program and in development of the Space Shuttle, made the 

comment at a farewell news conference. 

"I don't understand how this country can spend $222 billion 

in the next 3 1/2 to 4 years on the B-1 bomber and the MX 

missile and not be willing to spend another halt-billion 

dollars per year on the space program," he said. 

Kraft, 58, will leave the spaze agency on Saturday. He 

announced earlier this year he intended to retire in 

November and the earlier depdrtusc came as a surprise. 

"It's time for a new leader," he explained.... 

Kraft said the major challenge for the new director, Gerald 

D. Griffin, will be to refine the uses of the Space Shuttle 

and to promote the development of the manned space station. 

Griffin is the former deputy director of the Kernedy Space 

Center.... (TODAY,3-5-82, p. 1) 

-190- 
<> NASA made it official Thursday -- the space agency will 

accept bids from aerospace companies for a multimillion 

dollar contract to operate the Shuttle program at Kennedy 

Space Center. 

The space agency will accept proposals from as many as eishc 

firms by November and NASA administrator James Beggs is 

expected to select a contractor in mid-1983. 

Since November 1981, firms such as United Airlines and 

Grumman Aerospace have had teams of engineers observing 

Shuttle launch preparations. 

Under the Shuttle Processing Cc>ntract, one company would be 

selected for overall launch preparations and Shuttle 

maintenance -- consolidating the work of several smaller 

contractors. 

Presently Rockwell International is the major Shuttle 

contractor and it too mast compete for the new contract. 

Beggs' announcement Thursday confirmed that NASA is 

committed to a Shuttle Processing Contract, said Dick Young, 

KSC spokesman. 

"The Shuttle processing philosophy was formally adopted. It 

will greatly increase effectiveness and reduce costs," he 

said. (TODAY, 8-6-82, p. 16A) 

August 6: NASA's John F. Kennedy Space Center has awarded 

General Cable Company, Fiber Optics Division of Edison, V-w 

Jersey, and Pearl, Mississippi, a contract to install "itx 

optic communication cable at the Kennedy Space Center. 

Work under the fixed-price contract valued at $734,107 began 

June 28, 1982, and is due to be complete by January 27, 

1983. (NASA NEWS RELEASE NO. 178-82, 8-6-82) 

<> NASA's Kenncdy Space Center, Florida, has selected Computer 

Sciences Corporation, Falls Church, Virginia, for final 

negotiations leading to award of $9,372,000 firm, fixedirice contract for a Space Shuttle Inventory Management 

System (SIMS) 11. 

-191- 
SIMS I1 will assist NASA in ensuring that spare parts, 

supplies and materials are available as needed to scpport 

the Shuttle program. The contract will call for delivery of 

automatic data processing equipment; communications 

equipment: computer software: data requirements: training 

for terminal users, computer operators and system 

controllers; and software creation and maintenance 

personnel. 

The system will be used to control the location and movement 

of material to support Shuttle ffiaterial needs at the Kennedy 

Space Center, including spare parts for the Shuttle and 

cargo ground support equipment, flight hardware and other 

projects within the Center's responsibility. It will also 

be used to provide management of institutional support 

requirements. 

Similar work under the contract will also be performed at 

Vandcnberg Air Force Base, California. 

Also bidding on the contract were: Northrup Services, Inc., 

Winter Park, Florida; Pan American World Services, Inc., 

Cocoa Beach, Florida; and Martin Marietta Data Systems, 

Englewood, Colorado. (NASA NEWS RELEASE NO. 82-120, 8-6-82) 

<> NASA's John F. Kennedy Space Center has awarded Industrial 

Steel, Inc. of Mims, Floridz, a contract to manufacture test 

equipment for the Space Transportation System. 

Industrial Steel will procure adapters and test fixtures to 

Froof-test the Space Transportation System lifting and 

handling equipment. This equipment will be used to handle 

STS flight hardware, including Space Shuttle Orbiters and 

their subsystems, such as the payload bay doors and the 

reaction controls system. 

This f irm-f ixed-price cor.tract valued at $50,348 began July 

28 and will end February 1, 1983. (NASA NEWS RELEASE NO. 

187-82, 8-6-82) 

<> William M. Lohse, E9C Director of Center Support Operation, 

has retired after 40 years of distinguished federal service. 

-192- 

c-3- 

/ 
Lohse served as Director, Procurement Supply and 

Transportation for three years at KSC before being appointed 

Director of Center Support in 1980. 

As Director of Center Support Operations his 

responsibilities were to provide general support services 

(base support functions) for all KSC and tenant 

organizations on the John F. Kennedy Space Center. 

Before retiring from the U.S. Navy as a Captain in 1965, 

Lohse had a widely varied career in supply and procurement 

with the Navy. 

When asked the highpoints of his NASA career, he came right 

to the point: 

"Apollo--terrific and shuttle contruction--outstanding!" He 

added, "But above all...the great people I had a chance to 

work with. " 

Lohse expressed his sincere thanks to everyone for the 

",..nice (retirement) coffee and outstanding party." 

He said his immediate plans include, "Playing golf and 

getting the house in order." 

He and his wife Gertrude reside in Cocoa. (SPACEPORT NEWS, 

8-6-82, p. 4, VO~. 21, NO. 16) 

<> The man who will oversee the launch of the next Space 

Shuttle said despite reports to the contrary, the Shuttle 

won't land at Kennedy Space Center earlier than the seventh 

flight in April 1983. 

Thomas E. Utsman, KSC's newly appointed Shuttle launch 

director, also predicted the Columbia's fifth mission will 

begin as planned on November 11 as preparations for the 

first satellite deployment continue without a snag. 

The 45-year-old Utsman said in an interview Friday that more 

tests of the Shuttle's computerized automatic landing system 

are needed in the wide expanse of the California desert at 

-193- 
Edwards Air Force Base before astronauts attempt to maneuver 

on the 15,000-foot-long, 300-foot-wide concrete runway at 

Kennedy. (TODAY, 8-7-82, p. 1A) 

<> A NASA investigation team has decided to salvage parts of 

the space shuttle’s sunken solid rocket boosters from the 

bottom of the Atlantic Ocean, but the job will be ticklish, 

space center spokesmen said Friday. 

One of the boosters was shattered, but a IO-foot section of 

the second remained intact when booster parachutes failed to 

open and the casings hit the water during Columbia’s fourth 

launch June 27. 

The recovery effort will begin as soon as the team develops 

a salvage plan for securing and lifting the booster pieces, 

which are resting in about 3,500 feet of water about 150 

miles off Cape Canaveral. 

“We really don’t have a feel for how long that means, but it 

will be as soon as possible,” said KSC spokesman Ed 

Harrison. The pieces are expected to be difficult to lift. 

(THE ORLANDO SENTINEL, 8-7-82) 

August 7: William H. Young, longtime Orlando resident and 

father of astronaut John Young, died Saturday after a long 

battle with cancer. 

Born one year before the Wright brothers’ flight at Kitty 

Hawk, the 80-year-old engineer saw his son log five trips to 

space, walk on the moon, and command the first voyage of the 

space shuttle. 

The elder Young is survived by his wife, Ruth: sons John W. 

Young, of Houston: Hugh H. Young, of Fukuoka, Japan, 

stepson, James W. Mosteller of San Diego; stepdaughter, 

Mrs. Mary M. Stuckey, Independence, Kansas: brother Heyward 

Young of Lewiston, N. Y.; sister, Mrs. Sarah Y. Hebble of 

Cartersville; and eight grandchildren. (THE ORLANDO 

SENTINEL, 8-9-82, p. A-9) 

-194- 
August 9: The space agency is laying the groundwork for a 

permanent orbiting space station and the NASA administrator 

said construction could begin in 1985 and be finished in the 

early 1990s. 

James Beggs said the Reagan administration still has to be 

convinced there is a need for sczh an orbital base, but he 

said he is optimistic that approval eventually will be 

received from the White House and Congress. 

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration chief also 

said there is still a possibility that the space shuttle 

Columbia will land at the Kennedy Space Center at Cape 

Canaveral, Florida, on its next mission in November even 

though the plan now is to land at Edwards Air Force Base, 

California. (THE ORLANDO SENTINEL, 8-9-82, p. A-7) 

<> The health of the Kennedy Space Center's first launch 

operations director has rebounded since last year, when he 

suffered a near-fatal reaction to kidney dialysis equipment. 

Kurt Debus, who directed the launch of 282 rockets at KSC 

from 1953 until his retirement in 1974, spends most of his 

time now at his Cocoa Beach home. While retaining an avid 

interest in man's space exploration efforts, the 74-year-old 

electrical engineer no longer is involved in KSC operations. 

"1981 was a difficult year," said Gay Debus, his wife. 

"They tried to put a dialysis device in his abdomen so he 

could hook up to the machine easier, but it caused very bad 

internal bleeding." 

After a nine-day hospital stay in the intensive care unit, 

he has shown continual improvement. 

... Invitations to speak before scientific conventions in 

Europe and America continue to arrive. However, he has been 

unable to accept the offers, she said.... 

Debus' retirement in 1974 came as a surprise to many. He 

was 66 years old. 

"There are younger men, a younger generation. We must give 

them a chance," he said at the time. 

-195- 
Debus did not, in any way, look upon his retirement as a sad 

event: "We have begun to develop the sets of tools to solve 

our worldwide problems," he said. "1 have lived through the 

most interesting of times. The world has seen a period of 

30-40 years which provided nearly all of our technical 

knowledge....No period in the past holds any great interest 

for me -- I can dream about the futuro. I have a good idea 

what's going to happen." (TODAY, 8-9-82) 

<> Except for the 1963 mission of cosmonaut Valentina 

Tereshkova, "manned spaceflight" has meant just that: for 

nearly 20 years the stratosphere has been an all-male 

preserve. Now the Soviet Union is preparing to put a second 

woman in orbit when it launches Soyuz T-7 later this month. 

Marina Savitska is the woman most likely to blast off. Two 

men will accompany her on the mission, which will follow the 

pattern of Soyuz T-6. That one had another kind of mixed 

crew: two Soviets and a Frenchman. (NEWSWEEK, 8-9-82) 

August 10: Electrospace Systems, Inc., of Richardson, Texas, 

has won a $1,6OO,ClOO contract to provide computer-controlled 

data switching equipment for use in the firing rooms of the 

Space Shuttle Launch Control Center. 

Under the fixed price contract, the company will design, 

fabricate, test and deliver fox Remote Controlled Video 

Switch Subsystems for use in the Space Shuttle's Launch 

Control Center. The subsystem is a computer controlled 

switching matrix which allows an operator to connect as many 

as 100 data channels to as many as 80 recording and display 

units. The new switching matrices will allow KSC to process 

multiple Space Shuttle orbiters using firing rooms 

simultaneously. 

Electrospace Systems, Int., a small business firm, will 

perform the work at its plant location in Texas in a period 

of 12 months and three b?eeks from the contract date. (KSC 

RELEASE NO. 188-82, 8-10-82) 

<> It will cost at least $266 million to fly each of the five 

space shuttle missions planned for 1983 -- seven times the 

amount NASA plans to charge its customers. 

-196- 
The total price tag for the shuttle program is now expected 

to top $21 billion, including 1118 billion spent by NASA and 

$3.6 billion invested by the Department of Defense, space 

officials have told Congress. 

The space agency will suffer a huge financial loss on early 

shuttle flights, and may end up losing billions of dollars 

during the program's first years of operation, according to 

a report by the General Accounting Office. 

NASA charges customers about $38 million to rent the 

shuttle's entire cargo bay -- less than one-seventh the true 

cost. The Columbia is scheduled to carry its first 

satellite cargo in November, during its fifth trip to space. 

But it will be 1989 at the earliest before NASA recovers the 

full flight cost from shuttle users, NASA officials say. 

NASA wiil pay 80 percent of shuttle flight costs during the 

next three years, while flying only about 36 percent of the 

shuttle missions, the GAO estimated. That represents a $2.2 

billion subsidy -- in 1982 dollars -- to other users, the 

agency reported. 

The space agency is trying to recoup some of that money by 

increasing the launch fees paid by the military, which has 

booked nearly half of the scheduled missions. (THE ORLANDO 

SENTINEL, 8-10-82, p. B-1) 

August 12: Installation of experiments on the Spacelab 1 

pallet was completed last week with the attachment of the 

European Space Agency (ESA) Bridge - a platform supporting 

12 European experiments. 

"With installation of the bridge, we have completed physical 

integration of all Spacelab 1 scientific experiments," said 

Harry Craft, Spacelab 1 mission manager of NASA's Marshall 

Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Alabama. "We are 

proceeding smoothly toward beginning power-up of the 

exper!-ments in late August. Following power up, we will begin a functional checkovt of each experiment.... a 

-197- 
Integration and checkout of Spacelab 1 experiments and 

preparations of the laboratory for flight aboard the Space 

Shuttle is being accomplished at the NASA's Kennedy Space 

Center in Florida. An ESA resident team at Kennedy is 

participating in these activities. 

Marshall Space Flight Center is the lead NASA Center for 

Spacelab, and is also responsible for overall management of 

the first three Spacelab flights, and for monitoring 

development activities in Europe. 

Spacelab 1 is a joint ESA/NASA mission, scheduled for launch 

aboard the Space Shuttle in September 1983. (NASA NEWS 

RELEASE NO. 190-82, 8-12-82) 

<> The Space Shuttle Columbia and the two satellites it will 

carry into orbit should make their November 11 date in 

space, but the Shuttle Challenger may not get off the ground 

in time in January, engineers said Thursday. 

A delay of several days in :he delivery of Shuttle main 

engines to Kennedy Space Center could hold up the 

Challenger's maiden flight, now set for January 20, said 

James Harrington, chief of Orbiter operations. 

"I have no feel for when the main engines will get here," he 

said, adding that the slowness in some testing procedures 

also might hold up the spacecraft's first flight. "I don't 

know if it can fly in January but we're going to try," said 

Harrington, who gave reporters a guided tour of the Shuttle 

hangar Thursday morning. 

Officials of Rockwell International, the prime Shuttle 

contractor, said they were optimistic the Challenger would 

be ready for launch on time and predicted engines would be 

at the space center in plenty of time for installation in 

the spacecraft . 

Right beside the Challenger in the hangar is Columbia -- a 

proven veteran of space flight. By September 10, 

technicians will have completed the repairs and 

modifications needed for the fifth mission. Only Columbia's 

toilet will get a late reinstallation while the Shuttle is 

on the launch pad in October. Harrington said the toilet's 

-198- 
slinger, designed to pulverize and sterilize waste matter, 

did not work up to par during the last mission and was 

returned to its manufacturer for repairs. 

The two communications satellites that will be deployed into 

space aboard the Columbia also will be installed three weeks 

before launch, while the spacecraft is on the pad. 

One satellite, operated by TELESAT of Canada, will serve 

educational television and pay television customers in 

southern Canada, the most populous region of the country. 

The other, owned by Satellite Business Systems, will serve 

American businesses relaying data across the country. 

Engineers with both satellite companies said they chose the 

Shuttlc because it is fer cheaper than the rockets 

previously used to send their cargo into space. 

“This is a good buy,” said Michael Lyons, satellite business 

sytems mission manager, in compairing the $23 million rocket 

launch price with the $9 million Shuttle price. The 

satellite themselves are valued at about $22 million each. 

Only 8 1/2 hours after launch, the Satellite Business 

Systems satellite will be ejected from the Columbia’s 

60-foot-long cargo bay on springs at a speed of 3 feet per second. The Canadian satellite will follow 24 hours later. 

Both will reach their final destination 22,000 miles up four 

days later as they ride on a rocket engine called the 

Payload Assist Module or PAM. (TODAY, 8-13-82, p. 16A) 

August 13: The space shuttle Columbia is expected to be 

processed in record time for its fifth flight, and its first 

two paying customers are putting final touches on the 

satellite cargo. 

Processing for the November 11 launch should take no more 

than 40 days, about a week less than it took for the last 

mission, a NASA official said Thursday/August 12/. 

After processing, the orbiter is scheduled to be taken to 

the Vehicle Assembly Buildins September 10, and to the pad 

later next month, said Jim Harrington, chief of orbiter: 

operations. (THE ORLANDO SENTINEL, 8-13-82, p. B-1) 

-199- 
August 14: Astronaut Sally Ride, set to become the first 

American woman to fly into space, and astronaut Steve Hawley 

were married last month in Salina, Kansas, the couple told 

friends this week. (TODAY, 8-14-82, p. 14A) 

August 16: West German scientists Monday/August 16/ unveiled a 

"getaway special" experiment to be flown on America's space 

shuttle in November. 

The experiment, in a special canister aboard Columbia, will 

consist of an attempt to take x-rays of a gallium-andmercury metallic chemical mix as it is heated to a molten 

state and then allowed to cool, 

Scientists hope to track the gallium into mercury and then 

back out. 

The material weighs less than one gram. 

Dr. Guenther Otto of the Institute for Space Simulation in 

Koelm, West Germany, classified the experiment as "pure 

research." Although it has no immediate practical value, 

the experiment may lead to future breakthroughs in the field 

of materials processing in space, he said. 

The German Ministry of Research and Technology has 

reservations to fly 25 materials-processing experiments 

aboard future space shuttle missions, said Kennedy Space 

Center spokesman Rocky Raab. (THE ORLANDO SENTINEL, 

8-17-82, p. 8-41 

August 17: NASA's u'ohn F. Kennedy Space Center has awarded 

Hall-Mark Electronics of Orlando, Florida, a contract for 

additional firing room equipment. 

Four operational firing rooms will eventually be needed to 

fulfill the ambitious flight schedule of the Space 

Transportation System's fleet of four orbiters. Two of the 

four firing rooms are operational and are used for orbiters 

Columbia and Challenger. 

-200- 
The firing rooms, located in the Launch Control Center, are 

equipped with a highly automated launch processing system 

designed to automatically control and perform Shuttle 

checkout and launch activities. 

The launch processing system continually monitors thousands 

of measurements of temperatures, pressures, flow rates, 

liquid levels, turbine speeds, voltages, currents, valve and 

switrh positions, and many other parameters. 

The Remote Control Video Switcher System (RCVS) routes data 

from the orbiter to the Launch Control Center and then 

distributes the data to the appropriate firing room. This 

switcher system will need to be expanded before firing rooms 

three and four can become operational. 

Hall-Mark Electronics, under a firm, fixed-price contract, 

will deliver micro module chassis and peripheral equipment 

required for the expansion of the remote switcher system. 

The contract has a value of $36,984 and the equipment is due 

to be delivered by October 1, 1982. The third firing room 

is scheduled to be ready by December of 1982 and the fourth 

should be complete by December of 1983. (NASA NEWS RELEASE 

NO. 194-82, 8-17-82) 

August 19: Work has begun on what will be a $15.5 million 

complex of buildings and equipment for processing and 

storage of Solid Rocket Booster segments for Space Shuttle 

missions. 

Site preparation is well under way by W & J Construction 

Campany of Cocoa, under a $7.2 million contract to provide 

the labor, equipment and materials for construction of the 

complex to include the Solid Rocket Booster Rotation/ 

Processing Facility and two accompanying SRB Segment Storage 

Buildings. 

According to Ernest Laitzenheiser, lead design engineer for 

the project, the facility, designed by Daniel, Mann, 

Johnson, Fiendenhall of Los Angeles, is slated for completion 

18 months after the official commencement date of May 20. 

-201- 
Nick Witek, vice president of the W & J company, said most 

of the preliminary work on the site, located north of the 

Vehicle Assembly Building, has been completed. 

W & J is no stranger to KSC construction work. 

Approximately 18 months ago, Witek noted, the company won 

the $6.7 million contract for modification of Launch Pad 398 

for Space Shuttle use. 

The firm has been located in the Cocoa area for 17 years, 

and has built commercial and industrial buildings, offices 

and churches, with an estimated 50 percent of its business 

involved with contracts with NASA and the U.S. Air Force. 

Under the present SRB processing system, the live solid 

motor segments for the boosters are received, processed and 

inspected in the VAB. The aft skirts and aft propellant 

segments of the SRB's are also assembled there. 

NASA spokesmen said moving these operations to a separate 

building will reduce hazardous conditions in the VAB. 

The move also will avoid impacting the VAB's launch support 

capability by eliminating scheduling conflicts between 

ntzardous work involving the SRB's and non-hazardous 

operations on the orbiter, external tank and assembled 

booster rockets. 

Location of the SRB work in a separate facility, noted 

Project Engineer Alfredo Teran, also will allow efficient 

and economical handling of operations during normal working 

hours, concurrently with ongoing work in the VAB. 

When completed, the new facilities will allow storage of two 

sets of sm's, with capability to support more than 20 

launches per year. (SPACEPORT NEWS, 8-19-82, p. 78 Vol. 21, 

No. 17) 

<> "I felt like I won the Olympicsrm said Walter Bond, a former 

track star, after witnessing the fourth launch of the Space 

Shuttle Columbia, his fir%t "in person" liftoff. 

-202- 
Bond is from Windsor, North Carolina, and is a senior honor 

student majoring in biology at North Carolina Central 

University. 

Through the Minority Access to Research Careers/Honors 

Undergraduate Research Training Program of the National 

Institutes of Health, he is able to wcrk for eight weeks 

this summer at KSC in the cardiovascular physiology 

laboratory. Dr. Mary Anne Frey, technical manager in charge 

of the biomedical research lab in the 0 6 C Building, 

designs his work programs. 

Bond performs chemical analysis, works in the stress lab, 

and works with lab technicians analyzing blood and blood 

serum. 

As a student, he has a research obligation to fulfill. 

Students are required to complete an external research 

experience while involved at the university. To fulfill hi5 

requirements he is working with NASA on red blood cell 

degeneration and red blood cell count in athletes. Another 

aspect of the study is cardiac output, calculations and 

measurements. 

Bond receives a one-hour credit toward his degree by doing 

research outside of NCCU. His goal is to obtain a doctorate 

in biomedical research. 

He was recommended by his professors for the MARC program, 

Minority Access to Research Careers. The program pays for 

transportation, gives the students a monthly stipend plus a 

salary, and pays for fees and tuition the last year of their 

undergraduate education. In return, the student must 

maintain a 3.0 average and complete a required external 

research study. 

Dr. John Ruffin, director of the MARC program at NCCU said, 

"The objective of the program is to educate and encourage 

the minority student to strive for a doctorate in the 

biomedical sciences." 

"Kennedy Space Center is a fantastic site for students 

because it's not an academic setting. Walter is getting a 

meaningful experience because there are a number of 

activities going on here besides his own work," added Dr. 

Ruffin, who is also chairman of the Department of Biology at 

NCCU. (SPACEPORT NEWS, 8-19-82, pa 2, Vole 21, NO. 17) 

-203- 
August 22: The open cargo bay of the Space Shuttle might not 

be the ideal place for sophisticated cameras and telescopes 

as NASA engineers once thought. For the Air Force, which 

depends on such optical eqLipment in surveillance, the view 

from the Shuttle could be obscured by the spacecraft's own 

"pollution." 

Preliminary findings from Columbia's third mission in March 

showed tha: rocket exhaust, water vapor and particles from 

the Shuttle's own exterior played havoc with an experiment 

desianed to study the effects of space flight or. optical 

eqiipment.... 

Dr. J. L. rleinberg [a UniverFity of Florida physicist] said 

it is premzture to say wheti.2.r these problems are 

insurmomtable but "there will be quite a bit of work ahead 

of US." (TODAY, 8-22-82, pp. 1A & 16A) 

<> Thousands of Kennedy Space Center employees and their 

families flocked to the center Sunday for its first open 

house in four years and heard Shuttle astronauts Thomas 

"Ken" Mattingly and Henry Hartsfield thank them for their 

successful seven-day mission. 

Many in the crowd cheered the astronauts who completed 

Columbia's fourth and final test flight with a July 4 

landing at Edwards Air Force Base in Califcrnia. 

"You can't imagine how much magic there is in that machine," 

Mattingly said of the Space Shuttle Columbia and its booster 

rockets 

"For seven days, we leaned on things to try to find problems 

for our reports, but we couldn't find any," he said of the 

missiori. 'When- you read zero defects, it 

the U.S.A.'" 

Matthgly, who also flew on the Apollo 16 

said, "I believe your performance is more 

than during Apollo." 

means, 'Made in 

lunar mission, 

professional now 

Hartsfield, whose wife Fran was in the audience, said, "It 

was the greatest experience in my life to float in that 

spacecraft . -204- 
"Only in America can you produce a machine like that," 

Hartsfield said. "It was the best ride I ever had. We 

didn't want to come home, and I'd go agair! today if there 

was a Shuttle stacked out there." 

Speaking to youngsters seated on the ground before the 

platform placed in front of the Orbiter Processing Facility, 

Hartsfield added, "You children naw will be able to do 

things in space that we can't even imagine." 

Through the open doors of the OPF, the Orbiter Challenger 

could be seen behind the astronauts. 

The two astronauts presented Kennedy Space Center Director 

Richard Smith with a flag and a patch from their mission 

mounted on a plaque. Smith, in return, gave them colorful 

photographs of their launch. 

Employees and their families are allowed to tour a number of 

areas that normally are not open to the public, said KSC 

spokesman HuTh Harris. Besides seeing the Challenger, they 

were shown the European Spacelab, the firing room, some 

payload areas and laboratories. In addition, one of ths 54- 

foot diameter parachutes that help break the solid-rocket 

boosters' fall to the ocean was on display. 

Although final crowd esLimates were not available Sunday 

night, an estimated 10,000 people passed through just one of 

the center's four gates. 

Although emplcyees enjoyed themselves Sunday, NASA is 

prepared to lay off 2,100 of them for up to 10 days if the 

U.S. Senate and Prrrsident Reagan fail to approve a $14.2 

billion supplemental money request to help meet government 

expenses through the fiscal year's end September 30. The 

measure already has been approved by the House. 

If layoffs occur, Harris said KSC would try to schedule them 

to cause the least possible effect on Columbia's next launch 

scheduled November 11. (TODAY, 8-23-82, p. 1A) 

August 24: Columbia Boulevard will join the high-flying ranks 

of NASA and Apollo Boulevards this week as the latest 

Brevard thoroughfare named for the space program. 

-2C5- 

1 

I 
In a ceremony scheduled for Thursday, NASA and local elected 

officials will unveil a new road sign for a four-mile 

stretch of SR 405 renamed in honor of tho Space Shuttle 

Columbia. Columbia Boulevard will run from Si? 53 east to 

gate throe of the Remedy Space Center. 

The idea to rename that portion of SR 405 was discussed by 

Brevard County commissioners esrlier this year. During the 

last session of the state Legislature in March, the name 

change was introduced by state Sen. John Vogt, D-Cocoa 

Beach, and Clark Maxwell, Jr., R-Melbourne. 

It passed easily in both houses, Vogt said. He called the 

new boulevard part of "local pride" in the space program and 

four successful Shuttle test flights. 

Brevard already can claim an Astronaut Boulevard, Apollo 

Boulevard, NASA Boulevard, and schools named Apollo, Gemini, 

Freedom 7, Saturn and Astronaut. But Columbia Boulevard is 

the first public road dubbed for a Shuttle achievement. 

(TqDAY, 8-24-82, p. 1B) 

<> Astronaut Sally Ride, the first American women schedule2 for 

a flight in space, tried her hand at firefighting at Kennedy 

Space Center Tuesday. Astronauts for the next three Shuttle 

mission started their emergency training Friday and 

Tuesday's class was the last. Ride will fly cn the 7th 

mission set for April 1983 with Bob Crippen, Fred Hauck and 

John Fabian. (TODAY, 8-25-82, p. 10A) 

August 25: They had more fun in the old days of rocketry. 

Take the gang who tested rocket engines in a Bell Aircraft 

facility at Niagra Falls, N.Y., 30 years ago. 

They'd put the Rascal and Hustler engir,es in the test firing 

stands, recalled NASA's Dr. Robert Gray, then in charge of 

rocket instrumentation activities at the Bell plant. He's 

now top Shuttle man at the Space Center. 

"We used to keep score on rocket explosions," Rob told us, 

"to see who could blow the water-cooled nozzle the farthest 

across the fence into the Carborundum Corp. plant." 

-206- 
Nozzle weight: 300-400 pounds! 

In those early days of rocket motor development, in the 

early 'SOs, "there were engine explosions sometimes several 

times a day, certainly several times a week," Bob said. 

"Sometimes they were major." 

A good-sized explosion would send the nozzle hurtling into 

Carborundum property, much to the dismay of that company's 

management and workers. 

"They were very much displeased," Bob noted. Not only would 

Bell's neighbors be assailed by a massive piece of metal, 

but the explosions "blew windows out and set their coal pile 

on fire." (TODAY, 8-25-82, p. 1B) 

Augurt 27: Cocoa Beach may have the right location but 

apparently not at the right price. 

The production company of "The Right Stuff" -- the film 

being born by the Tom Wolfe book about America's seven 

original astronauts -- decided Thursday that a $100,000 

price tag for shooting a film segment here was the wrong 

n urn ber . 

In its on-again/off-again brush wit3 stardom, the Cocoa 

Beach City Commission early Thursday evening had approved a 

request by the Ladd Co. to film one day along Minuteman 

Causeway. The written request frum location manager Rory 

Enke said filming would start either Wednesday or Thursday. 

Mayor Dave Brown and Commissioners Jack Kuritzky and MaryFrancis Vaughn, the three council rcembers present at the 5 

p.m. special meeting, qbickly approved the Irequest, then 

went on with a 90-minute budget workshop. 

But at 3:25 porn., Brown got a call at home from an 

apologetic Enke, who said the $100,030 cost of moving actors 

and equipment from San Francisco to Cocoa Beach had killed 

the idea of fiiming in FlorAa. Brown said Enke told him 

the decision had just been made in a production meeting in 

California. (TODAY, 8-27-82, p. 1s) 

-207- 
<> NASA's newest high-powered rocket launched into space 

without a hitch at 7:lO p.m. Thursday from Cape Canaveral 

Air Force Station with a Canadian communications satellite 

perched on top. 

The Anik D satellite should provide northern and western 

Canada with 24 color television channels when it goes into 

service by September 21. The $30 million satellite was 

lifted into the upper reaches of the atmosphere at a speed 

of more than 12,000 miles an hour leaving a corkscrew of 

smoke in its wake. 

The thundering fireball could be seen clearly as far as 12 

miles up in cloudless skies. Nine small strap-on booster 

rockets gave the 116-foot-tall Delta launcher its initial 

kick from a newly refurbished launch pad. 

Pad 17B was last used in 1975 and after an almost $1.8 

million face lift, the pad is ready to accommodate as many 

as 12 of the new Delta launches a year, said Charles Gay, 

director of Kennedy Space Center's rocket operations. 

The new upgraded Delta rocket is capable of lifting 400 more 

pounds of satellite into orbit than its predecessor. And 

Thursday's textbook launch marks the lifting of the heaviest 

satellite ever by a Delta rocket, officials said. 

The first launch of the upgraded Delta was made from 

Vandenberg Air Force Station, California, in July. 

Although weather at the launch site appeared threatening 

aborlt 5:30 p.m. Thursday, it cleared by liftoff, said Dick 

Young, NASA spokesman. 

Anik D will circle the globe over Western Canada near 

Winnipeg and should be operating from a height of 22,000 

miles, said officials of Telesat of Canada. 

"Essentially Anik D will more than double satellite 

communications in Canada," said William Zatychec, director 

of Telesat's satellite division. 

The satellite's lifetime is about nine years. 

-208- 
Originally set to launch August 19, liftoff was pushed back 

a week because of problems with electronic equipment on the 

pad. The electronics package, which controls ground support 

equipment, was repaired earlier this month. (TODAY, 

8-27-82, p. 16A) 

August 29: Cowhands are moving 3,000 cattle by barge to the 

mainland to allow a firm trying to become the first private 

space agency to finish preparations for its second attempted 

rocket launch. 

The solid fuel rocket, Conestoga 1, is scheduled to blast 

off September 8 on a suborbital mission from the southern 

end of the island, /Matagorda, Texas/ site of last year's 

ill-fated launch. 

The Minuteman rocket, purchased from the National 

Aeronautics and Space Administration, will be placed on a 

concrete block Tuesday and surrounded by a steel gantry, 

officials said. (TODAY, 8-29-82, p. 20A) 

August 30: President Reagan does not have enough votes at this 

point to win a fight in Congress over his veto of a $14.2 

billion supplemental appropriations bill, a White House 

official said Sunday. 

"We start from a position that we've started from many times 

kfore, and that's behind," said White House deputy press 

secretary Larry Speakes. 

However, he said Reagan would do whatever is necessary to 

win a veto showdown that will take place when Congress 

returns from its vacation September 8. 

Because of Reagan's veto of the bill, Kennedy Space Center 

would temporarily shut down if it is forced to lay off its 

2,100 federal civil service workers because of a fund 

shortage, "but that's very unlikely," space center spokesman 

Hugh Harris said Friday. 

About half of the work force at Johnson Space Center in 

Houston, or 3,400 workers, is employed under civil service 

law, and spokesman Steve Nesbitt said preparations for the 

Shuttle's fifth mission could not continue without them. 

-209- 
Astronauts who are not in the branches of the military are 

covered by civil service lad. 

Harris said officials at KSC have been "looking at plans to 

reduce the amount of time people would have to be laid off 

It's a matter of determining - down to the last penny - how 

long we can continue to pay people and allow them to work." 

If layoffs occur, Harris said, the space center will try to 

do it in such a way as to have the least possible effect on 

the Shuttle launch. 

Officials at Patrick Air Force Base, with 3,000 military and 

2,000 civil service personnel, said the overall impact - if 

any - could not yet be determined. 

The key question is whether Republicans will stand with the 

president in this fight. (TODAY, 8-30-82, p. 3k) 

<> U.S. Rep. Bill Nelson, the Melbourne Democrat whose district 

includes the space center, said he still was confident the 

layoffs could be avoided. 

"We can put an acceptable bill together and have it ready 

for the president's signature by the middle of September," 

Nelson said. 

"The only thing that could possibly get in the way would be 

if there were some significant showdown between Congress and 

the president over some other part of the bill." Nelson 

said. 

The fiscal year of the federal government begins October 1. 

funding as of that date has already been approved. 

funds for the space center are projected to run out on 

September 20. (THE ORLANDO SENTINEL, 8-30-82, p. A-9) 

August 31: A Casselberry woman filed a negligence suit Monday 

against NASA, charging that a water fountain she drank from 

in 1980 at the Vehicle Assembly Building contained parasites 

that made her sick. 

-21c- 
Cheryl Ann Burt and her husband, Larry, charged that NASA, 

Boeing Services International Inc. and its insurer, Aetna 

Life and Casualty Co.: and Rockwell International and its 

insurer, Traveler's Insurance Co., were negligent in 

maintaining the quality of drinking water at the space 

center. The suit, filed in U.S. District Court in Orlando, 

asks for an unspecified amount in damages. 

Mrs. Burt, who worked as a messenger for Atlantic Technical 

Services, was delivering mail to a Rockwell office in the 

Vehicle Assembly Building on November 6, 1980, when she 

drank from a second-floor water fountain and later became 

sick, the suit says. 

The suit charges that the water contained "giardia 

parasites," which it claims are dangerous to humans and 

often are found in contaminated water. It states that the 

woman became "seriously ill" and required hospitalization. 

Burt's hcsband joined in the suit, charging that he has 

suffered from the loss of 'services, companionship arid 

comfort" of his spouse. 

In a claim filed with NASA earlier this year, the woman 

charged that she lost weight and suffered permanent damage 

to her gastro-intestinal tract. The claim also states that 

she has been forced to take "toxic drugs" to combat the 

condition, which may result in "further complications." 

A NASA spokesman was not available for comment, but NASA 

chief counsel Edward Parry denied the woman's injury claim 

earlier this month. Parry wrote in a letter August 2 that 

Burt's claim was a "product of mere speculation" with no 

proven link to NASA. 

Rejection of the claim allowed Burt to take the case to 

federal court. (THE ORLANDO SENTINEL, 8-31-82) 

-211- 
SEPTEMBER 1982 

September 1: United Space Boosters, an operating unit Of 

United Technologies' Norden Systems subsidiary, has won an 

extension of its current contract to perform processing 

operations for the solid rocket boosters used OR the Space 

S\uttle. 

The contract extension is valued at $12,604,0008 bringing 

the cumulative value of the company's cmtract with the 

National Aeronautics and Space Administration to 

$54,331,737. Under the contract, the ccmpany provides for 

receiving inspections of the booster segments, nozzle 

assemblies, nozzle extensions, and associated hardware. It 

also prcvides for assembly and checkout of the various parts 

of the booster through pre-launch, launch, post-launch, 

recovery and disassembly operations. 

The cost plus award fee contract extension covers the period 

from April 1 through December 31, 1982. (NASA NEWS RELEASE 

NO. 198-82, 9-1-82) 

September 2: A 37-foot-surplus military rocket is poised on a 

sandy Texas Island, ready for the first launch of a 

spacecraft by private enterprise, a Houston company 

announced Wednesday. 

The solid-fueled rocket, named Conestoga 1, is scheduled to 

carry a dummy payload to 192 miles above the earth where it 

will eject a shower of ice crystals and then fall into the 

Gulf of Mexico. 

Space Services Inc. of Houston is spending about $2.5 

million for the project. The company's chairman, David 

Hannah, said the firm plans to develop a launch system that 

can carry satellites into low earth orbit for commercial 

customers. (TODAY, 9-2'-828 p. 12A) 

<> It didn't take animal care specialists lrom Sea World long 

to decide what to name the injured manatee they rescued from 

Sykes Creek last May. 

-212- 
There was something about the expression on the gentle sea 

mammal's face...and the spunky 3-5 year old animal's spirit 

clinched it, said Sandra Garrett, animal information 

representative from Sea World. "We knew she'd be going home 

-- so it seemed natural to name her 'E.T.'" 

E.T., injured when she tangled a flipper in a crab trap 

line, was transported to Sea World after Florida Marine 

Patrol officers called for assistance. 

The 535-pound creature began eating right away, and with the 

help of daily treatments, overcame the deep cut she had 

suffered. After three months, she was ready to return to 

the lagoonal waters that are her natural habitat. 

E.T., painlessly marked for future research on her 

movements, received a celebrity sendoff. Under the 

direction of Glenn Young, assistant curator of mammals and 

birds, she was taken in a special conveyance to KARS Park on 

the shore of the Banana River where a group of manatees have 

been sighted. 

Witnessed by KSC Director Dick Smith and heavy 

representation by the news media, and assisted by Sea World 

personnel and U.S. Representative Bill Nelson who rolled up 

the legs of his trousers and helped hoist the seven-foot, 

four-inch animal into the water, the release of E.T. was 

accomplished on September 2. 

When last seen, E.T., escorted by marine patrol craft that 

kept motorboats away from the area, was headed for open 

water. (SPACEPORT NEWS, 9-21-82, p. 6, Vol. 21, No. 19) 

September 3: A management-initiated "lockout" of 225 security 

guards was averted at Kennedy Space Center Friday /Sept. 3/ 

when Wackenhut Security Inc. employees accepted a salary 

freeze for the next 15 months followed by B 5.7 percent pay 

increase. 

In a letter to union representatives, Wackenhut officials 

threatened to refuse to allow the employees to work after 10 

p.m. Friday unless the two sides reached an agreement. 

-213- 
The lockout would have been the flrst work stoppage forced 

by management at the government installation, said union 

Fresident A1 Scholar. (TODAY, 9-4-82, p. 1B) 

September 4: A piece of a broken Shuttle booster rocket buried 

3,500 feet beneath the Atlantic Ocean may see the light of 

day sometime this week, NASA officials said Saturday /Sept. 

4/. 

The 40-foot-long section of the left-hand racket --- complete 

with two parachutes and flight recorders -- will be lifted 

from the sea with the help of a remote control salvaging 

dzvice on a Navy vessel, NASA spokesman Rocky Raab said. 

The Navy vessel and United Technologies Co.'s Freedom left 

Port Canaveral Friday for the site 150 miles out at sea. 

Freedom is a rocket retriever boat. 

A camera, attached to a rcbot submarine called the SCARAB, 

will search the ocean floor for any other flight recorders 

that may have been buried under the rocket piece. 

Raab said it will be several days before cables are attached 

to the 20-ton steel casing and it is slowly reeled up. 

The booster rockets, which gave the Shuttle its initial lift 

into the upper atmosphere June 27, were supposed to be 

recovered after launch. But a failure in the parachute 

systems doomed the rockets to a watery grave in the 

Atlantic. (TODAY, 9-5-82, p. 20A) 

September 7: NASA's John F. Kennedy Space Center has awarded a 

$11,521,430 extension of a current contract to Martin 

Marietta Corporation, Denver, Colorado, to perform External 

Tank processing operations for the Space Shuttle. The 

cumulative value of the company's contract with the National 

Aeronautics and Space Administration to provide these 

services is $54,322,823. 

Under terms of the contract, Martin Marietta will provide 

for planning, contr.-Ql and performance activities which will 

ensure that the External Tank and associated support 

equipment will operate within specifications. Martin 

-214- 
Marietta will also provide engineering capability to 

implement facility and equipment modifications associated 

with the External Tank. The cost plus award fee contract 

covers the period from April 1 through December 31, 1982. 

(NASA NEWS RELEASE NO. 199-82, 9-7-82) 

<> The Defense and Systems Group of TRW, Incorporated, Redondo 

Beach, California, has been awarded an extension of a 

contract to provide spare parts for payload integrators and 

payload signal processors for the Space Shuttle. The parts 

will be manufactured at the TRW plant in Redondo Beach and 

in Colorado Springs, Colorado. 

THe contract totals $1,614,000, bringing the cumulative 

value of the TRW contract to $5,795,549. The cost plus 

fixed fee contract calls for the spare replacement units to 

be delivered to the Kennedy Space Center in August, 1984. 

(NASA NEWS RELEASE NO. 200-82, 9-7-82) 

<> Rockwell International Corporation's Space Systems Group of 

Kennedy Space Center, Florida, has won a $94,667,400 

extension to its Space Shuttle processing contract here. 

The contract extension calls for Rockwell t@ perform normal 

processing functions to prepare the Space Shuttle Orbiter 

for launch at Kennedy Space Center. The wcrk includes all 

aspects of preparation of the orbiters, their main engines 

and other hardware during pre-launch, launch and postlanding activities. 

The cost plus award fee extension brings the total value of 

the existing contract to the sum of $416,534,543. The 

contract has been in force since Janaury 1, 1977, and this 

extension covers the period from March 31, 1982 through December 31, 1982, (NEWS RELEASE NO. 204-82, 9-7-82) 

September 9: An 18-year-old biology fitudent hopes to gain 

insight into the healing process in space whtn the shuttle 

Columbia carries 18 samples of Florida Gulf Coast sponges on 

its next mission in November. 

-215- 
For millions of years, tiny cells have easily assembled irrto 

healthy ocean sponges. In the weightlessness of space, that 

natural formation may be thwarted, the student, Aaron 

Gillette, believes. Mr. Gillette, who comes from Winter 

Haven, Florida, and is attending Western Carolina 

Universityp says that if that is the case, healing an 

astronaut's wound in flight may be equally difficult. 

The small sponges, called porifera, will be disassembled 

into one-cell organisms' before the launching November 11. 

Mr. Gillette said cameras would record any sponge 

formation. (THE NEW YORK TIMES, 9-9-82) 

<> Claude Davis, an aerospace engineer at Kennedy Space Center, 

will be recommended to Governor Bob Graham for an 

appointment to the state Public Service Commission, the PSC 

Nominating Council decided Wednesday. 

"My initial reaction is, I'm very pleased the nominating 

council thought I was qualified," said Davis, a Rockledge 

resident. "I feel I am the best person for the job on the 

PSC . " 

The council whittled a list of 68 applicants to eight 

finalists who will be interviewed for two vacancies on the 

commission. Six Brevard County residents were among the 60 

applicants cut Wednesday. 

Among those selected were Davis and two incumbent PSC 

members, Joe Cresse and Gerald Gunter, a former Titusville 

city councilman. Both are seeking reappointment to the PSC. 

If he doesn't make it this time, Davis said, !le'll try 

again: "It took Ronald Reagan 12 years to get to be 

president." (TODAY, 9-9-82, p. 28) 

<> The Space Shuttle Columbia starts the first 300 yards of its 

fifth mission at noon today with a tow from its hangar to 

the Vehicle Assembly Building. 

In preparation, technicians at Kennedy Space Center changed 

one of the spacecraft's 44 1/2-inch tires Wednesday, said 

KSC spokesman Jim Ball. He said by midnight Wednesday the 

122-foot-long Columbia was to be lowered on its landing 

gear. 

-216- 
From there the airplane-like Columbia is weighed to 

determine its center of gravity. That's necessary to check 

flight computer programs that depend on the center of 

gravity for guiding flight. 

"We're ready to roll it (Columbia) out by noorr but if they 

can go a little earlier, they will," Ball said, 

Once the Columbia is in the 525-foot-high Vehic!e Assembly 

Building it will be ccnnected to two booster rockets and an 

empty fuel tank. By late September the fully assembled 

spacecraft will be moved to the launch pad for a November 11 

launch. 

The fifth Shuttle mission is dedicated to putting two 

communication satellites into orbit. (TODAY, 9-9-82, p. 

14A) 

September 10: Space Shuttle Columbia made a mad dash between 

rainstorms from its "barn" to the Vehicle Assembly Building 

Thursday afterncon. Along with the weather, a stuck VAB 

door pushed Columbia's first steps back almost a day. 

Once inside the 525-foot-high assembly building by 5:20 

p.m., Columbia was prepared for stacking with its two 

booster rockets and a peach-colored fuel tank. Workers 

began immediately to wrap a sling around Columbia's belly to 

hoist it into a vertical position. It will be lifted by a 

crane late today and bolted atop its mobile launch platform. 

The full assembly of the Shuttle should be completed by 

Saturday and is scheduled to head to the launch pad 

September 21, said James Harrington, chief of Orbiter 

Operations at Kennedy Space Center. 

Despite the minor problems Thursday, Harrington said 

Columbia should be ready to fly its fifth mission intc space 

by November 11. On that mission, the spacecraft will carry 

four men and two communications satellites into orbit. 

Columbia was in its hangar for 41 work days where engineers 

repaired all damaged heat protection tiles. 

-217- 
"This is the first time we've come over to the VAB with zero 

cavities," said Harrington, referring to the fact that tile 

work was completed in the hangar. 

Challenger is currently being worked on in the same hangar 

Columbia left behind. 

"The work on Challenger will pick up a bit now that 

Columbia's out of the barn," Harrington said. (TODAY, 

9-10-82, p. 16A) 

<> NASA has called off plans to dredge a 40-foot-long section 

of a broken Space Shuttle booster rocket from the ocean's 

bottom. 

The two rockets used to lift Columbia into the upper 

atmosphere, sank 3,500 feet in the Atlantic after the last 

launch in June. The rockets were supposed to float and be 

recovered, but parachutes failed. The rockets crashed to 

the sea 150 miles off the Brevard coast. 

On September 4, a board investigating the failure 

recommended that rocket piece with its flight recorders be 

dredged with the help of a Navy vessel. 

Underwater photographs taken since then have provided enough 

information about the failed parachutes, making it 

unnecessary to recover the recorders, NASA spokesman John 

Taylor said Thursday. (TODAY, 9-10-82, p. 16A) 

<> The first rocket by a private company planning to orbit 

satellites blasted off Thursday from Matagorda Island, 

Texas. It flew a 10 1/2-minute suborbital mission before 

splashing down in the Gulf of Mexico. 

"Everything looked perfect. It went right on down the 

pike," said mission director Deke Slayton, a retired 

astronaut. 

Conestoga I, a gleaming white, 37-foot-tall rocket, climbed 

to an altitude of 192 miles, arched over the Gulf and 

separated from a dummy payload that spewed 4UO pounds of 

-218- 

i 
water into space. The payload and rocket splashed down 321 

miles from the launch pad. 

The launch from the tiny coastal island by Space Services 

Incorporated of America was a "victory for private 

enterprise," said company founder and board chairman David 

Hannah, a Houston businessman. 

"This showed that a group of private investors can get 

together and launch a rocket in a responsible way and well 

within a commercially feasible limit," said Hannah. 

Hannah said a dozen oil companies have expressed interest in 

using SSI to place satellites in orbit to monitor oil wells 

in remote sites and to search for minerals and oil deposits. 

SSI plans to build a multiple-stage rocket system capable of 

orbiting a 500-pound satellite about 500 miles above Earth. 

Conestoga I was built around a solid-fuel rocket notor from 

a surplus Minuteman missile. SSI bought the motor froin NASA 

for $365,000 and hired a contractor, Sr>ace Vectors 

Incorporated, to build the spacecraft. 

Next on SSI's agenda is launching a satellite and raising 

$15 million to $20 million to finance it, Hannah said. The 

comp3ny has yet to obtain a launch site but is negotiating 

for a location in Hawaii, he said. (TODAY, 9-10-82, p. 1A) 

September 11: A record crowd poured into KARS Park on 

September 11 to picnic on chicken, beer, cola and ice cream 

arid defy threatening rain clouds to make the NASA - 

Centractor Family Picnic and Fair the most successful ever. 

While scattered showers seemed to soak everything in the 

vicinity except the park, 2,430 NASA and contractor 

executives and workers played games, vied for prizes and 

listened to music. 

+ 

Picnickers played horseshoes, volleyball, softball, tennis 

and shuffleDoard, swam and cheered for their favorite team 

in t3e Tuq-O-War. 

- 219- 
Arriving by car, boat, motorcycle and motor home, they 

cheered the youngsters in their- events, including a sack 

race and a balloon stomp. 

They did double takes when they belatedly realized that the 

guy who took their tickets or handed them an ice cream was a 

high-ranking NASA executive. 

They lined up to send NASA's Henry Paul, Tom Wirth of Martin 

Marietta, Paul Donnelly of USBI, A1 Reeser of Rockwell 

International and Bob Foster of CSC into the dunk tank. 

Former top-level officials Lee Scherer and Miles Ross joined 

Dick Smith and George Page in the festivities. The crowd 

was swelled by a contingent of European visitors in 

enthusiastically cheering on a soccer match, patronized fair 

booths until they ran out of prizes and applauded as the 

park's new "River Breeze Pavilion" was dedicated. 

(SPACEPORT NEWS, 9-17-82, pp. 4 C 5, Vol. 21, No. 19) 

<> Kennedy Space Center workers Friday began the tedious 

process of mounting the space shuttle vertically atoa its 

mobile launch platform in preparation for its fifth mission. 

The 10-hour operation, which followed Thursday's rollout of 

the 100-ton orbiter to the Vehicle Assembly Building, began 

about 4 p.m. and was expected to be completed about 2 a.m. 

today, said spokesman Hugh Harris. 

Once atop the mobile launch platform, Columbia will be mated 

to its external 15-story fuel tank and solid-fuel rockets. 

Its fifth mission -- the shuttle's first as a full-blown 

space ferry after four test flights -- is scheduled to begin 

November 11. (THE ORLANDO SENTINEL, 9-11-82) 

September 13: It looked like something out of the NeimanMarcus catalog, an outlandish toy for the Texan who has 

everything. 

But the stubby rocket that thunderecl into space last week 

above a Texas cattle ranch may signal the start of a new era 

of commercial spaceflight. 

-220- 
"We feel we can offer a service that NASA cannot," said 

David Hannah, a Houstctn real estate developer who heads 

Space Services Inc., which sent the 36-foot Conestoga rocket 

195 miles above Earth. 

The David-and-Goliatk challenge did not fall on deaf ears. 

Despite four successful space shuttle missions, NkSA is 

struggling to overcome financial end scheduling problems 

with the $17 billion shuttle program. Critics say the 

agency has become a bloated and arthritic bureaucracy since 

its glory days in the eariy 1960s. 

"We don't have a big paper mill and a lot of people flopping 

around," said Deke Slayton, 58, a former Mercury astronaut 

who retired from NASA this year to join Space Services. "We 

all know what we're goins to do and we do it." 

A few high-ranking NASA officials have jumped ship to join 

the maverick Texas space program, which bas only seven fulltime employees. 

Lee Scherer, who supervised 66 launches during his five 

years as the director of the Kennedy Space Center, said NASA 

has no more business launching rockets than it does running 

a commercial airline. 

"The government should not be involved in anything that 

private enterprise can do," said Scherer, who was hired by 

Space Services to negotiate the lease of two Atlas-Centaur 

launch pads at Kenneciy Space Center. 

Despite their boastful bluster, Space Services officials are 

relying heavily on NASA support. Without a government 

surplus booster, bought for $365,000 from NASA, Conestoga 

would still be earthbmnd. 

But one successful flight isn't much of a track record, and 

some analysts doubt that Space Services could survive a 

second disaster. The company's effort to lease AtlasCentaur launch pads from NASA stands a much greater chance 

of success. 

General Dynamics also has expressed an interest in leasing 

the two pads at Kennedy Space Center, Mahon said. Because 

the two pads are on Air Force property and built with 

-221- 
taxpayers' money, 1~ would take a "major policy statement" 

from the Reagan administration to approve such a lease, he 

said. 

"Xt would be easy to just hand it all over, but 

intermingling pri-rate business and government would bn 

rough," Mahon said. The space agency may form a task force 

to explore a possible rental arrangement, he said. 

"The party line in NASA is that expendable rockets will be 

phased out and they've taken steps to make that happen," 

said Bonesteel, of General Dynamics. "Because of the 

uncertain situation of the shuttle program the phase-out has 

been delayed far into the future." (THE ORLANDO SENTINEL, 

9-13-82) pp. 1A S 8A) 

<> Multibillion-dollar shuttle processing competition is in a 

critical phase as contractors attempt to align themselves 

into teams and the National Aeronautics and Space 

Administration completes what it hopes is a comprehensive 

request for proposals scheduled to be issued to the ifidustry 

by the end af November. 

The shuttle processing contract is intended to replace 

nearly two-dozen individual contracts, and to enable NASA to 

back away from day-to-day supervision of the processing 

cycle into what will essentially be an auditing role. A 

single contract is to be awarded, but the winner is expected 

to head a team consisting of some of the biggest aeros2ace 

companies in the U.S. 

Assessments by potential bidders that observed space shuttle 

system processing for the third mission earlier this year 

divided into two divergent philosphies: 

* Processing the space shuttle is a complex, technical 

operation that can be successful from mission and schedule 

standpoints only if done by the experienced element 

contractors until system maturity is assured. 

* Processing the space shuttle is esssntially a management 

task. The shuttle system is mature and design engineering 

is giving way to sustaining engineering. 

-222- 
The incumbent contractors -- Pockwell for the orbiter, 

Martin Marietta for the external tank and United Space 

Boosters for the solid rocket boosters -- subscribe to the 

first philosophy. Boeing, Lockheed and Grumman believe 

shuttle processing is a management task and that they are 

individually capable of taking over this job, (AVIATION 

WEEK & SPACE TECHNOLOGY, 9-13-82, p. 77, Vole 117, NO. 11) 

September 1s: Holloway Corporation, a Titusvillc construction 

company, has won a $63,377 contract by NASA t9 provide the 

labor, equipment, and materials for the installation of 

Shuttle Inventory Management System I1 computer equipment in 

the central instrumentation facility at Kennedy Space 

Center. (TODAY, 9-15-82, p. 14C) 

September 16: Jones Machine and Welding Shop of Merritt Island 

has been awarded a $107,699 contract by NASA that is the 

result of a set - aside for a small business firm. 

Under the terms of the fixed price contract, Jones Machine 

and Welding Shop will provide 36 hold-down bolts, which are 

approximately 4 feet long, 5 inches in diameter and weigh 

about 150 pounds. The hold-down bolts are expected to be 

delivered to the Kennedy Space Center in approximately five 

months. (NASA NEWS RELEASE NO, 207-82, 9-16-82) 

September 17: Two astronauts will walk together in space for 3 

1/2 hours during the space shuttle's mission in November, 

NASA officials said Thursday. 

No American has walked in space since 1974, when astronaut 

Edward Gibson emptied film cassettes from a Skylab 

telescope. 

An extra day was added to the Columbia's flight November 11- 

16 so mission specialists Joseph Allen and William Lenoir 

can put on 240-pound spacesuits, crawl through an air lock 

and tackle a few light chores in the shuttle's cargo bay. 

"They've been assigned some make-work tasks with 

screwdrivers and wrenches, but mainly it's a test of the 

spacesuits," said Terry White, spokesman for Johnson Space 

Center in Houston. 

-223- 
The shuttle will carry two communications satellites and 

four crewmen during its fifth trip into space. The two 

satellites will be ejected from the shuttle by a springloaded turntable, then boosted into orbit by separate rocket 

stages. 

The Columbia is scheduled to roll to its launch pad Tuesday. 

Spacesuits worn by the shuttle astronauts are equipped with 

headlights, indoor plumbing, air conditioning and a supply 

of drinking water. The suits cost $2 million each. 

Although astronaut Thomas Mattingly tried on a spacesuit 

during the fourth shuttle voyage in July, he did not leave 

the spacecraft. 

During their spacewalk, Allen and Lenoir will be tethered to 

the shuttle by a safety cord. The 60-foot cargo bay also is 

equipped with hand and foot restraints so the astronauts can 

grope their way along the spaceship. The astronauts have 

spent dozens of hours submerged in underwater tanks at 

Johnson Space Center, testing the spacesuits to be used 

during their brief sojourn outside the shuttle. 

SBS-C, a commuiiications satellite owned by Satellite 

Business Systems, will be bounced from the shuttle on its 

first day in orbit. A second satellite, the Canadian-owned 

Anik-C, will be released on the second day. 

NASA officials had been reluctant to schedule the spacewalk, 

fearing it might disrupt the satellite activity. "Everyone 

is pretty secure and confident about getting the satellites 

away and still do the spacewalk," White said. 

The spacewalk will be a test of the astronauts' ability to 

tackle chores in space, including satellite repair and 

assembly of large structures in space. (THE ORLANDO 

SENTINEL, 9-17-82, p. A-1) 

<> A presentation of films, songs and dances has highlighted 

the observance of National Hispanic Week at KSC this week. 

Juan Rivera, a member of the Hispanic Employment Program 

Working Group that coordinated the activities, said, "One of 

our main purposes is to make Center employees aware of the 

involvement of Hispanics in the American culture and to 

create a community of people without prejudices because of 

race, ethnic origin or religion." 

-224- 

i 
Rivera, an electronics engineer in the Experiment Processing 

Division, said Hispanic Heritage Week is also a good time to 

acquaint KSC employees with contributions Hispanic people 

have made to the space program and science and technology in 

general. "In this country," he said, "there is a tendency 

to look at Hispanics as foreigners. However, some of our 

ancestors were some of the earliest settlers here." 

Currently there are 70 Hispanic federal employees at KSC, 58 

male and 12 female. Of that number, 50 are engineers, and 

two of these are women. 

In 1968 President /Johnson/ proclaimed the week which 

includes September 15 and 16 as National Hispanic Week in an 

effort to recognize Hispanic men and women who have played a 

vital role in the development and progress of this country. 

(SPACEPORT NEWS, 9-17-82, p. 2, Vole 21, No. 19) 

<> Space Shuttle Columbia blasted off from Kennedy Space Center 

Thursday and began orbiting the Earth before a malfunction 

forced technicians to abort the mission and land the 

spaceplane in Southern California. 

And it did all that without ever leaving the ground. 

A simulated launch, single-orbit flight and touchdown - a 

computer-fooling dress rehearsal for Columbia's fifth 

mission November 11 -- provided technicians with a chance to 

test the Shuttle's sophisticated computers in a mission-like 

situation Thursday. 

Two of the four STS-5 astronauts, Mission Cmdr. Vance Brand 

and pilot Robert Overmyer, were aboard the Shuttle for the 

simulated liftoff and l-hour, 45-minute mock flight. 

"Everything was successful; I'm very pleased with the test," 

launch director A1 O'Hara said minutes after the 

coverall-attired astronauts climbed from the Orbiter at the 

space center. 

The elaborate exercise also tested the Orbiter's ability to 

successfully abort its flight during the first phase of the 

mission from launch until the craft is out of the Earth's 

atmosphere. 

-225- 
Thursday's exercise was the last major series Of tests on 

the Shuttle before Tuesday's scheduled rollout from the 

Vehicle Assembly Building to the launchpad. 

After going through the motions of a final countdown and 

liftoff, the astronauts were confronted with a simulated 

malfunction and were forced to abort the mock mission before 

one orbit was completed, NASA spokesman Jim Ball said. 

Astronauts then pretended to land the spaceplane at Edwards 

Air Force Base, California. 

A 10-hour countdown preceded the astronauts' 1:45 p.m. entry 

into the Orbiter, but a slower-than-anticipated series of 

programming commands delayed the scheduled 2 p.m. liftoff 

for an hour, officials said. 

The test concluded at 4:45 p.rn.8 O'Hara said. 

The Shuttle "{nterface" test, which takes nearly a week, is 

designed to check critical electrical connections between 

Columbia, its external propellant tank and twin booster 

rockets. Final launch preparations will be conducted once 

Columbia is moved to Pad 39A. (TODAY, 9-17-82, p. 20A) 

<> "Dee is one of those people who performs his job 

enthusiastically, but quietly," said Clem DiLoreto, manager 

of project engineering for Martin Marietta's External Tank 

Operations, 

DiLoreto was referring to Dee Trimble, ET Operations 

employee of the month for August, and hardware project 

engineer for the qroup. 

Trimble has been a key member in managing Martin Marietta 

procedure developments for all Shuttle launches. His 

efforts have extended into all fringe-related areas 

involving approval and control of engineering paper. 

"Dee prevents a lot of problems through upfront effort," 

praised DiLoreto. "He doesn't just yeact to a problem. He 

attempts to influence the situation before it becomes a 

problem." 

-226- 
Trimble's response to NASA requirements and requests draws 

high praise from all who work with him. 

He joined Martin Marietta with the Skylab program in 1972, 

and has been a member of the ET team since 1976. He and his 

wife Judy have five children and live in Rockledge. 

(SPACEPORT NEWS, 9-17-82, p. 6, Val. 21, NO. 19) 

<> About 100 national delegates and represzntatives of NATO's 

Advisory Group for Aerospace Research and Development 

(AGARD) recently toured the space center as the concluding 

activity of their annual meeting. 

The group's tour on September 17 included a viewing of the 

assembled STS-5 Space Shuttle, the orbiter Challenger, and 

the European-built Spacelab. 

After being welcomed to KSC by Center Director Dick Smith 

and Col. Marvin Jones, commander of the Eastern Space and 

Missile Center, AGARD delegates and representatives received 

Space Shuttle briefings from Mission Specialist Astronaut, 

Dr. James van Hoftien and KSC's Sam Beddingfield. 

The advisory group, which meets each year in a different 

member nation, was hosted this year by the United Ttates. 

The advisory group provides NATO member nations with an 

organization for scientific and technical excLanges and 

assistance in the aerospace field. (SPACEPORT NEWS, 

10-1-82, p. 2, Vol. 21, NO. 20) 

<> Richard G. Smith, Director 

John F. Kennedy Space Center 

Florida 32899 

Dear Dick: 

Lifetimes are filled with memories, and KSC has 

certainly provided some of our most pleasant and vivid 

ones. Your hospitality Sunday was one of those events we 

will savor for a long time. We thoroughly enjoyed our visit 

and appreciated your making it possible. 

-227- 

I 
There is never enough time to say all the things we'd 

like to, or adequate opportunity to personally convey our 

thoughts to the people who make things happen. We have had 

the privi3ege of being invalved in the Shuttle program from 

the day we put our dream onto paper through the completion 

of the flight demonstration program. Throughout this period 

we have been impressed with the total dedication and 

perserverance of the entire NASA-contractor team. We have 

been particularly proud of using the KSC story as our 

example as we try to tell the nation how all of this magic 

happens. We didn't achieve an operational Shuttle after 

only four flights because of computers, exotic materials or 

elegant design but rather because thousands of Americans 

made 6 personal commitment that it won't fail because of 

me. This attitude can continually be seen at KSC. 

Please convey our professional respect to all of your 

team and our sincere thanks for allowing us to be a part of 

your team for that short piece of history called STS-4. 

Sincerely, 

T.K. Mattingly 

STS-4 Commander 

Henry W. Hartsfield, Jr. 

STS-4 Pilot 

<> NASA's John F. Kennedy Space Center has awarded a contract 

to a small business in Lakeland, Florida, Specialty 

Maintenance and Construction, Inc., valued at $318,557. The 

award provides for Specialty Maintenance and Construction to 

perform fabrication and assembly of a multiuse mission 

support equipment payload handling fixture to be used in 

support of the Space Shuttle. 

This payload handling fixtare will be the first of its kind 

ever built. It will be an invaluable tool if a Space 

Shuttle orbiter is ever forced to land at a contingency 

landing site. The fixture will be equipped to facilitate 

the removal of payloads from the orbiter if such a situation 

should occur. The fixture will be a portable device divided 

into seven segments for easy transport. These sections can 

be flown via C-5 aircraft whenever needed and assembled 

on-site. When assembled, the payload handling fixture will 

weigh 70 tons, and measure approximately 70 feet long, 20 

feet wide, and 18 feet tall. Once assembled, the device 

will roll on truck bogie wheels and be towed to the orbiter, 

where the payloads can be removed and transferred to the 

payload handling fixture. 

-228- 
The fixed price contract provides for the payload handling 

fixture to be delivered to the Kennedy Space Center early in 

1983. It will be shipped to the Kennedy Space Center by 

truck, and will c,o to the Launch Equipment Test Facility. 

At that time, the segments will be assembled, placed on 

truck bogies and towed to a mock retrieval site to test its 

performance capabilities, with and without a test load. 

(NASA NEWS RELEASE NO. 213-82, 9-20-82) 

September 21: The first European who will fly in an American 

spacecraft had a bottle of champagne to celebrate his 

selection as a crewmember for Spacelab. 

West German Dr. Ulf Merbold has a year to drink it - he'll 

be flying inside the Space Shuttle's portable Spacelab in 

September 1983. 

Merbold and Byron Lichtenberg of the Massachusetts Institute 

of Technology were named Monday as the men who will operate 

as many as 36 scientific experiments inside the 23-foot-long 

barrel called Spacelab, tucked in the Shuttle's cargo bay. 

Both men are scientists and are the first non-astronauts 

chosen for space flight. 

Lichtenberg's specialty is the study of space sickness, and 

he theorized that nausea and disorientation in zero gravity 

is caused by confusion of inner ear organs that help 

mair.tain an upright posture. He may test his notions by 

floating free inside Spacelab while cameras record eye 

movements and body sensations. 

The men also will draw blood from each other during the 

seven-day flight. Blood samples from space will be compared 

with samples taken before the flight to check the influence 

of weightlessness on infection-fighting white blood cells. 

Even as well-rounded scientists, Merbold and Lichtenberg 

will have responsibility for experiments outside their 

fields, including a measurement of cosmic radiation inside 

Spacelab and the study of the chemical composition of the 

upper atmosphere. Many of these experiments will operate 

automatically, Merbold said. 

Lichtenberg, 34, and Merbold, 41, were chosen from a field 

of four - two Americans and twc Europeans. The other two 

-229- 
men, Michael Lampton of the University of California and 

Wubbo Ockels of the Netherlands, will serve as backup crew. 

The international team of scientists sponsoring the Spacelab 

experiments made the selections. 

"There were no tests. We've all had the same amount of 

training, and I understand the vote was close," said 

Lichtenberg, adding a familiarity with a broad number of the 

experiments was an important factor. 

Merboid, who is a physicist with the Max-Planck Institute 

for Metals Research in Stuttgart, predicted the success of 

Spacelab will "encourage Europeans to continue in the manned 

space program. 'I 

Said Lichtenberg, joking about the international flavor of 

the Spacelab mission, "The computers are French and the 

beverages are from Texas. We'd like to get that reversed.'' 

The $1 billion Spacelab, which was delivered in a U.S. Air 

Force C-5 transport to Kennedy Space Center last December, 

is almost fully assembled, said Harry Craft, NASA's manager 

for the Spacelab mission. 

When Lichtenberg and Merbold fly in Spacelab during the 

ninth Shuttle mission they will be joined by four others: 

Shuttle astronauts John Young and Brewster Shaw and mission 

specialists Owen Garriott and Robert Parker. (TODAY, 

9-21-82, pp. 1A & 10A) 

September 22: With only one of its 32,000 heat F/rotection 

tiles missing, the fully assembled Space Shuttle Columbia 

rolled from its hangar to the launch pad without a fumble 

Tuesday. The spacecraft's next move is a thundering launch 

into orbit between 7:19 and 7:59 a.m. November 11. 

NASA officials also announced the Columbia will not stay in 

California after this mission as earlier planned, but will 

be returned to Kennedy Space Center for six months of 

modifications in preparation for its next flight in 

September 1983. 

-230- 

.- 
The space agency previously had considered towing the 

Columbia to its manufacturer in Palmdale, California, after 

it lands at Edwards Air Force Base November 16. 

But by flying the Columbia on the back of a 747 aircraft to 

KSC, engineers at Palmdale will have more time to finish 

construction of the third Shuttle Orbiter -- Discovery, said 

A1 O'Hara, Shuttle launch director. Discovery is schedule3 

for delivery to KSC late next year and a first flight in 

March 1984. 

O'Hara said the bulk of Columbia's modificazions after this 

flight are to prepare the spacecraft for a 23-foot-longl 

barrel-shaped Spacelab that will fit inside its cargo bay. 

Two scientists will conduct experiments for a week inside 

Spacelab on the ninth Shuttle mission. 

On Tuesday, the Columbia, bolted to its two booster rockets 

and empty fuel tank, begrn its 3 112 mile march from the 

Vehicle Assembly Building at S:14 a.m. and by 12:lS p.m. it 

was secured to the launch pad. 

"We rolled out this morning with one (heat protection) tile 

left to be bonded at the pad -- so that was sort of a record 

for us," O'Hara said. 

A total of 273 tiles were removed from the Columbia's skin 

after the last mission, ar,3 170 of them were damaged from 

flight. (TODAY, 9-22-82, p. 16:) 

September 23: An international communications satellite atop a 

134-foot rocket at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station will not 

be launched today as planned. Engineers suspect an internal 

power supply could fail once the satellite is in space. 

INTELSAT V was supposed to lift off from the pad at 7:03 

tonight- but mechanical problems detected in a similar 

satellite under construction in Califorilia gave engineers 

second thoughts. No decision has been made an a new launch 

date, said NASA spokesman Hugh Harris. 

Engineers last weekend found piroblems in an unfinished 

satellite at Palo Alto, California, and decided late 

-231- 
Wednesday to study the power supply in the satellite poised 

for launch here, said Allen Piccaskill, manager of INTELSAT 

launch operations. 

The powet supply in question is used to operate an 

electronics package that turns the satellite's 51-foot-long 

solar wings toward the sun. Without that maneuver, the 

satellite would not be able to collect solar energy for 

power in orbit during the seven years of its life. 

Harris said if the power supply problem is found in the 

satellite sitting OP the pad, it may have to be removed from 

the top of its 13-story Atlas Centaur rocket. Engineers 

would have to replace the failed parts, he said, noting he 

couldn't estimate the cost of replacing any failed satellite 

parts. 

The $35 million INTELSAT V is obned by 105 nations. 

The 4,348-pound satellite is thc fifth of a new series of 

nine satellites liming telephcne lines between borders. 

This latest satellite, with maritime communications, would 

be the first to provide telephone service to ships at sea 

and offshore drilling platforms from ground stations. 

McCaskill said 37 countries would use the maritime 

channels. 

INTELSAT V is desi.gned to circle the globe in time with the 

Earth's rotation at 22,000 miles up. 

In keeping with the international character of che project, 

INTELSAT satellites are built by Ford Aerospace in Palo Alto 

using components developed by firms in England, Japan, 

Germany and France. (TODAY, 9-23-82, p. 14A) 

September 24: The launch of an fntelsat V-E communications 

satellite which was postponed Thursday, has been 

reschedured for Tuesday night, NASA announced. 

The five-day delay will give technicians more time to study 

problems with a duplicate satellite at a Ford Aerospace and 

Communications Corp. plant in Palo Alto, California. 

-23 2- 
Intelsat V-E is the fifth in a series of nine con!minications 

satsllites wned by the 105-nation International 

Telecommunications Satellite OrgEnization. The satellite 

and its two-stage Atlas-Centaur rccket are valued at $76 

million. (THE ORLANDO SENTINEL, 9-24-82, p. €3-2) 

i> By signing or the dotted line, an executive of the National 

Park Servict has guaranteed a serious study of alternate 

access to Playalinda Beach an6 ended a year of bitter 

ccntroversy. 

More than a year after its first release, the park service's 

southeast regional director, Pob Baker, formally approved a 

10-year master plan for the Canaveral National Seashore last 

week. 

The year long delay came when the Save Our Beach citizens 

group protested that it made no mention of future access to 

Playalinda Beach. 

That future has been placed in jeopardy by increasing 

security requirements for the Space Shuttle program. The 

only access road, SR 402, lies within the 3-mile security 

perimeter of Launch Pad 39A, from which shuttles now are 

being launched. 

Although beacbgoers have been allowed to travel through the 

security zone most of the time the Shuttle has sat on the 

pad, they have been barred about six days before each 

launch. 

Despite satisfaction with those limited closures, SOB 

leaders expressed concern about more frequent closures when 

Launch Pad 398 goes into use in 1986. Pat 39B lies within 

one mile of the beach road and NASA officials say they can't 

allow the public to get that close. 

The SOB members took their complaints - and 5,500 petition 

signatures - to Baker at his Atlanta office in January. 

After months af debate, park service officials and SOB 

members agreeo to a compromise in August. 

Aithough they say they can't guarantee constant access to 

the beach, park service officials agreed to spend $100,000 

-233- 

on an alternate access study - to be conducted by a local 

firm - and finish it by next summer if there are no budget 

problems. 

Park service officials also promised that the public wili be 

asked its opinion on alternate access and that Titusvills 

Mayor Truman Scarborough will be kept up to date on all 

matters concerning Playalinda Beach. (TODAY, 9-24-82, p. 

1B 1 

September 27: Poets, painters and journalists may be shipping 

out aboard the space shuttle by the late 198Gs. 

NASA has appointed a task force to decide who should get 

passenger seats aboard the $10 billion spaceship. Writers 

and artists probably stand the best chance of hitching a 

ride. 

"You want someone who can translate the thrill and elation 

into words so hundreds of millions can understand what it's 

all about," said Games Kukowski, a spokesman for NASA headquarters in Washington. 

Although 79 American astronauts have tried to describe the 

wonders of space flight, the results have been less than 

lyrical .... 

The NASA task force will meet next month at Johnson Space 

Center in Houston, and will submit a final report in 

February. The group is studying medical and training 

requirements for passengers, and possible legal problems if 

they were to die in a shuttle disaster. 

"The biggest problem is who's going to be number one," said 

Kukowski. "Once it's started, it's going to be pretty hard 

to stop." 

t 

Shuttle passengers would probably have to pass the same 

physical tests taken by mission specialists. The exam 

requires at least 20/100 uncorrected vision, hearing loss 

not to exceed 35 decibels, and blood pressure no higher than 

140 over 90. 

-235- 
Passengers will have to be between 60 and 70 inches tall. 

There is no strict weight or age limit, but candidates who 

were overweight or over 60 probably won't be accepted, 

Kukowski said. 

Riding on the shuttle isn't nearly as strenuous as on early 

space shots. The G-force during launch and landing is no 

worse than an average roller coaster. Space sickness - the 

dizzying nausea induced by weightlessness -- would probably 

be the worst ordeal, Kukowski said. (THE ORLANDO SENTINEL, 

9-27-82, pp. A-1 & A-6) 

September 28: Kennedy Space Center workers Monday readied the 

shuttle Columbia for the next major test for its first 

operational flight on November 11 -- the loading of 

supercold fuel into the orbiter's external tank. A space 

agency spokesman said more than 500,000 gallons of frigid 

liquid hydrogen and oxygen propellant was scheduled to begin 

flowing about 5 a.m. today. After the fueling and a mock 

countdown and simulated blastoff, the propellants will be 

drained out of the tank and stored until reloading about 

five hours before the flight. (THE ORLANDO SENTINEL, 

9-28-82, p. B-2) 

<> A satellit2 that will provide international maritime 

communications thundered from its Cape Canaveral Air Force 

Station launch pad Tuesday night. 

Workers on offshore oil rigs will get their telephone 

messages through the satellite -- INTELSAT 5 -- once it 

becomes operational in December, said Cavin Trevitt, 

spokesman for INTELSAT, an international satellite company. 

The satellite is owned by 105 nations scattered on every 

continent, with users from Monaco to Vietnam. 

The $35 idillion satellite climbed through the clouds aboard 

a 134-foot-high Atlas Centaur rocket at 7:08 p.m. 

The 6,348-pound satellite is the fifth of a new series of 

nine satellites linking telephone lines between borders. 

This latest satellite is the first to provide telephone 

service to commercial ships at sea and offshore drilling 

platforms from ground stations. 

-236- 
The maritime channels will be used by 37 countries. 

"Everything from tuna boats to oil rigs will use it," 

Trevitt said. Aside from the maritime communications, the 

satellite will be capable of transmitting 12,000 

international telephone calls and two television stations. 

(TODAY, 9-29-82, pa 14A) 

September 29: Among thousands of requests for passenger seats 

America's Space Shuttle is one offering to exchange photos 

of Unidentified Flying Objects for guaranteed reservations. 

The proposal came from two New Jersey men, who wrote 

officials at Kennedy Space Center that they would turn the 

pictures over to the Soviet Union unless the space agency 

took them up on the offer. 

"It's quite a pitch, but I'm afraid we're going to have to 

turn them down," KSC spokesman Rocky Raab said laughing. 

"1'11 just send them the standard reply" which says there 

are no immediate plans to take civilians on round-trip rides 

aboard the space plane, he added....(TODAY, 9-29-82, p. 14A) 

<> Primed with a half-million gallons of frigid rocket fuel, 

space shuttle Columbia staged a successful mock liftoff 

Tuesday. 

An inspection team found no trace of frost or ice on the 

154-foot external fuel tank. Falling ice was blamed for 

damage to several heat shield tiles on the shuttle during 

the third launch in March. 

The Columbia is scheduled to blast off again November 11, 

carrying four astronauts and two communications satellites 

on its fifth trip into orbit. 

Shuttle commander Vance Brand, pilot Robert Overmyer and 

mission specialists Joseph Allen and William Lenoir will fly 

the five-day mission. None of the men were in the shuttle 

during Tuesday's test. 

-237- 
Loading of the supercold liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen 

began at 4:50 a.m. The fuel was drained soon after the 

simulated blastoff at 11:02 a.m. (THE ORLANDO SENTINEL, 

9-29-82, p. 8-2) 

§eptember 30: The Reagan administration plans to increase the 

budget for the military use of space by 10 percent a year to 

$11 billion annually by 1987, a Defense Department official 

said Wednesday. 

The official, who asked not to be identified, said the 

annual increases would support a projection by Edward 

Aldridge, undersecretary of the Air Force, that the 

government will be spending $14 billion by 1938 on military 

space programs. 

The increases reflect the administration's announced plan to 

give the 24-year-old space program a military orientation. 

President Reagan announced in July a new policy committing 

his administration to preparing for military combat in space 

and the development of an anti-satellite weapon. 

But most of the increases are going to the Space Shuttle, 

the primary vehicle for putting defense payloads in orbit, 

and expanding the network of 40 military satellites now in 

place for mapping, communications, navigation, spying and 

gathering weather data. 

The administration budgeted $6.4 billion for the Defense 

Department's space program this year and is seeking $8.5 

billion for fiscal 1983. By comparison, NASA's annual 

budget is now $5.5 billion with $6.1 billion sought for it 

next year. (TODAY, 9-30-82, p. 20A) 

<> Former astronaut Jack Swigert said Wednesday he is being 

treated for bone cancer but will continue his campaign for a 

seat in the U.S. House. 

"Apollo 13 taught me chat challenges are to be met and 

overcome," Swigert said at a press conferelice with his 

physician, Dr. Bob Sawyer. 

-238- 
Sawyer said that Swigert had undergone surgery for a 

malignant tumor in his nasal passage several months ago. He 

said that the test for the bone cancer had been one of the 

last tests done when the astronaut entered a hospital last 

week for back problems. 

More tests are being done to determine whtther there is a 

link between the two malignancies, the doctor said. 

Swigert entered Presbyterian Hospital in Denver for tests to 

determir.e the cause of back pain on September 16, two days 

after he won the Republican nomination in the new 6th 

Congressional District. 

The doctor said Swigert has tolerated treatments so well he 

can continue his campaign for Congress against Democrat 

Steve Hogan of Aurora. Sawyer said Swigert will undergo 

drug therapy every three or four weeks and should not have 

any significant ill effects from it. 

Asked about Swigert's prognosis, Sawyer said, "His chances 

are better than getting back from the moon in a broken 

spaceship. They are better than a flip of the coin." 

Swigert said the reason he is continuing his campaign "is 

the optimism expressed by my doctors in the ability to 

control the cancer, and their judgment that I would be fully 

able to serve the citizens of the 6th District as their 

representative." (THE ORLANDO SENTINEL, 9-30-82, p. A-5) 

<> It's not one of the more glamorous pieces of hardware in the 

space business, but the entire Space Shuttle rests on the 

broad back of a hulking, battleship-gray structure known 

simply as the mobile launcher platform. 

Last week, as technicians were busy stacking solid rocket 

segments for the sixth shuttle flight, a group of NASA and 

industry workers took a little time to celebrate completion 

of a five-year project to convert one of the Apollo-era 

rocket perches for operational shuttle use. 

-239- 
The second mobile launcher platform, MLP No. 2, was formally 

turned over on September 30 to KSC's Vehicles Operation 

Directorate for operational use in the shuttle program. It 

will serve as the base from which Orbiter Challenger will 

begin its first orbital flight early next year. 

Since 1977, the Design Engineering Directorate has been 

managing the extensive modifications required before the 

Saturn-era MLP could be used with the new, reusable Space 

Shuttle system. 

"Everybody feels very good about it,* said DE'S Dave 

Wentworth, project engineer on MLP-2. "Everybody worked 

very hard on this and we're glad to see the task completed." 

The project to convert the mobile launcher platform began in 

1917. Work was underway on the first MLP, later to serve as 

the launcher platform for the initial shuttle flights. 

Major tasks included removal of the Saturn-Apollo launch 

umbilical tower, reconfiguration from one to three exhaust 

vents and strengthening of the deck and remodeling of MLP 

systems. During most of the past year, work has centered on 

equipment hookup, checkout ad validation, Wentworth said. 

Total project cost was about $40 million. 

MLP-2 is essentially identical to the first mobile launcher 

platform put into shuttle service. Modifications made to 

MLP-1 to resolve a solid rocket booster overpressure problem 

have been incorporated on MLP-2. 

While thE crews involved in readying MLP-2 for shuttle 

service are glad to see their work accomplished, the job of 

converting Apollo launch platforms for shuttle operations is 

not over yet. 

Wentworth said work, aimed at completion in 1986, will begin 

shortly on modifications to MLP-3, which rests in a parking 

lot north of the VAB. (SPACEPOZT NEWS, 10-15-82, p. 2, 

Vole 21, NO. 21) 

<> Just think: a rocket was launched into space, and you 

didn't pay for it. Space Services Inc. of America -- a 

Texas firm with only seven employees -- did it with a mere 

-240- 
$6 million of investors' money. The company hopes to 

provide "low-cost, market-oriented" services with future 

operations. The Soviet Union and some Third World regimes 

have let it be known they don't like the idea of private 

space programs. Then again, they don't like the idea of 

private earth programs. (NATIONAL REVIEW, 10-1-82, p. 1189, 

Vol. XXXIV, No. 19) 

-241- 
OCTOBER 1982 

October 1: KSC's Federal Women's Program Manager has been 

detailed to NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C. to serve 

for four months as manager of the NASA-wide FWP. 

Pat Lowry, manager of the KSC program since 1977, will be in 

the nation's capital from October 3 through January 20, 

1983. "This is an opportunity for people in the field to 

understand how the equal opportunity staff operates at the 

Headquarters level," she said. "It's a great learning 

situation and a challenge for me." 

Lowry will occupy the office immediately following 

completion of a four-month term by the FWP manager from 

Johnson Space Center. The Headquarters-level position, 

currently vacant, and the program manager in the field 

centers are intended to enhance opportunities for women in 

NASA. (SPACEPORT NEWS, 10-1-82, p. 6, VO~. 21, NO. 20) 

<> NPSA's John F. Kennedy Space Center has awarded a $1,742,850 

extension of a current contract to the Federal Systems 

Division of International Business Machines Corporation, 

Owego, N.Y., to support the Space Shuttle program. The 

contract calls for IBM to manufacture and deliver one 

general purpose computer system for support of the Air Force 

Orbiter Functional Simulator at Cape Canaveral Air Force 

Station, by May 1, 1984. The cumulative value of the 

company's fixed-fee contract with the National Aeronautics 

and Space Adininstration to provide these services is 

$2,114,091. (NASA NEWS RELEASE NO. 219-82, 10-1-82) 

<> Kennedy Space Center firefighters avoided a strike late 

Thursday by extending the current contract with their 

employer Wackenhut Services Inc. 

Union members approved the measure less than one hour prior 

to Thursday's midnight strike deadline. 

-24 2- 
The Transport Workers Union, representing 86 firefighters, 

inspectors and truck drivers, reached a stalemate Thursday 

afternoon after negotiating since August 16, said Frank 

O'Connell, Transport Workers Union international vice 

president, 

At issue is Wackenhut's proposal to combine the 

firefighters' duties with that of the medical corps 

personnel in the event Wackenhut is named as the space 

center's chief base operations contractor later this month. 

While union leaders are not fighting the base contract, they 

believe Wackenhut's proposed combination of firefighters and 

emergency medical technicians is going to cut jobs as well 

as costs. 

However, union members voted "overwhelmingly" to extend 

their current contract until 15 days after NASA officially 

names the space center's new base operations contractor, 

O'Connell said, 

During that 15-day period, Wackenhut and union 

representatives will meet to negotiate a new contract, which 

will be retroactive to October 1, he said. 

"We must have a new contract at the end of that period," he 

added. 

Federal mediator Richard Deem was called into negotiations 

Wednesday and Thursday. He said the union and Wackenhut are 

negotiating for a 27-month agrcement. 

Wackenhut officials could not be reached for comment 

Thursday night. 

NASA officials had said they did not anticipate any delay in 

the November 11 launch of the Space Shuttle in the event of 

a strike. 

"We would expect Wackenhut to step right in and do the job," 

said KSC spokesman Mark Hess. (TODAY, 10-1-82, p. 1B) 

- 24 3- 
<> Funding for a fifth space shuttle orbiter was approved 

Wednesday by congressional conferees working on the 1983 

federal budget, but the unnamed spaceship remained in limbo. 

3.n Washington, the House-Senate authorization committee 

included $85 million in start-up money for the $1 billion 

orbiter. But a joint appropriations conference committee, 

meeting the same day, included no funds for the project. 

The split decision left NASA officials bewildered but 

optimistic. 

"It'll be a while yet before it's sorted out," said Philip 

Culbertson, NASA associate deputy administrator. "There's a 

reasonable possibility that we can get the fifth shuttle 

both authorized and appropriated. 'I 

To begin work on a fifth orbiter, NASA will have to shift 

money from its 1983 budget, or submit a supplemental request 

next year. Either way, it will require approval from the 

White House and Congress. 

The battle for a fifth shuttle has dragged on for years in 

Washington. NASA and the Department of Defense say a fifth 

shuttle is needed as insurance in case the fleet suffers a 

breakdown or crash. The space agency also expects a big 

increase in demand for shuttle space after 1987. 

Only four shuttles -- Columbia, PJllenger, Discovery and 

Atlantis -- have been funded. 

Challenger is scheduled to fly for the first time in 

January. Discovery and Atlantis will be turned over to NASA 

in September 1983 and December 1984. 

"If we have a total inventory of four and one goes down, the 

remaining three carmot carry the workload," Culbertson said. 

Unless work begins soon on a fifth shuttle, many shuttle 

contractors will halt production and shut down assembly 

lines. Resuming shuttle construction at a later date could 

drive the price JF by hundreds of millions of dollars, NASA 

officials warn. 

-2.04- 
A private firm, Space Transportation Co. of Princeton, N.J., 

wants to pay for the fifth shuttle orbiter in exchange for 

marketing rights for the entire shuttle fleet. NASA will 

meet with the group this month, and is expecte? to pass 

judgment on the proposal by Decelnber. 

If the plan is approved, Rockwell International might begin 

building the fifth orbiter sometime next year. The fifth 

ship, still unnamed, probably wouldn't be finished until 

late 1986. 

Spacetran employs only nine full-time employees, but will 

hire 60 to 100 workers by 1987 if NASA approves the 

proposal. A battery of insurance companies, banks and other 

financial firms will provide cash to buy the $1 billion 

orbiter. 

Meanwhile, NASA is in the strange position of trying to win 

government funding for a fifth orbiter, and also negotiating 

with private industry to buy the spaceship. Although the 

congressional action Wednesday did not ensure funding, spece 

officials viewed it as a vote of support. 

"We have not been told by Congress that we can start cLtting 

metal, but having it authorized is a clear, favorable 

action," Culbertson said. (THE ORLANDO SENTINEL, 10-1-82, 

pp. C-1 & C-6) 

October 2: The House approved and sent to President Reagan 

Friday night a bill authorizing nearly $6.8 billion in the 

new fiscal year for NASA. 

The measure, which cleared the Senate on Thursday, passed 

the House 284-83. It includes about $3.5 billion for 

research and development and construction of facilities for 

the Space Shuttle, which recently completed its operational 

test flights. 

It also earmarks $85 million to begin construction of a 

fifth Shuttle vehicle and instructs the space agency to 

charge the Defense Department "such prices as necessary to 

recover the fair value" of launching military payloads. 

(TODAY, 10-2-82, p. 12A) 

-245- 
October 5: Rabinson Equipment Company of Mims, a small 

business firm, has been awarded a contract by NASA valued at 

$27,788. 

The fixed-price contract calls for Robinson Equipment to 

deliver two Massey-Ferguson Model 275 tractors to the 

Kennedy Space Center by October 23, 1982. 

The tractors will replace similar ones which have outlived 

their usefulness. They will be us?d for general grounds 

maintenance at the Kennedy Space Center. (NASA NEWS RELEASE 

NO. 222-82, 10-5-82) 

<> Highly combustible chemicals that will power the Shuttle 

Columbia through space are to be loaded this afternoon as 

the spacecraft sits on its Kennedy Space Center launch pad. 

Monomethyl hydrazine and nitrogen tetraxide sre a volatile 

combination that fuel the Columbia's rear maneuvering 

engines and an array of small steering thrusters in the 

front ani? rear. 

The propellants provide the necessary push for positioning 

the 122-foot-long spacecraft during flight and bringing it 

out of orbit at the end of the mission. 

The Shuttle's fifth mission is still scheduled to start the 

morning of November 11. 

Loading the chemicals is a four-day operation and a11 but 

essential personnel are cleared from the launch pad area. 

The 'uel loading requires the installation of protective 

bibs ad buckets to prevent any chemicals from spilling down 

the side of the fragile spacecraft. 

Playalinda Beach will remain open to the public during the 

operation. (TODAY, 10-5-82, p. 10A) 

-246- 
October 7: Space experts hope to launch interested Brevard 

students on careers in science or engineeririq through a new 

four-year program that will involve them in the front lines 

of the nation's space exploration activities. 

NASA's Unique Resident Tutoring for Up-and-coming 

Replacement Engineers--NURTURE--is ultimately an attempt to 

encourage young people, particularly women and minorities, 

to aim for a job at the space center, said J.A. Diggs, 

director of the KSC Equal Opportunity Program Office. 

If approved by the school board next week, the Nurture 

project in January would recruit 20 ninth-graders to study 

NASA programs and learn about potential engineering-related 

careers. 

Although details haven't been worked out, the plan is for 

students, accompanied by high school teachers, to visit the 

space center at least four times each year €or 

demonstrations, tours, lab work and other activities, Diacj? 

said. 

They would meet astronauts and technicians, view 3 shuttle 

launch from the VIP site and learn about NASA projects. 

After the inaugural group begins this school year, 10 ninthgraders are to be selected in each of the next three years. 

The program is set to conclude in 1989 when the fourth class 

graduates, but could be continued if it's successful, Diggs 

said. 

Students would have the option of continuing in the program 

during their first year c;f college. 

NASA and the school system are looking for "reasonably high 

achievers who show a particular aptitude in math and 

science," he said. 

"The goal is to instill an interest in them to being good 

engineers...and, of course, to come and work for NASA," he 

said. "We feel the market is here and we're going to 

continue to need engineers." 

-247- 
In addition to visits to the Center, students are expected 

to work on projects on their own time under supervision of 

NASA officials. Students won't be graded on their work, but 

their interest should enhancs their learning, he said. 

"We're hoping their accomplishment as a result of this will 

be the real payoff, rather than grades," Diggs said. 

'Jnlike another NASA program where high school students 

nationwide? compzte to prepare actual space shuttle 

experiments, the NURTURE students would develop projects fx 

their own education, he said. 

However, a school spokesman said it is possible that some of 

the out--of-school work could be submitted to school teachers 

for credit. 

The applicant screening committee won't be limited to 

interviewing women and minorities, but officials believe 

that enough students will apply so that some can be 

included. 

Currently only "a limited number" of women and minorities 

enter into engineering fields, he said. 

"Typically minorities and mmen have not received the 

training and support for entering into a number of careers," 

explained Dr. Jane Chaney, director of secondary programs 

and assessment for the school board. 

This prograrr, is an attempt to address that problem, she 

said. 

Chaney and Diggs agreed that the recruiting program would be 

considered a success if only 50 percent of the students 

involved choose an engineering career....(THE ORLANDO 

SENTINEL, 10-7-82, pp. C-1 & C-5) 

<> Astronaut Joe Allen won't have much of a view when the space 

shuttle streaks into orbit November 11. 

-248- 
"1'11 be looking squarely at 20 metal lockers," said Allen, 

458 who will ride below deck ailring the launch. "I have 

this terrible vision: I imagine the screws coming loose on 

all those lockers. I' 

Astronaut William Lenoir, who will occupy the below-deck 

seat during landing, has similar fears. 

"I guess I'm in charge of religtous activity," jokes Lenoic, 

43, who has been offered a blindfold by his fellow 

astronauts. 

Despite complaints about the seating arrangements, the 

shuttle's four crewmen said Wednesday they were "99 percent 

ready" to fly the Columbia's fifth mission. The shuttle 

should achieve several milestones during the five-day 

voyage : 

* The first satellites carried into orbit and launched from 

the shuttle. 

* The first shuttle spacewalk. 

* The first U.S. spaceflight with four astronauts. 

It will also be the first shuttle flight with no ejection 

seats. The two ejection seats used on earlier flights have 

beer. disconnected. 

"The crew made it clear that they would never entertain the 

notion of ejecting and leaving two fellow crewmen behind," 

said NASA spokesman Jim Ball. 

After four non-profit test flights, NASA also is eager to 

prove that the shuttle can make money. Telesat Canada and 

Satellite Business Systems of Virginia will pay about $8 

million each to have their 8,000-pound satellites carried by 

the shuttle. 

The satellites will spring from the shuttle cargo bay on the 

first and second days of the mission, after receiving a 

computer command from the shuttle. 

-249- 
"It ought to be quite a sight as we see it leave the cargo 

bay," said Vance Brand, 51, who will command the 82-orbit 

voyage. 

Brand, a veteran of the 1975 Apollo-Soyuz flight, is the 

only crew member who has been in space before. Pilot Robert 

Overmyer, 46, and mission specialists Allen and Lenoir are 

rookies. 

Columbia will have 45 minutes to steer clear before the 

satellites fire separate rocket motors and travel to higher, 

geostationary orbits. The shuttle will be about 16 miles 

away when that happens, its belly toward the blast to 

prevent damage. 

The shuttle's robot arm will not be making the trip. 

Instead, the satellites will be ejected by a turn-table 

spinning at 50 revolutions per minute. 

Allen and Lenoir will attempt a 3 1/2-hour spacewalk on 

their fourth day aloft. They will lift weights with a small 

winch, and practice making electrical repairs on a makebelieve fuse box. 

Some of the space tools are custom-built, others were 

purchased at Montgomery Ward and adapted by NASA. A 50-foot 

safety cord will keep the astronauts tethered to the shuttle 

hatch while they roam the cargo bay. 

Both astronauts have practiced the space repairs several 

times in a huge swimming pool at Johrson Space Center, but 

working in a frictionless, weightless environment could be 

far more difficult. 

Before exiting the shuttle, Allen and Lenoir will spend 3 

1/2 hours inside an airlock, wearing their space-suits, to 

avoid decompression sickness. Lenoir said he plans to "get 

some sleep" during the wait. 

The spacewalk should determine whether future astronauts 

will be able to rescue a stricken "Solar Max" satellite that 

broke down in July 1980. 

-250- 
Although t'le shuttle is designed to carry up to 10 

astronauts in an emergency, prior shuttle missions have used 

two-man crews. 

During launch and landing, one astronaut has to squeeze 

between the pilot and commander in a "kiddy seat." Another 

crewman must ride below. (THE ORLANDO SENTINEL, 10-7-82, 

p. A-4) 

October 12: Split-second timing is nothing new to NASA. The 

space agency has dazzled television viewers with precision 

flights for more than two decades. 

But if timing aboard the fifth flight of Columbia, now set 

for liftoff November 11, goes awry, two satellites worth 

more than $20 million each could be ruined by the sun's 

heat. 

NASA and its customers, Satellite Business Systems (SBS) of 

McLean, Va., and Telesat Canada Ltd. of Ottawa, are 

confident that preflight planning will allow their 

7,200-poun3 communications satellites to be put into orbit 

without a hitch. 

If they don't, commander Vance Erand and pilot Robert 

Overmyer will have just five minutes to flip the Shuttle 

over on its back to shield the sensitive satellites from the 

heat. 

That's only one problem. If the satellites stay in the 

shade too long they could freeze. 

If necessary, missior! specialists Joseph Allen or William 

Lenoir might be called upon to take a space walk to get the 

launches under way. (TODAY, 10-12-82, p. 10A) 

October 13: While space agency officials are confident they 

can launch the Shuttle Columbia on time next month, their 

fingers are crossed in meeting the scheduled January 20 

launch of Challenger. 

-251- 
The sixth Shuttle mission, with an advanced tracking 

satellite as its cargo, could be pushed back as much as a 

week because of main enqine problems. 

A pressure leak in one of Challenger's three main engines 

has delayed delivery from the National Space Technology Labs 

in Mississippi to Kennedy Space Center where Challenger is 

being prepared for flight. The engines were scheduled to 

arrive in Brevard late last month. 

The three Rockwell International engines must go through a 

battery of tests before becoming certified for installation 

in the Orbiter. 

"During some of the calibration tests, we were not satisfied 

and we did it again," said James Kukowski, a NASA spokesman 

in Washington, D.C. 

So far, two of the engines have been certified iifter a 500- 

second test firing and they should be delivered to KSC by 

November 22 or 23, said KSC spokesman Mark Hess. The third 

should arrive a few days later. 

A flight readiness firing of Challenger engines on the 

launch pad should be feasible by Christmas. 

"It (a Jan. 20 launch) is still conjecture. We're aiming 

for it but it's going to be tight," Kukowski said. 

The space agency wants to maintain the present launching 

schedule in the interest of gaining t..r confidence of 

Shuttle customers. Commercial satellite companies and the 

Departnent of Defense both demand Shuttle launch times that 

won't slip. 

Once Challer- Er's engines are at the KSC Shuttle hangar, 

Hess said th.:e should be no manpower problems getting them 

installed an- tested. 

"The same people who do engine work on the Columbia will do 

it on the Challenger," he said. 

"As soon as we get a delivery, we should be on a more firm 

schedule," he added. (TODAY, 10-13-82, p. 10A) 

-252- 
October 14: Indonesian President Suharto took a close look 

Wednesday at the Space Shuttle that will carry satellites 

designed to unite his vast island nation. 

Suharto, 61, took a less than two-hour tour of launch 

facilities at the Kennedy Space Center. His trip included 

an elevator ride 190 feet above Launch Pad 39A where 

Columbia remains poised for its fifth flight scheduled for 

November 11. 

Two Indonesian satellites called Palapa, will be launched 

from the Shuttle in April 1983 and January 1984 and will 

provide telephone and television service between the 

nation's many islands. 

For Suharto, who came to power in 1965 after crushing a 

communist coup, the sophisticated satellites may be a tool 

to bring the often divided country together. 

While Suharto declined to be interviewed, he said in 

prepared remarks that the launch of his country's satellites 

"will allow Indonesia to become cohesive geographically as 

well as politically, socially and economically. Palapa is 

very important in trying to unify our country." 

With 145 million people, Indonesia is the world's fifth most 

populous nation and is the size of Alaska and California 

comb i ned . 

The space center is "a historic place of great importance to 

the whole world," Suharto said through an interpreter. 

"We promise we'll give your (satellite) hardware tender 

loving care when it gets to Kennedy Space Center," said KSC 

Director Richard Smith. 

Greeted by NASA Deputy Administrator Hans Mark and Smith, 

Suharto and his party of 90 also toured the Shuttle firing 

room and the hangar where the Shuttle Challenger is being 

prepared for its first flight in January. 

American hosts and Indonesian guests exchanged gifts that 

included a bronze model of the Shuttle from NASA. Suharto 

presented Smith with the Indonesian coat of arms, a 

-253- 
sculptured shadow puppet of a leqendary Indonesian man who 

flies without wings, and a framed color photograph of 

Suharto and his wife. 

The Indonesian president arrived at the space center's 

runway at 1 p.m. from Washington, D.C.? where he had met 

with President Reagan on Tuesday. From KSC, Suharto went on 

to Houston's Johnson Space Center for a tour of mission 

control. (TODAY? 10-14-82, p. 16A) 

<> America's Shuttle program can remain in civilian hands as 

long as funding for it continues to come largely out of the 

civilian space agency, said Hans Mark, NASA's deputy 

administrator. 

In an exclusive interview Wednesday, Mark disagreed with 

those in Washington who say the Department of Defense 

(should) pick up a greater share of Shuttle costs. 

Under the new Shuttle pricing policy, the Defense Department 

will continue to get a discount compared to commercial 

Shuttle users, but all Shuttle users will pay more in 1985 

than they do now. 

Members of the House Science and Technology Committee, like 

Rep. Don Fuqua, D-Fla., have recommended the Pentagon pay 

higher fees and more program costs since as much as 40 

percent of the Shuttle flights through the mid-1990s will be 

exclusively military. 

"Until it's fully operational, I'd like to see NASA retain 

control. The more the Department of Defense spends on the 

Shuttle, the less we (NASA) are able to control it," Mark 

said. 

Mark, a former secretary of tk Air Force, is at Kennedy 

Space Center today to honor space center employees at an 

annual awards ceremony. 

He predicts the Shuttle fleet will eventually include as 

many as six Orbiters, with the last being bought by the Air 

Force 

-254- 
Another subject close to NASA's heart is a space station. 

While a multibillion-dollar space station is still in the 

planning stage, Mark said there are plenty of reasons to 

justify building it. 

And he predicted it won't be solely up to the Pentagon to 

decide if the country needs a space station. The scientific 

applications, including zero gravity manufacturing plants, 

and national pride may be factors. 

"Apollo was almost purely for the hell of it -- just to show 

we're better than the Russians," he said. 

Although the Soviet Union has been experimenting with an 

unmanned Shuttle-tyyp spacecraft, Mark said Russia still has 

no manned re-usable space vehicle. 

"They're thinking about one. The same logic that drove us, 

drives them," he said, referring to both countries' aim to 

make space more accessible for commercial and military 

uses. (TODAY, 10-14-82, pp. 1A & 16A) 

October 15: The highest award of Federally Employed Women's 

Space Coast Chapter was presented recently to Claude E. 

Leslie Jr., chief of the Repro-Graphics Branch, NASA, at 

KSC. 

Lounette Price, chapter president, said the Distinguished 

Service Award for 1982 was presented in recognition of 

policies, actions and leadership that have increased 

opportunities for women. In addition to meeting established 

criteria for the award, she said, Leslie has shown 

extraordinary support to the chapter and has helped it to 

achieve the goals and aims of Federally Employed Women. 

Leslie, who has been with NASA for nearly 22 years, said, 

"I'm flabbergasted that they've selected me, particularly 

with such an impressive field to choose from. It's an award 

I'll cherish for the rest of my life." 

FEW'S aims include ending sex discrimination in government 

service, increasing job opportunities for women and 

furthering the potential of all women. (SPACEPORT NEWS, 

10-15-82, p. 4, Vole 21, No. 21) 

-255- 
Oct~ber 18: A private company has decided to proceed with its 

plans to build satellite servicing and processing facilities 

here that will augment the National Aeronautics and Space 

Administration facilities, which are growing increasingly 

inadequate. 

Astrotech International will start construction of its 

laboratory/assembly operation January 1, and expects to be 

in business a year later, according to Robert J. GOSS, 

president. The company has been studying the facility's 

potential since last summer, when it was named Space 

Services International. The name was changed to Astrotech 

to avoid confusing it with Space Services, Inc., which is 

developing the Conestoga rocket. 

Wertheim & Co. of New York City is heading a team of 

institutions providing $5-6 million in venture capital for 

plant construction and long-term debt. 

Astrotech will market a capability to provide facilities and 

engineering services for payloads, upper propulsion stage 

processing and storage. Initial capability is estimated at 

30 spacecraft a year. (AVIATION WEEK & SPACE TECHNOLOGY, 

10-18-82, p. 15, Vole 117, NO. 16) 

October 19: The two satellites that will fly aboard the Space 

Shuttle next month were loaded and secured inside the 

Columbia's 60-foot-long cargo bay Monday. 

The communications satellites will pop from Columbia's cargo 

bay into space November 11 and 12 during the Shuttle's first 

operational flight. 

Each satellite, weighing about 8,000 pounds, was rolled into 

the cargo bay on a railing that led from a special room at 

the top of the launch pad to Columbia. 

Once in their respective cradles in the cargo bay, the 

satellites were latched into place. 

Shuttle engineers will spend today and Wednesday testing 

electrical connections between the satellites and 

spacecraft, said Mark Hess, NASA spokesman. 

-256- 
The first satellite, owned by Satellite Business Systems, 

will be launched into space about eight hours after the 

Shuttle lifts off from launch pad 39A. 

A Canadian satellite -- called the Anik and owned by Telesat 

of Canada -- will spring from the cargo bay about 24 hours 

later. 

A spacecraft motor in each satellite will be dsed to put 

them into orbit 22,300 miles over the equator. (TODAY, 

10-19-82, p. 12A) 

October 22: The Federal Systems Division of International 

Business Machines Corporation, Ca e Canaveral, has been 

awarded a $434,000 contract by NA~A's John F. Kennedy Space 

Center. 

The contract calls for IRM to conduct a study for further 

development of a computer software program which aids in 

automated planning and scheduling for Space Shuttle 

payloads. The study is to be completed by September 30, 

1983. (KSC RELEASE NO. 245-82, 10-22-82) 

<> The Air Force Space Division has made a decision to join 

NASA in a procurenent effort which will eventually lead to 

selection of a single contractor for the processing of the 

Space Shuttle at both the NASA Kennedy Space Center and 

Vandenberg Air Force Base laurlch facilities. 

NASA expects to issue a request for proposals for this joint 

effort in January, 1983. 

Both NASA and the Air Force will consolidate contracts for 

flight hardware processing at both the Florida and 

California launch sites. At present, processing of Space Shuttle hardware is carried out at the launch site by 

several contractors who supply the flight hardware. 

Originally, the Air Force had not defined a time to phase in 

the Shuttle Processing Contract at Vandenberg Air Force 

Base. It is now planned that the shuttle processing 

contractor will be Dhased into Vandenberg processing as 

early as practicable and will be assigned launch 

-257- 
responsibility in accordan.-e with transition Criteria. In 

accomplishing the phase-in, the shuttle processing 

contractor will work with the incumbent launch Site 

contractor at the Air Force Base. 

The new contract will result in significant cost savings 

during the operational era of shuttle. It will minimize 

interfaces at launch and landing sites and focus clear 

responsibility on a single contractor. This focus of 

responsibility should improve flight safety and mission 

effectiveness. (KSC RELEASE NO. 248-82, 10-22-82) 

<> A rocket that can skip through the upper atmosphere like a 

flat stone on a pond may become another piece of reusable 

Space Shuttle hardware by the end of the decade. 

The Orbit Transfer Vehicle would return to the Shuttle's 

lower orbit, and, using the atmosphere as a brake, would 

slow down from 23,000 mph to the Shuttle's speed of 17,000 

mph. 

Astronauts inside the Shuttle would maneuver the robot arm 

and pluck the Orbit Transfer Vehicle from space and place it 

into the 60-foot-long cargo bay for a return trip to Earth. 

"It's a relatively expe*di,ive piece of hardware that should 

be built for retrieval and reuse. Instead of losing it, the 

only cost we'd have is to refurbish it," said Gene Austin, 

NASA engineer in charqe of studying the concept. 

By launching satellites with the reusable rocket, NASA could 

save the $2 million to $3 million it would otherwise spend 

to outfit each Shuttle with a new rocket. 

The space agency selected two firms, Boeing Aerospace Co. of 

Seattle and General Electric Re-entry Systems of 

Philadelphia to identify the technology necessary in 

building such spacecraft. 

Each of the contracts is valued at $200,000. The studies 

began September 30, Austin said. 

-258- 
In one design, a balloon made of a ceramic fiber would 

inflate once the rocket has descended from high orbit to 

about 50 miles up. The balloon would act as a brake against 

the thin upper atmosphere before the rocket swings out into 

an orbit around the Earth at the Shuttle's altitude of 180 

miles. 

"It won't be captured by the atmosphere. The friction of 

the air against the vehicle provides enough drag to slow it 

down," said Austin, who added that such a maneuver would 

save fuel. That extra fuel could be used to increase the 

rocket's satellite-hauling capability. 

The ceramic balloon would be made of a highly heat-resistant 

substafice, like the Shuttle's exterior coat of tiles. 

Austin said it would have to withstand temperatures of up to 

2,000 degrees. 

Said Austin, "Flying in that part of the atmosphere is 

tricky. We don't have much history flying through there." 

(TODAY, 10-22-82, pp. 1A & 18A) 

October 24: Despite a three-year downswing in Florida's 

tourist industry, local promoters are kicking hard at a 

sagging economy and a decline in international tourism to 

lure new +.ourism dollars and visibility to the Space Coast. 

With the relaunching of America's space program, major 

cruise ship lines and a glimpse of :he future just across SR 

528, officials are hoping to bring 20 million visitors to 

Central Florida and the Space Coast this year. 

With the dawn of the Space Shuttle era, Kennedy Space Center 

has become the third largest tourist draw in the state. 

This year, KSC's Visitors Center is operating about 5 

percent off last year's 2 million attendance figure, whish 

was the Space Center's best year ever, said George Meguiar, 

KSC public relations manager. 

Though KSC faces stiff competition from the economy and the 

1982 Knoxville's World's Fair, the Space Center still enjoys 

a steady stream of international visitors. "If we're not 

-259- 
the number one preference in European markets, we're number 

two,'' he said. And that interest persists despite a recent 

decline in internationai tourists' buying power in America. 

The center has completed about 35 percent of its expansion 

project, which will bring additional theaters and exhibit 

areas. And exhibits at the Visitors Center will be 

described in four languages beginning January 1- (TODAY, 

10-24-8 2 ) 

October 28: A towering Delta rocket cut a glowing swath 

through the night sky Wednesday propelling a state-of-theart communication satellite into space. 

The satellite, RCA SATCOM-5, will provide Alaska residents 

with improved lons-distance telephone and television 

service. 

The launch, from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station at 9:37 

p.m , could be seen throughout most of the county. Careful 

observers could notice the burnout of the rocket's six 

powerful boosters that sent the spacecraft to a height of 8 

miles in just under a minute. 

Within three minutes a f t e r l i f t o f f , the 116-foot-high rocket 

was at the edge of the Earth's atmosphere and still flying 

with propulsion from a second stage motor. 

By early next week, SATCCM 5 will be operational and 

orbiting the Earth over the South Pacific at an altitude of 

22,300 miles. 

SATCOM 5 will provide several Alaskan television services 

including the Rural Area Network and an energency medical 

network to isolated areas. 

The satellite, the first to be bought by a state for its own 

use, will be owned by Alascom Inc., but RCA will maintain 

the spacecraft for its eight-year life. 

The 2,385-pound SATCOM 5 also is the first satellite to use 

solid state transmitters, making them more reliable and 

durable. 

-26 0- 
Each of the 24 transmitters/receivers can relay two color 

television signals -- double the capacity of prior RCA 

SATCOMs. And a single transmitter/receiver can carry about 

1,400 two-way telephone calls... (TODAY, 10-28-82, p. 20A) 

October 29: The space agency has decided to abandon plans to 

rely on computers to guide the space shuttle Columbia to a 

'hands-off" landing at the end of its fifth mission 

beginning November 11, the agency reported Thursday /October 

28/ in Washington. 

Spokesmen said two landing simulators' lack of agreement on 

computer solutions f@r automated landing maneuvers was the 

key reason the automatic-landing test was called off. But 

the method may be used on a later flight. (THE ORLANDC 

SENTINEL, 10-29-82) 

<> KSC's cargo officials agree that the first commercial flight 

of the Space Shuttle will mean the coming of age for the 

Space Transportation System. 

Calling the fifth mission the "STS-1 of the cargo world," 

both John Xeilon (CP! and Tom Walton (CO) recently 

contrasted launching cargo from the shuttle and launching it 

from an expendable booster. 

Neilon said, "The main difference with Space Shuttle cargo 

is that the cargo must share space with other payfcads. 

From processing and facilities schedulino to checkout people 

to actual room in the orbiter and crew it,teraction, the 

cargo customer must learn togetherness." 

"The safety considerations also change considerably, both 

from the standpoint of protecting the launch vehicle and 

other payloads and in protecting a human crew as well. 

Those are things we've never had to worry about with 

expendables," Neilon said. 

Walton agreed. 'The orbiters are not cnly about fgur times 

as complex as an expendable rockst system, but have the 

capacity to carry vastly ditlerent kinds of payloses on the 

sane flight. Our ~he:c;~~t Fwcedures must be much more 

complex bcth on and off line to ensure everythinu is 

comp a t i b 1 e , 'I he s a i t! . -261- 
Both men agreed that there have been no significant problems 

during the checkout of the STS-5 cargo. The tests have 

proceeded with only the expected "growing pains" associited 

with a new system being used for the first time. The two 

attribute this smoothness to the professional approach taken 

by the various test teams, 

Responding to recent news reports about a company which 

proposes to provide payload checkout facilities on a 

c3mmercial basis, both Walton and Neilon welcomed the 

concept. "There could be a tremendous facilities crunch if 

the numbers of payloads increase as much as we expect," said 

Walton. "Cargo processing by a private concern would 

eliminate much of the congestion." Neilon added that the 

concept "would hold down our launch processing costs by not 

forcina us to update our checkout facilities over time." 

On the commercialization of space itself, both men once 

again agree. Walton said, "I am eager to see the commercial 

aspect of space flight. We already have made great inroads 

in this area, and I see the practical, commercial usage of 

space taking a predominant role in the future." 

Ttis particular commercial payload has a special 

significance for Neilon. "I was the launch director for the 

first labnch of a domestic, commercial communications 

satellite. Ironically, that was TELESAT 1, launched almost 

exactly ten years ago on November 9, 1972. It's a great 

thrill to be closely involved in this launch cf a TELESAT 

'bird' on the first commercial Space Shuttle flight," he 

said. (SPACEPORT NEWS, 10-29-82, ps. 1 & 6, Vol. 21, No. 

22) 

<> Some of the 270 were new to the annual presentation of 

awards for exceptional and faithful service. Others had 

stood to be recognized before, with other honors. 

Sone were recent additions to KSC -- while others were being 

thanked for 25, 35, even 45 years of service to their 

government. 

The presentations cited exceptional service and achievement 

in such fields as engineering, sciclnce, administration, 

personnel, work methods, manufacturing techniques and other 

-262- 
space-related endeavors.../For a complete list of persons 

receiving awards see the issue of SPACEPORT NEWS cited 

below; a copy of the issue is on file in the Archives, room 

1533, Headquarters Building, KSC, FL/ (SPACEPORT NEWS, 

10-29-82, p. 5, Vola 21, NO. 22) 

-263- 
NOVEMBER 1982 

November 1: An unscheduled hold of 5 minutes or more late in 

the eountdown for the fifth space shuttle launch could cause 

a postponement of at least a day. 

Subsequent shuttle missions also face this new countdown 

restriction, which results from the elimination of the antigeyser line in the external tank to reduce weight. This 

move saves 600 pounds that can be added to cargo capacity, 

but it cuts the time in half during which a contingency hold 

can be called and not cause a postponement in the period 

from T-8 minutes 55 seconds to launch. There are no planned 

holds during this period of the count. 

The anti-geyser line was incorporated in the first four 

mission external tanks to provide a circulation path to 

reduce the accumulation of gaseous oxygen in the feedline. 

It also was designed to prevent accumulation of liquid 

oxygen in the ullage area, which would rapidly reduce ullage 

temperature, reduce ullage pressure and could cause the 

liquid oxygen tank to collapse. (AVIATION WEEK & SPACE 

TECHNOLOGY, 11-1-82, p. 19, Vol. 117 NO. 18) 

<> Wackenhut Services, Inc., of Coral Gables, Florida, has been 

awarded a $1,377,116 extension of its contract with NASA to 

provide protective services at the Kennedy Space Center. 

Under the terms of the contract, Wackenhut is to furnish 

security, law enforcement and fire protection and rescue 

personnel at KSC. Wackenhut is also to provide plant 

protection and fire prevention programs for employees at the 

Center. The extension covers the period from November 1 to 

November 30, 1982. 

Wackenhut has provided protective services at the Kennedy 

Space Center since 1978. The new award brings the total 

contract value to $50,370,921. (KSC RELEASE NO: 30?-82, 

11-1-82) 

-264- 
<> NASA's John F. Kennedy Space Center has awarded a Sl,060,000 

contract extension to Reynolds, Smith and ~ills, a 

Jacksonville architectural firm, for support of the Space 

Shuttle program. 

Reynolds, Smith and Hills will provide design services for 

conversion of a mobile launcher used in the Apollo program 

to a mobile launcher platform that can be used for the Space 

Shuttle. The fixed-price contract stipulates that the 

design will be completed by August 31, 1.983. (KSC RELEASE 

NO. 304-82, 11-1-82) 

November 3: McGregor and Werner, Inc., of Washington, D.C., 

has been awarded a $515,530 contract extension by NASA's 

John F. Kennedy Space Center to provide printing, 

publication and reproduction services for the Space Center. 

This extension brings the cumulative value of McGregor and 

Werner's contract with NASA to $21,638,882. 

The cost-plus-fixed-fee contract, which covers the period 

from November 1 through November 30, 1982, stipulates that 

McGregDr and Werner will functionally manage printing, 

publication, reproduction, graphics, and microfilming and 

audiovisual operations for KSC. (KSC RELEASE NO. 310-82, 

11-3-82) 

<> NASA's John F. Kennedy Space Center has awarded a $1,252,000 

contract to David Boland, Inc., Titusville, Florida, for 

modificaticns to the Orbiter Processing Facility (OPF) where 

Space Shuttle orbiters are prepared for launch. 

Work under the fixed price contract is to be done within 275 

calendar days. The award was one that wae set-aside for a 

small business firm. (KSC RELEASE NO. 306-82, 11-3-82) 

November 4: NASA's John F. Kennedy Space Center has awarded a 

$1,269,770 contract to the Holloway Corporation, a 

Titusville, Florida, construction firm, for support of the 

Space Shuttle. 

-265- 
The contract calls for the Holloway Corporation to construct 

environmental control system facilities which will be used 

for shuttle orbiters while they are being processed and 

readied for flight in the Crbiter Processing Facility at 

KSC. The Holloway Corporation will construct two equipment 

rooms which will house the system that will supply an airconditioned atmosphere to ensure the environmental stability 

of the orbiter. Presently, a mobile environmental control 

system is used for the orbiter as it is transported from one 

place to another for processing. The contract provides for 

the work to be completed by September 308 1983. (KSC 

RELEASE NO. 311-82, 11-4-82) 

November 6: A $30 million lawsuit charging NASA with 

negligence was filed Friday by a man who said he and four 

co-workers were sent into a space shuttle compartment filled 

with nitrogen gas. 

Two men died and 27-year-old Nicholas Mullon claims the 

March 198 1981, accident at the Kennedy Space Center left 

him with severe brain damage, sudden personality changes and 

other psychological disorders. 

The lawsuit, filed Friday /Nov. 5/ in U.S. District Court in 

Orlando, claims that before the accident Mullon wDrked 50 to 

60 hours a week on the space shuttle as a technician for 

Rockwell Interaational. At night he went to school working 

toward an engineering degree. On weekends he served with 

the Army National Guard. 

But that was before Mullon and four other Rockwell 

International technicians, after an all-clear signal, 

entered a compartment filled with nitrogen gas locatci! just 

behind the shuttle's !.hree main engines. Two men died and 

Mullon and two others were seriously injured. 

Mullon and his wife, Denise, charged the United States, Pan 

American Wor1.d Airways and Wackenhut Services Inc. with 

negligence. (THE ORLANDO SENTINEL, 11-6-82, p. B-1) 

November 7: Ho-hum. Another Shuttle launch. 

-266- 
Although Brevard County =todents used to be shipped out by 

the busloads to watch p..,t Shuttle launches, only one bus 

has bee.1 schedu?td for a field trip to watch this Thursday's 

launch, said Ne,son Rutledge, director of school 

transFortation. 

Some school officials say the lack of scheduled field trips 

to watch the event may indicate that Brevard students are 

getting used to the event. 

"We're so far along ... i'- seems like old hat now," Rutledge 

said. "I remember the first couple of launches -- there 

were a lot of requests. I'm a little surprised there 

weren't more requests this time. I don't know why there 

wasn't more interest." 

The fact that Thursday already is a holiday for Brevard 

students because of Veterans Day and that the Shuttle launch 

is scheduled at 7:19 a.m. may have contributed to the lack 

of organized trips, (TODAY, 11-7-82) 

November 8: The countdown toward Thursday rmrning's launch of 

Space Shuttle Columbia began without a hitcn at 3 a.m. 

Sunday, as dozens of engineers and technicians responded to 

the "call to station" at Kennedy Space Center. 

The Orbiter's electrical system was switched on, the 

60-foot-long payload doors were closed and the pad cleared 

so the hazardous job of pressurizing the Columbia's on-board 

fuel tanks for flight coutd begin, said KSC spokesman Rocky 

Raab. 

The pad was to be re-opened at 7 a.m. today so workers could 

begin preparations for filling the Shuttle's fuel cell 

reactant tanks with liquid oxygen and hydrogen, which will 

be converted to drinking water and electricity during the 

five-day flight. 

The filling is scheduled to start about 7 tonight, followed 

by a built-in hold of eight hours beginning at 1 a.m. 

Tuesday. There are 20 hours and 19 minutes of holds set 

into the countdown. 

-267- 
Although the launch, scheduled for 7:19 a.m. Thursday will 

be Columbia's fifth, it will still be a first in many other 

ways. 

It will be the first commercial flight as two companies -- 

Satellite Business Systems of McLean, Virginia, and Telesat 

of Canada in Ottawa, Ontario -- have paid NASA between $8 

million and $9 million each to put their satellites in 

space. 

It will feature the first spacewalk by Americaiis in almost a 

decade. And it will be the first Shuttle mission to cazry 

four astronauts. 

The four crew members are Vance Brand, Joe Allen, Robert 

Overmyer and William Lenoir. 

Columbia is schedilled to land at Edwards Air Force Base, 

California, at 9:27 a.m. EST November 16. (TODAY, 11-8-82, 

p. 1A) 

<> The obvious ideas are usually the most overlaoked, and for 

that reason, you can probably appreciate what Merritt 

Island's Alfred ElcGee -- with help from his wife and two 

daughters -- has pulled off. 

As 1982 heads into tbe home-stretch and the nation scrambles 

its brains for year-end gift ideas, one item likely to draw 

some attention is the 1983 edition of the "Space Shuttle 

Collection" calendar. 

Complete with full-color NASA giossies of the Orbiter and 

its environment, calendar orders already have hit the 23,000 

mark. Add that to the 52,000 copies of the 1982 edition, 

and you've got some calendars being moved. And the 

Christmas season won't hit its stride for another month. 

"Sometimes,' understated McGee, 'it's the simple things in 

life that shoot off like a rocket. It was just a flat-out 

brainstorm." 

-268- 
During 12 years since 1967, McGee was an environmental 

control/life support system specialist at Kennedy Space 

Center. Anticipating the computer age, he shifted his 

sights to software and joined NASA's Digital Electronics 

Engineering Division. Yet, work that might blow the mental 

fuses of most people wasn't enough to sustain McGee. 

Something was missing. 

"You look around and you see some of the great things that 

people have done to leave their mark, and you start to ask 

yourself 'What have you done?'" he mused. "You go, 'Well, 

gee, I don't know, but I'd like to do something 

significant.' It was nagging at me." 

And suddenly, in early 1981, it became obvious: the Space 

Shuttle calendar. Fresh and unprecedented. Use NASA 

photos, which were public domain. Arrange said photos in 

lifiear fashion to create a sequential, storyboard effect. 

Accompany them with explantory notation. Commemorate the 

significant dates in aerospace history, send them to a 

printing company and sell them for $4.50 apiece. 

"I wanted something that would tell people the story of the 

Space Shuttle, but I didn't want something like a book where 

you'd read it once and never look at it again," McGee said. 

"I wanted something you'd be aware of all the time...," 

(TODAY, 11-6-82, p. 1B) 

November 10: Like the Space Shuttle program itself, the list 

of VIPs who'll see the 7:19 a.m. launch of Columbia Thursday 

/Novo 11/ is downright business-like. 

No longer is the NASA and NASA-contractor guest list for 

Shuttle launches headed by celebrities such as Robert 

Redford and Carol Burnett, but rather by the presidents, 

chairmen of the board and chief executive officers of 

Fortune 500 corporations; present and potential customers 

for the Space Shuttle; Shuttle contractors, a handful of 

former astronauts, an ambassador and lots of congressmen. 

The best known names, perhaps, on the NASA list of 

"distinguished guests" released Tuesday are author James 

Michener, whose latest novel, "Space," is already on the 

best seller list; Bum Phillips, coach of the New Orleans 

Saints; and former astronauts David R. Scott, Richard 

Gordon, Thomas P. Stafford, Gerald Carr, Eugene Cernan, Donn 

Eisele and Donald K. (Deke) Slayton. 

-269- 
In Wall Street Journal circles, perhaps the most impressive 

names would be Frank Cary, chairman of the board of IBM 

Corp.; Frank McPherson, president of McGraw Hill Publishing 

Co., and Frederick W. Smith, chairman of the board of 

Federal Express Corp. 

Heading the congressional delegation will be U.S. Rep. Don 

Fuqua, chairman of the House Committee on Science and 

Technology, who'll bring a group of abovt 35 or 40 

congressmen and gtiests; U.S. Reps. Mari1.p Bouquard, C-Tenn; 

Beverly Byron, D-Maryland; Glenn English, D-Oklahoma; L.H. 

Fountain, D-N.C.; William Green, R-N.Y.; Bill Nelson, 

D-Melbourne, /Florida/; Harold Hollenbeck, R-N.J.; Tom 

Harkin, D-Iowa; Frank Wolfe, R-Virginia; and John T. Myers, 

R-Indiana. 

Former Secretary of Labor William J. Usery, Jr. is expected 

to attend, as is the Canadian Ambassador to the United 

States, Allen E. Gotlieb. Actor James Garner has been 

invited, but has not confirmed whether he will attend. 

"The guest list this time is geared to industry, and 

potential and present customers for the Space Shuttle," said 

Arnold Richman, chief of Visitors Services, NASA Public 

Affairs. "For the upcoming Shuttle launches, it will depend 

on the payload. Like SpaceLab, for instance, that will be 

geared toward the Europeans who are involved." 

Of the Fortune 500 corporations and companies on that 

distinguished list, about 180 will be represented at 

Thursday's launch, according to Richman. The list was put 

together by the American Society of Engineers, but the 

invitations were issued by NASA. (TODAY, 11-10-82, p. 1D) 

November 11: Breakaway bolts have been replaced in the Space 

Shuttle's rocket booster apparatus and NASA is confident 

the valuable booster casings won't sink again as they did 

after last June's launch. 

Pieces of a $25 million pa'' of boosters are still rusting 

on the Atlantic Ocean floor where they sank minutes after 

the Shuttle's fourth launch. 

"This time we've gone to two solid bolts and there shouldn't 

be any problem," said NASA spokesman Carl Jones. 

-270- 
Six parachutes are deployed to slow the boosters' descent to 

splashdown. In June, the chutes detached early, allowing 

the heavy steel casings to plummet back to the Atlantic. 

Jones said the malfunction occurred when breakaway bolts 

that hold the chutes to the casings released too soon. The 

boosters "hit the water too fast and exploded," he said. 

During the summer, the bolts were replaced with two solid 

bolts. (TODAY, 11-11-82) 

<> If Columbia launches on time today, its crew could have two 

"reasonably close" encounters with the Soviets' manned 

Salyut 7 spacecraft during the first four hours of flight. 

The nearest approach would be 48 miles, perhaps close enough 

for the crews to sight one another if they are looking in 

the right direction and lighting conditions are right. 

"We gave our astronauts no special instructions to wave out 

the window, but we expect the Russians will have some 

sensors on us to learn what they can about our machine,'' 

said Lt. Gen. James A. Abrahamson, NASA's associate 

administrator for space flight. 

"We're happy to show it to them," he added. 

With Columbia headed on a southeast course and Salyut moving 

north-northeast, the ships will close to within about 850 

miles 10 minutes after the planned liftoff. 

That will be over the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. 

They'll drift apart, only to pass within 48 miles of each 

other at 11:16 a.m. high above the Indian Ocean. (TODAY, 

11-11-82 1 

<> At first glance, the fact that President Reagan hasn't yet 

witnessed a launch of America's most spectacular spacecraft 

seems like an unmistakable rebuff to NASA. 

-271- 
During the preparations for five launches, including today's 

liftoff, Reagan still hasn't had space on his agenda for 

Kennedy Space Center. 

But putting it into historical prespective tempers that 

apparent snub of NASA. Of all the presidents commanding the 

nation's space program, only Richard Nixon watched a manned 

vehiclz blast off during his incumbency. 

Even President John F. Kennedy -- who viewed NASA as the 

salvation of the nation and strived to ensure its future up 

to hi. dying day -- never viewed a liftoff. 

White House aides said Reagan hasn't been able to squeeze in 

the ceremonial task of witnessing a launch, but he hasn't 

ruled out the possibility for the future. (TODAY, 11-11-82) 

<> As Shuttle Columbia touches down Tuesday on the California 

lake bed at Edwards Air Force Base, her sister ship 

Challenger will leave its cocoon at Kennedy Space Center's 

Orbiter Processing Facility for final pre-launch 

preparations. 

Challenger, actually built before Columbia, will wheel to 

KSC's Vehicle Assembly Building to mate with its fuel tank, 

solid rocket boosters and mobile launch platform for its 

inaugural January 24 dash into space. 

Challenger, which ferried to KSC atop a 747 jumbo jet in 

early July, was originally constructed as a "structural test 

article,'' said NASA public affairs official Brian Welch in 

Houston. 

"The original idea was to build an Orbiter and shake it till 

it fell apart to see what it would take structurally," Welch 

said. 

However, plans changed and Challenger was readied for 

operational flight. 

Basically, the 75-tOn Challenger is stronger, almost 25 tons 

lighter, and more stable than her forerunner. 

-272- 
"Columbia can take up to six vertical Gs, meaning how hard 

you can pop it on the runway when you land," Welch 

explained. "ChallenGer can take eight (vertical Gs)." 

In the cockpit, Challenger will not use the ejection seats 

currently installed in Columbia but deactivated for the 

fifth flight. 

Challenger's flight instruments also differ from Columbia's 

-- another transition from test development to practical 

operation. 

Columbia's myriad sensors and measurement instruments have 

been replaced by mission support gear in Challenger like the 

Ku-band antenna system used to track satellites. (TODAY, 

11-11-82 

<> The space shuttle Columbia and its crew of four were 

pronounced in "great shape" Wednesday for today's commercial 

debut of the space agency's billion-dollar flying machine. 

This time, the fiery liftoff from the Kennedy Space Center 

will be only a prelude to the delivery of the spacecraft's 

first commercial cargo -- a $23 nillion communications 

satellite that will be released as the shuttle passes over 

the Pacific Ocean at 3:18 p.m, today /Novo 11/. 

"The men are in great shape and the machine is in great 

shape," said Lt. Gen. James Abrahamson, the associate 

administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space 

Administration. 

The only cloud otter the whole schedule, in fact, appeared to 

be the vagaries of earthly weather. 

"We expect great weather tomorrow," Abrahamson explained, 

beaming, under clear, sunny skies at mid-day Wednesday. 

An hour later Abrahamson and scores of others were scurrying 

for cover as a cloudburst soaked the spaceport. 

-273- 
Rain was falling in California, too, where a fiercd wintcr 

storm had already soaked the dry lake bed where the shuttle 

had been scheduled to land Tuesday after five days in space. 

Officials said a landing on an all-weather, concr5te runway 

at Edwards Air Force Base was still planned, but any new 

storm moving in from the Pacific Ocean could force NASA to 

keep the shuttle in space for a day or so more, waiting for 

better weather. 

"We seem to have the only deser: in the world that floods 

when we want to use it," Abrahanson noted ruefully. (THE 

MIAMI HERALD, 11-11-82, p. 1A) 

November 12: The space shuttle Columbia and its four-man crew 

made America's first business trip into space Thursday 

/Nov. 11/ with a billowing, 50-mile plume of rocket exhaust 

behind them and a new era in the commercial use of space 

ahead. 

Seven hours and 59 minutes after A "picture perfect" launch 

from Florida's Kennedy Space Cer,cer, the shuttle made its 

formal debut as the world's first space f-c.'.ghter and the 

astronauts made their first delivery -- a one-ton 

communications satellite shoved gently icto space as 

Columbia sped toward the west coast of South America. 

"We deliver," the crew reported to Houston's mission control 

center shortly after ejecting the se'ellite. 

"We still have that beautiful satellite in sight; everything 

looks good," reported astronaut Joe Allen. (THE MIAMT 

HERALD, 11-12-82, p. 1A) 

<> Only about 150,000 sleepy bird watchers linea the causeways 

and riverfronts for the space shuttle's fifth launch, the 

smllest crowd yet and considerably less than had been 

expected . 

Missing, too, were the massive traffic tie-ups that have 

plagued previous launches. Although bottlenecks slowed 

progress on Merritt Isiand and the beaches, traffic was near 

normal in most areas within two hours after 1 tnch, police 

reported . -274- 
The Veterans Day parade on Merritt Island, which had been 

considered the biggest potential traffic pre' lem, went off 

smoothly and on time at 11 a.m. 

The small turnout was a surprise to business people who had 

been besieged by early motel reservation requests and were 

getting steady inquiries from southbound winter visitors. 

The best guess earlier this week was 500,000, about the same 

number which showed up for the last launch. One 

enthusiastic chamber of commerce leader predicted e crowd of 

750,000, but the Brevard County Sheriff's Department said 

Thursday only about 150,000 showed up. 

Space center offAcials have predicted that interest in 

shuttle launches would iag as the space shots became more 

frequtnt. (THE 3SLANDO SENTINEL, 11-12-82] 

<> NASA Administrator Jalfes Beggs called Thursday's launch of 

the Space Shuttle Columbia "our best yet." 

"We don't do them any better. The good Lord gave us a 

perfect day and we thouqht we'd better have a perfect laurtch," said Beggs, who watched the launch from the firing 

room at Kennedy Space Center. 

"We dere really pleased with now this one moved on," Beggs 

said. "When you move from an experimental stage to a 

cominercial stage in anything, you worry. We have worried, 

but it has gone beautifully." 

Besides being pleased with the srxccessful beginning of the 

fifth Shuttle mission, "I was very pleased to see that we 

had the same number of accredited press this time. We had 

1,500 last time and the same this time. Yven though it's 

the fifth launch, they couldn't stay away." (TODAY, 

11-1 2-8 2 ) 

November 14: Part of the fun and excitement of helping cover a 

launch, such as the STd-5 launch Thursday mov. ll/, is 

meeting and talking to former astronauts who come back to 

experience part of the thrill of yesterye-.r missions. 

-275- 
Here are some astronaut footnotes to our coverage of the 

Columbia's beautiful launch Thursday mo--ning. 

Deke Slayton, the last of the original seven Mercury 

astronauts to retire, came to the launch rfs a civilian for 

the first time in rhe history of our space program. 

According t=, the ha?dSOme, graying former astronaut, he 

thoroughly enjoyed being there. In fact, it was his first 

visit ever to the VIP viewing site. 

But, life is very different for Slayton than it was a year 

agcj. Now, ne's working for Space Services, a Texas company 

that hopes eventually to give the Space Shuttle some 

competition by taking civilian payloads into space. The 

company has so far produced two launches, one that blew up 

about a year ago, and one successful sub-orbital flight in 

Se p t embe r . 

"About two years from now, we'll launch an orbital missile. 

We wanted to demonstrate (through the sub-orbital launch) to 

the government akrd to business and industry that it was 

possible and we did," said Slayton. "There's a lot of 

interest out there in what we're doing. It's sort of like 

the chicken and the egg thing. For them, it's if you've got 

the spacecraft, we've cot the payload and for us8 it's if we 

can get the payload, we'll supply the spacecraft. 

"I'm enjoying being out of the military," he said. "There's 

no bureaucracy and no paper work. I can make a decision in 

10 minutes and go do it. It's a refreshing atmosphere to be 

working in. The man I work for, David Hannah, is a real 

neat guy. He could have retired a long time ago, but wanted 

to see if this idea of his was feasible. No one wants to 

take a risk anymore. They've (most business and industry) 

become dependent on the U.S. Government. If they can't get 

a cost-plus contract. they dcn't want to do it." 

Slayton went from one exciting event to another. On 

Saturday, he was the keynote speaker at the 50th anniversary 

celebration of the British Interplanetary Society in 

London. "When you count backwards 50 years and realize 

there was no space program then, you have to realize they 

were people with vision," said Slayton. 

-276- 
Slayton's last mission was in 1975 when he flew along with 

STS-5 Astronaut Vance Brand and Tom Stafford in the ApolloSoyuz Test Project that linked in space American astroliauts 

with Soviet cosmonauts. He was 51 at the time. Vance Brand 

is the sime age now as he flies In Columbia's five-day 

voyage into space. 

... Former Gemini 6, Apollo 8 and ASTP astronaut Tom Stafford 

was in town, too. .4 Lt. Gen. who served as Air Force Deputy 

Chief of Staff for Research and Development before his 

retirement, Stafford now is a partner in a consulting firm 

in AleLandria, Virginia. Stafford, Burke and HeCker, Iric., 

provides consulting services to billion dollar clients 

interested in the space business. 

When Tom Stafford flew on ASTP, his representative in the 

Moscow Control Center was STS-5 Astronaut Bob Overmyer. 

"This is a special one (launch) for me, because of Bob," 

said Stafford at a pre-launch party hosted by Apollo 9 and 

15 Astronaut David Scott at the Polaris International Club 

in Cocoa Beach. 

"ASTP was my fourth and final mission," said Stafford. "But 

I can't complain. I flew four times on key missions and I 

was commander Lhree of those four times. I am a three-star 

general. But, anything is anti-cliaactic after space." 

... Friendly Ron Evans, one of everyone's favorite 

astronauts, said "I'd still be in the program if it weren't 

for tne hiatus -- it was going to be five years before there 

would be another mission and that was just too long to 

wait. Plus, I was anxious to see how I would do in the 

business field. There's a certain age, like the early 40s, 

where you don't want to wait too much lonser to get started 

in business. But if it hadn't been for that five-year 

hiatus, I'd still be in the program, believe me. 

"I was lucky enough to be in the program when people could 

really relate to what we're doing. They could relate to 

going to the moon. I think it's tougher for people to 

relate to going around the earth. Now, if we get to the 

point where we have a space station out there, they'll be 

able to relate to that." 

Does Evans feel the public is still interested in the space 

program. "It never ceases to amaze me," he said. "Whenever 

I make a public appearance around the country -- I do a lot 

-277- 
of speaking engagements for organizations totally uninvolved 

with the space program -- the place is always full. People 

want to meet me, find out what I'm doing these days. I'm 

not recognized on the street, of course, but if they know 

who I ami they're truly interested." 

1E 1 

(TODAY, 11-14-82, p. 

November 15: Parachute recovery systems on both solid 

propellant boosters functioned as planned in space shuttle 

Mission 5, and the boosters came down about 140 miles off 

the Florida coast only 8 miles from the United Technologies 

Corp. recovery vessels Liberty and Freedom. 

Mission 4 boosters sapk in 600 fathoms off the Florida coast 

when parachute separation systems failed. The boosters were 

dragged to the bottom. 

Mission 5 parachutes were released on ob?an impact, and all 

six main parachutes were spotted shortly after. The 

boosters themselves rode high in a spar position with about 

20 feet of each above water. The boosters and parachutes 

were scheduled to be returned to Port Canaveral by the 

afternoon of November 12. (AVIATION WEEK & SPACE 

TECHNOLOGY, 11-15-82, p. 21, VO~. 117, No. 20) 

<> Failure of command electronics on the Satellite Business 

Systems payload assist module threatened the schedule for 

launch of the fifth space shuttle mission and resulted in 

potentially harmful commands being sent to the satellite. 

As a resuit of the malfunction, both the SBS and Telesat 

Canada payload assist modules had to be rewired in the 

payload bay to provide an extra measure of protection 

against recurrence of the problem in orbit. The rewiring 

was done with the orbiter positioned vertically on Pad 39A. 

117, No. 20) 

(AVIATION WEEK & SPACE TECHNOLOGY, 11-15-82, pn 19, Vole 

<> Launch countdown procedures for the fifth space shuttle 

mission were a replica of those used in thg previous count 

in preparing systems for launch. 

-278- 
There were problems, but Robert B. Sieck, chief shuttle 

project engineer, said they were minor and well within the 

hold-time capabilities of being corrected. 

"We want to see the procedures get more repetitious and 

mature -- but not routine," he said. 

Alfred D. O'Hara, director of shuttle processing, called the 

Mission 5 countdown near perfect. (AVIATION WEEK 6 SPACE 

TECHNOLOGY, 11-15-82, p. 20, VOl. 1178 NO. 20) 

<> Shuttle program goal of an operational space transport 

carrying paying cargo and multiple passengers became reality 

November 11 as the orbiter Columbia flew its fifth launch 

ascent using procedures now being standardized for the 

vehicle. 

The shuttle's liftoff weight for its first operational 

mission was about 14 tons heavier than on its initial 

flight, reflecting provisions for a four-man crew and the 

Satellite Business Systems and Telesat Canada spacecraft 

cargo. Ascent procedures used by astronauts Vance D. Brand, 

Marine Colonel Robert F. Overmyer, Joseph P. Allen and 

William B. Lenoir will be the standard for most future 

flights, thus simplifying crew training and smoothing 

reusable space transport operations. 

The launch represented the first time in U.S. or Soviet 

manned flight history that four crewmen were launched at the 

same time. Lenoir flew in a cockpit jumpseat position while 

'ilen rode in a seat in the orbiter middeck. 

Tne ascent trajectory was slightly dc.Gressed because of 

70-kt. headwinds. The night before liftoff, shuttle 

management was somewhat concerned that the winds at 40,000 

feet would have an unacceptable cross component on che 

vertical stabilizer. Analysis showed no flight safety 

problems, however. 

Columbia's fifth ascent also differed from its previous 

launches in several areas because of both revised solid 

rocket booster and abort capabilities and the spacecraft's 

heavy liftoff weight. The Mission 5 liftoff weight target 

of 4,494,556 po,.rds is over 5,000 pounds heavier than 

Mission 4 and about 28,000 pounds heavier than on shuttle's 

first flight. 

-279- 
Main engine throttle-down profile used to slow vehicle 

acceleration during the period of maximum dynamic loads as 

Columbia approached Mach 1 differed markedly during this 

launch compared with earlier flights. 

About 33 seconds into the climbout, the three Rocketdyne 

engines were automatically throttled down to 85% thrust 

compared with the earlier 68% throttle-down level originally 

planned for Mission 5. The 68% would have been more like 

that used on all the previous flights. 

The need to maintain higher main engine thrust levels 

resulted from a determination that the United Space Boosters 

/Thiokol solid rocket motors have slightly less performance 

than calculated earlier. With less performance from the 

solids, the vehicle had to use somewhat higher thrust levels 

from the main engines to hit the desired velocity, altitude 

and dynamic pressure targets at MaX-9, the point of maximum 

aerodynamic loads. 

The heavier vehicle weight also was a factor in maintaining 

higher main engine thrust levels during the throttle-down 

period. (AVIATION WEEK & SPACE TECHNOLOGY, 11-15-82, p. 18, 

Vola 117, NO. 20) 

November 16: In a remote southwest corner of the Kennedy Space 

Center, physically isolated from the mainstream of KSC 

activity ana unseen by most employees, the round eyes of 

four Large dish antennas constantly scan the heavens. 

Originally code- jesignated "MILA," for Merritt Island 

Launch Annex, the ca?l sign of this tracking station has 

endured s;-ce 1965, when it was auilt to support the 

Apollo-Saturn program. 

MILA current?y stays busy supporting numerous scientific 

spacecraft, including the Solar Maximum Mission, ISEE-1, 

Nirnblrs VII, Landsat IV, and both Dynamic Explorer 

spacecraft. Its past credits include support of both Viking 

missions to Mars and the two Voyager missions to Jupiter and 

Saturn. 

MILA is called the "launch station' when it receives data 

duricg the early phases of the Space Shuttle or AtlasCentaur and Delta flights. Part of NASA's worldwide Spaceflight Tracking and Data Network (STDN) system, it is 

-280- 
managed by the Goddard Space Flight Center and operated by 

Bendix Field Enf.irlForing Corporation. A total of 127 

personnel staff the station 24 hours-a-day, seven-days-aweek. 

The computer: an8 other equipment at MILA provide uplink/ 

downlink voice, telemetry, commands, data and television for 

the Space Shuttle. Domestic satellite relay equipment 

forwards these transmissions to Mission Control or other 

NASA Centers. 

In addition, MILA is responsible for the operation of a 

smaller tracking station at Ponce de Leon Inlet, which is 

active only during Space Shuttle launches. The exhaust 

p1un;e from the solid rocket boosters hampers Shuttle 

communications at KSC from T+1:00 to T+2:00. The Ponce de 

Leon station can "see" the Shuttle from a side angle, to 

fill this one minute communications gap. 

Other equipment recently installed at the MILA site are 

antennas to communicate with two Tracking and Data Relay 

Satellites (TDRS), which will be launched next year on STS-6 

and STS-8. In the future, spacecraft that are to use the 

TDRS system will be in contact with it through MILA while 

still on the ground, to verify compatibility before the 

launch. This includes the Space Shuttle. 

The TDRS system can relay data from any satellite below 

geosynchronous altitude (22,240 miles above the equator), 

providing coverage for about 85 percent of most such 

orbits. This will replace mast of the usual tracking from 

ground stations, which can provide support only when a 

spacecraft is within sight. 

The Goddard STDN system, of which MILA is a member, will 

continue to provide tracking for satellites with highly 

elliptical orbits. These have an apoapsis, or high point, 

beyond the geosynchronous orbit of TDRS. An example of such 

a satellite is ISEE-3, with an orbit that has extended up to 

900,000 miles from Ea th. 

The future for the MILA tracking station is a bright one. 

Because the TDRS system cannot relay Space Shuttle 

communications until T+8 minutes, after external tank 

separation, it will continue to function as the launch 

station for the Siace Shuttle. The Delta and Atlas-Centaur 

vehicles are not TDRS-compatible, and MILA will serve them 

also. 

-281- 
During the fall of 1983, equipment fram the Jet Propulsion 

Laboratory will be installed at MILA to support the Delta 

launch of the Active Magnetospheric Particle Tracer Explorer 

(AMPTE) spacecraft in 1984 This same JPL equipment will be 

used again for the Galileo Jupiter Orbiter/Probe and the 

International Solar Polar Mission, both scheduled for launch 

aboard the Space Shuttle in 1985. 

During a period when other stations are cutting back to 

part-time or reduced hours operations, MILA continues to be 

a full-time 24-hour tracking facility. (SPACEPORT NEWS, 

11-16-82, p. 2, Vole 21, NO. 23) 

November 18: While the never-before-flown Shuttle Challenger 

is scheduled to move from its hangar to the Vehicle Assembly 

Building at 6 a.m. Saturday, the veteran spacecraft Columbia 

cames home to rest Monday afternoon. 

The Columbia, which completed its fifth flight Tuesday, will 

be flown back to Kennedy Space Center by 12:30 p.m. Monday 

from Edwards Air Force Base in California, hitched on top of 

a 747 aircraft. 

The iG0-ton Columbia will get a major overhaul in 

preparation for its next flight in October 1983. On that 

mission a crew of six will crowd into the spacecraft and the 

European Spacelab will occupy the 60-foot-long cargo bay. 

The move of the Challenger fro71 its hangar has been delayed 

four days because of engineering tests. It will make its 

maiden voyage on the six Shuttle mission scheduled for 

January 24. (TODAY, 11-18-82, p. 16A) 

<> The world's 'ieaviest communication satellite, weighing 3,000 

pounds more than the conventional variety, will take center 

stage in Space Shuttle Challenger's cargo bay. 

The sixth Shuttle mission, now set to start with a January 

24 launch from the Kennedy Space Center, will mark the 

beginning of a new generation of spacecraft. 

The Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS) the Challenger 

will carry into space is part of a satellite system designed 

-282- 
to give engineers on the ground an araund-the-clock link 

with future Shuttles. 

After a second TDRS is deployed in July, the system should 

provide continuous voice and computer data transmission 

between Shuttle astronauts and Mission Control. 

Because the satellites will orbit the Earth at 22,000 miles 

up, their signal will cover a wide area osl the globe, 

keeping an electronic eye on both the Shuttle and a White 

Sands, N.M., tracking station. 

Once the system is fully working, late next yearr 

computerized information or astronaut voice signals will be 

beamed from the Shuttle -- at only 160 miles up -- to a 

TDRS. That signal will be beamed to the White Sands 

tracking station. 

The White Sands station is a state-of-the-art information 

gatherer -- it could receive every letter and punctuation 

mark in a 140-volume encyclopedia every second, said Neville 

Barter, a spokesman for TRW, the satellite's manufacturer. 

While the present array of ground stations scattered around 

the world in the Shuttle's patch can track about 15 percent 

of the spacecraft's orbit, two 5,000-pound TDRS's will raise 

that coverage to 85 percent, Barter said. 

Harris CQrporation, headquartered in Melbourne, manufactures 

the two 16-foot-wide gold antennas that unfold from the TDRS 

like umbrellas once it's deployed. 

Asids from TDRS, the Challenger also will carry into space a 

powerful upper stage rocket designed to boost the satellite 

intc its high-Earth orbit -- a tenth of the way to the moon 

and far be*-ond the Shuttle's reach. Four astronauts will 

fly the three-day mission, and they are exkected tc deploy 

the TDhS from the cargo bay only about eight hours after 

1 if tof f . 

A Gapanese snow-malr:ng experiment that will study 

zero-gravity crbstal growth and a U.S. Air Force Academy 

canister of metals-processing instrvments also will hitch a 

ride in the car?, bay. (TOLAY, 11-11-82, p. 16A) 

-283- 
<> Two Brevard businessmen, a Milwaukee man and their companies 

-- all accused of inflating or falsifying the costs of 

construction work at NASA - finished the second day 

Wednesday of what could be a six-week-long fraud trial in 

federal court. 

The trial stems from a 20-count indictment issued in January 

against the men and their firms, which were doing 

subcontracting work at Kennedy Space Center. Federal 

prosecutor Ed Tomko of Washington, D.C., said the men 

inflated labor and equipment rates among ather expenses in 

four years ending in 1979. 

The men and companies accused are Arthur Boschen of 

Titusville, president of New World Construction Co.; James 

White Jr. of Melbourne, a former New World engineer; and 

Philip Akwa of Milwaukee, president of Capital Communication 

Corp. (TODAY, 11-18-82, p. 1B) 

<> Critics of the sale of oil and gas leases off the Florida 

coast are enlarging on their complaints about possible 

dangers to the state's tourists and fishing industries. 

They ire joining in a warning by NASA that oil rigs along 

part of the Atlantic coastline could be endangered by 

booster rockets, fuel tanks and other falling debris from 

the Space Shuttle. 

NASA wants the flight-clearance zone for Kennedy Space 

Center eliminated from the area the U.S. Department of 

Interior wants to open up for oil and gas exploration. 

Some offshore-drilling opponents in six Florida coastal 

counties that would be affected, including Brevard, are 

considering whether to join NASA in its petition. 

Brevard County Water Resources Director Bob Massarelli said 

his office is now reviewing the Department of Interior's 

environmental impact statement on the offshore leases but 

has not yet decided whether to recommend that Brevard join 

the opposition. 

-284- 
The matter probably will be brought before the county 

commission at its December 2 meeting, Massarelli said, 

before the scheduled December 7 public hearing on the leases 

in Daytona Beach. Massarelli said the extent of Brevard's 

participation in that hearing will depend on the 

commission's decision. 

Massarelli previously has voiced concern about the "onshore" 

impact of the offshore drilling, saying the program would 

bring an ir.flux of new workers to the area and strain 

current water resources. 

Volusia County Council members will debate the issue at a 

council meeting in DeLand today. 

Some officials in the other counties and from Governor Bob 

Graham's office have complained that offshore rigs would 

endanger the state's important tourist and fishing 

industries. One of the biggest fears is oil spills along 

the tourist beaches. 

NASA's proposal would cut about a third of the 33 million 

acres of Atlantic Ocean bottom that Interior Secretary James 

Watt wants to open up for exploration in July. 

NASA's flight-clearance zone extends from 12 to 130 miles 

offshore in an area stretching from Cape Canaveral north to 

near Brunswick, Georgia. It is off the coasts of Volusia, 

Brevard, Nassau, Duval, St. Johns and Flagler counties. 

(TODAY, 11-18-82, p. 1B) 

November 19: NASA's John F. Kennedy S2ace Center has awarded a 

$2,438,250 contract modification to the Federal Systems 

Division of International Business Machines Corporation, 

Cape Canaveral, Florida, for support of the Space Shuttle 

program. 

This award is for additional services under an existing 

cost-plus-award-fee contract with IBM to provide systems 

engineering and software development services for the Launch 

Processing System (LPS) at KSC. This contract modification 

calls for IBM to develop techniques that will aid LPS users 

in developing applications software for a multi-flow, multivehicle environment and increasing launch rates. 

-285- 
IBM provides the detailed design, development, validation, 

configuration management, and maintenance of the LPS system 

software, which provides programming instructions to the 

sophisticated computer system used in the automated checkout 

and launch of Space Shuttle vehicles from KSC. 

This contract modification is for the period from July 1, 

1982, through September 30, 1983, and brings the cumulative 

value of the parent contract to $88,352,204. (KSC RELEASE 

NO. 318-82, 11-19-82) 

November 21: Seven of 10 Americans think the Space Shuttle 

program is a good investmefit for the country, according to a 

new Associated Press -- NBC News poll. 

A majority also said they think the goverment 15 spending 

the right amount or not enough on the space program. 

A plurality said the main purpose of the space program 

should be scientific exploration rather than national 

defense. 

And the 1,583 adults in the nationwide telephone poll Monday 

and Tuesday were almost evenly divided over whether they 

would travel in outer space themselves if they had a 

chance. Men, however, were much more likely than women to 

say they would take a space flight. (TODAY, 11-21-82, p. 

1A 1 

November 23: Philip E. Culbertson, who has been assistant for 

Space Transportation Systems in the Office of the NASA 

Administrator since 19-9, has been named associate deputy 

administrator of the agency and given a special assignment 

to direct planning for development and operation of a U.S. 

manned Space Station or Space Platform. 

111 moving to the number three position in the agency, 

Culbertson succeeds Robert F. Allnutt, who has served in the 

post since mid-1978. 

Allnutt, an attorney with an engineering degree, has been 

appointed to the newly-created position of deputy general 

counsel for policy review, where he will be responsible for 

-286- 
conducting a series of reviews of "the legal implications of 

major policy areas....." (DEFENSE DAILY, 11-23-82, p. 118, 

Vol. 119, No. 15) 

<> Merritt Island homeowners have taken another step toward 

preventing the manufacturers of the Space Shuttle's solid 

rocket boosters from building a booster cleaning plant on 

the island. 

Merritt Island Executive Council Inc. officials, 

representing 18 homeowners associations, voted at their 

meeting last week to voice their disapproval of the proposed 

United Space Boosters Inc. plant site to NASA's Kennedy 

Space Center Director Richard Smith. 

Executive Council President Jerry Shaw said he expressed 

that disapproval in a letter sent to Smith. 

USBI announced in February tentative p!ans for an off-site 

plant for non-launch activities. Based at KSC, USBI has 

since leased 140 acres near the barge canal and obtained a 

conditional use permit to store hazardous waste on the site. 

"The letter's purpose is to convince NASA that the proposed 

site is not the right place for the facility. We do not 

want it here," said Shaw, a lieutenant colonel at Patrick 

Air Force Base, employed by the Department of Defense Space 

Shuttle Support Systems Plans Division. 

NASA officials say they haven't received the letter and 

Smith will be unavailable for comment until Wednesday at the 

earliest. 

The homeowners' biggest concern is the hazardous chemicals 

that will be stored at the facility if it is established, 

Shaw said. 

"In the event of an explosion you have an esteblished 

residential area nearby that might be impacted," he said. 

"Then there's the risk of pollution and contamination." 

USBI Deputy of Florida Operctions Beauford Franklin and 

other company officials at KSC were unavailablo for comment. 

-287- 
Franklin is scheduled to meet December 8 with the East 

Merritt Island Homeowners Association. 

The chemicals would be cleaning fluids used to remove any 

fuel residue from rocket segments before they're shipped out 

of state for refurbishment, US31 spokesman Rick Smith said 

last week. Most of the wastes involved would be methane 

chloride -- used by dr) cleaners -- and concentrated citric 

acid, he said. 

Cape Canaverai Air Force Station now is where segnents of 

the rocket boosters are cleaned, said NASA spokesman Hugh 

Harris. 

Shaw said homeowners decided to send the November 19 letter 

to NASA's Smith because briefings received bl the council 

froin USBI established that NASA has the final decision on 

the facility's establishment and location. 

NASA officials still are analyz ng the situation and don't 

know that they would have the final say, according to NASA 

spokesman Rocky Raab. The USBI contract i.s administered by 

Marshall Space Flight Center in Alabama -- not KSC, Raab 

said. 

Shaw said he first broug;lt the proposed plant to the 

attention of Sue Ford, president of the East Merritt Island 

Homeowners Association, when he saw USBI's application for a 

conditional use permit on the county Planning and Zoning 

Department agenda. 

An East Merritt Island Homeowners Association newsletter 

distributed earlier this month carried an article saying 

that USBI will store "hazardous waste" on land along the 

barge canal between Hall Road and SR3. 

"Not true," said USBI's Smith in response to the newsletter. 

He said the firm will not store hazardous wastes on the 

Merritt Island site -- if such a site is chosen. 

Wastes irstead would be stored temporarily -- up to 3C days -0 befo-e being removed from the premises, Smith said. All 

wastes will be disposed ut by a federal zlrd state licensed 

contractor, he said. 

-288,- 
USBI hired local engineers from Stottler, Stagg and 

Associates to prepare site evaluations and plans for a 

proposed Merritt Island plant. No information on 

preliminary architectural plans or proposed infrastructure 

have been made available by the company or the architectural 

firm. 

Engineer Malcolm Rclouth, in charge of the project, was 

unavailable for comment as he is out of the country. 

A rough-draft map of the proposed site shows 200 acres 

bordered on the east by NASA property, unused land on the 

west, Madison Avenue on the north, and a barge canal access 

to the south, 

USBI’s Smith stressed the Merritt Island plant is only one 

of several alternatives. There are no other Brevard County 

sites being considered, Smith said. But additional space 

for USBI might be found on undeveloped KSC property, he 

said. (TODAY, 11-23-82, p. 2s) 

<> Space Shuttle Columbia, hitched to the spine of a 747 

aircraft, made an early return to Kennedy Space Center 

Monday afternoon. 

Columbia was to be moved into its hangar around 6 a.m. today 

-- 2 1/2 hours after Shuttle Challenger was to be towed out 

of the hangar and into the Vehicle Assembly Building. 

Challenger, which will be flown in January on the next 

mission, has had some trouble getting out of the gate 

because of faulty hydraulic liaes in a landing gear. 

The former United Airlines 747, with its valuable cargo on 

top, touched down in a trail of dust at the space center’s 

three-mile runway at 12:14 p.m. about 200 space center 

employees and their families braved the mosquitoes and 

crowded onto a small field near the runway in wnat’s become 

a high-tech bird-watching tradition. 

“It doesn’t get old to me. I’m still as excited as the 

first time,” said Velma Keene of Satellite Beach, who came 

equipped with a lawn chair and camera. 

-289- 
Although Columbia looks a bit worn, it still has a long life 

ahead, said Bill Williams, Columbia vehicle manager. 

"It's beginning to look like a used spacecraft, like the 

ones in the Hollywood movies -- like 'Star Wars,'" Williams 

said. 

The double-decker flying machine of 747 and spaceship left 

Kelly Air Force Base near San Antonio at 9 a.m. after pilots 

found clear weather along the 1,200 mile path to Florida. 

The decision to fly was made an hour before takeoff. 

A storm front Sunday in the Texas area had threatened to 

delav the flight 2s much as two days. Sunday morning, the 

Columbia-747 duo left Edwards Air Force Base, California, 

where the Shuttle ended a five-day mission November 16. 

With five flights under its belt, Columbia will be retired 

for nine months tefore its next flight -- carrying Spacelab 

and a crew of six into orbit. 

John Young, commander of the first Shuttle flight in April, 

1981, will sit in that searr during the Spacelab mission. 

Modifications tc the spacecraft include greater 

accommodations for the bigger crew, a small kitchen, 

installing the Sarrel-shaped Spacelab and more powerful main 

engines. 

Williams said he is confident Columbia will be flight-ready. 

Columbia's major problem on the fifth flight was damage to 

the left main brake upon landing at Edwards. 

"It locked up the last 50 feet or so of rollouc, scuffed the 

tire and caused a leak," Williams said. But he added that a 

modification of the braking system will be made. 

Late Monday afternoon, Columbia was gingerly hoisted from 

atop the 747. From there, Columbia was to be towed to its 

hangar . -290- 
Challenger will carry satellites into space for the next 

three Shuttle missions through October 1983. (TODAY, 

11-23-82, p. 1A h 12A) 

November 26: They are esteemed workers at all times -- but for 

several days before and during the launch of STS-5, they 

were given special honors and privileges. 

The RSC Civil Service and contractor employLes were the 

latest group of launch honorees to be recognized for their 

outstanding and individual contributions to the space 

progran. 

The honorees were guests of hopor at a reception held at the 

Visitors Center, giving them a chance to get acquainted with 

NASA Asministrator James Beggs, KSC Deputy Director George 

Page and several members of NASA's astronaut corps. 

Following a special tour of Launch Ccmplex 39, they were 

treated to a VIP site view of the fifth mission of the Space 

Transportation System. 

The following are the employees commended for their 

dedicated service to the nation's space program. 

NASA: Mark Schlomer, Clarence Lasure, Karon Witcomb, Norman 

Carlson, Thomas Feaster, Shirley Green, James Lane, Bill 

Study, Vincent Guttuso, Ralph Rice, Czptain Edward Serine. 

The Bionetics Corp.: Mark Provancha, bieter Schiefner. 

Expedient Services, Inc.; Jessie Walls, Sr. 

IBM Federal Systems: Thomas Akridge. 

Martin Marietta Aerospace: John Thompson. 

CCMS Production Operations, Martin Marietta Aerospace: 

William Mixon. 

McGregor 6 Werner, Inc.: Sandra Burris. 

Planning Research Corp.: Bemis Tatem, Jr., Suzanne Bassett, 

John Smith, Jr., Ernest Tholke. 

TXA Services, Inc.: Ella Stucky. 

-291- 
Unified Services, Inc.: James J. Washington. 

United Space Boosters, Inc.: Grant Wtters. 

Wackenhut Services, Inc.: Lillian Stubbs. 

Wiltech Corp.: Thomas Owen. 

Computer Sciences Corp.: Marguerite Law, James Ward, Jr., 

Thomas Eastham. 

Rocketdyne: Barbara Cisco. 

Rockwell International Corp.: Lawrence Mullen, William 

Cheatham, Jr., Theresa Clover, Linda Beck, Walter 

Antoniewski, Harold O'Dell, Calvin Rose, Forrest Rooker. 

Boeing Services International, Inc.: Arthur Gordon, Marilyn 

Dunfee, Murin Whitener, Adelbert DeWees, Robert Osborne, 

Anne Pantano, Stanley Starr. 

McDonnell Douglas Technical Services, Co., Inc.: W.L. 

Robinsor?, Wendy Dankovchik. 

Pan American World Airways, Inc.: Joanne Helton. 

(SPACEPORT NEWS, 11-26-82, p. 1, Vol. 21, NO. 24) 

November 29: Space shuttle workers here moved the orbiter 

Challenger to the Vehicle Assembly Building November 23 to 

mate it with the external tank and solid rocket boosters in 

preparation for its first space flight and the sixth in the 

sh'ittle series. 

A number of minor problems in cockpit systems and main 

landing gear hydraulics delayed the move that had been 

planned for November 17. iThe) National Aeronautics and 

Space AdmiListration wants to stack the shuttle system and 

move it to the launch pad November 29 for a flight readiness 

firing of its three main engines before Christmas. A date 

of December 21 is the target for this firing. 

The main engines had been a pacing item in the schedule. 

The third engine completed its SOO-second test at National 

Space Technology Laboratories in Mississippi, October 31. 

It arrived here November 10, shortly after the liftoff of 

the orbiter Columbia on its fifth mission. These engines 

are qualified at 104% of rated thrust. Engines in Columbia 

-292- 
are qualified at 100% thrust, which is 375,000 pounds each 

at sea level. (AVIATION WEEK S SPACE TECHNOLOGY, 11-29-82, 

p. 72, Vole 117, NO. 22) 

<> NASA has selected EGLG, Inc., of Wellesley, Massachusetts, 

for negotiation of a contract to support base operations at 

the Kennedy Space Center. 

The cost-plus-incentive/award fee contract will be for an 

initial period of one year, plus two priced one-year options 

and seven unpriced one-year options, for a total potential 

period of 10 years. 

EG&G's proposed cost for the initial three-year period is 

approximately $193 million. 

The base operations work contract wiil be the first of three 

comprehensive contracts to be awarded to strengthen the 

Space Transportation System launch furxtion. The contract 

will consolidate institutional and certain technical support 

services now provided by 14 different contractors into a 

single mission contract covering utilities, facilities, 

administrative services, technical operations and health and 

safety services. 

EGsG, Inc., proposes to utilize a work force predominantly 

composed of employees of incumbent contractors currently 

performing the same or similar work at Kennedy. 

The contractor will also establish and maintain a retirement 

benefits plan that will be transferable to any future 

successor contractor. This is a unique feature, requested 

by NASA, which is intended to stabilize pension 

opportunities for base operations contract employees. The 

contractor also proposes a significant goal for small and 

small disadvantaged business opportunities. 

Requests for proposals were origina1J.y mailed to 48 

companies and 69 additional companies requested copies of 

the RFP. in addition to EGGG, Xnc., proposals were also 

received from: 

* BENKO Joint Venture (Bendix Field Engineering; Wackenhut 

Services, Inc.; Planning Research Corp.; and Computer 

Sciences COK~.), Cape Canaveral. 

-293- 
Boeing Services International, Cocoa Beach. 

Lockheed Engineering and Management Services Co., Inc., 

Houston. (SPACEPORT MMS, 12-10-82, pp. 16 6, VOl. 21, 

No. 25) 

<> (The) Interior Department has refused to exclude about 10 

million offshore acres of the Atlantic Ocean floor from oil 

and gas exploration despite a National Aeronautics and Space 

Administration plea that it needs this area for space 

shuttle operations. The area NASA wants excluded is fanshaped and extends to a maximum distance of 195 nautical 

miles from the Kennedy Space Center. (The) lease of 

approximately 33 millicn acres of Atlantic ocean floor from 

28-37 degrees North Latitude has been proposed for next July 

by Interior Secretary James Watt. NASA is protesting that 

the zone it wants excluded includes the normal drop area for 

recoverable solid rocket boosters and that the external tank 

could be jettisoned there in a launch abort. (AVIATION WEEK 

& SPACE TECHNOLOGY, 11-29-82, p. 15, Vole 117, NO. 22) 

November 30: EG&G isn't a household name at Kennedy Space 

tenter. In fact most space center employees have had little 

dealings with the company that will sign about 1,900 

paychecks starting next year. 

When stacked up against aerospace giants like Lockheed and 

Boeing, EG&G is the runt of the litter. In comparison, 

Boeing recorded about $9 billion in sales last year while 

EG&G reported $704 million in sales for 1981. 

But when it came time Monday for NASA Administrator James 

Beggs to choose a company to operate and maintain Kennedy 

Space Center -- a three-year contract worth $193 million -- 

he picked EG&G. 

Based in Wellesley, Massachusetts, EG&G is a diversified 

high-technology firm that has ken making precision 

instruments for more than 30 years. The company is no 

newcomer to dealing with the government -- to date having 

managed more than $6 billion in government programs. 

With 18,000 employees, Fortune Magazine ranked EG&G 428th in 

szles among the 500 largest companies. 

-294- 
Founded in 1947, EG&G has no single predominant product 

line. But it has had a reputation in the weapons' business. 

In its defense contracts, EGhG has built electronic 

components for weapons systems and the company's Special 

Projects Division is now working on a new combat system for 

attack Submarines. 

EGhG works closely with the government's national weapons 

laboratories and the company's Energy Measurements Group 

Zurnishes instruments for use in the underground nuclear 

bomb tests in Nevada. 

In its early years, EGG was almost exclusively a government 

contractor dedicated to weapons research, according to the 

company's 1981 annual report. "And though names have 

changed and missions broadened, the company's role in the 

nation's nuclear weapcrns programs continues to be 

important," the report reads. 

Two areas where EG&G has diversified are in biological and 

energy research. The company manages the Idaho National 

Engineering Laboratory for the Department of Energy and is 

involved in synthetic fuels and hydro-electric power 

research. 

EG&G Mason Research Insitute at Worcester, Massachusetts, is 

a center for cancer and poisons studies. (TODAY, 11-30-82, 

p. 12A) 

- 29 5- 
DECEMBER 1982 

December 1: Space Shuttle Challenger, cutting through the predawn fog like an apparition, made its way to the launch pad 

Tuesday. 

The fully assembled Shuttle, 12,000 pounds lighter than its 

predecessor Columbia, completed a 3-mile ride from its 

hangar to launch pad 39A by 10:35 a.m. 

By the Christmas holidays, engineers are scheduled to test 

fire Challenger's three main engines and the Shuttle's 

ptyload should be stowed inside the cargo bay by the first 

of the year, said Jim Ball, NASA spokesman. 

A crew of four astronauts will spend three days in space 

during the sixth mission --- their primary duty to deploy into orbit the largest communicakion satellite ever. 

Called TDRS, the satellite is part of a network designed to 

provide ccntinuous radio and data relays between the grovnd 

and future Shuttles. 

"By then (the test firing), we should firm up the launch 

date," Ball said. Liftoff is tentatively scheduled for 

3anuary 24. 

Challenger is a far lighter Shuttle than Columbia, now in 

its hangar for a nine-month tuneup and renovation. 

Challenger's peach-colored fuel tank is 6,000 pounds 

lighter, the two booster rockets weigh 4,000 pounds less and 

the Challenger spacecraft itself is about 2,000 pounds 

lighter than Col.umbia, Ball said. 

Putting the Shuttle on a weight-reduction program is part of 

NASA's overall plan to increase the spacecraft's carrying 

potential. 

The Shuttle began its journey over a bed of crushed Alabama 

river rock at 4:19 a.m. 

-296- 
The 184-foot-high spaceship was propped on a steel-gray 

mobile launch platform. 

This platform recently was refurbished fram its last mission 

-- the 1973 launch of Skylab. (TODAY, 12-1-82, p. 1A) 

December 2: PRC Systems Sevices Co. and the architectural and 

engineering firm Briel, Rhame, Poynter and Houser Inc. will 

design ground support equipment for Launch Pad 39-B at the 

Kennedy Space Center under a $5.9 million NASA contract. 

PRC and BRPH will pursue the project in a joint venture. 

The contract pericd began November 22 and continues to June 

30, 1983. 

Pad 39-8 was last used in the Apollo space program. It is 

being modified for use by the Space Shuttle and the 

necessary work is expected to be completed in early 1986. 

Thus far, all Space Shuttle launches have been from Pad 

39-A, for which both PRC and BRPH designed support equipment 

and modifications under earlier NASA contracts. 

The new contract calls for such items as components to 

regulate and distribute gases and propellants to the launch 

pad, a fuel cell servicing system and electrical contr91 

panels for the liquid oxygen and hydrogel] systems. (TODAY, 

12-2-82, p. 16C) 

<> When TODAY published the news Tuesday that the new contract 

to operate the Kennedy SFace Center for the next three years 

will go to EG&G Inc., our switchboard received many calls 

from readers asking what the initials represent. That chows 

how little is known about the company that beat out such 

familiar Space Coast names as Boeing, Pan American and 

Lockheed. 

But EG6G (Edgerton, Germeshausen & Grier) is no "Brand X" 

firm blindly drawn from a hat. It is a diversified, hightechnology engineering and weapon? company with an 

outstanding track record for efficient management and 

security operations of major federal facilities. 

-297- 
We believe the selection of this firm, personally approved 

by NASA Administrator James Beggs, signals a move by the 

space agency to tighten the management of its operations -- 

to get the job done better and for less cost. That's a 

sensible move, because unless NASA does a better job of cost 

cutting in routine operations, it is likely to have a much 

harder time getting funding in the future to underkake 

costly new ventures in space such as building a p?rmanent 

space station. 

There probably are few people living in Brevard who hsven't 

heard stories from friends who work at KSC about the waste 

and inefficiency that frequently bas occurred in some 

operations there. 

It will be EG&G's task to trim costs in operating the space 

center's security, fire control, janitorial services, water, 

sewer and heavy equipment. Expectations are that more than 

200 contractor employees will be trimmed from the workforce 

at KSC by the end of next year. Even though we don't like 

to see workers lose their jobs' we can't argue with a move 

to trim excess positions from a tax-supported payroll. It 

is not unreasonable to expect that a streamlined operation 

under tight management will be able to turn in equal or 

better performance. 

EGG, a Wellesley, Massachusetts-based firm, will receive 

$193 million for its three-year contract. A couple of 

important factors that apparently influenced NASA to select 

this firm were its record of success in operating highsecurity military facilities and its demonstrated ability to 

reduce labor-management tensions. There will be a need for 

enhanced security at KSC in the future, as Space Shuttle 

operations move into new operational phases. 

We congratulate EG&G for its successful bid and we applaud 

NASA's realization of the need to tighten the management of 

its major operations. (TODAY editorial, 12-2-82, p. 14A) 

December 3: ..... (Brevard County) commissioners decided to 

back NASA in its opposition to oil and gas exploration off 

Port Canaveral. 

NASA has asked the federal government to drop its plans to 

sell oil and gas drilling leases on about 11 million acres 

of Atlantic Ocean floor within the Kennedy Space Center's 

flight clearance zone. 

-298- 
NASA officials fear that Shuttle components, such as the 

solid rocket boosters, would face possible damage if they 

struck an oil rig during a launch. 

The rocket boosters are jettisoned into the ocean shortly 

after liftoff. 

In an emergency the craft's external tank also would be 

dumped into that area. On a successful mission, the 

external tank stays on the Shuttle until it climbs 64 miles 

into the atmosphere, where the tank disintegrates. 

County officials say another major reason they want to 

support NASA is because the ocean floor is vital to the 

county's scallop industry -- which also lies within the 

flight clearance zone. 

If NASA succeeds in getting the area cut from the 33 million 

-acre lease sale, the scallop beds would be protected from 

any ill-effects of oil and gas drilling, officials said. 

(TODAY, 12-3-82, p. 2R) 

December 5: A top official of United Space Boosters Inc. says 

he expects NASA to approve plans for a Shuttle-related plant 

on Merritt Islanc? within three weeks, despite opposition 

from island homeowners. 

NASA will have no comment until a decision is made, said 

Fletcher Reel with the federal agency in Washington, D.C. 

An association of homeowner groups is opposing the plant 

because it fears the facility will house permanently 

potentially hazardous chemicals. 

If approved, the plant would employ 850 workers and create 

350 local jobs for skilled, semi-skilled and maintenance 

workers by 1985, said Frank J. Lavacot, USBI executive vicepresident. The new location would allow USBI -- now housed 

in three buildings at Kennedy Space Center and Cape 

Canaveral Air Force Station -- to set up a consolidated, 

more efficient assembly-line layout, he said. 

-299- 
USBI is under a KSC contract to build the Space Shuttle's 

solid rocket boosters.... 

KSC's Smith said the same NASA safety regulations at the 

space center will apply at the off-site USBX facility. 

Likewise, state Department of Environmental Regulation 

standards will be the same, said DER spokesman Cliff Miller. 

Miller cited only one difference between regulations in the 

county's conditional use permit and DER'S hazardous waste 

registration. The county's permit allows short-term storage 

of wastes for up to 30 days. 

as a generator of hazardous wastes, which allows storage of 

hazardous wastes for up to 90 days. 

USBI has registered with DER 

County environmental planner Stephen Peffer said 

DER-enforced federal regulations would supercede the 

county's conditional use permit. 

Regardless, Lavacot said USBI will not store any chemicals 

or wastes for more than 30 days and quantities will not 

exceed in any given month: 10, 55-gallon steel drums of 

perchlorethylene, two drums of methylene chloride and 4 

gallons of citric acid. 

USBI is awaiting final DER permits to dig out a basin next 

to the facility to accommodate transport barges and to sign 

a lease with Port Canaveral for an easement, Lavacot said. 

A draft map of the entire site shows 200 acres bordered on 

the east by NASA property, unused land on the west, Madison 

Avenue on the north and a barge canal access to the south. 

The site is about eight-tenths of a mile from the nearest 

established residence in Ridge Manor. That house also is 

separated from the property by the Barge Canal. (TODAY, 

12-5-82, p. 2R) 

<> EG&G is pleased to announce that it will soon join the team 

at Kennedy Space Center as Base Operations Contractor. 

-300- 
During the ensuing weeks, we will begin to establish 

ourselves in the community. Our highest priority is to 

proceed to accept our new responsibility without disruption 

to the current shuttle program, to retain current employees 

to the maximum extent possible and to allay as rapidly as 

possible the natural uncertainty which accompanies any 

change as dramatic as the announcement of the BOC. 

Within the next few days, additional information concerning 

emplynient opportunities, community and work force briefing 

session3 and a general schedule of events for the 30 day 

period, will be forthcoming. 

Our desire is to become an effective and respected member of 

your community. Please accept our sincere apology for any 

inconvenience and uncertarnty to which you may be subjected 

during this brief transition period. 

EG&G Florida, Inc. 

P.O. Box 1.440 

Cocoa Beach, Florida 32931 

(TODAY, 12-5-82, p, 9A) 

December 7: Wackenhut Services, Inc., of Coral Gables, Fla., 

has been awarded a $1,383,711 extension of its contract with 

NASA to provide services at the Kennedy Space Center. 

This new award brings the total contract value to 

$51,734,632, and covers the period from December 1 to 

December 31, 1982. Under the terms of the contract, 

Wackenhat is to furnish security, law enforcement and fire 

protection and resque personnel at KSC. Wackenhut is also 

to provide plant protection and fire prevention programs for 

employees at the center. (KSC RELEASE NO. 326-82, 12-7-82) 

<> NASA's John F. Kennedy Space Center has awarded Boeing 

Services International, Inc., Kennedy Space Center, Fla., a 

$2,581,363 extension to an existing contract. This contract 

extension is an exercise of an option :or work functions 

which will eventually be transferred to KSC's base. 

operations contract (BOC). The base operations contract 

will consolidate institutional and support services now 

provided bl* 14 different cantractors at the Space Center. 

EG&G, Inc., of Wellesley, Massachusetts, was recently 

selected for negotiations that will lead to the award of 

this contract, 

-301- 
Under the terms of the new contract extension, BSI will 

provide certain institutional support services, which 

includes utilities, facilities and some technical 

operations, for a one-month period. 

This new cost-plus-fjxed-fee extension covers the period 

from December 1 tkraugh December 31, 1982, and brings the 

tots?- value of t5e contract to $314,189,908, since its 

inception in July, 1977. (KSC RELEASE NO. 324-132, 12-7-82) 

December 8: A recently completed commercial building in Cocoa 

has become the local headquarters for EG&G Inc. , the firm 

that has the $193 million task of operating the Kennedy 

Space Center. 

Reed H. Duncan, owner of the building at 950 N. Cocoa 

Boulevard, said Tuesday that EG&G is quickly setting up shop 

in the 3,80C-square-foot facility. 

Duncan and EG&G representatives were negotiating a rental 

agreement last wtek and came to terms Friday night. Monday 

tho furniture began arriving. "It was unreal," Duncan 

said. "Yesterday (Monday) they moved all their equipment 

in. They had their phone in and their electrical people 

in. 

"These people are in a hurry. They move2 40 desks ip 

yesterday, all their copying machines and their 

typewriters," Duncan said. EG&G's Space Center operations 

actually begin early next year, but there is plenty of 

preparation to do now. 

Based in Wsllesley, Massachusetts, EGSG has promised NASA 

it will cut the center's operating costs in the areas of 

fire control, security, janikorial services, utilities and 

heavy equipment. The company beat such giants as being and 

Lockheed to win the initial three-yeat contract. (TOD.iY, 

12-8-82, p. 14C) 

December 9: More than 200 local homeowners -- concerned about 

a siace firm's proposed Merritt Island plant -- finally met 

Wednesday with United Space Boosters Inc. officials. 

-302- 
It was evident from questions at Wednesday's meeting that 

fear-fetching rumors about the plant for non-launch 

activities still ran rampant. But the orderly crowd 

responded with laughter when one near-hysterical woman 

compared the future situation with New York's "I3ve Canal" 

disaster. 

Space-related industry is not a sin in the eyes of many 

islanders who are employed by Kennedy Space Center, but they 

aren't sure this off-site location is safe. Most of the 

questions from the floor were from those KSC workers wellversed in the language. Talk was technical. 

Homeowners oppose the plant primarily because its operation 

will involve hazerdous waste storage. 

The chemicals that will be on-site -- primarily methylene 

chloride and perchlorethylene -- are solvents used by USBI 

to remove any fuel or cleaning residue from forward thrust 

and parachute control sections of the boosters, according to 

USBI spokesman Rick Smith. 

The chemicals are or areri't suspected carcinogens -- 

depending on who's doing the talking. 

DER spokesman Cliff Miller, who is responsible for 

inspection of all hazardous waste storage at KSCI said 

standards will be the same and he woald inspect the Merritt 

Island site at least once a year. 

USBI executive vice president Frank L. Lavacot said USBI 

will not store any chenlcals or wastes for more than 30 days 

and quantities will not exceed in any given month: 10 (55 

gallon steel) drums of perchlorethylene, two drums methylene 

chloride, and four gallons of citric acid. 

USRI said last week NASA approval of a north Merritt Island 

facility for non-launch operations Ltould be forthcoming 

before the year's end. 

If approved, the plant would employ 850 and create 350 local 

jobs for skilled, semi-skilled and maintenance warkers by 

1985, said Lavacot. It will allow USBI, now housed in three 

different facilities at Kennedy Space Center and the Air 

Force Station, to set up a consolidated, more efficient 

assembly-line laycut, he said. 

-303- 
Building a suitable single facility and havir.g easy access 

to all operations will be cost-effective, Lavacot said. He 

estimated a savings of $400,000 per Shuttle flight. 

Lavacot said USBI will develop only 39 of the 130 acres it 

has an option on. Construction of the proposed plant and 

related facilities will take about two years, according to 

Bernard A. Cocchi, USBT vice president of operations. If 

USBI went through NASA for a KSC site, it would take an 

additional two years, he said. 

USBI is awaiting final DER permits to dig a basin next to 

the facility to accommodate transport barges and signing a 

lease with Port Canaveral for an easement, Lavacot said. 

Residents are also concerned with another dead-end canal, 

which they say will hurt water quality. Application for 

DER'S dredge and fill permits has been made, Lavacot said. 

But permits won't be available until completed buildings are 

approved. (TODAY, 12-9-82, p. 28) 

December 10: Rozkwe11 International Corporation has formed a 

new Shuttle Launch Operations Division that wil?- pursue the 

NASA contract for the launch and turnaround operations of 

the Space Shuttle, the company announced Thursday. 

A new division, to have its headquarters in Cocoa Beach, 

intends to conduct its activities both at Kennedy Space 

Center and at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. 

Richard Schwartz will be the vice president and general 

manager of the division and will report directly to the 

president of Rockwell's Space Transportation and Systems 

Group. 

Rockwell intends to seek the upcoming NASA contract for the 

preparation, launch, landing and servicing of the reusable 

orbiter. That contract, worth a potential $2.7 billion to 

the private company selected, is a necessity to achieve cost 

savings, now that the Shuttle program is in its operational 

phase. 

The spacecraft itself is manfactured by Rockwell 

International at its Palmdale, California, plant. Rockwell 

spokesman Robert Gordon said the company is confident that 

-304- 
the experience and the efficiency it achieved in past 

Shuttle activities will give it a competitive advantage in 

the race for the NASA contract. 

Rockwell is not without competition. Last month, Lockheed 

Corporation announced the formation of the Lockheed Space 

Operations Company, a ne@ division based in Titusville. 

Lockheed has a working agreement with Grumman Aerospace, Pan 

American Airlines and Thiokol Corporation to unite their 

efforts in seeking the processing contract. 

A similar team effort coF'>ines Rockwell with Boeing Services 

International, Martin Marietta, United Space Boosters Inc. 

and United Airlines. That lineup was unveiled in November 

and, with the exception of 'Jnited Airlines, all have current 

NASA contracts for launch work and processing at KSC. 

NASA is expected to issue a request for proposals in 

January, a formal soliciting of plans froin the various 

competitiors outlining how they intend to provide the needed 

services. The actual awarding of the contract is scheduled 

for late 1983. 

The Rockwe11 Shuttle Launch Operations Division initially 

will be comprised of three basic elements -- Rockwell's RSC 

Launch Operations that does Shuttle processing work now, 

Rockwell's Vandenberg AFB field operaticns and the Shuttle 

contract proposal team effort. 

Establishment of the new division was announced by Rockwell 

Space Operations President George Jeffs. (TODAY, 12-10-82, 

p. 16C) 

<> NASA's John F. Kennedy Space tenter has awarded Atlantic 

Technical Services of Longwood, Florida, a small business 

firm, a $110,406 contract extension to provide mail and 

distributian services at KSC. This award brings the 

cumulative value of Atlantic's contract with NASA to a total 

of :2,751,813. 

The contract covers the period from May 1, 1980 through 

December 31, 1982. (KSC NEWS RELEASE NO. 329-82, 12-10-82) 

-305- 
<> A proposed reorganization of the Kennedy Space Center 

designed, "...to carry the center into the operations era," 

has been announced by Center Director Dick Smith. 

Key management officials were detailed to their ncw jobs 

effective December 1. 

The most significant change, Smith said, in a letter to 

Center employees, is combining project management and 

operations in one organization, in the case of both shuttle 

vehicle and cargo. "This change...anticipates and prepares 

for multiple flow, contract self-sufficiency, an2 a changed 

civil servant managenlent spproach." 

Four major directcrates emerge from the new organization, 

Shuttle Management and Operation under Thomas E. Utsman; 

Center Support Operations, under Robert G. Long; Cargo 

Management and Operations headed by Thomas S. Walton; and 

Engineering Developrient under Peter 9. flinderman. Portions 

of the fermer Technical Support Directorate were transfered 

to the Shuttle and cargo organizations. 

Smith said that although the restructure has not been 

formally approved by Headquarters, that key officials have 

been briefed and agree with the approach he is 

recommending. He said he was detailing the KSC managers to 

the new positions at this time ir order to minimize the time 

required to implement the new structure. 

"I also am establishing a new position on my staff titlcd 

Associate Deputy Director," Smith said. "The primary 

function of the position will be to assist George Page and 

me in the smooth and efficient transition to the Shuttle 

operational era." Andrew J. Pickett will fill the new 

position. 

Smith emphasized that there is sufficient work for the KSC 

work force for the foreseeable future and, consequently, 

there are no planned large reductions in the KSC civil 

service population. 

"I believe we will be taxed to the limit to accomplish the 

tasks assigned to us," he said. "We must all continue to 

seek ways to do our jots better, become more productive, and 

institute cost and mannower savings wherever practical." 

(SPACEPOI'T NEWS, 12-10-82, p. 1, VOl. 21, NO. 25) 

-306- 
<> The awesome thrill of fiery launch on November 11 passed and 

the STS-5 mission proceeded on schedule with the successful 

deployment of the shuttle's first two operational payloads 

-- communications satellites for Satellite Business Systems 

and Telesat Canada. 

Columbia, reflecting the gold of a rising sunr swept down 

from the heavens and maBe a pinpoint landing on a paved 

runway at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Facility on Edwards 

Air Force Base in California's Mojave Desert at 6:33 a.m. 

PST on November 16. 

Waiting for Columbia's landing -- described as "as light as 

that of a butterfly with sore feet" -- was a KSC recovery 

convoy deployed into position near the runway at 4:25 a.m. 

PST. The convoy consisted of the specialized vehicles and 

about 100 personnel needed to safe and service the 

spacecraft, exchange flight for ground crews, and tow 

Columbia to the Mate/Demate Device at DFRF to be prepared 

for the ferry back to KSC. 

A~SG waiting for Columbia's landing was a turnaround crew of 

about 200 NASA end contractor personnel flown into Dryden 

from KSC aboard a chartered DC-10 the previous Lfternoon. 

The seven-mile tow from the end of the runway back to Area A 

at CFRF began 1 hour, 35 minutes, after touchdown and was 

completed within 3 hours, 48 minutes, despite concern over a 

pressure decay in the left inboard main tire which had 

locked for a brief interval dsring Columbia's 9,553-foot 

landing rollout. 

"Every major milestone in the convoy operation established a 

new record," observed Bill Williams, Convoy Commander. The 

crew hatch was opened hithin 24 minutes of landing, ground 

cooling was activated within 26 minutes, the flight crew 

left within 34 minutes, and the tow began 25 minutes ahead 

of schedule. 

Landing was on a Tuesday morning and the light turnaroilni! 

timeline called for the 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft to 

begin the two-day ferry flight back to KSC the following 

morning . 

Would that schedule be met? 

-307- 
Asked that question during a news conference at DFRF the day 

after landing, KSC Ground Operations Manager Jim Harrington 

predicted that it would. He reminded the press that a 

similar schedule had been faced during the turnaround at 

STS-4 in July and had been successfully accomplished. 

"We're just getting better at it," Harrington observed. 

Work continued around the clock through the week and, 

despite high winds and cold night temperatures, the timeline 

was met. Right OF schedule, the SCA, with Columbia riding 

piggyback on top, taxied onto the Edwards AFB runway and 

took off with KSC as its destination at 7:33 a.m. PST on 

Sunday, November 21. 

After an overnight step in San Antonio, Texas, the SCA took 

off again and landed at KSC to complete the final leg of the 

trip at 12:14 p.m. EST on Monday, November 22. 

Summarizing the success of the operation, Harrington noted: 

"Undoubtedly, it was the best turnaround we've ever had. 

Everyone did a great jab. This was the fifth time the team 

had done this and we had no major problems to interfere with 

our schedule. Everyone knew their job and went out and did 

it. 

The Dryden to KSC turnaround -- like shuttle aissions -- 

have become routine operations. (SPACEPORT NEWS, 12-10-82, 

pp. 4 6 5, Vol. 21, No. 25) 

December 13: Space Commerce Act: 

Congressman Akaka (D-HI) introduced H.R. 7411, to streamlire 

the current procedure by which a private company is granted 

permission to launch a vehicle into space: the measure was 

referred to the House Science and Technology Committee.... 

(OFFICE OF LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS, LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITIES 

REPORT, 12-13-82, Number 150) 

December 14: Federal prosecutors said Monday two companies and 

their presidents failed to tell NASA officials who was 

really performing the work in two Shuttle-related contracts. 

-308- 
During closing arguments of a 4-week-old fraud trial, 

prosecutor Ann Arbor told the 12 jurors and four alternates 

that the Chicago-based Mayfair Construction Co. -- through 

its Kennedy Space Center contractor Capital Communication 

Corp. -- was supposed to be the prime contractor on the two 

projects. 

However, New World Construction Co. of Titusville actually 

supplied all the labor and equipment, she contended. 

Capital president Phillip Akwa of Milwaukee served a sort of 

a middleman, Arbor claimed, reapirrj a profit on the work New 

World performed. 

The trial in U.S. District Court in Orlandc stems from a 

20-count indictment issued in January against Capital, New 

World an3 three men. 

Capital, Akwa, New World and its president, Arthur Boschen, 

all are accused of five counts of making false statements to 

the federal government. 

In addition, Akwa, Boschen and New World engineer Thomas 

White, Jr. of Melbourne are accused of consl;iring as early 

as 1976 to defraud the U.S. government, Arbor said. The 

three also are charged with two more counts of making false 

statements . 

Akwa and Capital Communications are being tried on another 

count of making a false statement and submitting a false 

claim. However, 10 additional charges against Akwa and 

Capital will be considered in another trial. 

Each count carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison 

or $lO,COO fines or both. The men have been free on bond. 

According to the contract, Mayfair should have performed at 

least 20 percent of the work on a structural steel project 

inside the Orbiter Processing Facility and 30 percent of the 

work on a project to renovate the mobile launch pad for 

Space Shuttle use, said U.S. prosecutor Ed Tomko. 

But Boschen and Akwa went to elaborate lengths to keep NASA 

unaware that New World was actually supplying all the 

equipment an6 labor, Arbor said. 

-309- 
Although the workers received their paychecks from Mayfair, 

Ne3 World Construction was to reimburse Mayfair for the 

payroll expenses, she said. The full extent of New World's 

contract with Mayfair also was hidden from NASA, prosecutors 

said. 

kkwa and Capital were entitled to up to 40 percent of thc 

profits on the NASA contracts by Mayfair, Tomko said, but 

would also bear up to 40 percent of the losses. 

By the end of 1977, work on the Orbiter Processing Facility 

and Mobile Launch Pad was almost finished, Tomko said. The 

pad project in particular experienced tremendous cost 

overruns, he said. 

But there was no way for Akwa and Capital to recoup their 

losses through change orders -- amended costs for 

unanticipated work on a contract -- because they had no 

equipment or labor expenses. 

Instead, Akwa allegedly inflated New World's cost proposals 

to add a margin of profit, Tomko said. (TODAY, 12-14-82, 

F- 1B) 

<> NASA officiels are investigating how a rocket nose cone, 

being carried on a tractor-trailer,. snapped two high-voltage 

power lines Friday at Kennedy Space Center. 

A space agency board formed Saturday will determine if the 

20-foot-high, fiberglass nose cone was damaged when it hit 

the wires and if the February 10 launch of an international 

communications satellite, INTELSAT 5, will be delayed, said 

Hugh Harris, NASA spokesman. 

The million dollar coner called a nose faring, is designed 

to fit over and protect the $30 million satellite during 

launch. 

The nose faring was being moved five miles from Launch Pad 

36, where it underwent tests, to a satellite assembly 

building where it was to be attached to the INTELSAT 5. 

-310- 
No injuries were reported in the 5:30 p.m. accident, and the 

wires were cleared so the nose faring could complete the 

trip. Repair of the two 13,000-volt lines that supply power 

to the pad was proceeding smoothly, Harris said. 

The investigation board, headed by Billy Childerst chief of 

NASA's technical division support at Ksc, was formed 

Saturday to determine the cause of the mishap and the extent 

of the damage. 

INTELSAT 5, owned by a consortium that includes the United 

States and 105 other countries, will provide both land and 

maritime telephone communications. (TODAY, 12-14-82, p. 

16A) 

December 16: The Committee to Save Sykes Creek claims Merritt 

Island again is facing a threat to its water quality -- this 

time from a proposal to dig a basin €or boats to turn around 

in the Barge Canal. 

United Space Boosters Inc. is seeking state permission to 

dredge the turning basin so that boats can carry Space 

Shuttle booster parts to a site just north of the Barge 

Canal for refurbishing. 

But committee Chairman Bob Sampson said the basin might harm 

water quality in the Barge Canal and, to a lesser degree, 

nearby Sykes Creek. 

The basin's impact on water quality would be similar to that 

of the man-made canals currently creating a problem for 

Sykes Creek, Sampson said. 

Sunlight wouldn't reach the bottom of the prcposed 

14-foot-deep turning area, cutting the level of dissolved 

oxygen in the water, Sampson said. Dissolved oxygen is what 

fish and other aquatic animals need to breathe, 

Because of the committee's concerns, officials from USBI and 

the state Department of Environmental Regulation will meet 

with committee members Friday. 

-311- 
USBI needs a DER permit to dredge the canal to build the 

turning basir,, said Lee Miller, assistant DER district 

manager for the area that includes Brevard. 

DER has announced it plans to grant US51 a dredge-and-fill 

permit for the job, which DER officials consider 

environmentally safe, Miller added. 

If committee members aren't satisfied Friday that the 

dredging would be safe, they nay request a formal hearing on 

DER'S decision to issue the permit. 

Sampson said the committee will ask that the turning basin 

not be constructed and that trucks rarher than boats carry the booster parts to and from the proposed site of the 

refurbishing plant. 

But USBI officials say they would need to build a new road 

to return the booster parts to Kennedy Space Center once 

they are reassemtled because SR 3 -- the road that connects 

the site to KSC -- can't be used. 

When reassembled, the three parts that would be refurbished 

at the site of south of KSC stand 26 feet tall -- too tall 

to clear the overpass at the NASA Causeway and SR 3, Rick 

Smith, USBI spokesman. The reassembled parts can't be 

placed on their side on a truck bed because of their 

sensitive electrical equipment, Smith added. 

The barge would travel to KSC from the site by traveling 

east on the Barge Canal ar?d then north on the Banana River. 

This would be far less ccetlv than constructing a road to 

KSC, he added. 

The three parts to be refurbished at the proposed site just 

north of the Barge Canal are the frustrum and forward and 

rear skirts, Smith said. 

The portions of the booster rockets that contain fuel would 

be left at KSC after the rockets are retrieved from the 

ocean and disassembled at the space center, he said. 

-312- 
If USBI officials insist the turning basin is needed, 

Sampson said, the committee will suggest its size and depth 

be reduced from what 'JSBZ proposes in its dredge-and-fill 

ocean. 

Rather than needing a turn basin for a large skip, USBI 

plans now require a basin only large enough for the barge that will carry partially assembled boosters, Smith said. 

In contrast to committee members, DER officials are 

confident the dredging won't harm either the Barge Canal or 

Sykes Creek, which is connected to the canal just north of 

SR 528. 

"It looks like they're taking every precaution to protect 

the Barge Canal and Sykes Creek," Miller adcied. 

USBI plans to protect against chemicals used at the plant 

reaching the creek by cleaning up any spills with a vacuumlike machine, Miller said. As a result, he said there's a 

remote chance any chcmicals will be spilied in the canal. 

And the ships that carry the boosters will use special 

equipment to protect against oil and gas spiling into the 

canal, Miller said. 

Smith said other environmental measures by USBI include: 

* USBI won't put the dredging material onto any wetlands, 

that provide a natural filtering process for nutrients in 

water runoff. 

* USBI is considering using an air bubblf system to raise 

the Barge Canalis oxygen level, which Smith contends is 

already below state standards. 

* The barges that carry the boosters won't use any paints 

containing copper, which also is a problem in the canal. 

(TODAY, 12-16-82, pa 2B) 

<> Attorneys wrapped up closing arguments and jurors 

deliberated for a few hours Wednesday on whether two NASA 

subcontractors and three of their employees inflated labor 

and equipment costs. 

-313- 
The 12 jurors are to resume considering the 10 charges, four 

weeks of testimony and more than 200 exhibits at 8:30 a.m. 

today. 

On trial are Capital Communications Carp. and its president, 

Philip Akwa of Milwaukee; New World Construction CO. and its 

president, Arthur Boschen of Titusville; and James White, 

Jr. 01 qelbourne, a former New World engineer. 

The men also have been accused of ccnspiring to charge NASA 

for excessive labor and equipment costs and planning to 

withhold information from NASA concerning agreements between 

the companies. 

Defense attorneys contend government officials do not know 

how much the work should have cost in the first place. 

(TODAY, 12-16-82, p. 2B) 

December 18: It was 20 seconds of Christmas cheer for NASA 

engineers Saturday morning as they throttled the Shuttle 

Challenger's three main engines. The test firing was "a 

resounding success," said A1 O'Hara, director of Shuttle 

launch operations. 

It was the last big test in the preparation of the 

Challenger for its mission in late January. The new engines 

on the new Orbiter never had been test fired together. 

Final results of the punctual 11 a.m. test should be ready 

by noon Wednesday after technicians crawl through the 

7-foot-wide engine cavities and assess any damage. By then 

NASA officials in Washington will set a date for liftoff. 

At this stcge, NASA expects a launch no earlier than January 

27. 

O'Hara said results were so encouraging that Challenger's 

five-day mission could be extended a few days. 

For NASA brass including General James Abrahamson, a NASA 

associate administrator watching in the Shuttle firing room, 

the test was handled no differently than a launch. 

-314- 
Although there were no astronauts in the cockpit, there wzs 

plenty of engine roar and mashed potato-like smoke that 

flooded launch pad 39A. 

A now-routine launch countdown began some 56 hours earlier 

and by late Friday night the service structure that covers 

the Challenger was moved back. 

Early Saturday morning the 15-story fuel tank was filled 

with 1.5 million gallons of liquid propellant, but only 

about 60,000 gallons were used in the test firing. 

During launch the Challenger's engines will operate eight 

minutes. 

At first glance the Challenger's three engines are no 

different from the Columbia's. But they do provide 4 

percent more thrust -- about 390,000 pounds per engine. 

Aside from putting the engines through their paces, the 

Flight Readiness Firing also tested the new lightweight fuel 

tank. Weighing about 67,OOC Founds, it's 10,000 pounds 

lighter than its prcdecessor. 

On January 10, engineers will conduct a simulated countdown 

and launch with astronauts Paul Weitz, Karol Bobko, Donald 

Peterson and Story Musgrave. (TODAY, 12-19-82, p. 1A) 

December 20: Allegations that Rockwell International Corp. 

diverted funds from the civilian Space Shuttle program to 

develop the B-1 bomber have sparked an investigation by 

Congress and the Pentagon, according to a published report. 

The investigation is aimed at learning whether the alleged 

practice contributed to nearly $5 billion in cost overruns 

on the Space Shuttle and unrealistically low cost estimates 

far the 8-1, according to sources quoted in Sunday's 

editions of the Chicago Tribune. 

But Lt. Col. William T. Cooper, the Pentagon's public 

affairs officer for the 8-1, said in a telephone interview 

Sunday he was not aware of any investigation inta Rockwell 

or the allegations. 

-315- 
According to the Tribune, the reason for the inquiry comes 

from hundreds of timecards showing that after President 

Carter ordered the B-1 program halted in 1977, Rackwell 

executives simply kept engineers working OR the bomber while 

billing their salaries to the Shuttle. 

Former Rockwell employee Ray Sena supplied the records, the 

newspaper said. Sena was fired in 1979 after he provided 

timecards, travel vouchers and evidence to the FBI showing 

irregularities in other programs, including billing costs of 

military satellites to the Shuttle, it said. 

The names of several mid-level management Rockwell 

supervisors are listed in a Pentagon investigative report 

which says they gave depositions acknowledging participation 

in charging the Shuttle account for work done on the Havstar 

Global Positioning Sys .em, a navigational satellite. 

(TOCAY, 12-20-82, p. 12A) 

December 21: Failed efforts to woo Merritt Island residents 

has United Space Boosters Inc. -- makers of the Space 

Shuttle's solid rocket boosters -- looking at an undisclosed 

alternative Brevard C"ounty site, USBI vice president Frank 

J. Lavacot said Monday. 

USBI's year-long pursuit of a 130-acre north Merritt Island 

plant site has been met with community outcries, which 

culminated last week when protesters donned gas masks and 

shouldered anti-cancer placards. Homeowners' foremost 

complaint is the proposed on-site storage of chemical and 

hazardous wastes. 

While USBI hasn't ruled out the undeveloped Herritt Island 

parcel adjacent to Kennedy Space Canter, the firm is 

negotiating an option on another county location, Lavacot 

siid. He would not identify the location except to say it 

is one the coinpany considered about a year aga. 

Negotiations have been continuing for about two weeks, he 

said. 

Thc oilly other BrevarG County site publicized by USBI 

ofiicials is in the Titusville-Cocoa Airport Authority's 

part of Gateway Center InCustrial Park. 

Ti-Co officials say they have not been contacted. 

12-21-82, p. 18) 

(TODAY, 

-316- 
e> Four days after they began deliberating, a federal jury 

returned guilty verdicts Mcnday against two NASA contractors 

and three men charged with inflating labor and equipment 

costs in a complicated scheme of fraud and deceit, 

The jurors, who began their deliberations at noon Wednesday 

and broke for the weekend, had a 10-count indictment, four 

weeks of testimony and 200 exhibits to consider. At 11:38 

a.m. Monday, after 20 hours and 17 minutes of deliberations, 

they returned to the federal courtroom in Orlando with 36 

guilty verdicts and one of innocence. 

The verdizts: 

* New World Construction of Titasville and its president, 

Arthur Boschen, each guilty on seven counts of making false 

statements to the U.S. government. 

* Former New World employee James T. White, Jr., of 

Melbourne, guilty on two coants of making false statements 

and innocent of conspiracy. A third charge of making false 

statements was dropped. 

Capital Communications Corp. of Milwaukee and its 

president, Phillip Akwa, each guilty on eight counts of 

making false statements and one count of making a false 

claim. 

Akwa and Boschen each guilty of conspiring to defraud the 

governnent. 

Each count carries a maximum penalty of five years in 

prison, a $10,000 fine or both. 

Boschen's attorney said the case would be appealed. 

Attorneys for Akwa and White said a decision to appeal in 

the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta has not been 

made, but that one is likely. 

Frank Gimbel, the Milwaukee attorney representing Akwa and 

Capital, said he intends to ask the judge to dismiss the 

jury's decision or at least grant a new trial because of 

some procedural problems in the trial. 

"It was a very complicated case," Gimbel said, "I question 

whether the jurors understood it. It's very difficult to 

beat the United States of America." 

-317- 
Assistant U.S. Attorney Edwin Tomko of Washington, D.C., who 

prosecuted for the government, said he expects District 

Judge John Reed, Jr., to hand down sentences within 45 days. 

The men and their companies were indicted in January at the 

end of a three-year investigation into their activities from 

1975 to 1979. 

Ten more charges against Akwa and Capital are still 

pending. A trial has not be scheduled yet. (TODAY, 

12-21-82, Po le) 

December 24: The first American woman to fly in space said she 

would like to consult her Soviet counterparts before making 

the trip in April. But Shcttle astronsut Sally Ride said, 

"the lines of cmmunication are not open." 

Speaking near launch pad 39A Thursday, Ride said she has had 

no contact with either Valentina Tereshkova /or/ Svetlana 

Savitskaya, the world's first two women astronauts. 

When asked what she would ask the Russians, Ride, 31, said 

she "wasn't sure" but added her curiosity is picqued. "We 

don't know what they did on their flights." 

Soviet aerospace secrecy and less-than-perfect relations 

between the two countries have limited the exchange of ideas 

between astronauts and cosmonauts. 

"We've seen what you've seen,- said Bob Crippen, pilot of 

shuttle Columbia's maiden voyage who will return to space as 

commc3der of the April mission. 

Ken Pedarson, NASA's director of international affairs, said 

while Ride hasn't made any specific request to speak with 

the Soviet women cosmonauts, he said it could be arranged 

from our end, providing it's not "a publicity stunt." He 

also cautioned, "We don't know what the Soviet response 

would be." 

Said Pedarson, "The U.S. clearly is not going to go out of 

its way. Given the political situation, we are not 

encouraging our astronauts to call the cosmonauts. We would 

have to ask, what is the objective of such a conversation." 

-318- 
Crippen said he doesn't view competition between the two 

countries "as a race anymore." 

But he cautioned against "sitting back on our laurels. The 

Soviets have an active program, they've held records," he 

said referring to the record 211 days in space spent on 

Salyut 7. 

Crippen and Ride were joined by crew members Frederick Hauck 

and John Fabian at Kennedy Space Center for simulated, 

comput2rized liftoff and landing of the Shuttle Challenger. 

The April mission, the seventh Shuttle flight and the second 

for the Challenger, w:.11 be the first co-ed American space 

flight but Ride said she's confident the Shuttle can 

accommodate the mixed crew. 

"There's plenty of roon," Ride said. "...The Shuttle was 

designed to carry men and women and I see no problem with 

that." 

Quipped Crippen, "She gets her own sleeping bag." 

A fifth crew member, Dr. Norman Thagard, was named Tuesday 

to conduct medical tests to coliect information on space 

sickness. 

"He (Thagard) won't treat us, but he will investigate the 

mechanisms in the body that cause space sickness," said 

Crippen, who emphasized the doctor won't be drawing any 

blooC! . 

During the April mission, the astronauts will deploy two 

communication satellites into space and they plan to make 

the first landing at the space center's 3-mile-long runway. 

Crippen said although a spacewalk isn't planned for the 

mission, Thagard and Fabian would make the venture into the 

Challenger's cargo bay if the planned spacewalk on this 

upcoming mission was cancelled. (TODAY, 12-24-82, p. 1A) 

-319- 
<> So far the transition to a single contractor to operate 

Kennedy Space Center has posed no surprises for either the 

engineers on the job, their bosses or the pcwerful unions 

known for calling strikes in the past. 

Although space center employees expect as many as 200 

layoffs in 1983, sources say most of those layoffs will be 

in mid-and-upper-level management positions as EG&G Inc. 

streamlines the KSC bureaucracy. 

Jim Dubay, EGG general manager at KSC, predicted no layoffs 

until after the first quarter of 1983. 

"It's too early to tell when there would be layoffs. The 

first quarter is premature. It takes a while to get a lay 

of the land." 

EG&G, a Wellesley, Massachusetts, engineering and weapons 

firm, will assume the responsiblilities of 14 contractors 

starting January 1. The company in November submitted a 

successful bid of $193 million to operate the space center, 

beating out iarger incumbent contractors, Boeing Services 

and Wackenhut Services. 

Although a many as 7,000 people have applied for space 

center jobs -- including security, fire control, heavy 

equipment and janitorial positions -- priority will be 

granted to those already doing the work unde.: the incumbent 

contractors, Dubay said. 

And there have been as many as 4,000 applicants from outside 

the space center, said Jack Story, EG&G director of advanced 

projects. "About 80 percent are from this area. They 

already have jobs but they're looking for something better 

and there are some from as far away as Connecticut and 

Texas . " 

Throughout the week, job hunters crowded into the suite of 

EG&G or'fices on U.S. 1 in Cocoa. Traffic was so heavy at 

times that police were needed to manage the flow. Although 

many won't be hired, the firm will compile a computerized 

list of potential recruits. 

"As of Thursday night, EGsG hired 1,300. Altogether we 

should have 1,800." Story said. 

-320- 
The powerful International Association of Machinists 

represents abogt 500 people involved in the change of 

contractors and local union chief Roger Kendrick said he has 

no complaints. 

"The union and EG&G have excellent relations. Their desire 

and ours is for a smooth transition," Rendrick said. 

The machinists union struck Boeing in 1971, 1978 and 1981, 

and sources close to KSC say many in the union believe those 

strikes were divisive and they welcomed the new contractor. 

Kendrick predicted most of the layoffs under the new 

contractor will be in management as EG&G "tries to do away 

with a lot of the redundant paper work." 

He also said those laid off would be the first considered 

for employment if EG&G needs personnel. Collective 

bargaining between the union and EG&G is expected in 

January, said Kendrick. 

One area that first may feel the impact of the new space 

center contractor is security, previously contracted to 

Wackenhut, which teamed with three other firms to compete 

for the overall operations contract. 

Most of the present security guards will be hired by EG&G 

but the operation will get tighter, said Story. 

Space center sources said NASA Administrator James Beggs and 

Shuttle program Director General James Abrahamson chose EG&G 

because of the firm's expertise in operating military 

facilities like the Nevada nuclear test site and the Naval 

Weapons Center at China Lake, California. (TODAY, 12-24-82, 

p. 1B) 

December 28: The tracking satellite destined for a trip into 

Earth orbit from the Space Shuttle Challenger was moved to 

launch pad 39A Monday. 

The 5,000-pound NASA satellite was hoisted to a specially 

designed changeout room at the top of the pad near the 

Shuttle . -321- 
By January 8, the satellite will be loaded into the 60-footlong cargo bay, said Mark Hess, NASA spokesman. 

Work at the pad this week will include a check of the 

satellite's electrical and computer systems, Hess said. The 

satellite, called a TDRS, for tracking and data relay 

system, is attached to a rocket that will propel it to a 

height of 22,000 miles -- far beyond the Shuttle's reach -- 

after it leaves the Challenger. 

Launch of the Challenger still is set for no earlier than 

January 27. NASA officials said they will announce a firm 

date early next month. (TODAY, 12-28-82, p. 12A) 

December 29: With EG&G Inc's takeover of operation and 

maintenance at Kennedy Space Center, some KSC employees are 

waiting to see if they'll be tossting in the New Year with 

champagne or with beer. 

The Massachusetts firm has promised to "make every effort" 

to hire incumbent space center workers. But it was awarded 

its three-year $193 million contract by promising to cut 

costs -- and jobs. 

As many as 200 employees of 14 contractor companies at KSC 

could be out of work by 1983. But officials at some 

contract companies replaced by EG&G believe EG&G may need 

more workers than it had originally planned. 

"We think they'll be hiring more people as they find out 

what the problems actually are," said an executive at one 

contractor company, who asked not to be identified. "At 

least we're hoping that." 

Meanwhile, some companies will be meeting this week with 

EGbG in Arlington, Virginia, to negotiate subcontracts with 

the engineering and weapons firm. 

"The only contact we've had is a letter of intent (from 

EG&G) for them to subcontract with us," said A1 Nelson, 

project manager at Atlantic Technical Services Inc., which 

handles mail. "We'll be going to Arlington (this) week to 

meet with them to negotiate." 

-322- 
Nelson said Atlantic Technical will begin negotiating for 38 

employees -- the number it has working at KSC. "They'll put 

their figure on the table an2 we'll probably come up with 

something in between," Nelson said. 

"Right now, most companies are in a state of waiting. You 

have to sit down with (EG&G) eyeball to eyeball," he added. 

Other companies said last week they hadn't been contacted by 

EG&C and will probably not be asked to subcontract. 

"We haven't heard from them. There are no plans for us, 

apparently," said Robert Thompson of Planning Research 

Corp., which has done some design engineering for the space 

shuttle program. Thompson said his company has about 875 

employees at the space center, and predicted that many will 

be hired by EG&G. 

Still other companies' duties will be handled "in-house" by 

EG&G, automatrcally putting them out of the runninq or a 

major subcontracts. 

"We offered our services, but they decided to do it 

themselves," said Frank Kelly, medical director for Pan Am's 

medical services and environmzntal health at the center. 

"We may work some small contracts, but they've already hired 

a medical director.' 

Kelly said he felt ''a good many" of Fan Am's 120 employees 

at the center will be picked up by EGcG. "But I'm sure it 

won't be 100 percent," he added. 

"Tney're not talking to us, and we're not talking to them,'' 

said Godfrey Bottomly of Boeing Services International, 

which handles ground services and transportation services at 

the center. 

Insiders say that the smaller contractors at the space 

center stand the best chance of subcontracting with EG&G. 

Also, EC&G has pledged to use small and minority dominated 

companies for subcontracting. 

-323- 
Under its contract with EG&G, NASA expects to trim $20 

million annually of the $100 million per year it now takes 

to operate and maintain the space center. 

EG&G officials aren't saying much about the whole process, 

but they insist they'll be ready to take over operations 

January 3. The company will provide 1,800 jobs at the space 

center, and officials say about 1,700 have been hired so 

far. 

Peter Chapsky, a spokesman for EG&G at the Company's 

headquarters in Massachusetts, said company officials are in 

Brevard making an "intensive study" with NASA on hiring 

necessities at the space center. 

He confirmed that EG&G has a commitment to hire employees 

already at the space center. (THE TRIBUNE, 12-29-82, pp. 1A 

& 3A) 

<> Jack Swigert, the former astronaut who 6ied of complications 

from cancer, was hailed Tuesdzy as a "genuine, home-grown 

hero" who survived an explosion in space and narrowly missed 

his goal of serving in Congress. 

Swigert died in Washington Monday night at the age of 51, a 

week before he would have taken the congressional seat he 

won in the November 2 election. (TODAY, 12-29-82, p. 1A) 

<> The plot continues to thicken in the proposed move of United 

Space Boosters Inc. to northern Merritt Island. 

State environmental officials say USBI's proposed facility 

will require an air emission permit to operate, although 

corporate executives originally said they needed no permits 

to vent various chemical substances into the air. 

Among the chemicals that would be vented are 

perchlorethylene, methylene chloride and 

l,l,l-trichloroethane. 

Chuck Collins of the Florida Department of Environmental 

Regulation's Orlando regional office says any new facility 

-324- 
such as the one USBI plans for Merritt Island "definitelyv1 

needs an air emissions permit from DER. 

Failure to obtain the permit carries a fine of $lO,OOO each 

day the violation persists, Collins says. 

Collins notes that the present USBI operation at Kennedy 

Space Center is among the last of the space center's sources 

of air emissions not to have applied for a permit. 

But Collins also says determining maximum allowable levels 

of emissions for USBI will be largely "a judgment call," 

since specific standards have not been established for the 

substances that would be released into the air. 

"When we get the permit application we'll take a look at 

it," Callins said. 

USBI recently stated it did not know what concentration of 

methylene chloride it was presently releasing into the air. 

A study conducted tnree years ago showed a perchlorethylene 

concentration of about 10 parts per million. 

According to Collins, drycleaners in the Orlando area are 

presently permitted to release perchlorethylene in 

concentrations up to 100 parts per million. 

A draft report issued by the Oftice of Toxics Integration of 

the federal Environmental Protection Agency indicates that 

at least two of the three major substances used by USBI -- 

perchlorethylene and l,l,l-trichloroethane -- have been 

found to be cancer-causing. Evidence is still being 

evaluated on the carcinogenicity of methylene chloride. 

Company executives earlier denied that the chemicals were 

suspected carcinogens. 

One chemical, l,l,l-trichloroethane, is also suspected of 

causing depletion of the ozone layer high in the earth's 

atmosphere. Ozone depletion is believed to cause an 

increased rate of skin cancer due to the atmosphere's 

reduced ability to block harmful radiation coming from 

space. (THE TRIBUNE, 12-29-82, pp. 1A C 3A) 

-325- 
December 31: Jim Dubay has been named president and general 

manager of EG&G Florida Inc., the company that Will begin 

operating the Kennedy Space Center at midnight on Saturday. 

EG&G Florida is the newly formed division of EG&G Inc., the 

Wellesley, Massachusetts, high-technology firm selected by 

NASA to run the Space Center -- a job previously performed 

by 14 separate contractors. 

Dubay is the former general manager of EG&G Idaho National 

Energy Laboratories. His staff at the headquarters in Cocoa 

will consist of four general managers: Bob Parnell, 

programs and budget; John Pruden, operations and 

maintemmce; Harold Gray, engineering; and Jackie Cooper, 

administrative services. 

Four other key directors are: Tom Sanford, security 

services; Bill Yurowsky, reliability and quality service; 

Jim Walton, industrial relations; and Dr. James Culver, 

medical director. 

Culver and Gray are former Space Center staff members. The 

other executives were transferred to Florida from EG&G 

operations in Idaho, Nevada and New York. (TODAY, 12-31-82, 

p. 12C) 

-326- 
4 

X 

0 

C 

0 

a 

.r( 

2 

. 

m 

C 

0 

-r( 

U 

a 

0 

C 

.r( 

I 

4 

0 

a 

* 

u 

r 

m 

u 

a 

U 

4 

a, 

n 

u 

u 

X 

le 

Ln 

4 

>r 

L 

a 

3 

C 

a 

3 

e 

m 

C 

0 

.r( 

U 

ro 

0 

c 

-4 

1 

8 

s 

-d 

C 

3 

C 

Lc 

a, 

LI 

rn 

a, 

3 

3 

z 

cn 

irl 

a 

JJ 

A 

a, 

Q 

z 

I 

h 

a 

J 

u) 

$! 

rn 

N 

h 

L 

a 

J 

&I 

a, 

k 

n 

e 

a 

s 

4 

JJ 

m 

u 

C 

-4 

t 

0 

U 

J 

a 

m 

4 

a, 

J 

C 

n 

V 

r 

w 

.n 

L 

J 

a 

U 

C 

a, 

0 

m 

a 

4 

JJ 

4 

P 

6 

JJ 

Q 

m 

4 

a, 

3 

C 

H 

d 

r 

0 

Lc 

m 

z 

e 

co 

s 

.4 

cl 

a 

0 

C 

-4 

i 

0 

V 

a 

'0 

C 

H 

u 

z 

3 

La 

a 

J 

A 

a, 

P 

4 

I 

F4 

LI 

a 

rn 

C 

3 

4 

4 

.r( 

I!+ 

e 

w 

c 

0 

.A 

LI 

ro 

u 

C 

.4 

@ 

$ 

c 

0 

c 

3 

c 

& 

a, 

3 

rn 

Q, 

3 

.d 

V 

z 

i) 

en 

(6 

U 

ri 

Q' 

Q 

7 

L 

a 

LI 

m 

a, 

P 

Q) 

a, 

C 

3 

3 

; 

m 

C 

Q, 

w 

a, la 

W. 

0 

U 

C 

a, 

E 

U 

Lc 

a 

a 

4, 

P 

u 

m * 

l 

'32 

ic 

rll 

4 

I 

N 

a 

op 

3 

IN 

a, 

C 

2 

3 

-LZ€- 

e 

m 

C 

0 

JJ 

a 

0 

C 

-d 

4 

: 

8 

rg 

0 

a 

C 

a 

U 

0 

t 

w 

.n 

0 

3 

4 

a, 

a 

A 

4 

P 

I 

24 

C 

4 

c3 

I 

U 

a 

rn 

a, 

4 

.d 

- 

$ 

\o 

(v 

3 

m 

5 

P 

J 

4 

e 

m 

E 

0 

-r( 

LI 

a 

u 

C 

.r( 

i! 

8 

LI 

a 

m 

4 

a, 

3 

C 

n 

x 

-n 

iil 

L 

J 

m 

+l 

c 

8 

u 

m 

m 

d 

3 

4 

w 

I 

> 

JJ 

a 

m 

a, 

JJ 

C 

W 

d 

30 

N 

L 

a, 

P 

E 

U 

a 

Q, 

cn 

ORIGiNAL PAGE Q 

OF POOR QUALlTIl 

. 

W 

.d 

4 

a 

'3 

0, 

m 

a 

m 

*a, 

au 

4L 

a0 

a