'KHR_zl.

//_/_/_rono. -_ September 22, 1980

Chronology of

KSC and KSC Related

Events for 1979

J

Nat,ona, ^.ron_ut,os an_ I_1/_^ Space Administration

John F. Kennedy Space Center

KSC FORM $6--12 {REV. 8/76) :,1
CHRONOLOGY OF

KSC AND KSC RELATED

EVENTS FOR

1979

SELECTED AND EDITED BY

FRANK E, JARRETT, HISTORIAN
JanUary 1979

January 4: The first Spacelab instrument pallet has been delivered to Kennedy Space Center by ERNO of West Germnay, prime contractor for Spacelab

for the European Space Agency (ESA). A second pallet is to arrive at KSC

by ship soon.

Built by British Aerospace Dynamics Group, the two instrument pallets,

which form part of the Spacelab engineering model, will be used during

orbital test flights of the Space Shuttle in 1980. They will collect data

prior to the first operational flight of the complete Spacelab--made up of

a long pressurized module and one instrument pallet--in mid-1981.

The pallets, which are 2.87 (9.4 ft)meters long and 4.46 meters (i4.6 ft)

in diameter and weigh 650 kilograms (1,433 lbs), are practically identical

in design to the operational flight units.

Installation of experiments and test equipment on the two pallets is slated

to begin next month. (Defense/Space Business Daily, Vol. 102, No. 2,

Thursday, January 4, 1979, p 13)

o The Northrup Strip at White Sands, New Mexico, a Space Shuttle orbiter

auxiliary landing site, was the subject of an investigation conducted December 11~14th, 1978, by KSC's Design Engineering personnel to verify conditions for erection of the Mate/Demate Stiffleg Derick. Site investigations

revealed soil conditions that are not as favorable as expected. Facilities

such as power and water are available in some select locations. The landing strip is approximately 40 miles from Las Cruces, New Mexico.

Meetings with NASA/JSC White Sands Test Facility personnel and Army Facilities engineering personnel were conducted to obtain soils information and

general support information. KSC's mission and plans were reviewed and the

Stiffleg Derick operations and design were presented to the White Sands

Test Facility and Army personnel. A tentative site known as "Cherry Site,"

southeast of the existing strip, has been selected for the Derick facility.

Adequate power is available at this site.

Based on what was observed in the Northrup Strip area, security regulations, distance from living accommodations, and other support facilities,

the cost of construction will be higher than originally estimated. Design

analysis of soils and method of construction, which should be determined by

the 30% level of design, will be a good indicator of the construction cost

increases. (Notes [to Center Director] by Raymond Clark, 1-4-79)

1
January 5: NASA's Voyager I has begur_ a three-month period of systematic

observation of the planet Jupiter and its major moons.

The spacecraft is now close enough to Jupiter (60 million kilometers, or 37

million miles) that its two cameras will be taking photographs better than

those taken from Earth.

Voyager ! will study Jupiter and five of its satellites at close range,

making measurements and taking more than 15,000 pictures during the threemonth period. E1even comprehensive scientific investigations will be performed as scientists probe the largest planet in the solar system and its

more important satellites.

On January 4, 1979, Voyager i was 598 million km (373 million mi. from

Earth, 16 months after its launch.

Closest approach to the planet, as Voyager 1 flies past, will occur early

on the morning of March 5, 1979. After flying past Jupiter and also studying the satellites Io, Europa, Gan_iede, Callisto and Amalthea, Voyager 1

will begin a 20-month cruise toward the ringed planet Saturn.

Voyager I was launched Sept. 5, 1977, more than two weeks after its companion Voyager 2. Voyager i flew a faster trajectory and is now almost four

months ahead of Voyager 2, which is scheduled to anake its closest approach

on July 9.

The Voyager project is managed by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, a government-owned facility in Pasadena, Calif., operated for NASA by the California Institute of Technology. (NASA News, Headquarters, Washington, D.C.,

Release No. 79-2, January 5, 1979)

January 8: More than 1.2 million visitors took the guided bus tours of the

Kennedy Space Center and historical Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in

1978 as the Visitors Center experienced the second busiest year in its 13-

year history.

Total tour attendance reached 1,289,653 in 1978, a i5.4 percent increase

over last year's final tally of 1,117,603 patrons. Bus tour patronage for

1978 exceeded all previous years with the exception of the 1,389,000 in

1972 at the close of the Apoll_ lunar landing program.
l_

For December, traditionally the Visitors Center's busiest month, bus tour

patrons reached 89,355, a drop of 11.5 percent below the 100,983 for the

Same month in 1977. TWA Services,which operatesthe tour and Visitors

Center for NASA, attributed the decline to visitation figures lower than

anticipated for the entire state.

However, with the exception of December, monthly tour patronage figures for

1978 surpassed the previous year's monthly totals as the Spaceport continues to prepare for the first manned orbital test flight of the Space Shuttle, scheduled for this September. (NASA News Release No. KSC 3?79, January 9, 1979)

Janua_ 11: Curtailmentin energy consumptionfrom 4:00 p.m. December22,

1978, through8:00 a.m. January2, 1979, resulted in a savingsof 1,035,000

KWH and 22,100 gallons of fuel oil, which amounted to $40,500 at current

rates. Overall energy savings were 15.7 x 109 BTU. Savingswere less than

anticipated due to more than 1,600 Civil Service and contractor personnel

working during this holiday season. (Notes [to Center Director] from P.A.

Minderman, 11-11-79)

o The decision to possibly have Rockwell International personnel at KSC

install TPS tiles on the Orbiter after it arrives at KSC has resulted in a

special effort to get sufficient numbers of RI personnel trained and certified to perform the tasks. To meet the requirements a certified instructor

has been brought to KSC and the first of several 40 hour classes started

today. Twelve (12) technicians will be trained and certified in each

class. (Notes [to Center Director] from W. Kapryan, 1-11-79)

January 19: NASA today acceptedwith appreciationthe final reportof the

board convened to investigate the power failure on the Seasat spacecraft on

Oct. 9, 1978, after 105 days of satisfactory operation. The board has now

been formally discharged.

The board's report identifies the source of the failure as an electrical

short in the slip ring assembly of the solar array, possibly triggered by

wire-to-brushassemblycontact,brush-to-brushcontact,or contamination.

(NASA News, Headquarters, Washington, D.C. Release No. 79-9, January 19,

1979)
o The Director, KSC, announced a reorganization of the Space Transportation

Systems Project Office, headed by Robert H. Gray, and the Space Vehicle

Operations Directorate, headed by Walter J. Kapryan. According to the

announcement, the purpose of the reorganization was to reduce tile varied

functions of the organizations to allow Gray and Kapryan to concentrate

more time on the near term problems, without being encumbered by payloads

planning. The organizational changes created three new offices at the

DirectOrate level, and essentially abolished tile Space Vehicle Launch Operations Directorate.

The Cargo Projects Office, managed by Mr. John J. Neilon, will be responsible for project management for Shuttle payloads. This will include the

European-built Spacelab, the upper stages Which will be used to boost payloads beyond the Shuttle's orbital altitude, and automated payloads similar

to communications, weather, and scientific satellites now being launched on

expendable vehicles.

The Cargo Operations Directorate, directed by Mr. George F. Page, will be

responsible for the Center's test and checkout of new payloads. This

directorate will also be responsible for postlanding processing of those

payloads which are returned from space. The remaining expendable vehicle

launches, which include seven in 1979, will be carried out by the Cargo

Operations Directorate.

The Advanced Planning and Techno]og_vOffice, managed by Mr. Andrew J.

Pickett, will be responsible for planning the future management concepts

and organizational structure for the Center, and defining the transition

process between the Shuttle development flights and the Shuttle operations

era. This office will also do long range planning for future programs and

will be in charge of technology utilization, the program designed to feed

NASA developed technology into co:nercial applications. (John F. Kennedy

Space Center, NASA Announcement; subject, KSC Organizational Changes, January 19, 1979)

January 25: The new orbiter names were disclosed by NASA Administrator Dr.

Robert Frosch in Congressional testimony on Oanuary 25.

Historical and illustrious ships used in exploring the world's seas have

been selected as the namesakes of four Space Shuttle orbiters to be flown

into space.

Orbiter 102, scheduled for delivery to KSC in March and to be launched in

November of this year, has been designated Columbia. The original Columbia

was a sloop operating out of Boston which entered and explored the mouth of

the Columbia River in 1792.
The second orbiter scheduled for space flight has exchanged its prosaic

designationof 099 for the name Challenger. The originalChallengerwas an

American vessel which made a prolonged cruise from December, 1872, to May

1876, gathering data about the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. This cruise

gathered sufficient data to fill 50 volumes.

Orbiter 103 has been named Discovery. The original Discovery was a British

vessel used to explore Canada's Hudson Bay and search for a Northwest Passage from the North Atlantic to the Pacific in 1611.

Orbiter 104 has been named Atlantis after the first American vessel designed especiallyfor oceanic research. This two-mastedketch logged half a

million miles of scientific cruising between 1930 and 1966. (Spaceport

News, "Orbiters to be Named for Sailing Vessels," Vol. 18, No. 3, John F.

Kennedy Space Center, February 2, 1979, p I and 3)

o A prospectus soliciting proposals to manage and operate the public visitation program at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida was released by NASA on

January 25.

The successful proposer will be required to make a substantial initial

investment, beginning with a fleet of buses to transport visitors along a

tour route which includes historical landmarks and operational launch facilities for the Space Shuttle and conventional rockets.

The proposalsare also to includeoffers for financingnew buildingsand

facilities to enhance the NASA visitors program. NASA will provide some

facilities, property and services for the concessioner's use but the visitors programmust otherwisebe financiallyself-supporting.

The concessioneris to be granted the right to conduct such revenue producing activities as the sale of food, souvenirs and bus tour tickets, but is

also required to provide some nonrevenue creating services in support of

the program and to pay the expenses of the concession.

The solicitations have been mailed to about 50 companies involved in tourism, recreation, park management and related fields. (NASA News Release

No. KSC 12-79, January 26, 1979)
o As of January 25, Rockwell International Corporation had approximately

10,000 tiles left to install on the orbiter. Another 300 - 400 damaged

tiles that are installed now will have to be replaced after the orbiter

arrives at KSC in March. Very few of the 6000 gap fillers and then_al

seals have been installed. Most of these will be installed at KSC. (Notes

[to CenterDirector]from WalLerKapryan,2_1-79)

i

o On Jan. 25, the Skylab space station was maneuvered into an attitude that

may allow some small measure of control over the vehicle's reentry into

Earth's atmosphere. Since June 1978, engineers at the Marshall Space

Flight Center and controllers at the Johnson Space Center have been maintaining Skylab in an attitude of least atmospheric dray, attempting to keep

it in space until a reboost or deorbit attempt could be made by the Space

Shuttle.

When NASA decided in December to abandon that attempt, engineers began

looking at the vehicle in a different way. The new solar inertial attitude

positions the solar panels to constantly point toward the Sun, assuring

full electrical power at all times and thus preserving the possibility of

some minimal influence at final reentry.

Views differ as to the feasibility of useful control over the spacecraft's

final reentry, but it was deemed desirable to preserve the option while

studies continued. (NASA Activities, Vol. 10, No. 3, March 1979, p 13)

January 30: The USAF/SAMSO Spacecraft Charging at High Altitudes (SCATHA)

satellite was launched into a synchronous transfer orbit frei the Eastern

Test Range at 4:42 p.m. EST, on January 30, 1979, by a Delta 2914, Vehicle,

Mission Number 148.

Performance of the Delta launch vehicle was nominal and placed the spacecraft and its apogee boost motor (ABM) into the desired transfer orbit.

The orbital elements achieved, compared with the nominal expected, are as

follows:

Expected Measured

Kilometers Miles Kilometers Miles

Apogee 43,447 26,997 43,266 26,884

Perigee 185.1 115 185.1 115

Inclination(degrees) 27.4 27.39

6
The satellite performed satisfactorily during the transfer orbit and the

ABM was fired successfully at 4:40 p.m. EST, on February 2, 1979. The

satellTte was then established in its operational mode, which is a

controlled drifting eastward at a rate of 5 deg/day as planned.

The SCATHA Program (for Spacecraft Charging at High Altitude) (Program

P78-2) was established by USAF tO seek means to prevent anomalous behavior

associated with satellites orbiting the Earth at or near synchronous

altitudes of 36,000 km (22,000 statute miles).

Satellites thus far have experienced unexplainable jumps in electrical

potential and have been subjected to voltage increases from a nominal one

to two volts to a dangerously high 15,000 volts over a 5-minute period,

This type ofelectrical charging (and subsequent discharging) has resulted

in some satellites performing unexpected operations - including spinning of

previously despun communications antennas and false recordings of

unachieved events.

Specifically, the satellite includes more than a dozen experiments which

will measure electrons, protons, and alpha particles, the surface charging

and discharging of the satellite, as well as anomalous currents flowing :_

through the spacecraft's wires at any given time.

In addition to orbiting delicate scientific equipment to measure and

identify the source of spacecraft charging, the SCATHA satellite will also

carry sample materials of metals and _nsulation devices both uncommon and

unique to previously orbited synchronous satellites. These materials will

be subjected to electrical impulses by either the natural space environment

or by artificial means through the use of the electron or ion beam system.

(Prelaunch Mission Operations Report No. M-492-303-79-01, subj. Spacecraft

Charging at High Altitudes (SCATHA) - Delta Launch, January 17, 1979, p. 3.

Also, Post Launch Mission Operations Report No. M-492-303-79-01, subj.

USAF/SCATHA Mission Post Launch Report, October 25, 1979)

o The following budget estimates fren the White House reflect the declining

runout costs of NASA's Space Research & Technology programs by FY '82 that

were referred to by NASA Administrator Frosch when he said the agency could

have $690 million available for new starts in FY '81-82.
Space Research & Technology

(in millions of dollars)

Budget Authority FY '78 FY '79E FY "80E FY '81E FY '82E

Space Flight $2,192 $2,424 $2,332 $2,110 $1,825

Science, Application, Tech. 1,065 1,227 1,404 1,467 1,490

SupportingActivities 369 384 435 515 498

Total: _ _ _ _

Outlays

Space Flight $2,260 $2,371 $2,339 $2,125 $1,868

Science, Application, Tech. 972 1,170 1,310 1,448 1,517

SupportingActivities 354 387 407 495 518

Total: _ _ _ _

Under these budgets:

--Outlays for development and production of the Space Shuttle are

expected to total $1.6 billion in FY '80, dropping to $700 million in FY

'82°

--Outlays for space science and exploration are estimated at $672

million in FY '80 and are expected to increase to $778 million in FY '82.

--Outlays for development and demonstration of applications of

space technology are expected to total $420 million in FY '80, increasing to

$505 million in FY '82.

(Defense/Space Business Daily, Vol, 102, No. 20, Tuesday, January 30, 1979,

p t53)

January 31: The Carter Administration is making a mistake by cutting the

number of Space Shuttle orbiters fr_ five to four, fon_er NASA Administrator Dr. James C. Fletcher told the Senate Space Subcommittee Wednesday.

He said, in fact, that he had always believed that a fleet of five orbiters

"was marginal to begin with," noting that the late chairman of the Joint

Chiefs, Gen. George Brown, has strongly recommended that seven orbiters be

built in order to accommodate the new military missions that would be developed. Fletcher added that new missions will also be discovered for the

civilian program as well.

He said he hoped the four orbiter fleet adopted by the Administration would

not foreclose the option of carrying out these still-to-be-determined additional missions. (Defense/Space Business Daily, Vol. 102, No. 23, Friday,

February 2, 1979, p 171-2)

8
o Twenty-one NASA and contractor employees were recently honored at a "Silver

Snoopy Award" ceremony, the first,of the coveted awards given since the

Apollo-Soyuz Test Project in 1975.

The Silver Snoopy is not an official award of the Agency, but a momento

personally given by the astronauts in appreciation of an individual's

superior work. Each honoree received the Snoopy pin, along with a letter

from astronaut John Young commending his or her contributions to crew safety and successful space missions.

"Snoopy," the impish pooch created by cartoonist Charles Schulz, has symbolized craftmanship and the "watchdog of quality" since early in the Apollo

program.

NASA personnel receiving the astronauts' award were: Joel Blum, VO; Tom

Cain, TO; Walt Covington, AD; John Fairey, TI; Bette Hudecek, VO; Ric Hurt,

DE; Gary Ray, DE; Marshall "Scotty" Scott, DE; Dave Steele, VO; and John

Wood, TO.

Five employees with Planning Research Corp. were presented with Silver

Snoopys: Bill Angerer, Anne Buchanan, David McKissick, Charles Parker, and

Kenneth Rosser (PRC/Chrysler).

The other outstanding space workers honored were: Herman Brooks, Management Services, Inc.; Joel Carter, Defense Contract Administration Services,

Miami; Peter Gannon, Martin Marietta Corp.; Royce Hall, Computer Sciences

Corp.; Guy Pace, Expedient Services; and Pat Patterson, Wackenhut. (Spaceport News, Vol. 18, No. 4, John F. Kennedy Space Center, February 16, 1979,

p 2)

o Tom Utsman has been appointed Director of Operations Management in the

Technical Support Directorate. He fills the position vacated by Robert

Gon_an, who retired from federal service January 12.

Previously, Utsman served as associate director in Design Engineering. In

his new position, he will be responsible for tile operational integration

support efforts within Technical Support. This includes site activation,

test support, operations planning, logistics, reliability and quality

assurance, configuration management, and personnel and administrative functions. In addition, Utsman's directorate serves as the KSC interface with

ETR for flight safety and the reimbursement program.
A native of Dearborn, Michigan, Utsman earned a B.S. degree in Mechanical

Engineering from the University of Michigan and an M.S. degree in management from Florida State University. He has worked for Shell Oil Company,

General Dynamics/Astronautics and the Brown Engineering Company.

Utsman joined KSC in 1963. In addition to serving as Associate Director,

Design Engineering, he held the titles of Deputy Director, Project Management; TechniCal Assistant to the Associate Director for Facilities and Systems Management; arid Chief, Shuttle Project Engineering Office.

Utsman's outside interests include Little League sports, where he umpires

baseball and coaches football. He also serves on the Cocoa Beach City

Planning Board. (Spaceport News, Vol. 18, No. 4, John F. Kennedy Space

Center, February 16, 1979, p 3)

o In preparation for future Space Shuttle activities at Vandenberg Air Force

Base in California, a seven-member team of Air Force personnel has been

working at KSC since last summer.

Located in the VAB, LCC and Pad A areas, the team has been gaining experience working with launch and landing procedures for the Shuttle. At the

conclusion of the two-year assiynment, the group will be transferred to the

West Coast, where they will form the nucleus of the Air Force Space Shuttle

launch and landing team.

The team, led by Major George Stetz, includes Captain Eric P. Lloyd, 2nd

Lt. Dale G. Wilson, Chief Master Seryant Paul E. Whitlock, Technical Sergeant Christopher Z. Love, Technical Sergeant Chester A. Cooper, and Staff

Sergeant Clarence W. Ranow. The men represent over 38 years of Air Force

space launch experience with the Titan III, Atlas and Thor vehicles. ·They

are working here under a joint NASA/AF agreement between KSC and the Space

and Missile Test Center's 6595th Aerospace Test Wing at Vandenberg.

(Spaceport News, Vol. 18, No. 4, John F. Kennedy Space Center, February 16,

1979, p 4)

During January: NASA's first High Energy Astronomy Observatory (HEAO 1)

exhausted its supply of attitude control gas in January, endin§ a 17-month

mission to survey and map X-ray sources throughout the sky. Although HEAO

1 was designed for only a six-month lifetime (the length of time required

to survey the entire sky), the quality of data returned was so excellent

that extensions subsequently were authorized.

10
The spacecraft was the first of a three-mission program to study pulsars,

quasars, exploding galaxies bnd black holes in space. The second observatory, HEAO 2, was launched Now. I3, 1978, and the third one is scheduled

for launch this coming September. The HEAO project is managed by NASA's

Marshall Space Flight Center.

Since successfully completing its priinary mission in February 1978, HEAO 1

has continued to sweep the skies, reaping a rich scientific harvest of

detailed X-ray data of unprecedented accuracy, NASA scientists reported.

All experiments have continued to function during the extended mission and

spacecraft systems have fully supported all scientific operations. Besides

mapping the X-ray sky, the satellite has pointed at and studied more than

300 stellar sources of particular interest. It also has measured lowenergy gamma-ray flux.

Although analysis of HEAO I data will require years of work by the astrophysicists who study high-energy phenomena, more than 160 technical papers

and scientific presentations already have been given on HEAO 1 results.

Scientists believe that this important new knowledge may bring fundamental

changes in concepts of the universe. (NASA Activities, Vol. 10, No. 3,

March 1979, p 13)

i

o Over the last two decades, the U.S. has spent about $100 billion on its

space program, Presidential Science Adviser Dr. Frank Press said last week.

This expenditure includes $67 billion for civil programs, of which over $25

billion was for Project Apollo, and $33 billion for military programs.

"We now spend as much annually on military programs as we do for civil programs," he said. The NASA and DOD budgets for space total $7.9 billion in

FY '80, an increase of 12 percent over FY '79.

In addition, the private sector is making a major investment in space--over

$2 billion in communications satellites alone. (Defense/Space Business

Daily, Vol. 102, No. 19; Monday, January 29, 1979, p 143)

o The first orbital test flight of the European Space Agency's Ariane launch

vehicle, which Europe considers to be an alternative to the U.S. Space

Shuttle, has been delayed from June to November of this year due to an

explosion of the vehicle's thir_ stage propulsion system in a ground test

Nov. 28.

11
The rescheduling has been made despite the fact that the French Space Agency (CNES), which investigated the accident, concluded that it was caused by

a malfunction of a safety device on the ground, which "does not call the

stage design in question."

Despite the five month delay in the initial flight test, ESA has maintained

the operational date for its launcher: December 1980.

This, it said; leaves a margin of four months before the first planned user

launch of Ariane--the Agency's Exosat satellites, which is scheduled for

launch in April 1981.

The revised schedule for the four Ariane development flights, all but the

first of which will carry satellites, is as follows:

Launch No. New Schedule Original Schedule

LO1 Early November 1979 June 1979

LO2 EarlyMarch1980 December1979

LO3 June1980 May1980

LO4 October1980 October1980

A capability to provide four operational Ariane flights per year is planned

beginning in 1981. ESA has estimated a need for as many as 68 and as few

as 17 Ariane launches in the 1981-1990 period.

The Ariane progam got a big boost last month at the expense of the Space

Shuttle when Intelsat decided to use the expendable vehicle to launch one

of its Intelsat V satellite in 1981 or 1982. (Defense/Space Business

Daily, Vol. 102, No. 14, Monday, January 22 , 1979, p 93)

o A NASA review board has blamed the failure of the $95 million Seasat spacecraft on inadequtae design analysis of the spacecraft before and after it

was built by its prime contractor, Lockheed Missiles & Space Co., and the

NASA manager of the project, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

The failure of the spacecraft on Oct. 9, after 105 days of operation,

resulted from a loss of electrical power in the Agena bus that was part of

the spacecraft. The power loss was caused by a "massive and progressive

short" in one of the slip ring assemblies that was used to connect the

rotating solar arrays into the power subsystem. The Board believes that

tile short was caused by an electrical arc between adjacent slip ring brush

assemblies, triggered by wire-to-brush or brush-to-brush contact, or by a

contaminant that bridged two components.

I2
The Board said that the way the slip _ing assembly was wired [_withmost of

the adjacent brush units being of opposite polarity] along with the congested design itself made the assembly "a unique, first-of-a-kind component

that was particularlyprone to shorting." (Defense/SpaceBusinessDaily,

Vol. 102, No. 17, Thursday, January 25, 1979, p 122)

13
_ February1979._

February 1: NASA's John F. Kennedy Space Center has awarded a $457,717 contract to City Roofing Company Inc., Memphis, Tennessee, to replace the roof

On the massive Vehicle Assembly Building.

Under the nearly half million dollar contract,City RoofingCompany will

furnish all labor, materials, equipment and services necessary for rehabilitation of the VAB roof. The work will consist of demolishing existing

roof sections, and building up sections with new felt, light-weight concrete and vinyl. Repairs will be made to blistered areas, and the entire

roof area, some32,276 square meters (348,500 square feet), will be recovered with a new vinyl topcoat. ·

Putting a new roof on the VAB is approximatelyequivalentto re-roofing174

average-sizedhouses. Coveringa ground area of 3.2 hectares (eightacres)

and with a volumeof nearly 3.67 million cubic meters (129.5million cubic

feet), the VAB is large enough to house 3 3/4 Empire State Buildings.

Work under the fixed-price contract, one set aside for a small business

firm in a labor surplus area, is to be completed in 120 days. (NASA News

Release, No. KSC 14-79, February 1, 1979)

February 5: The NationalAeronauticsand Space Administrationhas signed a

contract with Rockwell International Corp., Space Systems Group, Downey,

Calif., for the manufactureof two Space Shuttle orbiters (0V-103The

"Discovery"and 0V-104 !!TheAtlantis"),conversionof a ground-testorbiter

(owog9 "Challenger"),and modificationof the first flightorbiter (0V-102

"Columbia").

Completion of the work will provide NASA with four orbiters for Space

Shuttle operations.

Under terms of the $1.9 billion cost-plus-awardfee contract,Rockwellwill

perform the work at its Downey and Palmdale, Calif. facilities and at the

NASA Kennedy Space Center, Fla. The NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston,

:Texas, will administer the contract.

14
Rockwell's work on the contract, which runs to October 1983, will be

carried out at its facilities in Downey and Palmdale, Calif., and at NASA's

Kennedy Space Center.

The contract includes a stipulation placing it under the Administration's

wage-and-price guidelines.

0V-99 "Challenger" is scheduled for delivery in September 1981; 0V-103

"Discovery" in December 1982, and 0V-104 "Atlantis" in December 1983.

(NASA News, Headquarters, Washington, D.C., Release No. 79-15, February 5,

1979) also (Defense/Space Business Daily, Vol. 102, No. 25, Tuesday,

February 6, 1979, p 186)

February 6: NASA has essentially filled the Space Shuttle mainfest for the

first two years of Shuttle operations, NASA Administrator Dr. Robert Frosch

told the House Science & Technology Committee Tuesday.

The following is the planned launch schedule and payload for the Space

Shuttle up to early 1983.

Flight Date Payload

1 11/09/79 Development Flight Instrumentation (DFI) only.

2 03/06/80 OSTA Pallet (Earth viewing), DFI,

3 06/05/80 PDRS Test Article, DFI.

4 08/26/80 GOES-D, DFI.

5 10/28/80 SSCP Test, OSS Pallet (physics and astronomy), D]F.

6 12/10/80 Contingency (open), DFI.

7 02/27/81 TDRS-A.

8 03/26/81 GOES-E, SBS-A, ANIK-C-1, SPAS-01.

g 04/23/81 Intelsat-F, INSAT-1A, Pallet, Opportunity.

10 05/29/81 TDRS-B,

11 07/01/81 Intelsat-G, SBS-B, Syncom IV-1.

12 08/12/81 Spacelab 1.

13 09/17/81 TDRS-C, ANIK C-2.

14 10/16/81 LDEF, SMM retrieval, OMS Kit.

15 11/17/81 STP P-80-1, DOD 81-1.

16 01/06/82 Gallileo Jupiter Orbiter Probe.

17 01/22/82 Spacelab 2 (with cosmic ray experiment).

18 02/24/82 Zohren-1, GOES-F, SBS-C.

19 03/10/82 TDRS-D, ANIK D-1.

20 04/07/82 DOD 82-1.

21 04/23/82 Spacelab 3.

22 05/13/82 Reflight Opportunity.

23 06/02/82 Zohren-2, Material Science Pallet, Syncom IV-2.

24 06/22/82 SSUS-A Opportunity, INSAT-1B, Palapa B-1.

15
Flight Date Payload

25 07/09/82 AMPTE-A, ANIK-C, Pallet Opportun:ity(2).

26 07/28/82 LDEF retrieval, SSUS-D Opportunity,

27 08/17/82 Spacelab (Life Sciences-i).

28 09/02/82 DOD 82-2.

29 09/30J82 Spacelab (Physics Astronomy-I).

30 10/20/82 Palapa-B-2, RCA-D, Syncom IV-3.

31 11/10/82 Spacelab Opportunity.

32 12/02/82 AMPTE-B, SSUS-D Opportunity, SSUS-A Opportunity.

33 01/05/83: Spacelab (OMFT-1).

34 :01/25/83 DOD 83-1.

Defense/Space Business Daily, Vol. 102, No. 28, Friday, February 9, 1979,

p 209-10)

February 8: Rockwell International Space Division (Ri/SD) presented a plan

for Waterproofing Thermal Protection System tiles, gap fill ers and thermal

blankets after each flight._ This waterproofing is necessary, according to

RI/SD, because the waterproof coating on these materials is lost due to

high entry temperatures experienced. The waterproofing would be done at

Dryden Flight Research Center for STS-1 through STS-4, and at KSC for subsequent missions (probably when the orbiter is between the OPF and VAB).

This task will most likely significantly impact Dryden and KSC flows.

RI/SD proposed using special access stands, new ground support equipment

(GSE) such as pumps, drums, brushes,.spray wands, etc., to accomplish this

task. The waterproof substance would be a "Scotch Guard - 3M'! product

which requires a ventilated work area. RI/SD also stated that the orbiter

nose cap and some leading edge wing panels would have to be removed every

flight in order to waterproof the thermal barrier material. Finally, RI/SD

stated that if the orbiter was wet (e.g., after landing in a rainstorm)

that the waterproofing scheme would not work until the Orbiter dried out.

Both tileJSC Technical Status Review Board and KSC found this plan to be

unacceptable because several practical questions were left unanswered by

RI/SD. (Notes [to Center Director] from Robert H. Gray, 2-6-79)

o A meeting was held in washington on February 8 to review the status of the

Teleoperator Retrieval System Program. Martin Marietta presented the

results of the trade studies directed by Headquarters. Basicall_ Martin

reported that $21M were recoverable of the $24M expended to date. These

numbers assume restart within two months and that Martin would be the contractor.

16
In general the meeting was not structured to provide any real insight

regarding "where we go from here." The only positive position presented by

Headquarters was that a Teleoperator is required, but when and how were not

addressed.

It was obvious that until the options are presented to Mr. Yardley, no real

direction can be expected. Unofficially, Headquarters requested POP 79-1

input be submitted for Teleoperator instructions based upon best available

estimates. (Notes Lto Center Director] from Robert H. Gray, 2-15-79)

February 9: Guided bus tours of NASA's John F. Kennedy Space Center attracted 87,661 visitors in January, a 10.1 percent jump over the 79,602 recorded

for the same month a year ago.

The increase maintains a trend established last year when the Visitors Center recorded its second busiest year. Bus tour patronage has steadily

increased over the past 13 months as the nation's spaceport continues its

preparations for the first manned orbital flight of the Space Shuttle,

scheduled for November. (NASA News Release No. KSC 15-79, February 9,

1979)

February 14: The Payload Canister Transporter arrived at Port Canaveral on

February 14, 1979, aboard the SS Hannover. During transit to Port

Canaveral, the ship encountered a storm with over 35-foot waves. The

transporter, which was deck cargo, was submerged under tile waves during the

storm. After arrival at Port Canaveral, an effort was made to start the

transporter on board the ship but it would not start. The transporter was

loaded on the KSC barge and shipped to KSC. After arrival at KSC, the

transporter was started and moved to the OPF under its own power. Damage

in route will result in about a 15-week delay for repairs. The cab and its

controls will be returned to Germany. Work is expected to be completed by

the end of May. The fabrication contractor, KAMAG, will repair the damage

that was done during shipment. (Notes [to Center Director] from Raymond

L. Clark, 2-22-79)

February 15: NASA believes it will cost $200 to $300 million tO provide a

thrust augmentation system- consisting of single solid rockets strapped on

to each Solid Rocket Booster - that Will be necessary to insure that the

Space Shuttle will be able to launch the desired 14,515 kilograms (32,000

pounds) of payload into polar orbit from Vandenberg AFB, Calif.

17
i

That capability will be required to use the Spacelab on the West Coast

missions.

i

The extra thrust is needed because of the increased weight of the Shuttle i

}

orbiter, John Yardley, NASA's associate administrator for space transportation systems, told the House Subcommittee on Space Science and Applications

yesterday. He indicated that at present, the Shuttle is 3,629 kilograms

(8,000 pounds) below the planned payload capability for the Vandenberg

launches (15,876 kilograms or 35,000 pounds), and about 680 kilograms (1500

pounds) below the planned capability from Kennedy Space Center (29,483

kilograms or 65,000 pounds). He indicated that the strap-on solids could

boost the Shuttle payload capability at Vandenberg by 4,536 kilograms

(10,000 pounds).

Yardley said that while some might want to consider the need for thrust

augmentation a "design failure," he did not consider it in those tem)s. He

pointed out that early in the program, NASA decided to reduce the weight of

the orbiter from 79,379 kilograms (175,000 pounds) to 60,039 kilograms (150

pounds), which was set arbitrarily, in order to hold down costs. He said

that the cost to build the extra equiDnent included in that 11,340 kilograms (25,000 pounds) difference [including an atmospheric propulsion system] would have boosted the overall shuttle development cost by 10 to 15

percent; the cost of the thrust augmentation will only boost that cost by 3

to 5 percent. (Defense/Space Business Daily, Vol. 102, No. 33, Friday,

February 16, 1979, p 247)

o Rockwell International Space Division presented the results of several

tasks (analysis and tests) dealing with areas of the orbiter where rainwater ingestion can be expected and the effects of such ingestion on the

orbiter systems. The problem is extensive and it is very likely that rainwater will intrude into several areas of the orbiter including the payload

bay.

Rockwell also made recommendations on how to prevent rainwater ingestion

during the first ferry flight (prior to STS-1). These solutions involve

closing vent doors, taping over vulnerable spots, removing/replacing

panels, etc., in the forward RCS and nose gear wheel well areas. The question of what to do during subsequent ferry flights is still open. These

types of solutions will impact Dryden Flight Research Cetner and KSC OPF

ground flows.

Finally, Rockwell made recommendations for KSC pad facility changes

(shrouds, etc.) to prevent rain intrusion in the forward fuselage area during pad operations. None of these solutions appeared viable due to funding, technical, or timing (need dates) constraints. An Orbiter solution

using burn-away foam or tape (soft shroud concept) appears to be the most

practical. (Notes [to Center Director] from Robert H. Gray, 2-15-79)

18
February 23: NASA Associate Administrator John Yardley reported to Congress

that because of development problems, $80 million of work on the Space

Shuttle that was planned for FY '78 has been deferred to FY '79, and that a

supplemental $185 million will be needed in FY '79 to continue Shuttle

development "at a pace which will minimize total Shuttle development

costs." He summed up the current status of the program as follows.

In the past year, substantial progress has been made on the final assembly

and checkout of Orbiter 102, leading to a planned delivery to Kennedy Space

Center (KSC) in March 1979. However, this progress has taken considerably

more time and resources than had been planned, leading to deferral of significant activity in FY '79.

A large increase in the number of secondary structure parts and certain

necessary systems changes both contributed to making the final assembly and

checkout more complex, time consuming and costly. Changes were required in

the hydraulics system, several large helium bottles were added to increase

the purge for the main engine seals, and a back-up flight control system

was also added. In addition, technical problems, which have been resolved,

were encountered in the reaction control thrusters, the auxiliary power

system, and the main propulsion system plumbing.

In the production and installation of thermal protection system (TPS)

tiles, new processes had to be developed to produce dimensionally correct _

tiles. There are over 32,000 tiles per orbiter, of many different

shapes...This problem was further aggravated by the fact that these tiles

must be installed in a sequential pattern. Because of a high rejection

rate of individual tiles the TPS installation became inefficient. Operations were often delayed due to non-availability of specific tiles. While

the problem of the sequence of manufacturing has been largely solved, substantial deferral of the TPS activity to KSC will be required to ;neet the

early March delivery.

During FY '78 and early FY '79, the main engine deliveries for STS-1 have

slipped seven months.

This was principally due to engine test failures and fires with severe

damage to three engines: Engine 2001, as a result of a main liquid oxygen

(LOX) valve failure; Engine 0007, as a result of a heat exchanger coil

failure; and Engine 0006, as a result of a faulty valve and the failure of

a repair in the high-pressure fuel turbopump. As a result of these engine

problems as well as orbiter TPS problems, the Sept. 28, 1979, target date

was revised to Nov. 9, 1979.

During the past year, production of the first flight External Tank

encountered a number of problems which caused delay and increased costs.

19
The first flight tank weld assembly was completed and successfully pressure

tested. However, lengthy production delays developed in the application of

the extensive thermal protection system on the exterior surfaces of the

tank, which increased manpower and funding requirements.

During the past year, Solid Rocket Motor handling and manufacturing

problems have caused significant delay and cost increases. Two propellant

segments had to be recast; one due to excess porosity, and one due to a

handling mishap. Development motor #3 had to be disassembled for repair,

resulting in a three month delay in firing. Problems with other

components, such as the flexible nozzle bearing and nozzle ablative parts,

have resulted in funding increases. In addition, an overhead crane failure

required extensive modifications to the three 180-metric ton (200-ton)

cranes used for lifting and transfer of motor case segments; this resulted

in additional schedule delays. These problems and underestimates in

manufacturing operations resulted in a significant growth in funding

requirements. (Defense/Space Business Daily, Vol. 102, No. 35, Friday,

February 23, 1979, pp 260,261)

o NASA has decided to conduct all physical integration of Spacelab

experiments related to the Space Shuttle at its Kennedy Space Center launch

site. The decision follows extensive analysis and cost studies, and

confirms an earlier tentative decision to perform the work at Kennedy

rather than at the centers charged with managing the Spacelab missions. _i

z

Physical integration involves actual installation of the experiments on

Spacelab's racks and pallets. When Spacelab operations become routine in

the mid-1980's, the physical integration is expected to require about 100

civil service and contractor man-years of work each year at Kennedy.

Analytical work required to integrate experiments for each Spacelab mission

will continue to be done at assigned mission management centers.

Spacelab is a scientific facility which will be installed in the payload

bay of NASA!s Space Shuttle for periodic missions. Scientists and

technicians will conduct experiments in Spacelab on Earth orbital missions

of seven to 30 days duration. Spacelab is being built by the European

Space Agency. (NASA Activities, Vol. 10, No. 2, February 1979, p 11)

o Two hundred top Air Force and NASA officials met this week at Vandenberg

AFB to discuss Space Transportation System (STS) planning.

2O
The conferencewas scheduledby Major General Richard Henry, commanderof

SAMSO (Space and Missile Systems Organization) and was hosted by Brigadier

GeneralJames Marshall,commanderof SAMTEC (Spaceand MissileTest

Center). i

The purpose of the four-day conference was to orient all of the major Air

Force Commands about the STS activation and operational planning for the

Vandenberg launch site. A key objective was to uncover action items

pertinent to that goal.

About 35 individuals from NASA attended the conference, plus a few of the

major aerospace contractors. The remainder were Air Force officials from

various commands.

NASA participation included John Yardley, associate administrator for Space

Flight; Dr. Walt Williams, NASA chief engineer; Dr. Myron Malkin, director,

Space Shuttle Program; and Chet Lee, director, STS Operations; all from

NASA Headquarters. A delegation from the Johnson Center was headed by

Robert Thompson, manager, Space Shuttle Program Office, and Glenn Lunney,

manager, Shuttle Payload Integration and Development Program Office.

Senior Marshall Center representative was Ellery May, of the Shuttle

Project Office.

Among those representing KSC were Center Director Lee Scherer, Dr. Robert _i

GrayandJohnNeilon. !!

KSC coordinator for the conference was Bill Huseonica, who worked in

concert with Pat Murphy, manager of KSC off-site operations based at

Vandenberg. (SpaceportNews, Vol. 18, No. 5, John F. Kennedy Space Center,

March 2, 1979, pg 4)

21 /
March i979

March 2: The following is a breakdown of the $4.6 billion FY '81 and $4.3

billion FY '82 budgets for NASA that have been projected by the White

House. The figures have not been adjusted for inflation.

NASA Budget Outlook

(in millions of FY '80 budget dollars)

FY '80 FY '81 FY '82 Change:80-82

Space Transportation Systems

SpaceShuttle 1,366 939 598 -768

SpaceFlightOps 467 702 787 +320

ExpendableLV's 71 35 19 - 52

TotalSTS: 1,904 1,676 1,404 -500

OtherR&D Programs 1,698 1,824 1,835 +137

TotalR&D: 3,602 3,500 3,2_ -363

Construction 158 136 136 - 22

R&PM 965 960 960 5

TotalNASA: _ 4,596 4,3_ -_

With these budgets, NASA expects to have $195 million available for new

starts in FY '81 and $500 million available in FY '82.

Adjusted for inflation, NASA's projected outlays in FY '80 will be at their

lowest level since the opening years of the space progrmn. According to

NASA figures, based on constant FY '66 dollars, NASA's outlays in FY '80

Will total $1.754 billion [actual: $4.595 billion - the highest total

since FY '68] versus $1,806 billion in FY '79 and $1,762 billion in FY '78

- the previous nadir. Outlays in FY '66 were $5.932 billion, dropping

annually to $1.879 billion in FY '75, after which some minor ups and downs

occurred. (Defense/Space Business Daily, Vol. 103, No. 2, Friday, March 2,

1979, p 8)

March 8: MSFC and KSC agreed to new SRB/SRM delivery schedules to support

the November 9, 1979 launch date. These are documented in a March i letter

to Bob Lindstrom. MSFC is not going to be able to meet many of these dates

without alterations to their current planning. MSFC is currently looking

at various planning options which will enable them to better their

schedule. These include reduction of acceptance checkout of the SRB aft

skirts, elimination of TVC hot firing on the right aft skirt, deferral of

work to the KSC (PSF), and delivery of the Qual-1 segments to KSC for use

as SS-1. (This would delay the qual firing approximately two months.)

Each entails some degree of program risk.

22
Within the next few days, MSFC will complete their review of the various

ways of improving their schedules. At that time, MSFCwill request we work

with them to see if the delivery dates to KSC can be negotiated. (Notes ;ii

[tO_Ceni_erDirector]fromRobertH. Gray,3-8-79)

March 9: The Space Shuttle Columbia, which had been scheduled to begin its

piggybac k flight to Cape Canaveral aboard its 747 carrier aircraft Friday,

suffered damage during a test f!ight at Edwards AFI3,forcing a delay in its

departure. Du_ing the 17-minute test flight on Friday, temporary plastic

insulation broke off the spacecraft and hit the tail section of the

vehicle, causing what was described as minor damage. The temporary tiles

were on the Shuttle to fill in places where permanent ceramic tiles have

not yet been installed. None of the permanent tiles broke away during the

test flight. A misaligned mounting strut for attaching the Shuttle to the

747 was also found during 'the test flight on Friday. (Defense/Space

Business Daily, Vol. 103, No. 9, March 13, 1979, p 57)

_rch 16: NASA's John F. Kennedy Space Center has awarded a contract with an

estimated value of $323,750 to Allied Chemical Corporation, Morristown,

N.J.

Under the terms of the fixed-price contract, Allied Chemical will supply a

cleaning solution, Solvent, Type Il, for one year to the Kennedy Space

Center. The solution will be used in the cleaning laboratory and for

flushing the hypergolic systems of the Space Shuttle. (NASA News Release

No. KSC 35-79, March 16, 1979)

March 19: International utilization of the U. S. space program has contributed $2.2 billion to the U. S. balance of payments over the past fifteen

years, and is continuing to contribute about $175-$200 million annually,

according to estimates submitted to Congress last week by NASA.

Arnold W. Frutkin, Associate Administrator for External Relations, said the

return has included $1.185 billion from Intelsat launches and related

purchases; $360 million in Japanese purchases; $125 million in reimbursable

launches for ESA; $360 million in reimbursable launches for other countries; and $195 million from cooperative projects with other countries,

including $65 million from remote sensing.

23
Frutkin also reported that other countries have contributed a total of

$1.362 billion to current NASA space science projects - including the $660

million that ESA is spending to develop the Spacelab. The remainder of the

foreign contribution to current NASA projects is being spent as follows

dollars in millions):

* Solar Polar Mission (ESA): $100. Spacecraft, experiments.

* Space Telescope (ESA): $100. Instr_nents, solar panels, operations

support.

* IRAS (Netherlands/U. K.): $60. Spacecraft, ground support.

* ISEE (ESA, France, Germany): $40. Spacecraft, instruments.

* Galileo (Germany): $30. Spacecraft propulsion, instruments.

* IUE (ESA/U. K.): $30. Hardware, yround support.

* Spacelab i (Japan, France, India, Canada): $10. Scientific

instruments.

* SMM (U. K., Netherlands, Germany): $10. Instruments.

* HEAO-C (France, Denmark): $4. Scientific instruments.

* CTS (Canada): $60. Spacecraft.

* Tiros-N Series (France, U. K.): $50. Data collection system,

instruments.

* Nimbus 7 (U. K.): $1. Scientific instruments.

* RMS (Canada): $80. Design and development of system.

* Landsat (9 countries): $75. Ground stations.

* Spacelab i (ESA): $20. Scientific instruments.

* Seasat/Nimbus 7/HCMM (ESA/Canada): $7. Ground stations.

* Biosat (USSR): $25, Flight of U. S. experiments.

(Defense/Space Business Daily, Vol. 103, No. 13, Monday, March 18, 1979, p

88)

o Poor weather conditions at Edwards AFB yesterday forced NASA to postpone

until today the planned two-day piggyback flight of the Space Shuttle

Orbiter Columbia to Kennedy Space Center. The flight aboard a 747 carrier

aircraft has already been delayed a week because of problems with plastic

dummy heat tiles on the orbiter which peeled off in a test flight. The

· tiles have since been reglued. Some 3000 of the dummy tiles were needed

because installation of the real reusable insulation tiles is behind

schedule. In order to save time on the program, NASA decided to fly the

Shuttle to KSC without the complete set of insulations and to finish the

installation there. (Defense/Space Business Daily, Vol. 103, No. 14,

Tuesday, March 20, 1979, p 92)

March 20: The Space Shuttle Orbiter Columbia, which flew from Edwards AFB,

Calif., to Biggs Arl_v Base in E1 Paso, Tex., March 20 atop its 747 carrier,

made the short trip from E1 Paso to San Antonia, Tex., yesterday after a

one-day weather delay, and is awaiting a break in the weather to fly on to

Cape Canaveral. (Defense/Space Business Daily, Vol. 103, No. 17, Friday,

March 23, 1979, p 113)

24
March 22: For the first five months of FY '79, KSC actually used 102% of the

utility energy used fop the similar FY '78 period, To meet our FY '79

goal, KSC must not use more than 98.9% of the actual energy used in FY

'78. KSC is, therefore, more than 3% over its energy consumption for the

first five months of FY '79. More drastic action will be required to

reduce _nergy demands for the rest of FY '79. Solne70% of the total electrical consumption is required to meet the weekly baseline load. This

baseline load is calculated as a week's load consisting of seven Sundays,

the day with lowest electricity requirement. Within available KSC

resources, we are making an effort to identify what makes up this baseline

electrical load. Additionally, a statement of work is being prepared to

get NASA Headquarters to assign Grul_an to help us make this determination

and to reco_nend areas where FY '79 reductions can be made without adverse

impact on KSC mission. (Notes [to Center Director] from P. A. Minderman,

3-22-79)

March 24: In recognition of the recent arrival of the first Space Shuttle

orbiter at its penultimate destination, President Ji_ny Carter said:

"The Columbia, Space Shuttle Orbiter; arrived at NASA's Kennedy Space

Center in Florida in late March. Late this year we will be launching

Columbia into Earth orbit for the first Shuttle mission.

"Just as landing tests of the Orbiter Enterprise in the sun:herof 1977 signaled the beginning of the Shuttle evaluation years, the Columbia ushers in

a whole new era of economical and routine space transportation. The

Shuttle will reduce the cost and increase the effectiveness of using space

for COll_ercial, scientific, and national security needs. When Columbia and

her sister ships - Challenger, Discovery, and Atlantis - are operational,

we will truly be the space traveling nation we set out to become twenty

years ago.

"The first great era of space is over. The second is about to begin. It

will come into its own with the Shuttle, the heart of our new space transportation system. The Shuttle program has been a very large effort. More

than 5,000 companies and nearly 50,000 Americans all across the country

have worked in designing, manufacturing, and testing the Shuttle, I congratulate the scientists, engineers, skilled workers, and others that have

contributed directly to this success." (NASA Activities, Vol 10, No. 5,

May 1979, p 4)

25
March 29: The following changes in the STS Schedule have occurred since the

January 1979 reschedule meeting with the NASA Administrator:

Impact

KSCPlanshowedlaunchon November15 I week _

Administrator announcedNovember9 _

Orbiter O/D was to be March 2 3 weeks

Actual O/D was March 25

SRB initial deliveries were April 20

KSC agreed to May 4, 1979

/

KSC Pathfinderreflects "MLP ready for STS-1 0

stacking" from June 8 to June 22

ET O/D was May 22 0

KSC agreed to June 9

STS-1 Additional Schedule Probabilities

Unplanneddeferredwork to KSC (RAMA's) TBD

Orbiter project reports possible one-month TBD

delay to the April 7 and April 15 APS PODS

deliveries

SSMEdeliverieshaveslipped: TBD

Old Date New Date

ENG-1 4/1-_ 5-_

ENG-2 4/29/79 5/17/79

ENG-3 5/15/79 5/27/79

(Notes [to Center Director] from Robert H. Gray, 3-29-79)

March 27: The Space Shuttle Orbiter Columbia arrived safely at Kennedy Space

Center atop its 747 carrier airplane at 11:04 AM EST Saturday, after a 93

minute flight from Eglin AFB, Fla., where ii spent the previous night. It

made a 2 hour and 15 minute flight from Kelly AFB, San Antonio, Tex., to

Eglin on Friday.

After landing before a crowd of some 6000 cheering people, the Columbia was

unhitched from its 747 carrier and towed two miles to a hangar where it

will be prepared for its maiden flight into space November 9. The preparations will include installing some 7800 pieces of reusable surface insulation tiles, that originally were to have been installed in California prior

to the flight to Cape Canaveral.

26
Veteran astronaut John Young, who will pilot the Columbia on its maiden

flight along with space rookie Robert Crippen, commented on the landing.

"It!s a great day for the world. The only sad thing about it is that most

of the world doesn't realize it yet. They will."

"Looking at that bird back there you might think that all we need is to

wipe the windshield, put it on the launch pad and take off. But it needs

engines, it needs more tiles and there is a lot more testin§ to be done.

We're not going to launch that baby until it's ready."

NASA officials have emphasized tile latter point, acknowled§ing that it is

more likely that the Shuttle will make its first flight in Dec_nber, or

even January, than in November.

NASA Administrator Dr. Robert Frosch was on hand at Cape Canaveral for the

arrival of the Columbia. (Defense/Space Business Daily, Vol. 103, No. 19,

Tuesday, March 27, 1979, p 129)

March 29: NASA Administrator Dr. Robert Frosch and European Space Agency

director Roy Gibson signed a Memorandum of Understanding in Washington,

D. C., under which each agency will provide one spacecraft flor the International Solar Polar Mission (ISPM) to be launched in 1983 onboard the

Space Shuttle. U. S, cost of the ISPM is esLimated at $190 million to $230

mission, with another $40-50 million to be spent for mission operations and

data analysis. The IPSM is the first spacecraft procurement to use the

A-109 stipulations. TRW and Fairchild conducted the Phase B studies of the

U. S. spacecraft for the IPSM and their proposals for building the spacecraft are due in at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory April 23. One of the

companies will be selected next fall to build the spacecraft. Originally

known as the Out-of-the-Ecliptic mission, the IPSM spacecraft will observe

the Sunfor the first time from the plane above the solar poles.

(Defense/Space Business Daily, Vol. 103, No. 26, Thursday, April 5, 1979, p

152)

March 30: NASA Administrator Dr. Robert Frosch told Congress that all the

agency expects to have for basic space transportation in the next sen or

twelve years is four or five Space Shuttle orbiters and that a continuous

process of iml)rovingthe system will be conducted over that period.

Testifying before the Senate HUD-IA Appropriations Subcommittee, Frosch

said the improvements would involve increasing the Shuttle's power and

weight lifting capability; extending its life support capability;

27
developing its capability for assembling and constructing objects in space_

improving its fuel efficiency; developing its capability to dock with

objects for resupply; improving operations around the cargo bay, including

astronaut activities and automated systems; and developing its capability _

to support missions in higher orbits. Frosch said that NASA will examine

the feasibility of increasing the Shuttle's operational orbit up to 500 or

600 miles as well as whether to conduct those operations via Orbital

Transfer Vehicles.

The NASA administrator said that it is probable that NASA will transition

to a vehicle beyond the Shuttle in ten, twelve or fifteen years and that

planning for that will begin in the mid-1980's.

Frosch estimated the cost of the Thrust Augmentation System for the Shuttle

at $250 million and said it will be needed for follow-on military payloads.

He said that NASA expects to make some design changes in Shuttle systems as

a result of the Thrust Augmentation system but said they would not be significant, tie noted that the system would not be used on every mission.

(Defense/Space Business Daily, Vol. 103, No. 23, Monday, April 2, 1979, p

158-9)

march 30: Kennedy Space Center director Lee Scherer, commenting on the

center's ability to launch the Shuttle on schedule Nov. 9, said; "We just

have a very large job with the possibility of a number of surprises which

we just can't predict, But it's what we're here for and a challenge that

we are anxious to work on, and it's great to have us and the country back

this close to manned space flight again." [No American has flown in space

since the U. S./Soviet Apollo-Soyuz Test Project in July !975.] (Defense/

Space Business Daily, Vol. 103, No? 24, Tuesday, April 3, 1979, p 168)

o The Voyager I flyby of Jupiter on March 5 has produced the most important

discovery of this mission, according to many scientists, and what may be

the most significant find of the entire planetary exploration program -

several live volcanoes on Io, Jupiter's third largest moon, caught in the i

actoferupting.

On March 8, Linda Morabito, an astronomer at Jet Propulsion Laboratory, was i

studying a photograph of Io taken during the flyby. Morabito works on the _

navigation team at JPL, and was studying the photo for optical navigation i

purposes. She saw a strange plume rising above the limb, or visible edge

of the satellite, one that no amount of _icture refining could eliminate.

28
Morabito realized the possible importance of what she was seeing, and

called it to the attention of other scientists on the Voyager team, They

confirmed the wildly improbable fact that she had spotted an erupting

volcano - and five or six more were seen in other Voyager photographs,

taken before the spacecraft had turned its camera to the next programmed

target, Europa,

Spectacular though the Io volcanoes are, they must compete with a host of

other unexpected and fascinating scientific discoveries. And more are to

follow. Having used the gravity and orbital motion of Jupiter to increase

speed and change direction, Voyager 1 is now on its way to Saturn.

(Spaceport News, Vol. 18, No. 7, John F. Kennedy Space Center, March 30,

1979, p 1)

29
April 1979

April 2: About 600 employeesof NASA and Rockwell Internationalhave been

put on a three-shift,around-the_clockscheduleseven days a week at

Kennedy Space Center in an effort to keep the Shuttle on schedule for its

initial flight November9. Work is now centeredon removingthe dummy

tiles that were put on the Orbiter Columbiafor its flight from California

and replacingthem with the operationalinsulatingtiles. Since the

Shuttle has fallen behind schedule,NASA has been planningthe 24-hour

schedule at KSC after the arrival of the Columbia. A six-week,long test of

the Shuttle'smajor combinedsystems is scheduledto start next week.

(Defense/SpaceBusinessDaily, Vol. 103, No. 23, Monday, April 2, 1979, p

160)

' April 5: The runwayoverrun areas have become a nesting area for the Least

Tern. This bird is a protectedspecies and efforts are being undertakento

discouragethem from nesting on the overruns. The overrunswill be sprayed

with a thin coat of asphalt to darken the area, as the wildlife experts

advise a dark color would not offer an attractive nesting area. Another

area has been preparedwhich should be more suitablefor Least Tern

nesting.

The use of an asphalticsubstancehas been checked with the KSC and JSC

Safety Offices and with the flight crew.

The entire sprayingcan be done with KSC equipmentand manpower;the cost

of materials will be approximately $3,000. {Notes [to Center Director]

from Robert H. Gray, 4-5-79)

April 6: NASA's John F. Kennedy Space Center has awarded a one-year,

$6,058,686contractextensionto WackenhutServices Inc., 3280 Ponce de

Leon Blvd., Coral Gables, Fla.

The extensioncovers the period from April 1, 1979 to March 31, 1980, and

is for securityand fire support servicesat the nation'sSpaceport.

Wackenhut employs approximately 325 people in providing these services.

The new award brings the aggregatevalue of the parent contractto

$11,301,810. (NASA News Release No. KSC 42-79, April 6, 1979) -

3O
o NASA's John F. Kennedy Space Center has awarded a one-year contract extension to Atlantic Technical Services, Inc., Casselberry, Fla. to provide

postal services.

The fixed-price contract for $816,244 - one set aside for award to a small

business firm - brings the total aggregate value of the contract to

$1,913,385 and covers the period from April 1, 1979, through March 31,

1980. (NASA News Release No. KSC 44-79, April 6, 1979)

o The Senate Subcommittee on Science, Technology and Space Friday approved

the $185 million FY '79 supplemental requested by NASA for the Space

Shuttle and added $49 million to the agency's FY '80 budget request,

including $27 million to maintain the option for the fifth Space Shuttle

orbiter and $5 million to prepare for initiation of the Gamma Ray Observatory (GRO) mission. The subcommittee's bill totals $4.774 billion.

The House has already approved the FY '79 supplemental and an FY '80 authorization which is $37 million above the amount requested by the Administration. The House-passed FY '80 authorization is very similar to the measure

approved by the Senate subcommittee. That bill will go to the Senate

Commerce Committee for mark-up t_orrow.

Only two subco_nittee members participated in Friday's mark-up - chairman

Adlai E. Stevenson (D-Ill.) and ranking minority member Jack Schmitt

(R-N. M.), the former Apollo astronaut. The two men have handled the NASA

authorization hearings practically by themselves and have consistently

urged a greater space commitment by this country. Both men have introduced

bills to set a more ambitious space policy for the United States and are

sponsoring legislation to establish an operational remote sensing satellite

system. (Defense/Space Business Daily, Vol. 103, No. 28, Monday, April 9,

1979, p 193)

April 10: The Space Shuttle Orbiter Enterprise arrives at KSC April 10. The

Enterprise is the only Shuttle to have flown to date, having completed a

very successful series of glide landings at NASA's Dryden Flight Research

Center, California, For the past several months, it has been undergoing

mated vertical ground vibration tests at the Marshall Space Flight Center

in Alabama; these were completed on February 23.

31
Enterprise was brought to KSC for fit-checks in the VAB and at the launch

pad. The external tank, also used in the test at Marshall, arrived by i

barge on March 28. Mating the tank with the two stacked inert solid rocket

boosters, now being assembled on the Moble Launcher Platform in High Bay 3,

is scheduled for April 18.

Enterprise was taken from Marshall to the Redstone Army Air Field and mated

with the 747 Shuttle carrier aircraft. The carrier left Huntsville on

April 10 at 1:00 PM EST and made final touchdown on the Shuttle Landing

Facility at 2:53 PM EST.

The Enterprise was demated from its carrier aircraft and towed into the

VAB, where it will undergo preliminary operations such as removing the tail

cone, installed to reduce aerodynamic drag during the ferry flight. Enterprise will be mated to the external tank. This first complete assembly on

a Mobile Launcher Platform will be called the "Pathfinder Vehicle."

The Pathfinder vehicle will be used primarily for checking out the mechanical interfaces between the vehicle and the modified extendable platforms in

the High Bay. About May 1, the Crawler Transporter will creep into High

Bay 3 and lift the Mobile Launcher Platform and its load off the supporting

mounts - also a first for KSC. At its usual loaded speed of one mile an

hour, the Crawler will carry its 5-million kilogram (11-million pound)

cargo to Pad A for a month of similar fit-checks at the launch site.

Pad operations using the Enterprise would include checks of the sound suppression system, flowing the super-cold liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen

propellants, verification tests for the Orbiter Access Ann and Rotating

Service Structure, and others. The Payload Ground Handling Mechanism,

which will transfer a complete assembled payload from the Rotating Service

Structure into the orbiter's large cargo bay, will also be tested at this

time.

By early June pad tests will have been completed. The Crawler will bring

Enterprise and its fellow test articles back to the VAB, this time into

Itigh Bay 1. The SRBs will be recycled and used on a later mission, as will

the external tank.

Enterprise became world-famous during its brief flying career at Dryden. A

drive by fans of the televison series "Star Trek" gave this first shuttle

orbiter its name, in honor of the interstellar ship flown by the Star Trek

crew. (Spaceport News, Vol, 18, No. 8, John F. Kennedy Space Center, April

13,1979,p1&4)

32
o The maiden launch of the European Space Agency's three-stage Ariane launch

vehicle, a competitor to the U_ S. Space Shuttle, has been scheduled for

Nov. 3 at the Kourou Space Center in Guiana - six days before the scheduled

maiden flight of the Shuttle. ·Both vehicles had been slated to make their

first flights in June of this year, but were delayed by technical difficulties. The full-scale Ariane propellant mockup was erected on the launch

pad at Korou Feb. 5 and will remain there undergoing tests until the Ariane

flight stages arrive in July:. Preparations for the launch will begin in

August. (Defense/Space Business Daily, Vol. 103, No. 29, Tuesday, April

10, 1979, p 201)

April 11: Lt. Gen. Tom Stafford, Air Force deputy chief of staff for

research, development and acquisition, told the Senate Armed Services Committee yesterday that he did not expect the first Space Shuttle flight to

be made in November as currently planned. Stafford said it could go in

December, '!but in my personal opinion, the launch will take place in

January or February." He said he still expects the operational flight date

of the shuttle to take place in February 1981 and the first Defense Department flight in December 1981. (Defense/Space Business Daily, Vol. 103, No.

31, Thursday, April 12, 1979, p 214)

April 12: The president of the Rocketdyne division of Rockwell International, Norman Ryker, said the Space Shuttle has about·a 30 percent chance of

making its first flight in November. "I think we have a good opportunity

to make the Novmnber date," Ryker told the 41st annual meeting of the Aviation/Space Writers Association in Houston. "But it is hard to guess

because we could have other problems," he said. (Defense/Space Business

Daily, Vol. 103, NOo 31, Thursday, April 12, 1979, p 215)

o KSC's Deputy Director Gerald D. Griffin has been selected by the White

House to chair an interagency comittee which will recommend guidelines on

how governmental agencies should perfo_ research and development.

Griffin will serve as chairman of an interagency committee studying the

applications of an Office of Management and Budget circular outlining the

policy that the government will follow on determinng whether work should be

performed under contract or by government personnel.

The committee wilt report to the Office of Science and Technology Policy

and the Office of Federal Procurement Policy, both in the Executive Office

of the President. Griffin's new assignment is in addition to his regular

duties as KSC's deputy director.

33
The various federal organizations currently handle the management and performance of research and development tasks differently. The committee will

recommend a more precise set of guidelines for all government organizations

tofollow.

Representation on the committee includes individuals from the Departments

of Agriculture; Commerce; Defense; Energy; Health, Education and Welfare;

Housing and Urban Development; Interior; State; and Transportation, plus

the National Science Foundation, Environmental Protection Agency, the

Veterans Administration and NASA. (NASA News Release No. KSC 49-79, April

12, 1979)

April 13: NASA's John F. Kennedy Space Center has awarded a $753,182 contract to Thiokol Corporation, Wasatch Division, Brigham City, Utah, to provide on-site solid rocket motor processing activities during the design,

development, test and evaluation period of the Space Shuttle.

Under this contract, Thiokol will assist in the final mating of the solid

motor segments during stacking operations. This includes the installation

of various explosive devices, such as those used to separate the boosters

from the shuttle after the solid propellant is consumed, and to release the

descent parachutes.

The cost-plus-fixed-fee contract covers the period from January 22, 1979

through March 31, 1980. Work performed under the contract will be done at

the Kennedy Space Center. Thiokol has been awarded previous contracts by

KSC totaling $2,930,283. This supplemental award brings the total value of

the contract to $3,683,465. (NASA News Release No. KSC 50-79, April 13,

1979)

April 18: More than 75,000 visitors viewed the Space Shuttle Orbiter

Enterprise during the five days it was on public exhibition following its

arrival at the Kennedy Space Center on April 10.

The Enterprise Was flown into KSC aboard NASA's 747 carrier aircraft from

the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, W_ere it had been

undergoing vibration testing for the past year.

At KSC, it will serve as the "pathfinder" for its sister ship, the

Columbia, by supporting the checkout of assembly and launch facilities and

ground support equipment.
The Enterprise was on exhibition from April 11-15. During that period,

10,470 cars bearing 41,880 visitors were admitted to the Shuttle Landing

Facility and 33,447 patrons of NASA tours viewed the Enterprise as part of

their two-hour guided bus tours of KSC.

The peak day was Sunday, April 15, when 5,136 tour patrons and 15,324

people arriving in 3,831 cars visited the Shuttle Landing Facility.

The Enterpriseis to he moved into the Vehicle AssemblyBuildingon

Wednesday. During the week of April 22, it will be mated with an external

tank and inert solid rocketboosterson a MobileLauncherPlatform in preparation for the move to Complex 39's Pad A on May 1. (NASA News Release

No. KSC 52_79, April 18, 1979)

April 25: NASA Associate Administrator John Yardley said that the problems

with the Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME) appear to have been solved.

However, he reported that installation of the thermal protection tiles on

the Orbiter Columbia are about a month behind schedule and that he will

know better in the next six weeks whether the Shuttle launch can be made

"this year." Launch is officially scheduled for Nov. 9. "At this point, I

am not making any guesses until I have more information." He added that

the prime contractor, Rockwell, thinks it can make the Nov. 9 date.

(Defense/SpaceBusinessDaily, Vol. 103, NO. 41, Thursday,April 26, 1979,

p 290)

April 26: Following four months behind the highly successful Voyager 1

spacecraft, Voyager 2 Thursday began taking the first of 15,000 photographs

of Jupiter and its moons. Voyager 2 is now 59 million kilometers(34

million miles) from Jupiter and will make its closest encounter 650,000

kilometers (404,000 miles) on July 9. Voyager 1 flew within 278,418 kilometers (173,000 miles) of Jupiter's cloud-tops. Following Voyager i to

Saturn, Voyager 2 will continue taking pictures of Jupiter until August 28;

it will take the first detailed look at the Jovian moon Europa and make

more detailed studies of the moon Io. Voyager i will arrive at Saturn in

November 1980; Voyager 2, in August 1981. An option exists to change the

Voyager 2 trajectory at Saturn for a January 1986 encounter of Uranus.

(Defense/SpaceBusinessDaily, Vol. 103, No. 43, Monday, April 30, 1979, p

300)

35
May 1979

May 1: Greater-than-anticipated _roblems in developing the Space Shuttle and

in readying the Orbiter Columbia for its first flight will require NASA to

shift $270 million from production to development of the Shuttle in FY

'79-80, to delay the availability of the vehicles, and to use more than

$400 million of the announced $690 million "wedge" for new starts in FY

'81-82 to make up the production shortfall.

This message was delivered to the Senate Space Subcommittee by NASA

Administrator Dr. Robert Frosch, who said that the cost estimates are preliminary and will be further refined by mid-June, when more is known about

the projected launch date for Columbia.

He emphasized that the estimates assume that Congress will approve the $185

million FY !79 supplmnental for the Shuttle that has been requested by the

Administration. )(esaid tile fact that those supplemental funds have not

been approved yet is by itself "impacting progrmn pace." _ said it becmne

necessary several weeks ago to begin deferring the use of funds for Shuttle

production in order to continue funding Shuttle development "at an

efficient rate" in anticipation of the $185 million appropriation.

Frosch said that NASA realized that it had considerably more work to do to

get the Shuttle ready for its first flight since the arrival of the

Columbia at Kennedy Space Center last month. He said that NASA has had to

add more personnel and to extend working times on several elements of the

Shuttle, since less work than originally planned was accomplished at the

manufacturing sites.

He reported that NASA is currently four to six _meks behind schedule for

the planned Nov. 9 launch date for the Shuttle and that launch will probably slip to the first quarter of 1980, although it could occur late this

year.

liesaid that NASA _dll incur additional costs of $2.5 million to $3 million

per day for every day the launch slips beyond _ov. 9.

The NASA administrator told the subcommittee that NASA is shifting $10

million in FY '79 funds that was allocated for the now terminated Teleoperator Retrieval Syst_n to Shuttle development and anticipates that it

will shift an additonal $70 million in FY '79 from production to developme_t of the Shuttle. In FY '80, he said that the agency tentativeiy plans

to shift$200 millionfrom productionto development. _

36
In other testimony, NASA Associate Administrator John Yardley said that

testing of the SPace Sbutt]e Main Engine is going well and that the engine

is no longer the Pacing item on the program· He indicated that the key

item is nowthe installation of the Thermal Protection Tiles. He reported

that Rockwell is going to have to add about 300 people at Kennedy Space

Center to work on the tile installation and on other items, including

installation of development flight instrumentation inside the Shuttle· He

said the people may be hired from such launch vehicle contractors as

McDonnell Douglas and General Dynamics, and put the cost of the extra

people at $5-6 million in FY '79.

Yardley said that NASA is not satisfied with prime contractor Rockwell's

internal cost management on the orbiter program, and that its award fee

will be affected· Deputy Administrator Alan Lovelace said that NASA is

going back to all its contractors to get them to review management

controls.

Frosch said that cost escalation in the aerospace industry has been above

that of the U. S. economy as a whole, which has impacted the program. NASA

Comptroller William Lilly said the escalation has been about 9·5-10 percent, or 2 percent higher than expected· Yardley reported that the cost of

some components has increased because the industry is "saturated With business'' and won't accept fixed prices·

Yardley said that because of the Shuttle production slip, NASA will not

require the $27 million approved by the House in FY '80 for long lead items

for the fifth orbiter.

Frosch said that NASA is adding three additional main engines to the

Shuttle program, and accelerating deliveries of other engines to protect

the engine development program against further test problems. (Defense/

Space Business Daily, Vol. 104, No. 3, Thursday, Hay 3, 1979, p 15-17)

o The Space Shuttle Orbiter Enterprise was rolled out to Complex 39 at the

Kennedy Space Center on May I as part of an exercise designed to help clear

the way for the launch of its sister ship Columbia, It marked the first

time that the complete Space Shuttle configuration had been ass_nbled in

the Vehicle Assembly Building and moved to the launch pad. Earlier, a 15-

story-tall external tank was mated with two inert solid rocket boosters on

a mobile launcher platform·

The Enterprise was delivered to KSC's Shuttle Landing Facility from the

Marshall Space Flight Center by NASA's 747 Shuttle carrier aircraft on

April 10.

37
On April 24, the delta-winged orbiter was hoisted from the horizontal to

the vertical position, and lifted 5_ meters (190 feet) above the floor of

the transfer aisle before being swung over a transverse beam and then

lowered gently onto the deck of the mobile launcher platform for mating

with the external tank. The operation took some 19 hours.

The Enterprise remains at Pad A in Complex 39 until the first week in June.

The pad, which was used for all the Apollo lunar missions (except Apollo

10) has been extensively modified for its new role in the Space Shuttle

program.

The purpose of this Enterprise Operation iS to make certain that Shuttle

elements are compatible with the Spaceport's assembly and launch facilities

and ground support equipment, as well as to verify procedures. It also

provides for training of space center personnel in the handling of hardware

designed to make space operations more routine and economical in the 1980s.

(NASA Activities, Vol. 10, No. 6, June 1979, p 6)

o NASA Administrator Robert Frosch told the Senate Commerce Space Subcommittee that the flight of the first Shuttle Orbiter, Columbia, is at least 4-6

weeks behind schedule for the Nov. 9 launch, with the first quarter of 1980

the "more probable" launch date. NASA says it has been shifting production

money from the second orbiter (099) for several weeks in order to pay for

the Columbia's R&D, putting the second orbiter at least 6 months behind

schedule. (Defense/Space Business Daily, Vol. 104, No. 2, Wednesday, May

2, 1979, p 9)

May 2: NASA awarded $3.660 billion in contracts and other procurements in

fiscal 1978, an increase of $128 million, or 3.6 percent, over fiscal 1977,

less than the rate of inflation.

The business share of the agency's FY '79 procurements was about 90 percent

- the same as it has been for the last three years - including direct award

of $2.954 billion, or 81 percent of all procurement dollars. Direct awards

to business totaled $2.838 billion in FY '77, or 80 percent of the total.

The increase in NASA's procurements last year is the smallest it has been

in several years. Procurements of $3.205 billion in FY '77 were up 10.2

percent from FY '76; procurements of $3.205 billion in FY '75 were up 5.6

percent from FY '74.

38
Of the total direct awards to business, $2.112 billion, or 72 percent, were

competitive procurements, compared to 73 percent in FY '77. Of these, $362

million, or 13 percent of the total awards to business, were new contracts,

with $1.750 Pillion, or 59 Percent, representing within scope modifications

to contracts awarded competitively in previous years. Of the $842 million

in noncompetitive procurements, $271 million, or 9 percent, were new contracts, land $571 million, or 19 percent, were modifications to contracts

awarded previously.

Contracts with incentive provisions accounted for 66 percent of the total

awards of $10,000 aridover to business; cost-plus fixed-fee contracts, 13

percent; and firm-fixed price contracts, 17 percent. In FY '77, that

breakdown was 69 percent, 13 percent, and 15 percent, respectively.

Small business received $282 million, or 10 percent, of NASA's direct

awards to business last year, including $137 million, or 22 percent, of new

contracts of $10,000 and over awarded to business. Small business received

9 percent of NASA's contract dollars in FY '77 and FY '76, and 10 percent

in FY '75. Including subcontracts, the small business share·came to $513

million, or 17 percent, of the total awards to business in FY '78. This

compares to $496 million and 18 percent in FY '77.

The largest share of NASA's contract dollars continued to go to California

last year, which received $1,280 billion, or 42 percent of the total. This

compares to awards of $1.417 billion, or 49 percent, in FY '77. Florida

and Texas were second and third, respectively, each with 9 percent of the

total awards, and Maryland was fourth, with B percent. No other states

received more than 4 percent. (Defense/Space Business Daily, Vol. 104, No.

2, Wednesday, May 2, 1979, p 10)

o Rockwell International Corp. of Downey, Calif., continued as NASA's leading

contractor in FY '78, although its total contracts and share of the NASA

contract dollar dropped significantly from FY '77.

Rockwell accounted for 30 percent of all NASA contract dollars awarded to

business in FY '78; the top five contractors for 46 percent; the top ten

contractors for 57 percent, and the top one hundred contractors for 88 percent (the same as in FY '77).

Eight of tile Space Agency's top ten contractors for FY '78 were on that

list in FY '77. ttughes (#13 in FY '77, with contracts for $38.7 million)

and Computer Sciences Corp. (#12 in FY '77, with contracts for $40.5 million) have moved into the top ten, replacing General Dynamics (#11, With

contracts for $64.4 million) and Boeing (#15, with contracts for $42.7 million). (Defense/Space Business Daily, Vol. 104, No. 2, Wednesday, May 2,

1979, p 10)

39
o On Wednesday, May 2, 1979, a press conference was conducted at 9:30 AM at

the Visitors Information Center to announce and demonstrate the operation

of the solar energy reporter. The solar energy reporter senses, records,

and reports by voice, the amount of solar energy striking a unit area.

Interested members of the communications media were shown the equipment and

told how it can be accessed by phone. Representatives of the Florida Solar

Energy Center (FSEC) were also present for this event to assist in the

demonstration. It is expected that this solar index will be incorporated

in the daily weather broadcasts on radio and TV and will be published in

the local newspapers as a public service. (Notes [to Center Director] from

Andrew Pickett, 5-3-79)

May 4: The FLTSATCOM-B spacecraft was successfully launched into a synchronous transfer orbit by the Atlas-Centaur AC-47 at 1457 hours EDT from the

ETR Launch Complex 36 on May 4, 1979. _l

The transfer orbit parameter_ are:

Actual Nominal

Inclination(degrees) 2-6_.3633 26_4

Eccentricity 0.732257 0.732294

ApogeeHeight(KM) 35965.0 35974.6

PerigeeHeight(KM) 166.5 167.0

The spacecraft apogee kick motor was successfully fired at fifth apogee on

May 6, 1979, injecting the FLTSATCOM spacecraft into the desired synchronous orbit. All spacecraft systems were turned on and are operating

nominally.

FLTSATCOM is an advanced Earth satellite designed to provide extensive communications capability for the USAF and USN. The satellites are to be

placed in synchronous, near equatorial orbits. The spacecraft provides 23

UHF and one SHF communications channels. Services provided are: Fleet

broadcast, channel 1; Fleet relay, channels 2 through 10; Air Force narrowband, channels 11 through 22; a DOD wideband, channel 23; and an additional

Telemetry, Tracking and Command (TT&C) S-band channel. (Prelaunch Mission

Operations Report No. M-491,202-79-02, subj. FLTSATCOM-B Launch, May 1,

1979, p 1. Also, Post Launch Mission Operations Report No. M-491-202-79-

02, subj; FLTSATCOM-B Post Launch Report, November 5, 1979)

· i

40

i_
May 7: The leadershipof the SenateCommerceCommitteeand its Space Subcommittee has asked NASA to provide a fuller explanation of why the estimated

cost of the Space Shuttle program increased by $400-$600 million in a matter of m°nths without anyone knowing about it, or at least not informing

the Congress,and to immediatelyinitiateactions to preventa reoccurrence

of such a situation.

In a letterMay 3 to NASA AdministratorFrosch, CommercechairmanHoward

Cannon (D-Ney.),subcommitteechairmanAdlaf E. Stevenson(D-Ill.)and subcommittee ranking minority member Jack Schmitt (R-N. M.), said they were

"dismayed" at the cost overrun on the Shuttle and said the failure of NASA

to informCongressof the problems"is most regrettable." They warned that

the current situation"seriouslythreatensthe committee'scredibility,as

well as NASA's."

Concerning the launch delay and sharply increased costs of the Shuttle, the

Senator said:

"It is not clear whether RockwellInternational[Shuttleprime]underestimated the work to be accomplishedto supporta Nov. 9, 1979, first orbital

test flight, whether Shuttle program managers at the various levels were

unaware of the situation,or whether,and at what stage, top NASA management was informed of the need for the prompt availability of additional

funds for Shuttle development. However, it is clear that the situation did

·not develop in the past 30-60 days. This raisesa basic questionwith

respect to the adequacy of the Shuttle management system to track and

reportprogram progressand financialstatus. If the fault does not l_e in

the estimatingprocess,or the managementsystem, then there was laxity in

advising the committee about a serious problem that obviously required

immediate attention."

Accordingly, the three men called on the NASA administrator to immediately

initiate a thorough review of the Shuttle situation, to identify specific

failures, and to prepare a statement of corrective action initiated or proposed. They said they want a report from NASA on these matters before they

take NASA's FY '80 authorizationbill to the Senate floor. (Defense/Space

Business Daily, Vol. 104, No. 8, Monday, May 7, 1979, p 31)

May 10: During the move of "Pathfinder" to Pad A, the performance of the

Crawler Transporter was closely monitored for correlation of speeds versus

vibrations, since this was the first time the Shuttle flight configuration

has been transported by the CT. Strain gauges and accelerometers on the

vehicle/ML?were monitored,and no excessivereadingswere recorded.

41
Conclusion:

0.75 Best speed for turns

1.0 Best speed for open road

0.4 Best speed for road crossings

The C/T was propelled at 1.0,MPH 'on all straight-of-ways when tests were

not controlling speeds. (Notes [to Center Director] from P. A. Minderman,

5-10-79)

May 11: President Carter submitted an amended FY '80 NASA budget to Congress

requesting an additional $220 million to pay for the increasing costs of

developing the Space Shuttle.

Without the additional funds, NASA was going to have to transfer some $220

million from Shuttle production to Shuttle development in FY '80, causing

delays of at least 9 and 12 months in the third (103) and fourth (104)

Space Shuttle orbiters, and increasing the costs of the program by an estimated $400-$600 million.

The need for those orbiters to launch military satellites, particularly

those involved in monitoring a SALT Treaty, is believed to be a key factor

in the President's decision.

As it is, NASA is going to have to transfer some $70 million in FY '79 from

Shuttle production to Shuttle development [along with $185 million in supplemental funds], delaying readiness of the second orbiter (099) as well as

103 and 104.

As a result of the FY '79 funding shift, the delivery date of 099 has been

slipped from September 1981 to March 1982; the delivery of 103 from

December 1982 to June 1983, and the delivery of 104 from December 1983 to

June 1984.

If the additional $220 million requested by the President in FY '80 is not

approved, the delivery dates of 103 and t04 will be slipped to March 1984

and June 1985, respectively. The 099 schedule will remain the same.

Launch of the first Orbiter (101), officially scheduled for Nov. 9, is now

expected in January or February 1980. (Defense/Space Business Daily, Vol.

104, No. 11, Tuesday, May 15, 1979, p 77)

42
May 13: During the week of May 13-19, the John F. Kennedy Space Center will

join with other NASA centers and government agencies to observe Small Business Week, honoring the country's small businesses.

Duringthe last fiscalyear, KSC awarded $37.3 million in contractsto

small business firms. Of that total, $25.9 million went to small Floridabased firms, with many of the contracts granted to local businesses.

Jack Dryer, Industry Advisor and Small Business Specialist from KSC's Procurement Office, noted that KSC has awarded $16.5 million to small business

firms through the end of March, the halfway point for Fiscal Year 1979.

tlorethan $173 million in contractshave been issuedto small business

since fiscal year 1970.

KSC participates in some programs and has initiated others designed to help

small businesses win contracts. All procurement requests exceeding $2,500

are reviewed by Dryer to determine if they can be set aside for small business firms, thus precluding competition from large firms. And all constructionwork estimatedto be less than $1 million is reservedfor small

business. (NASA News Release No. KSC 65-79, May 8, 1979)

Maky 15: The House HUD-IA Appropriations Subcommittee, in closed-door session, approvedthe additional$220 million for the Space Shuttle in FY '80

that had been requestedby the Presidentat the last minute -- funds that

will ensure earlier availability of the four Orbiter Shuttle fleet and

increase the likelihood that major funding will be available in FY '81 and

FY '82 for new starts.

The $220 million was approved as part of a $4,910.5 million FY '80 appropriation for NASA, a reduction of $34.5 million from the President's amended request.

The subcommitteealso approvedthe $185 million FY '79 supplementalfor the

Space Shuttle, which has already been approved in the House authorization

bill and in the Senate Commerce Committee authorization. The added $220

million was requested after the authorization committees had acted, but is

quite certain of winning approval in those bodies. Still to be faced is

Senator William Proxmire's Senate HUD-IA Subcommittee.

43
The $34.5 million reduction was made as follows:

*Space Shuttle Thrust Augmentation System: -$15 million. NASA

requested the funds to define a system of added solid propellant motors

that would increasethe payload capability of the Shuttle in polar orbit

missions from Vandenber9, a capability that will be needed in about 5 or 6

years.

*Space Flight Operations: -$5 uiillion. This reflects the general cut

made in the FY '80 NASA authorization by the House.

*Computer Acquisitions: -$3 million. Leaves $7 million in the budget.

*Construction of Facilities: -$1.5 million. For a hangar at Edwards

AFB.

*Research & Program Manag_llent: -$10 million.

In one other action, tile subcommittee directed NASA not to exceed the

$116.1 million FY '80 budget for the Galileo Jupiter Orbiter Probe, to come

back with a supplemental request if additional funding is needed. It was

estimated that the total cost of the program could increase by $25 to $50

million as a result of needing to reduce the weight of the Inertial Upper

Stage to 9ive it the payload capability to boost the Galileo, which earlier

had weight problems of its own. (Defense/Space Business Daily, Vol. 104,

No. 13, Thursday, May 17, 1979, p. 85-6)

May 1/: NASA has named six men, working under Deputy Administrator Dr. Alan

Lovelace, to make a 3-1/2 month review of the Space Shuttle management

system and cost problems that have occurred on the Shuttle, and to report

their findings by Sept. 1.

The review is being conducted in response to a request from the Senate

Commerce Committee and its Space Subco_nittee that NASA fully explain why

the costs of the Shuttle have suddenly increased by $400 to $600 million,

and to take corrective actions.

NASA Administrator Frosch has indicated that NASA has some problems in monitoring costs by its prime contractor, Rockwell International, and by subcontractors, as welt as some communications problems within the agency. In

addition, he said there may be problems with NASA's planning and prediction

approaches, and in tile way the agency organizes and controls certain

aspects of the work on the Shuttle program.

The management review team consists of four current NASA officials, two

former NASA officials, and one Air Force official. They are: Dr. Richard

C. McCurdy, former NASA associate administrator-organization and management; Willis H. Shapley, former NASA associate deputy administrator; Maj.

Gen. James Abrahamson, program director for the F-t6, USAF; A. Thomas

Young, deputy director, NASA-Ames Research Center; John E. O'Brien,

44
assistant general counsel_procurement, NASA-Headquarters, and Abraham

Spinak, associate director, NASA Wallops Flight Center (executive assistant). (Defense/SpaceBusinessDaily, Vol. 104, No. 13, Thursday,May 17,

1979, pg 89)

May 18: Two companieshave respondedto requestsfor proposalsto manage and

_perate the public visitationprogramat NASA'sJohn F. Kennedy Space

Center.

The firms making proposalsfor the lO-year concessionagreementwere ARA

Services, Inc., Philadelphia, Pa., and TWA Services Inc., Chicago, Ill.,

the incumbent concessionaire.

The proposals are undergoing evaluation by a government panel prior to

selection of the concessionaire.

Involved in the lO-year concession agreement will be the operation of the

guided bus tours of the Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Air Force

Station, as well as the management and operation of the public visitor

program. {NASA News Release No. KSC 67-79, May 18, 1979)

May 22: A suit was filed in Federal Court in Cleveland to require NASA to

provide precise information on where pieces of the orbiting Skylab Space

Station will fall. The suit, by attorney Jeffrey Largent, seeks to force

NASA to reveal to the public "what danger there is and what they are going

to do to ensure safety." Skylab reentry is now predictedfor betweenJune

26 and July 9, with 400 or 500 pieces of metal expected to hit the Earth

along a path 6,437 kilometers (4,000 miles) long and 161 kilometers (100

miles) wide. NASA has said that it is impossible to determine exactly

where the debris will land. It has been studying whether or not to make

some maneuvers with the station to try to affect its reentry to enhance

safety, e.g., to bring it down largely over the ocean, but any maneuver

would entail uncertainty. (Defense/SpaceBusinessDaily, Vol. 104, No. 16,

May 22, 1979, p. 109)

May 24: Mr. Floyd Roberson,Office of Space & TerrestrialApplications

(OSTA), NASA Headquarters, requested information on completed or contemplated technology transfer effort in the medical field at KSC which would

particularly benefit the handicapped and aged. Thirteen items were listed

which would directly or indirectly benefit this group. Included were Computer Diagnoses Program, Prosthetic Leg, Skin-Implant Multiwire Connector,

45
Tracheal Intubation, Hearing Aid, and Image Enhancement. The information

was needed for a Congressional inquiry on what NASA is doing in the way of

medical help to,the aged and hand_capped. (Notes [to Center Director] from

Andrew Pickett, 5-24-79)

May 25: The first stage of the European Space Agency's Ariane launch vehicle

has apparently successfully completed its first qualification test. The

stage fired for the full-duration 139 seconds in a test May 17 at SEP in

Vernon, France, and initial analysis found that operations were "satisfactory.'' A second test is planned for early fall. The second stage of the

Ariane, which began testing Oct. 16, is "practically qualified," while the

third stage has completed six tests in a propulsion bay. Maiden launch of

Ariane is scheduled for Korou, Guiana, in early November. (Defense/Space

Business Daily, Vol. 14, No. 19, May 25, 1979)

May 2g: Kennedy Space Center Director Lee R. Scherer announced today the

retirement of Walter J. Kapryan, Director of Shuttle Operations, and the

appointment of George F. Page to fill that position, effective June 1.

Kapryan's first assignment with NASA was at the Langley Research Center in

Virginia. He joined that organization in September 1947, when Langley was

headquarters for the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics. He was

assigned to the NASA Space Task Group at Langley in March 1959. Shortly

thereafter, he was appointed project engineer for the Mercury Redstone 1

spacecraft and came to the Cape Canaveral area in 1960 with that spacecraft.

During the early phases of the Gemini Program, Kapryan was responsible

within theGemini Program Office for the test planning and determining

requirements for spacecraft checkout equipment to be located at KSC.

In 1963, he establjshed and headed the MSC Gemini Program Office at KSC.

He participated in the preparation and countdown of all manned Gemini

flight and all Apollo Saturn lB and Saturn V missions.

Prior to assuming his present position in September 1969, Kapryan held the

position of Deputy Director of Launch Operations. Previously, he was

Assistant Apollo Spacecraft Program Manager at KSC, representing the Manned

Spacecraft Center, assuring close coordination between the two centers in

s_acecraft positions. (NASA News Release No. KSC 100-79, May 29, 1979) ?

46
May 30: A crack in the nozzle of a Space Shuttle main engine, discovered

hours before a Thursday cluster firing of ttiree of tile engines, has caused

a 10- to 20-day postponement :of the critical test, TODAY has learned.

"The crack was found about 9:30 Wednesday night when we were X-raying the

engine for any flaws," an official close to the engine development program

said.

The engine, one of three to be used in the cluster firing, seemed to have

no prob!ems during previous test firings, the official added.

"But to be on the safe side we decided to halt the scheduled test and to

repair the crack," he said.

The cluster firing, which is scheduled to run 520 seconds - the length of

time the Shuttle engines must operate in order to get the space transportation system into orbit - is considered a major milestone in the development

of the Shuttle's main propulsion system. (Dick Baumbach, "Engine Crack

Delays Test," TODAY, Cocoa, Florida, Friday, June 1, 1--_'79)

During May: Center secretaries and clerical personnel were in the

spotlight late last month, as KSC celebrated National Secretaries Week with

special programs and speeches, including a visit from three astronauts.

Over 280 civil service and contractor secretaries attended the program in

the training auditorium, where Ellen liorn received the Secretary of the

Year Award.

Astronaut Bob Crippen, who will fly in the first Space Shuttle, and

astronaut-candidate Judith Resnick each gave a short talk at the pro9ram.

A highlight of the activities for many of the secretaries was the reception

held in the Mission Briefing Room, where they had an opportunity to _et

and talk with the astronauts. (Spaceport News, Vol. 18, No. 10, John F.

Kennedy Space Center, NASA, May 11, 1979, p. 2)

o After being in mothballs for the past four years, the KSC Astronaut Quarters have undergonea facelifting and are now ready for the Shuttle era.

47 I
Included in the 6,818 square feet that make up the Shuttle crew members'

tm;porary work and living areas are fourteen bedrooms, two lounges, a dining room, kitchen conference room, gymnasium, six bathrooms, a sauna, and

laundry room.

The astronaut quarters offer comfortable accommodations for the crew members during their days of pre-flight preparations. Tile last seven days

before a flight the crew will be in isolation, and only individuals designated as .prime contacts will be allowed within the confines of the facility.

Each crew m_nber will have his or her own bedroom, complete with bed, dresser, chest of drawers and night stand. An office area offers desks and

working space for the crew to study the Operational Managenent Instructions, CountdQwn Procedure documents, or other last minute details of their

Pending flight.

Two lounges within the crew quarters provide a living room atmosphere to

read, watch television, or listen to stereo music. Six large tiled bathrooms are shared, roughly one for each suite of three bedrooms.

A stainless steel kitchen with adjoining dining room is included in the

area, and a conference room complete with plaques of the Apollo missions

and world map is available for meetings of up to 25 persons. The dining

room was used during manned space programs for the traditional crew breakfast before each flight.

To keep the astronauts and mission specialists in tip top physical condition, a fully equipped gymnasium within the isolation area is available for

exercising, and a sauna bath is nearby to aid them in relaxing after a

rigorous day.

A glass observation window located at the east end of the quarters will

allow family me_}bers and others who need to talk directly to the crew members to do so during the quarantine period. Communication is by way of a

telephone and speaker system. A commercial upright freezer provides storage space for the food which will be stowed aboard the spacecraft for a

particular flight. The prepared food will be transported from NASA's Johnson Space Center in Texas.

The entire astronaut quarters have undergone minor modifications and major

interior decorating under the direction of Nancy Gunter, who was selected

for the job of Manager, KSC Astronaut Office last May. (Spaceport News,

Vol. 18, No. 11, John F. Kennedy Space Center, Hay 25, 1979, p. 6)

48
June 1979

, i

· !i

June 5: NASA Administrator Dr. Robert Frosch reported to Congress that the _.

first launch Of the Space Shuttle has definitely "slipped into 1980" and '

said that problems on the program are widespread but correctable. ,

Frosch attributed the delay in the Shuttle launch, which had been rescheduled for Nov. 9 and then estimated for late 1979, to four factors: 1) the

late arrival of the Orbiter Columbia at Kennedy Space Center; 2) incomplete

manufacturing and assembly work on the Orbiter by Rockwell before it was

transferred to KSC; 3) slower-than-expected installation of the Thermal

Protection System (TPS) tiles; and, 4) additional modifications which

delayed testing and checkout.

Frosch reiterated that of all the problems, the TPS installation is the

"most severe." He said that there are still about 8,000 tiles to be

installed on the Orbiter and that NASA has only achieved an installation

rate of about 200 tiles per week, instead of the 650 per week planned. At

the current installation rate, the Orbiter insulation syst_n would not be :_

ready before next March. However, steps are being taken to improve the

situation.

Although tile Main Propulsion Test of the Space Shuttle Main Engine cluster

was postponed last week, Frosch reported that SSME testing is "proceeding

at a good pace." Approximatly 46,000 test seconds of engine operations of

the 80,000 seconds planned for cerLification for the first flight (STS-1)

have been achieved. Previous major engine develo_llent problems "have been

overcome and residual turbine problems are now being analyzed," he said.

As a result of problems on the Shuttle, Frosch reported, prime contractor

Rockwell's award fee for the last half of 1979 was cut 32 percent below

maximum [from about $5.8 million to about $4 million]. Performance fee was

affected by problems with the TPS; cost fee, by Rockwell's inability to

estimate cost increases resulting from the previous year's problems.

As for corrective management actions, Frosch cited the following:

--At Rockwell. The company has restructured its subcontracts management office by integrating the technical managers and the cost managers

into a single unit, a step which will allow cost increases and technical

problems to be recognized sooner. Rockwell has also added to its subcontracts management team_ has established an improved system for tracking

subcontractor budget impacts on a monthly basis; and plans more reviews

with its subcontractors to prepare resource requirements.

49
--At Kennedy Space Center. LeaderShip and lines of authority at KSC

have been clarified regarding the Shuttle. The KSC Shuttle manager has

been placed in charge of all KSC elements working on the Shuttle, and Johnson Space Center has been given full responsibility for completing the

installation and assembly of components on Orbiter 102. Studies are underway on simplifying administrative areas at KSC, both by NASA and Rockwell.

--At Headquarters. In addition to the Space Shuttle management assessmerit being undertaken by an independent team, NASA comptroll er Will iam

Lilly is undertaking a detailed review of Shuttle cost and Scheduling. A

Shuttle resource requirements review teal_ will analyze the FY '81 Shuttle

budget requirements and future year projections in detail, including

assessment of the Contractor and Vendor estimates, to fully examine the

basis Qf thecost estimates and to test the adequacy of the resources considering the potential for future changes. It will be used in supporting

NASA's FY '81 budget submission to the White House. (Defense/Space Business Daily, Vol. 104, No. 27, June 7, 1979, p. 184-5)

June 10: The Senate by voice vote has passed the $4.961 billion FY '80

authorization for NASA recommended by its Space Subcommittee, an increase

of $16 million over the amount requested by the Administration. There was

nodebateon theauthorization. _

The bill includes the $220 million additional requested for the SPace Shuttle by the President in May. The House has passed a NASA authorization

that is $37 million above NASA's original request, but does not include the

$220 million. The funding, however, will be included in the final bill to

be worked out in House/Senate conference.

The Senate bill includes $3,838.5 million for R&D, $16 million above the

request and $199 million above the House bill; $157.6 million for construction, which is identical to NASA's request and to the House-approved

amount, and $964.9 million for Research & Program Management, which is

identical to the request and the amount approved by the House.

The Senate R&D authorization is comprised of the following (in millions):

Space Shuttle, $1,586; Space Flight Operations, $467.3_ Expendable Launch

Vehicles, $70.7; Physics & Astronomy, $337.5; Planetary Exploration,

$220.2, Life Sciences, $43.9; Space Applications, $334,3; Technology Utilization, $12.1; Aeronautical R&T, $309.3; Space R&T, $119.4; Energy Technology, $5; and Tracking and Data Acquisition, $332.8

50
Senate increases include $2 milliQn for the Multi Spectral Resources Scanner; $4 million for the Variable Cycle Engine; $5 million for Rotorcraft

Technology; $2 million for:Energy TechnOlogy, including the SPS; and $3

million for LargeSpace Structures.

House additions are $27 million for the fifth orbiter [funds no longer

required in FY '80]; $2 million for the MSRS, $4 million for tile National

Oceanic Satellite Systems, $1 million for the Large Space Antenna, $8

million for tile VCE. It cut $5 million from Space Flight Ops.

Tile House Appropriations Committee cut $34.5 million from tile NASA request,

including $15 million for Shuttle Thrust Augmentation, $5 million for Space

Flight Ups. and $10 million from Research and Program Management.

(Defense/Space Business Daily, Vol. 104, No. 36, Wednesday, June 20, 1979,

p. 247) _

June 22: Sunday drive-through tours of the Kennedy Space Center and Cape

Canaveral Air Force Station in private vehicles were suspended until further notice due to the gasoline supply situation.

Guided bus tours of the NASA Space Shuttle base on KSC and the operational

and historical sites on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station will remain in

operatiQn. (NASA News Release No. KSC 123-79, June 22, 1979)

June 25: The following is a breakdown of the annual budgets for NASA for the

FY '81-84 time period [along with FY '79-80 for comparison] as projected in

NASA's current Five-Year Plan.

An in-house working document, the plans seek to lay out the programs that

the agency should undertake for the benefit of the nation in the specified

time period and which are within its technical capability.

The plan, however, is tempered by the budget realities imposed by the White

House Office of Management & Budget -- an effect which is evident in the

program delays from those projected last year -- including the postponement

beyond FY '84 of such major and expensive undertakings as the Saturn Orbiter Dual Probe and a follow-on Mars mission.

Further such changes --both postponements/cancellations and some newly

discovered initiatives -- can be anticipated in each new Five-Year Plan.

51
A1 ready the current projection for the FY '81 budget is being modified as a

result of the increased costs on the Shuttle program and by an overall

ceiling being imposed by OMB. An increase above this year's budget adjusted for inflation is not anticipated.

Of the $21.4 billion contained in the Five-Year Plan for FY '81-84 [in FY

'80 budget year dollars], a total of $5.9 billion is projected for new programs, i.e., money both to initiate new projects in FY '81-84 and to carry

them out in the four-year period.

This new program money totals $450 million in FY '81, $1.350 billion in FY

'82, $2 billion in FY '83 and $2.1 billion in FY '84. The FY '81 "wedge,"

including sixteen prospective new starts, will certainly be affected by the

additional development costs of the Shuttle.

The new Five-Year Plan is notable for the new Space Systems Engineering

project line; for a more than doubling of annual Applications funding from

the current level, and for a near doubling of Aeronautics funds.

[Note: the Plan does not include the $220 million requested by the President in May for the Space Shuttle in FY '80.] (Defense/Space Business

Daily, Vol. 104, No. 39, Monday, June 15, 1979, p. 269)

June 28: The first orbital flight of the Space Shuttle has slipped at least

until the end of March 1980 and probably will not be conducted until the

end of June 1980 at the earliest.

NASA Administrator Dr. Robert Frosch told the Itouse Space Subcommittee that

there is a 20 percent chance that the initial flight could be made in March

and a 50 percent change that it could be made by the end of June.

He said that if all goes well on the Shuttle program, the basic work on the

Orbiter Columbia could be completed in November and it could be moved to

the Vehicle Assembly Building at KSC before Christmas. He said the March

launch might be possible if the Orbiter does not have to be returned to the

VAB from the pad before launch, and if there are no unforeseen major difficulties.

[The last official date for the Shuttle launch was November 9, but recent

problems pushed that into "early 1980." The Shuttle was originally slated

to fly in March 1979.] (Defense/SPace Business Daily, Vol. 104, No. 43,

Friday, June 29, 1979, p. 295)

52
June 30: After servingmillionsof people in communitiesthroughoutthe

world, NASA's experimental Applications Technology Satellite-6 was turned

off June 30 and boosted to a higher orbit. The five-year old communications satellite,positionedin a geostationaryorbit 35,900 kilometers

above the equator in the central Pacific Ocean, exceeded its planned lift

spanbythreeyears, i

Three of its four station-keeping thrusters had failed and the lifetime of

the fourth thruster become questionable. Should its fourth thruster have

failed, the spacecraftwould have driftedbetween its old positionabove

140 degrees W. longitude and 70 degrees W. longitude, creating a potential

hazard to Present and future spacecraft in that orbital area. To prevent

such an o_currence,controllersat the Goddard Space Flight Centeron Aug.

6 used t_e remaining thruster to boost the spacecraft several hundred kilometers higher, where it will remain in orbit for hundreds, perhaps

thousands,of years.

The 1,402-kilogram spacecraft has a 9-meter diamter mesh antenna which can

be pointed within a tenth degree of arc, directly toward small ground

receiving stations. This capability to transmit directly to small ground

receivers provided unprecedented experimental opportunities to bring educational, Scientific and health programs to communities throughout the world.

Previously, huge ground stations were needed to receive and amplify the

relatively faint signals, after which the video and sound had to be

retransmitted overland, via conventional methods, to local television sets.

(NASA Activities, Vol. 10, No. 8, August 1979, p. 7)

During June: For the twelfth year in a row, the Kennedy Space Center

achieved over 90% participation in the Federal Savings Bond Campaign, and

has earned another star for its Minuteman Flag.

KSC came out ahead of the other Centers in this year's campaign, with 93.4%

employee participation. Langley Research Center was second with 83.6%.

(Spaceport News, Vol. 18, No. 13, John F. Kennedy Space Center, June 22,

1979, p. 1)

53
duly !979

duly 2: The external tank scheduled for flight on the first Space Shuttle

orbital mission was shipped from tileMichoud Assembly Facility near New

Orleans aboard the NASA barge Poseidon.

It was Scheduled to arrive at Port Canaveral Friday morning, proceed Op the

Banana River and reach the KSC barge basin south of the Vehicle Assembly

Building bynoon. The average speed of the barge and its powerful tug for

the 1,073-mile journey from Michoud to Port Canaveral is 10 knots. (Spaceport News, Vol, 18, No. 14, John F. Kennedy Space Center, July 6, 1979,

p.l.)

o More than i00 scientists and engineers and the payload-handling flight crew

for the Spacelab-1 mission tourea KSC.

The tour of KSC's launch and payload processing facilities was conducted as

part of a four-day meeting of the spacelab-1 Investigators Working Group

held at tileOrlando i_att House from dune 26-29.

/

Two mission specialists - Astronauts Owen Garriott and Robert Parker and

five payload specialists, Dr. Michael L. Lampton, University of California;

Byron K. Lichtenberg, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Dr. Ulf

Merbold, West Germany; Dr. Claude Nicollier, Switzerland; and Dr. Wubbo

Ockels, The Netherlands, participated in the sessions.

Two of the payload specialists will be selected for the first flight.

_Ibid., p. 3.)

o The prime contractor for the Space Shuttle Orbiter, Rockwell International

Corp., told Conyress that tile increased costs on the program are due to

· changes in the program that are laryely to be expected and to the "constrained budget management" system on the program which requires deferral

of work each year.

These chanyes consist of "new proyram requirements, additional effort

required to accomplish existing tasks, and added effort in response to test

proyram results."

54
George W. Jeffs, president of RI's North American Aerospace Operations,

said that under constrained budget management, a fixed amount of funds

covering "only absolutely essential costs" are provided at the beginning of

a fiscal year and often are not enough for the work to be accomplished.

While NASA maintains some reserves, there are "no provisions in Rockwell's

budgets for contingencies, or changes in the work content that may occur

during the year. When mandatory changes are identified, either internally

or by NASA, some other program tasks have to be deferred to later time

periods," he said.

"Since a major portion of the program is subcontracted , these revisions

normally occur to both Rockwell and our subcontractors' baselines. Inherent, therefore in this complex process is a time lag in establishing the

magnitude of costs deferred to subsequent years."

This does not occur on programs where new dollars are provided for changes

as they occur, he added.

Jeffs said that "such additions" to the Shuttle program annually have

approached 25 percent of the baseline content, meaning that the company can

never accomplish all of the work that it was originally directed to do in a

given year.

According to Jeffs, a substantial unplanned effort was added to the program

in FY '78. In June 1978, NASA said that funds for the new work were not

available and directed RI to stay within the FY '78 funding limits.

NASA was advised that RI was concerned about the potential magnitude of the

effort of this defined work in FY '79 funding, and that it was going to

take time to assess the cost and schedule impact." In fact, it took about

three months.

Because of the delay in identifying increased costs, Rockwell's award fee

on the Orbiter was reduced.

He said that NASA explained that Rockwell was not up to "standard" in identifying costs, but "in actuality, there is no standard for measuring performance in providing such visibility while operating in a constrained

budget management system," Jeffs said. Therefore Rockwell protested the

NASA action.

55  ̧
The IlouseSubcommittee on Space Science & Applications was told that

Rockwell is going to need additional funding to produce the follow-on

orbiters on the current schedule.

While its contract calls for $356 m411ion in FY '79 (and $559 million in FY

'80) and delivery of Orbiter 103 in December 1982, funding has in fact been

cut to $256 million in FY '79.' Therefore; to even have the orbiter ready

by the summer of 1983, increased fUndin9 will be required, lie said that

sucl_ a timetable would be possible but demanding, requiring doubling and

then tripling of RI's efTorts relative to 1979, in 1980 and 198!, respectively.

Concerning tile problems related to completing Orbiter 102 (Columbia) and

flying it to Kennedy Space Center, Jeffs insisted that the "cQnfiguration

management system is excellent. There is no evidence of inadequaciesnor

of its violation as it relates to Orbiter 102." (Defense/Space Business

Daily, Vol. 105, No. 1, Monday, July 2, 1979, pp. 243.)

July 6: Although NASA says it has no plans to conduct a suborbital maiden

flight of the Shuttle Orbiter Columbia in order to test the adherence of

'the Orbiter's 33,000 insulation tiles during ascent; NASA Administrator

Frosch acknowledges that there is a question about the staying power of the

tiles, a potentially critical problem.

Reports cite concern about the possible failure of one tile resulting in a

series of tiles being pulled off ("zipper effect").

If the tiles should fail during ascent, orbital flight and the potentially

fatal heat of reentry could be avoided by an abort maneuver -- _hich is

basically what the proposed suborbital flight amounts to. Uowever, such a

maneuver would place increased stress on other systems -- particularly the

Space Shuttle Main Engine's and pilot performance on landing.

Asked about the situation, Frosch replied: "The issue is a simple one.

Are our predictions of the aerodyna_lic forces on [Shuttle] ascent correct?

Simply put, will the tiles stay on?" (Defense/Space Business Daily,

Vol 105, No. 4, Friday July 6, 1979, p. 28.)

56
duly 6-9: Two major pieces of flight hardware, essential to pushing Columbia

into orbit on that historic first flight of the Space Shuttle, recently

arrived _t KSC. On July 6 the NASA barge Poseidon docked at the turn basin

with the n_ssive external tank. The 46.9-meter (154-foot) long propellant

tank, built at NASA's Michoud facility in Louisiana, holds the 1,892,700

liters (500,000 gallons) of liquid oxygen and hydrogen which power the

orbiter'S main propulsion system. Upon arrival, the tank was transported

to the VAB. It was hoisted into the ET checkout cell in High Bay 2 on July

9 and is currently undergoing checkout operations. (Spaceport News,'Vol.

18, No. 16, July 20, 1979, p. 1)

July 9: NASA's Voyager 2 spacecraft flew by the cloudtops of Jupiter at a

distance of 404,000 miles and a speed of 45,225 mph at 7:21 PM EDT Monday

and is continuing to operate well.

A surprise in the flyby was a radiation level three times higher than

expected. As a result NASA turned off an ultraviolet instrument as a precaution, but said it had no problems with the other instruments on the

spacecraft.

The i_st dramatic revelation in tile photographs returned by the spacecraft

was that the surface of the moon Europa, which is believed to be made up of

ice and slush, possibly to the dept of 60 miles, is Covered by hundreds of

cracks, some as wide as 30 miles and as long as 2000 miles, but no deeper

than a few hundred feet; The photographs show no sign of topographic

relief on Europa. It was theorized thdt the surface cracks are caused by

strains in tileice, possibly from a tide-like flow. (Defense/Space I_usiness Daily, Vol. 105, No. 7, Wednesday, duly 11, !979, p. 45.)

July 11: The Skylab saga came to a successful end shortly after noon when

the 77._-t6n space station reentered the Earth's atmosphere over the Indian

Ocean, dropping its surviving large fragments and most of its smaller

pieces into the ocean, with a few small pieces coming down over Australia.

There were no reports of damage; there were several reported sightings of

what was believed to be Skylab fragments over Australia.

NASA had put the station into a tumbling mode at 3:45 A_IEDT from the

Madrid tracking station, a n_ve which was designed to extend its stay-time

in orbit about 30 minutes and insure that tile reentry did not occur over

North _Lerican where it would have at the earlier reentry time. The maneuver was the last available to the agency to affect the reentry.

I

l

i

57 
The station's demise came six years and two months after it was put into

space by a Saturn V booster. _The last crew left the station in February

1974; NASA had originally estimated that Skylab would remain in orbit well

in the 1980's, when it Could have been reboosted by the Space Shuttle to a

higher, longer-life orbit for Use in future operations. Unanticipated sunspotactivitycausedtheearlyreentry, i

The last official decay prediction issued by the North _nerican Air Defense

Command Space Defense Center said that entry occurred at 12:37 p.m., EDT,

on July 11, give or take two minutes.

Coordinates given by NORAD for the point where the heaviest debris lost its

forward velocity, at at altitude of I0 kilometers, were 31.8 degrees south

latitude and 124.4 degrees east longitude. Tha% was over the small

Australian community of Kalgoorie in Western Australia.

Soon after launch on May 14, 1973, problems with the unmanned Saturn work _

shop had to be corrected by the first crew of astronauts sent up on May 25.

In all, three crews of astronauts were to call Skylab home for varying

periods of times.

The crews and their missions were: Pete Conrad, Joe Kerwin and Paul Weitz,

May 25 to June 22, 1973, 28 days, 50 minutes; A1 Bean, Owen Garriott and

Jack Lousma, July 28 to Sept. 25, 1973, 59 days, 11 hours and 9 minutes;

and Gerald Carr, Ed Gibson and Bill Pogue, Nov. 16, 1973 to Feb. 8, 1974,

84 days, i hour and 17 minutes. The final mission held the record of longest manned mission until surpassed by a Soviet crew of cosmonauts in 1978.

Nearly 300 scientific and technical investigations were performed during

one or more of the three manned missions and sometimes even for unattended

operation between missions. These included medical experiments on man's

adaptation to zero gravity; intensive studies of the Sun, with a major

scientific accomplishment in the monitoring of a solar flare; and detailed

Earth resources experiments. (NASA Activities, "The Skylab Spectaculan,"

Vol. 10, No. 8, August, 1979, p, 3. Also, Defense/Space Business Daily,

Vol 105, No. 8, Friday, July 12, 1979, p 54.)

July 13: One of Columbia's three Space Shuttle main engines, #2006, arrived

July 10 by truck from the National Space Technology Laboratories in Mississippi. There the 2_994-kilogram (6,600-pound) power plants, each producing

1,668,000 newtons (375,000 pounds) of thrust at liftoff, were fired to certify them for flight. A second flight engine, #2005, arrived July 13.

Both engines have since been installed on Columbia. The third engine is

set to arrive by the end of July. (Spaceport News, No. 16, July 20, 1979,

p. 1.)

58
t

July 16: Florida Governor Bob Graham was the featured speaker at a special

program, Monday, July 16, at the Kennedy Space Center, to commemorate the

loth anniversary of the launch Of Apollo 11, man's first lunar landing

mission.

The program, which was sponsored by the Apollo 11 Commemoration Association

began at 8 a.m. with a breakfast at the Visitor Information Center. It was

followed at 8:30 a.m. by a special program in the VIC's Theater 1. Besides

Gov. Graham, other speakers on the agenda included: George H. Hage, Apollo

11 mission director, NASA Hdqs; Maj. Gen. David M. Jones, USAF (Ret),

former commander of the Air Force Eastern Range; Dr. Walter Kapryan, KSC's

former director of Space Vehicle Operations and deputy director of Launch

OperatiOns for Apollo 11; and KSC's current director, Dr. Lee R. Scherer.

Robert Murkshe, former mayor of Cocoa Beach, served as master of ceremonies

and introduced the speakers.

After the program, the group viewed a flim clip of the Apollo countdown,

with the film ending at the exact moment of liftoff -- 9:32 a.m. EDT --

from Pad A of Launch Complex 39. To mark the anniversary, a five by ten

foot cake at the main entrance of the VIC was cut by Gov. Graham, Dr.

Scherer and H. B. Chambers general manager of TWA Services, Inc., which

operates NASA Tours for the Kennedy Space Center.

The spectacular Apollo 11 mission and the manner in which it was accom- i

plished were recalled by old friends, VIPs, members of the news media, and i

tour visitors gathered at the Visitor Information Center.

Governor Graham paid tribute to those involved in the historic Apollo 11

mission. Also participating in the eulogy on stage were Dr. Walter J.

Kapryan, deputy launch director for Apollo 11, recently retired; KSC

Director Dr. Lee R. Scherer; George Hage, Apollo 11 mission director and

now a vice president of Northrop Aviation, Inc.; Major General David Jones,

USAF Ret., who served as commander of the Air Force Eastern Test Range dur

in9 the Apollo 11 launch; and Robert P. Murkshe, co-chairman of the

commemorative breakfast with George _gu_ar, TWAS marketing manager.

Later Graham presented Scherer with his proclamation calling for July 16-24

to be known as United States Space Week. (Spaceport News, Vol. 18, No. 17,

August 3, 1979, p. 3, also, NASA News, Release No. KSC 133-79, July 11,

1979.)

[

59

l

I
duly 17: On Tuesday July 17 at 11:30 dim., KSC management held a background

briefing on the remaining manufacturing work to be done on the Space

Shuttle Orbiter Columbia prior to its first flight.

The manufacturing work continues to be the responsibility of the Johnson

Space Center even though the Columbia has been moved from the contractor's

plant on the west coast to the Orbiter Processing Facility at the Kennedy

Space Center.

Tile briefing also gave local media representatives the opportunity to meet

Kenneth S. Kleinknecht, who had recently been assigned by JSC as Orbiter

Vehicle Manager, and Astronaut Robert Overmyer, Deputy Manager; Robert

Olson, Manager of TPS Engineering for Rockwell International also participated in the briefing.

In addition to an explanation of the method and problems of installing the

The_nal Protection System (tile) the briefing covered the remaining manufacturing tasks such as installation of the developmental flight instrumentation and wiring. (NASA News, Release No: KSC 135-79, July 13, 1979).

July 23-25: TileSpace Coast Cllapterof Federally Employed Women, FEW,

recently held its annudl installation and awards banquet.

Jean String, outgoing president, was honored as Member of the Year. Amon 9

her accomplishments noted were "dynamic leadership, effective communication, and chapter growth." Membership was increased by 18% during her term

in office.

FEW's Distinguished Service Award was presented to Hugh W. Harris, ·chief,

Public Information Branch, for "consistently demonstrating his belief in

the FEW principles of equal employment opportunity for women, minorities

and the handicapped."

This year's recipient of the FEW co,_unity scholarship, Kathleen Gilroy, a

BCC student with a 4.0 average and a major in computer science, was also

honored.

Newly installed officers for 1980 in the Space Coast Chapter included:

Sandra Parker, president; Edna Hooper, first vice president_Marilyn Pagni,

second vice president_ Harriet Springer, recording secretary; Jan Jatz,

corresponding secretary; and Clara Odom, treasurer. Jo'Gay, regional rep

resentative for FEW and Outgoing president of Surfside Chapter, installed

the new officers. (Spaceport News, Vol. 18, No. 16, July 20, 1979, p. 4).

60
July 24: Completing nearly three months of extensive mechanical fit checks

of KSC assembly, checkout and launch facilities, from May I to July 23, the i

Space Shuttle Orbiter EnterPrise was rolled back to tileVAB. Its mission

was to clear the way for the launchof its sistership, Columbia.

"The Facility Verification Vehicle program, as it was officially termed,

was undertaken to prove out KSC facilities and methods for prelaunch opera- !

tions," said John Bell, who managed the exercises for the STS Processing

Directorate. "All in all, we've done just that.

"We've found some instances where planned methods needed revising, while we

improved timelines for other operations, such as the transfer of the

vehicle to the pad. We performed fit checks in High Bays 1 and 3 and at

the pad, and as a result, found some access interference problems. Action

is being taken to correct those problems."

The non-launchable Space Shuttle began its journey from Launch Complex 39's

Pad A to the VAB at 10:23 a.m., July 23. The shuttte underwent several

days of fit checks, similar to those conducted in ttigh Bay 3 during assembly operations, before being destacked.

The Orbiter Enterprise was taken down on July 25 and was transported to the

Shuttle landing Facility.

The 47 meter 1154-foot-tall) external tank built by _artin Marietta, will

be loaded onto a NASA barge about August 10 for the three-day voyage back

to the Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans. There it will be refurbished for use on a later shuttle mission.

Two weeks will be needed to break down the dummy solid rocket boosters·into

their individual components. While the forward assemblies will accompany

the external tank on its trip to New Orleans, the inert solid motor se9

ments will remain here until the live motor segments arrive sometim_ this

fall. The inert segments will be returned to Thiokol in Utah on the same

rail cars which bring in the real segments. They will be refurbished and i

loaded with propellant for use on a later shuttle fli§ht. (Spaceport Pews,

Vol.18,No.17,August3, 1979,p. 1).

61
o The third of the three Space Shuttle Hain Lngines which will power the

Space Shuttle Orbiter Columbia On its maiden flight next year, passed its

flight acceptance test last week at Narshall Space Flight Center,

successfully firing for 520 seconds, tileflight firing tifne. The engine

will be shipped to Kennedy Space Center later this month, joining the other

two engines which passed their acceptance tests earlier and were shipped to

KSC several weeks ago. One of those engines is presently being installed

in the Columbia. NASA is hoping to make the first Shuttle flight as early

as March 1980, but acknowledges that it is more likely that the flight will

not be made until late June/early July. (Defense/Space Business Daily,

Vol. 105, No. 16, Tuesday, July 24, 1979, p. 109.)

July 26: The Senate Appropriations Committee has approved tile $4,943.5

million FY '80 appropriation for NASA that was recol_m_endedby its HUD-IA

Subcon_nitteelast week, a cut of $1.5 million from the request. In

approving all of the requested R&D funds, the subcommittee adopted a

proposal by Sen. Charles McC. Hathias (R-Md.) to cut $4 million from Space

Flight Operations, $10 million from the Shuttle Thrus t Augmentation System

and $3 million generally, while adding $4 million for the Variable Cycle

Engine, $2 million for the Multi-Spectral Scanner, $4 million for the

National Oceanic Satellite System, $5 mill ion for rOtorcraft technology and

$2 million for energy technology. The House as approved a $4,910.5 million

appropriation for the agency, including the $1.5 million construction cut,

a $15 million cut in thrust augmentation and a $4 million cut Space Flight

Ups. TileSenate appropriations bill may get to the floor as early as July

27. (Defense/Space Business Daily, Vol. 105, No. 18, Thursday, July 26,

1979, p. 123).

o The Senate by voice vote has approved the $4.961 billion FY '80 authorization for NASA as recormlended by Conference Conlnittee, an increased of $16

million over the amount requested. (Ibid, p. 123).

62
August 1979

August 1: The House has passed and sent to the White House the $4.961 billion

FY '80 NASA authorization agreed to by Conference Co_l_ittee. The bill is

$16 million over the amount requested, which includes a mid-year $220 million addition requested by the President to meet rising costs on the Space

Shuttle program. The additionsmade by Congress include$4 million to

initiate development of the National Oceanic Satellite System, $2 million

to initiate development of the Multi-Spectral Scanner, $5 million to initiate an advanced rotorcraft technology development program, $4 million for

increased work on Variable Cycle Engine technology and $2 million to identify and verify potential energy initiatives -- funding which is replicated

in the Senate version of the NASA appropriationsbill. (Defense/Space

BusinessDaily, Vol. 105, No. 22, Wednesday,August 1, 1979, p. 152.)

August 3: The Space Shuttle Orbiter Enterprisewas opened to viewing by

visitors taking guided bus tours of Lhe Kennedy Space Center from noon,

Friday, August 3, until its departure aboard NASA's 747 Shuttle Carrier

Aircraft on Friday, August 10.

The Enterprise was flown into KSC's Shuttle Landing Facility aboard the

NASA 747 on April 10 and had been used since its arrival to check out the

assembly, test and launch facilities which will be used for the launch of

its sister ship Columbia on its first flight into space in 1980.

The Enterprise was moved Friday morning from the Vehicle Assembly Building

to the Shuttle Landing Facility. It was positioned adjacent to the Mate/

Demate Device to await the arrival of the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft which

will fly it to Atlanta on Friday, August 10, on the first leg of a fivestop hop _o NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center in California.

The Shuttle Carrier Aircraft will arrive at KSC on August 8, mating operations will be Conductedon August9 and the 747/Enterprisecombinationis

scheduled for take-off at 11 a.m. EDT on August 10. (NASA News, Release

No.: KSC 145-79, August 3, 1979.)

o The John F. Kennedy Space Center, _SA in cooperation with the United

StatesPostal Service,offered a cancellationservice to interestedphilatelists for the space flight programs at KSC.

63
The cancellation service previously offered by the KSC Exchange Council for

a fee has been discontinued. (NASA News, Release No.: KSC-144-99, August

3, 1979.)

August 9: The Western Union Telegraph Company's WESTAR-C satellite was

launched into a synchronous transfer orbit from the Eastern Test Range at

8:20 p.m., EDT, on August 9, 1979, by a Delta 2914, Vehicle Mission Number

149.

Performance of the Delta launch vehicle was nominal and placed the spacecraft and its apogee boost motor (ABM) into the desired transfer orbit.

The orbital elements achieved compared with the nominal expected, are as

follows:

Apogee(km) -_'_-E_,_

Measured

Perigee(km) 231.3 230.8

Inclination(degrees) 24.28 24.34

The satellite performed satisfactorily during the transfer orbit and the

ABM was fired successfully at 10:30 a.m., EDT, on August 11, 1979. The

satellite was maneuvered to a position 91 degrees West longitude above the

equator and satellite status was satisfactory.

The Westar-C spacecraft was originally built for WUTC by Hughes in

1973 as a backup to the Westar-A and -B missions (Westar-1 and -2 satellites). HoWever, Westar-1 and -2 were launched successfully (on Delta)in

April and October 1974, respectively, and have continued to operate satisfactorily in orbit since then. Therefore Westar-C has not been needed and

has been in storage. The Delta vehicle built for the Westar-C backup

mission thus has also been unneeded and in storage. Mod #10 to the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS) contract between WUTC and NASA

includes agreement that NASA would launch the Westar-C satellite for storage in orbit to be available as backup to the commercial segment of TDRSS.

The Westar-C spacecraft was built by Hughes Aircraft Company under contract

with WUTC and is designed to provide transmission of television, voice,

data, etc., throughout the USA. The System is capable of distributing analog or digital signals with overall performance comparable to that of

terrestrial methods. (Mission Operation Report, MOR No, M-492-203-79-03,

August 7, 1979. Also, Mission Operations Report, MOR No. M-492-203-79-03,

October 25, 1979.)

64
o A recent meeting at KSC with Johnson Space Center and Rockwell

International representatives indicated that over 2500 tiles would have

been inspected after the first flight because of a restricted usage

classification.

A decision on the negative margin tiles should be made by the end of this

week. So far, 1047 tiles have been affected with approximately 600 requiring removal from 0V-102. Over 300 tiles will be given a pull test with a

new tool arriving at KSC August 15, 1979. (Notes...Page [to Center Director], 8-9-79.

o NASA has received a $10,000 claim from a Turkish Cypriot. Although it was

in English, the letter was hard to follow. Recovery for the disruption of

his tourist or travel agency business was the basic request. He said airline flights were delayed or canceled because of the Skylab re-entry and he

had to house and feed stranded travelers. (Notes...Parry [to Center

Director], 8-9-79, p. 25.)

August 10: The Space Shuttle Orbiter Enterprise left KSC aboard its 747

Shuttle Carrier Aircraft for NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center. Portions of the electronic equipment inside the Enterprise will be removed and

later installed on future shuttles. The shell will be put on permanent

display. (Spaceport News, Vol. 18, No. 18, John F. Kennedy Space Center,

August 17, 1979, p. 1.)

August 16: The International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE) was judged successful based upon the results of the mission with respect to the approved

prelaunch objectives.

The IUE, an Explorer-class ultraviolet astronomy mission, was an international cooperative program between the United States, the United Kingdom

(UK), and the European Space Agency (ESA) which provided for a single

launch into a geosynchronous orbit to conduct spectral distribution studies

of celestial and solar system ultraviolet sources. The spacecraft and

scientific instrument were designed and fabricated at the Goddard Space

Flight Center. The spectrograph camera system was provided by the UK; ESA

provided the Solar Array as well as the European Ground Station.

The IUE observatory system was designed to functionally resemble a groundbased optical observatory at which guest observers could execute observing

programs in real time. Observations were made from ground stations at GSFC l

and Madrid, Spain.

65
In the 15 months since IUE commenced routine guest observer operations on

April 3, 1978, Observatory performance has substantially exceeded design

and mission objectives. At high resolution, spectra of stellar sources has

been obtained as faint as 12th magnitude while at lower resolution, observations have been made of extragalactic sources fainter than 17th magnitude. The latter observations required 3-axis stabilized pointings in

excess of 14 hours, continuously.

The secondary mission objectives have also been met. The IUE gyros have

been selected for Space Telescope (ST) use; the IU£ Spectrograpi_ is a forerunner of the ST High Resolution Spectrograph; the IUE cameras have influenced the design of detectors for the ST Faint Object camera, and the IU£

operational software and guest observer operations will provide an experience base for ST.

In addition to the high quality of the output, the data productivity is

also great. NASA guest observers have obtained over 6000 images supporting

more than 100 difference research programs. The UK and ESA guest observers

have produced almost 3000 images in support of 150 or so research programs.

(Mission Operations Report, Post Launch Report No. 2, MOR No. S-868-78-03,

August 16, 1979.)

o Arguing against proposals to cut the Shuttle fleet fr_n four to three Orbiters, NASA cited the considerably higher operations costs of the smaller

fleet, due in large part to the need to maintain and use expendable launch

vehicles with that fleet.

"The cost to launch paylads on an expendable launch vehicle is considerably

higher than using the STS" (Space Transportation System), NASA Administrator Frosch pointed out. "For example, current experience shows the cost to

a user to launch a Delta sized payload on STS is about 1/3 to 1/2 the cost

required to use the Delta vehicle. In the case of a Titan sized payload,

the STS costs about 2/3 as much as the expendable system.

"The NASA/DOD Joint Study onShuttle Fleet Size Analyses in 1978 showed

that in the case of the '487' Mission Model, operations costs increased

from $15 billion to $20 billion (33 percent) as the Orbiter fleet size was

reduced to 3 Orbiters and augmented with expendable vehicles," Frosch

reported. "With a 25 percent reduction in payloads, the study still showed

about a 15 percent increase in operations costs for a 3-Orbiter fleet

augmented with expendable launch vehicles above those required when the STS

provided the full transportation needs for those payloads."

66
NASA said that it would cost about $200 million (FY '80 dollars) dnnually

to maintain a launch capability for the current stable of expendable lu,nch

vehicles -- Delta, Atlas and Titan -- plus a procurement/inte_lrdLionco_d

of about $300 million to $500 million (FY '80 dollars) annually for a

program of about 10 launches a year involving a mixture of vehicles similar

to what is being launched today.

In addition to the launch cost for a nominal Space Shuttle mission, which

may be about $28 million, NASA recently developed these preliminary estimates for extra Shuttle services:

*Extra Days in Orbit. About $300,000 to $400,000 per day (1975

dollars) for non-NASA and non-DOD users for flights launched from Kennedy

Space Center.

*Payload Retrieval. About $300,000 to $500,000 plus the cost of each

additional day on-orbit, provided that the payload to be retrieved is on a

compatible delivery mission orbit.

*On-Orbit Assembly Of Structures. About $100,000 to $250,000 for each

Extra-Vehicular Activity {EVA) required for the work.

*On Orbit Payload Checkout. About $300,000 to $400,000 for each day

on-orbit required for the work.

*EVA. About $60,000 to $100,000 for a six-hour activity.

According to NASA, "determination of a charge for extra days in orbit is

dependent on whether or not the Space Transportation System is operating at

full capacity, e.g, all flights filled, with the Orbiter being turned

around as quickly as possible.

"If the requested time on-orbit exceeds the nominal Shuttle capacity," it

said, "additional charges may be required for kit usage (cryogenics, other

consumables, solar arrays, etc.)." (Defense/Space Business Daily, Vol.

105, No. 33, Thursday, August 16, 1979, p. 229.)

August 24: A lO-year concession agreement designed to enhance facilities and

services at the Kennedy Space Center's Visitors Center has been awarded to

TWA Services Inc., Chicago, Ill.

Involved in the agreement is the operation of the guided bus tours of the

Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Air Force Station as well as

management and operation of the Visitors Center.

TWAS has been concessionaire for KSC's public tour and visitor program

since its inception in 1966. The firm was selected in July for negotiation

of the new lO-year agreement as a result of a competition announced by KSC

on January 24.

67
The lO-year agreement is effective May 1, 1980 and includes an option for

five additional years. Under the agreement, TWA Services will invest up to

$8,501,000 in construction of new visitor facilities.

Among the projects contemplated are:

1. a 500-seat theater

2. ExhibitsMaintenance Building

3. Exhibits Building

4. West Parking Lot and New Entrance Road

5. Moonscape and Lagoon

6. Central Receiving Building

7. Interconnecting Walkways and Landscaping

8. Rehabilitation of Saturn I/IB Blockhouse 37 and Development of an

Audio-Visual Presentation

9. IMAX (large screen format) Theater

10. New Food and Souvenir Facilities

The visitors program is basically self-supporting, but NASA does provide

some facilities, property and services for the concessionaire's use. (NASA

News, Release No. KSC 155-79, September 27, 1979.)

August 30: The House Subcommittee on Space Science & Applications critized

NASA for allowing the costs of the Space Shuttle development program to

exceed earlier estimates and leveled special criticism at the agency for

not expeditiously informing Congress of the increasing costs.

At the same time, the subcommittee said that NASA may need additional funding in FY '80 for the Space Shuttle, charging that the agency had underestimated the annual costs of the Shuttle for fiscal years 1977, 1978, 1979

and 1980.

In a 79-page report issued August 30, the subcommittee made the following

recommendations to improve cost management on the Shuttle program. It did

not, however, identify any major weakness in the technical management of

the program.

* NASA should name a financial assessment team above the level of the

Office of Space Transportation to annually assess the schedule and cost

status of the Shuttle.

* NASA should reaffirm a cost and schedule commitment for Shuttle DDT&E

and establish and submit to Congress a firm schedule and cost co_nitment

for completion of Shuttle production.

* NASA should not "routinely" use production funds as a source of pro_

gram reserves for Shuttle DDT&E. This practice has made program manager

"feel more comfortable" with the level of reserves "than was warranted

despite the significant increase inOrbiter unit production costs which

resulted from this practice, "the subcommittee said.

8 ·_J
i

* NASA should develop financial planning methods that will size program

reserves to be consistent with the program:risk° The current system is to

D constrainannualfunding belowrequested levelsandto makeup deficits

with reserves held at Headquarters. Some results of this system have been

"deferral of work, drastic fluctuations in contractor and subcontractor

manpower levels, and delays in material procurement which increased the

program scheduleand cost risk in futureyears." Secondly,the system has

so preoccupied program managers that "they were unable to assess the future

cost and schedule impacts of their short term decisions."

* NASA should make particular effort during the remainder of the

Shuttledevelopmentprogram to "minimizechangesand other actionsaffecting program cost and schedule which do not directly involve flight safety."

* NASA, its prime contractors and subcontractors should develop

improved methods for assessing the short and long term impact of "work

deferral" and "roll-through" from one fiscal year to the next.

*NASA, its prime contractors and subcontractors should improve their

reporting system to identify the costs resulting from changes that have

been authorized by NASA but not incorporated into the contract. "Repeated

underestimation of annual funding requirements indicates that sufficient

attention has not been given by NASA nor the contractor to estimating the

cost impact of anticipated changes to the contract," the subcommittee said.

* NASA should improve its assessment of the impact on cost and schedule

of work deferrals caused by internal management decisions -- to make it

equal to assessments of work deferrals caused by OMB decisions.

* NASA and Rockwell should place increased emphasis on financial

managementat the Orbitermajor subsystemlevel; to achieve increasedcost

discipline, each major subsystem technical manager should have a clear

understanding of the fiscal year and total runout cost target for their

respectivesubsystems. Lack of informationabout funding allocations

"causesuncertaintiesin contractorplanningand can contributeto overoptimistic scheduling of work load." Forty percent of the Orbiter subcontractor cost growth has resultedfrom fluctuationsin manpowerdue to fiscal year funding constraints, with another 38 percent due to directed and

approvedchanges to the subcontracts.

The subcommittee also made these observations:

-- Shuttle Design. "There appears to be a high degree of confidence in

the integrity of the Space Shuttle system design." However, there are

major areas which could result in schedule slippage and additional cost

increases, including system 'qualification testing, the thermal protection

system tile installation, main propulsion test completion, and the auxiliary power unit design.

-- NASA Candor. Information presented to the subcommittee by NASA in

the fall of 1978 and in February 1979 "was less than candidwith regard to

serious funding problems which were under consideration within NASA."

-- Administration Support of Shuttle. When considering budget

priorities, the Administration has not adequately recognized the urgent and

critical national need of the Space Shuttle system for civil and military

applications."

69
-_ Size of Cost Growth. "The cost of growth of approximately 15 percent for a program the magnitudeand complexityof the Space Shuttle is not

inconsistent with previous experience of high technology development

programs."

Subcommittee chairman Don Fuqua (D-Fla.) indicated that he believed that

most of the Shuttle cost problems had come from lack of an adequate budget

rather than to poor management by NASA.

"The Space Shuttle programhas been austere from the very beginningand

program reserves have been inadequate to cope with cost growths and

schedule delays, which have resulted from work deferrals from one year to

the next throughout the life of the program," he said.

He added that the cost growth on the program is "damaging the prospects for

future scienceand applicationsprograms,"and said "NASAmust demonstrate

and reestablishits credibilitywith regard to controllingcost growth and

forecastingbudget requirements." (Defense/SpaceBusinessDaily, Vol. 106,

No. 1, Thursday,Septe)nber6, 1979, pp. 13, 14.)

August 31: The Center Directorapproveda reorganizationof AD on August

31. It deleted the Space Utilization Staff from AD-MSO (responsibility

transferred to DE), and reorganized the Resources Management Office

(AD-RMO). Two brancheswere added to AD-RMO to provide co-locatedsupport

to the Directorateof Cargo Operationsand the Cargo ProjectsOffice. In

addition, the Center Resources Planning Staff(AD-CPS) was reassigned to

AD-RMO, without change of title or functions,and became AD-RMO-RP. (Notes

-- [to Center Director], 9-13-79, p. 12.)

o Tour patronageof NASA'sJohn F. Kennect)Space , Center topped the 1 million

mark in August, the fifth consecutive year that more than 1 million visitors have taken the guided bus tours of the nation's Spaceport and adjacent

Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. Cumulative tour volume for the year

through August was 1,007,347, or 1.3 percent below the sameperiod of 1978,

A total of 141,077 took tours in August, a volume 9.7 percent below the

156,164 recorded during the same months in 1978. Although overall tour

volume for the month was down, as fears of gasoline shortages around the

state eased, patronage during August steadily increased. TOur patronage at

the beginning of August was down 26.6 percent from a year ago, as compared

to the end of the month figure. (NASA News Release No.: KSC 160-79,

September 17, 1979.)

7O
o Pieces of Skylab found by Stanley Thornton,Jr., a 17 year old Australian

truck driver, won him $10,000 from the San Francisco Examiner newspaper.

The prize had been offered to the first person to find debris from the

space staion that reentered the atmosphere on July 11, 1979. Thornton

visited KSC as part of a U.S. tour. (Spaceport News, Vol. 18, No. ZS, John

F. Kennedy Space Center, August17, 1979, p. 2.) _ :'

71

'i

\
September 1979

September 1: Pioneer 11 performed a flyby of the planet Saturn and its b_autiful ring system. The spacecraft was targeted to pass through the plane

of the rings outside of the outermost ring, loop around the planet, and

pass outside the rings on the opposite side. This route, chosen to verify

that Voyagers would be safe taking this path when the first arrives in

1980, provided the first photographs of Saturn's rings fr_n the shadowed

side, away from the sun. The probe also obtained enough data to indicate

Saturn probably has a rock core the size of Earth, high-altitude _nethane

clouds (which may be in bands like Jupiter's), and that it _its more energy than it receives from the sun. Pioneer 11 also photographed Saturn's

largest moon, Titan and possibly located two new smaller satellites. If

confirmed, these will be the first moons ever discovered by a spacecraft

prior to being found by telescopes on Earth. (Spaceport News, Vol. 18, No.

21, John F. Kennedy Space Center, Sept_nber 28, 1979, p. 4.)

o NASA's Pioneer 11 spacecraft reached the giant ringed planet Saturn on

Sept. 1, after a six-year, three-billion-kilometer journey across the solar

system.

And, according to the chief Pioneer scientist, the encounter has increased

knowledge of the planet and its spectacular rings a thousandfold.

Scientists have already listed more than 565 ne;wdiscoveries, includin9 a

previously undetected ring and an 11th moon.

Pioneer 11 took the first closeup pictures and made the first close

measurements of Saturn, its mysterious rings and several of its satellites,

including the planet-siZed Titan.

Sweeping through the most intense part of Saturn's massive radiation belts,

Pioneer came within 21,400 km of the planet and as close as 1,900 km to the

Saturnian rings. Closest approach was at 2 p.m. EDT, Sept. 1.

The images returned by Pioneer 11 (also called Pioneer Saturn) are providing five to six times more detail of the planet than the best of the pictures taken from Earth.

Info,nation returned by the spacecraft is expected to contribute to a better understanding of the origin and evolution of the Sun and planets.

This, in turn, should provide scientists with a greater knowledge of the

Earth.

72
Data obtained by Pioneer 11 also will be useful in planning the encounters

of Voyager 1 and 2 with the ringed planet in 1980 and 1981. The Voyagers

are now Saturn-bound after 1979 encounters with Jupiter. (NASA Activities,

Vol. 10, No. 10, October, 1979, p. 3)

o Richard G. Smith, in recent months the primary NASA spokesman for Skylab

developments, became director of the NASA Kennedy Space Center in

September.

He succeeded Dr. Lee R. Scherer, who was named Associate Administrator for

External Relations at NASA headquarters, effective Sept. 2, 1979. Smith

most recently served as Deputy Associate Administrator for Space Transportation Systems. Before that, he was deputy director of the Marshall Space

Flight Center.

Before Scherer became director of the Kennedy center in January 1975, he

had served as director of NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards,

Calif., from Oct 11, 1971. Earlier he was director of the Apollo Lunar

Exploration Office. While on temporary assignment from the U. S. Navy in

1962, he was program manager for the Lunar Orbiter, the unmanned spacecraft

which obtained close-up photographs that helped in the selection of Apollo

landing sites. (Ibid, p. 16)

o The Hurricane Control Center was activated at 10:25 a.m. on Saturday, Sept

ember 1 in the anticipation of Hurricane David. All Center-wide hurricane

preparations were coordinated from this Center during Conditions 4, 3 and

2. The all clear was given at 4:00 a.m. on Tuesday, September 4, however,

the Hurricane Control Center remained manned until 2:30 p.m. to assure

clean up work proceeded according to plans and schedules. (Notes...

Minderman[to Center Director], 9-6-79.)

SeptenC_er4: One of this century'sworst hurricanes,David, roared through

KSC September 3. But the monster storm, responsible for at least 1,200

deaths in the Dominican Republic and more than $22 million in damages to

Brevard County alone, caused relatively minor destruction to KSC's launch

and processing facilities, support shops and administrative offices. For

that, the Center thanked the efforts of 600-700 people responsible for

implementing the Hurricane Preparedness Plan to the last minute detail.

73
KSC's damage assessment group estimated Hurricane David did between

$88,000-$100,000 in damages to KSC facilities. The largest chunk of that

total, about $26,000 was for repairs to the VAB roof which Design Engineering believed may have been caused by a small tornado spawned from the massive hurricane.

For 32 hours, from 8 p.m. September 2 when KSC went into Condition 1 -

marked by winds of more than 50 knots (57 mph) within 12 hours - until the

all clear was sounded, about 150 rideout team personnel kept watch on David

as it danced along Florida's East Co_st, then slapped Brevard County with

winds Of more than 80 miles per hour. It brushed east of the Center about

midnight and calls began coming into the Hurricane Control Center that

winds had suddenly stopped as the calm of David's eye settled over the

Cape.

Within 12 hours of the all clear, KSC's damage assessment group reported to

Deputy Director Gerald Griffin with favorable results of a quick-look

survey. Overall damage was light. (Spaceport News, Vol. 18, No. 20, John

F. Kennedy Space Center, September 14, 1979, pp. 1,3.)

September 6: During Hurricane David, one section of roofing was blown off

near the southwest corner of the VAB. The vapor barrier was intact, but

the asphalt fill was missing in an area appre×imately 25' × 60'. The work

involved included cutting back to solid foundation and placing light weight

concrete in the area where the asphalt fill material was missing. The

vinyl topcoat was to be sprayed on the surface after the concrete cures.

Some handrail was also missing in the area where the roof was damaged. One

other section of roofing, 10' x 20', in the northeast area was missing.

Some cable tray damage occurred, two ventilators were damaged, and one

drain was plugged. Estimated cost for repair was $25,000 for City Roofing

and $5,000 for BSI maintenance to temporarily seal the open areas until

City Roofing returned to the job site. (Notes...Clark [to Center

Director], 9-6-79.)

o At the VAB, the Saturn 5 Command Module Launch Escape System separated from

the Service Module. Major damage to the Command Module was sustained, and

a support request was to be submitted to repair and reposition it.

74
The LEM at the VIC was picked up and moved to the VAB prior to the hurricane and was returned September 5.

A KSC/NASA exhibit at _alt Disney World Village was dismantled and stored

during the hurricane, but was to be opened to the public Septel_lber5

through 9. It had been scheduled for viewin 9 from August 31 lzhrougll

Set)tember9. (Notes...HollinsheadLt()Center Director], 9-6-79.)

o As of September 5, the Center received 34 applications for early optional

retirement (26 have already been retired), greakout by organization follows: AM - 15; VO - 4; CO - 2; DE - 4; TS - 7; SF - 1; and CP - 1.

(Notes...MalagaLto Center Director], 9-6-79.)

o On August 29, Dud Campbell, Jerry Jackson and Stan Nelson made a non-commital operations and facilities inspection of Centennial Helicopters, Inc.,

Orlando, Florida as a possible vendor for cross craining two or our fixed

wing pilots to helicopters, by furnishing the necessary training for them

to obtain a commercial helicopter rating. After this inspection, Dud Campbell and Jerry Jackson continued on to Daytona for a meeting with the aviation section of the Volusia County Sheriff's department which operates two

DH-lB helicopters. This meeting was on special tools, equipment, and general provisioning of the UH-1B. (Ibis, p. 2)

o A TWX to Myron Malkin Deputy Associate Administrator has been prepared with

threemainpoints:

1. KSC & MSFC to develop a mutually acceptable delivery plan for SRBs/SR_Is

to assure supporting a Nov. 28 Orbiter roll to VAB.

2. Affirm the Blue Streak ET Ice prevention plan does not impact SRB

processing.

3. JSC/RI to assure the Nov. 28 Orbiter roll to VAB includes close out of

a!l work and paper,

SRIq Delivery Plan to be worked included two plans to support the Nov. 28

Orbiter roll to VAB:

Plan A - Use previously agreed to deliveries, i.e., (last SRM Nov. 15) and

compress timeline operations by working around the clock.

Plan B - Modify SRM deliveries so that the last SRM arrives earlier than

o_5; thus enabling more realistic timeline operation after last segment

arrival.

Note: Both plans use the sane initial deliveries, e.g. Sept. 20.

(Notes...Gray LtD Center Director] 9-6-79.)

75
September10: The processingof a substancewhich could be used to replace

human body tissue and structures will be conducted in a self-contained payload scheduled to be flown in space by the Space Shuttle in 1981.

The substance, collagen, in its natural form makes up some 35 percent of

the protein in body tissues and forms the primary structures of tendons,

nerves, skin, bones, blood vessels and the cornea of the eye.

Scientistsbelieve that processedcollagencould be used to fabricatemembranes and prosthesesfor replacingor repairinghuman organs, e.g., producing artificial corneas and material for treating burns and replacing

blood vessels.

According to Battelle's Columbus Laboratories, which has been developing

the experiment,soluble collagenderived from animal tissues can be formed

into the desired fibrous, gel-like substance. However, experiments conducted by Battelle at normal gravity "indicate that fibers settle out during their formation, yielding a non-uniform gel."

"But in the weightless environment of space," Battelle says, "collagen processing should yield materials uniform in structure, mechanical strength,

refractive index and chemical behavior -- all of which would be desired for

biomedicalapplications. (Defense/SpaceBusinessDaily, Vol. 106, No. 4,

Monday, September 10, 1979, p. 28.)

September 11: International Sun-Earth Explorers (ISEE) -1, 2, and 3 were

judged successful based on results of the mission with respect to the prelaunch objectives.

The ISEE Program was an international cooperative effort between the

National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the European Space

Agency, focusing on solar-terrestrial relationships as a joint contribution

to the International Magnetospheric Study. It employed three coordinated

spacecraft to advance knowledge of the magnetosphere, the solar wind, and

the interactions between them.

ISEE-3 is in a halo orbit about the Sun-Earth libration point, about 1.5

million kilometersfrom the Earth on the Earth-Sunline. 1SEE-3 samples

the incoming solar wind one to two hours before it arrives in the Earth's

magnetosphere, where its effects are determined in detail by ISEE-1 and -2,

moving in similar,highly-eccentricorbitswith variableseparation.

ISEE-1 and -2 are able, for the first time, to separatetime and space

variationsand thus to measure motions and structuresas the Earth's magnetosphererespondsto the solar wind fluctuationsnoted by ISEE-3. These

studies representessentialSteps in understandingthe processesthat control Earth's near-spaceenvironment. ((MissionOperationsReport No. 2,

MOR No. S-862-77-01/02/03,September11, 1979.)

76
September 13: Progress towards the first Space Shuttle launch took a step

forward here this week with the arrival of the first segment of the vehicle's solid rocket motors.

The segment, some 33 feet long and 12 feet in diameter, arrived September

10 after a month long rail trip from its Utah manufacturer. The segment

was stored on a railroad siding container until it will be moved into the

Vehicle Assembly Building about September 20th. Once inside it will be

unpacked, checked out and prepared for stacking on its mobile launcher.

The Shuttle uses two huge rocket motors, each loaded with some 555 tons of

rocket propellant, as well as its three liquid propellant motors at liftoff. The two solid rocket motors are made in segments for ease of transport, to be assembled at KSC in stacks of four each.

The first segment arriving at KSC will be used as the aft segment for the

Shuttle's left solid rocket booster. The other seven segments will be

shipped as part of regular freight trains at one week intervals, and are

expected to arrive at about the same rate. ((NASA News, Release No.:

KSC-159-79, September 13, 1979.)

September 17: --Two experiments that will be part of the first payload to be

carried into space by the Space Shuttle Orbiter Columbia--the Shuttle Imaging Radar Antenna (August) and the Ocean Color Experiment (September)--

have been delivered to the Kennedy Space Center. The remaining five experiments are scheduled to arrive here by the second week in October.

Columbia's first payload, called OSTA-1, is made up of seven experiments

designed to carry out investigations for Earth resources applications. The

payload, ·under the management of NASA's Office of Space and Terrestrial

Applications (OSTA) will fly on the Space Shuttle's second Orbital Flight

Test scheduled for launch from KSC.

The first orbital shuttle mission will carry instrumentation to evaluate

its performance and will carry a special package called the Induced Environment Contamination Monitor to measure the effects of the Shuttle on the

space immediately around it. The IECM will be carried on all six orbital

flight test missions.

The payload carried on the second shuttle flight is reusable. This will

permit adjustment and modification of the payload instruments and other

hardware, to allow its use on subsequent flights at relatively low cost.

77
Five of OSTA-i's seven experiments will be mounted to an Orbital Fliyht

Test pallet, a 3-meter (lO-foot) long, U-shaped structure that fits inside

the orbiter's large cargo bay. The other two experiments will be located

in Columbia's cabin.

Dr. Jim Ragusa, launch site support manager for the shuttle's first payload

mission, said the pallet will be ready for mounting experiments about October 17. Since its arrival last December, the pallet has been housed in

KSC's Operations and Checkout Building where technicians are outfitting it

with systems for thermal control, electrical power, and for commanding and

acquiring data from the experiments,

Designed and assembled by the British Aerospace Corporation for the European Space Agency, as part of the joint ESA/NASA Spacelab program, the

pallet is nearly identical to experiment pallets which will be used in

Spacelab missions. This is the first of two pallet systems, with the next

scheduled to carry physics and astronomy experiments on the fourth shuttle

flight.

The first shuttle payload investigations are:

Shuttle Imaging Radar: Uses large 30-by-7-foot antenna to acquire data to

evaluate a spaceborne imaging radar for geologic exploration, with particular emphasis on mineral exploration and fault mapping.

Ocean Color Experiment: Designed to evaluate a passive ocean color sensing

technique for mapping the concentration of chlorophyl-producing phytoplankton in the open ocean.

Shuttle Multispectral Infrared Radiometer: Will obtain radiometric data

from a number of geologic test locations, around the world, in 10 spectral

bands.

Measurement of Air Pollution from Satellites: Will measure the variation

in carbon monoxide-both natural and man-made--concentration levels in the

atmosphere along the orbiter's flight path.

Feature Identification and Location Experiment: Will provide a means of

identifying, spectrally classifying, physically locating, and tracking

surface features or clouds.

Night/Day Optical Survey of Thunderstorm-Lightning: First attempt to look

at lightning from space to develop lightning protection techniques.

78
Life Science Carry-On Experiment: Will determine the amount of moisture

needed for plant/seedlinggrowth in zero gravity. This experimentis the

prototype for an experiment to be flown aboard the Spacelab 1 mission.

(NASA News, Release No.: KSC-161-79, September 24, 1979.)

September20: NASA announcedyesterdaythat it has been studyingtwo

approaches that could be used in space for repair of Space Shuttle Orbiter

insulationtiles that may be damaged during the flight into space.

The tiles were supposed to remain intact for multiple flights, but problems

that have been uncovered this summer, have raised questions about the

strength and adhesiveness of the tiles. NASA said yesterday that tile

certification has not come up to expectations.

In announcing the study, NASA's Johnson Space Center, expressed "confidence,'' however, that the tiles will, in fact, withstand the rigors of

space and not be damaged; and said that the repair technique is being

looked at as a "contingency against flight delays."

Because the first Shuttle flight will only face 70 percent of the aerodynamic pressures to be encountered during the second and third flights, there

is a greater chance that repairs will be needed on the later flights.

The two repair approaches are:

1) The use of an extendible boom on the Remote Manipulator System to

carry a television camera to examine the tiles; and the use of a platform

on the boom to transport a space-suited astronaut to the damaged tiles.

2) The use of the gas jet Manned Maneuvering Unit backpack to transport

an astronaut for inspection and repair of the tiles.

Either method is designed tO detect damage as small as four-square inches,

the size of the smallest insulation tile.

The repair systems being examined are a spray-on silicon carbide; a curein-place epoxy foam; and a pre-cure ablator for bonding in areas with

greatest damage. Funded at a total of $250,000, ten-week studies to design

a tile repair kit, have been awarded to General Electric, Martin Marietta

and McDonnell Douglas Astronautics.

Johnson Space Center has been conducting studies through September of other

tools and equipment that would be needed.

79
Yesterday's announcement indicated that NASA intended to conduct the first

Shuttle flight as an orbital mission; that it has not adopted the JSC proposal to fly sub-orbital to test the tiles. (Defense/Space Business Daily,

Vol. 106, No. 13, Friday, September 21, 1979, p. 88.)

o The Space Industrialization Corp., which had been proposed in legislation

sponsored by chairman Don Fuqua (D-Fla.) of the House S&T Committee to

promote and fund the development of new products and processes using the

space environment, should be founded "only if NASA is unable to attract or

support the level of participation to effect a consistent and timely expansion of space industrialization."

This was the position of the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) as submitted for the record recently, to Fuqua's Space Science and Applications

Subcommittee.

The Association endorsed the plan announced this spring by NASA Administrator Frosch, under which NASA would engage in joint arrangements with U.S.

companies to promote space industrialization (SI), including providing

flight time on the Shuttle at reduced cost and sharing funding of R&D.

"While we cannot say that joint endeavor arrangements with NASA will meet

all the needs of companies that want to work in space," it is a good plan

and should be "encouraged and expanded where practical," AIA said. "Should

these new polices attract more activity than NASA can support, or should

they fail to attract aequate industrial participation; then a Space Industrialization Act will be necessary."

The AIA emphasized that the Space Shuttle, the key to the SI program,

should be used to strengthen U.S.,_not foreign industry.

"If we allow other nations to use our Shuttle to gain a substantial headstart in space manufacturing, we may find ourselves in the role of a

national trucking service, h_uling high technology, space produced components to Earth markets for foreign space industries."

The U.S., it said, should establish its own SI program to exploit its lead

in space transportation systems "and protect this nation's previous space

technology lead that resulted from Project Apollo." (Ibid, p. 89.)

i

o On September 20, 1979, at 1:28 a.m., EDT the tligh Energy Astronomy Observatory (HEAO-3) was successfully launched by an Atlas-Centaur vehicle (AC-53)

into a planned orbit from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, PAD LC36B.

8O
The computer orbital parameters achieved by HEAO-3, based on data from various tracking stations are:

Item _ Nominal Actual

Apogee _.NM 273.8NM

Perigee 267.3 267.0NM

Period 94min 94min

Inclination 43.6deg 43.6deg.

Eccentricity .000842 .000923

The solar array was deployed prior to separation and the spacecraft has

been placed in a housekeeping mode. (Mission Operations Report, MOR No.

S-832-79-03. September 20, 1979)

o The HEAO-C is the third in a series of three Atlas-Centaur launched satellites that are designed to survey the entire sky for X-ray sources and

background of about one-millionth of the intensity of the brightest

sources; to make measurements of the gamma-ray flux and to determine source

locations and line spectra; and to examine the composition and synthesis of

cosmic ray nuclei.

The HEAO-C mission performs an all-sky survey of cosmic rays and gam_na rays

in a manner similar to the HEAO-1 mission, except at a higher orbital

inclination. The slowly rotating observatory has the instrumentation

generally arranged so that it scans in a direction perpendicular to the

axis of rotation, as the Earth revolves around the Sun, provides the full

scan, or survey, of the celestial sphere in a 6-month period. Specific

scientific objectives of thts mission are to: (1) Search for X-ray and

gamma ray line emissons in the 0.06 MeV to 10 MeV energy region, and to

measure spectrum, intensity, and isotropy of diffuse cosmic X-ray, and

gamma ray background; (2) study spectrum, intensity, and temporal fluctuations of discrete cosmic X-ray and gamma ray sources; (3) determine isotopic composition of the most abundant elements from atomic number (Z) from

Z=4 (Beryllium) to Z:26 (Iron); and {4) search for super heavy nuclei with

charge (Z) greater than 17 thru the trans-uranic elements.

Each of the observatories has a common spacecraft equipment module (SEM)

and a mission unique experiment module (EM). The SEM contains all the

functional subsystems necessary to operate and control the observatory and

experiments.

The SEM and EM are constructed by TRW. The instruments were designed and

developed by organizations which include the Jet Propulsion Laboratory

(C-1), the Center for Atomic Studies (France, C-2), the Danish Space

Research Institute (Denmark, C-2), The University of Minnesota (C-3), Washington University (C-3), and the California Institute of Technology (C-3).

{Mission Operation Report, MOR No. S-832-79-03, September 20, 1979.)

81
o The first launch of the European Space Agency's primarily French-built

Ariane expendable launch vehicle, an announced competitor to the U.S. Space

Shuttle, has been rescheduled for December 8 and 18 of this year.

Like the Shuttle, the maiden launch of Ariane had been scheduled for June

1979 and then November 1979. NASA is now hoping to make the first Shuttle

flight by June 1980.

The French Space Agency (CNESi will start the "launch campaign" for the

December launch on October I at the launch base at Kourou, French Guiana.

The Ariane vehicle (LO1) left Le Havre, France, by ship for Cayenne, French

Guiana, on September 15.

The last qualification test of the Ariane's first stage was successfully

conducted September 13 on the test stand of SEP at Vernon, France. The

test firing ran for 137 seconds. Main objectives of the final qualification series were: 1) simulation of a month's wait after filling the stage

with propellants, including the full amount of the liquid nitrogen tetroxide oxidant for at least a week; 2) simulation of an aborted launch (this

was conducted on Sept. 5 and ran for 15 seconds): and 3) burn-out on nitrogen tetroxide depletion. (DefenseZSpace Business Daily, Vol. 106, No. 12,

Thursday, September 20, 1979, p. 83.)

September 25: John Yardley, outlined to Congress yesterday a number of evolutionary changes that are being made in the program and later expressed

optimism about the two major technical difficulties -- the Space Shuttle

Main Engine and the Orbiter insulation tiles.

Asked by Defense/Space Daily after his testimony before the House Space

Subcommittee about the outlook of the SSME and insulation tiles, Yardley

asserted that both could be ready for a March 1980 maiden flight of the

Shuttle; although he stated that the 50/50 chance for the first Shuttle

flight now lies between June and August 1980.

He said the SSME which is now inStalled in the first Shuttle Orbiter is

"about the right engine" for 100 percent of rated power; that there are no

problems with the engine that remain to be fixed.

[NASA intends to conduct the Shuttle Orbital Flight Tests with engines

rated at 100 percent of power, including 100 percent for possible abort.

For the first six operational flights, the engines will be rated at 100

82
percent for flight/lO9 percent for abort, and after that, 109/109 percent.

The 100/109 system would be ready in September 1981; the 109/109 engine, in

July 1982.]

Yardley said the heart of the remaining SSME test program is three 5000-

second certification cycles with two new engines. Unlike testing which has

been done up till now, Yardley emphasized that the engines must now be

tested, "as they will fly." For example, he said that six-second

pre-launch tests were not done on a similar previous test, but they will be

done now.

The problem with the insulation tiles, the NASA associate administrator

said, is that the agency is not certain of 100 percent reliability in their

certification. That is why NASA will initiate a series of "pull tests"

next month to test the strength and adhesion of approximately 10,000 of the

30,O00-plus tiles on the Orbiter Columbia.

L

Yardley estimated that 1 to 5 percent of the tiles tested may prove unacceptable, but said that even at the larger percentage, only 500 tiles

would have to be replaced and that that could be done in a week.

tteacknowledged that care would have to be taken to avoid damaging the

tiles during the tests and reported that NASA is readying an acoustic

sensor to determine tile damage.

At the same time, he expressed confidence that once the testing and replacement has been completed, the insulation will do its job on the first

Shuttle flight.

There is only "one chance in 1000 that any one tile" will fail, on this

flight, he said.

tiepointed out that the Orbiter will only be subject to 580 pounds per

square foot of aerodynamic pressure on the first flight and that the tiles

are being tested at 823 pounds per square foot plus 40 percent. On later

flights, the aerodynamic pressure on the Orbiter will increase; and _ASA is

looking at improved ways to test the tiles and to improve them for these

flights, he said.

He acknowledged that if certain of the insulation tiles failed, reentry

heat would burn a hole through the Orbiter's skin. That is why NASA feels

it is prudent to develop a method of repairing the tiles in space if necessarY. (Defense/Space Business Daily, Vol. 106, No. 16, Wednesday, September 26, 1979, pp. 109 & 115.)

83
o NASA's planning for the Space Shuttle/Space Transportation System, including the management of the program and its price structure, was given to the

House Subcommittee on Space Science & Applications by NASA's associate

administrator for space transportation systems, John F. Yardley.

Because STS elements are still in the development stage, NASA is continuing

to maintain a heavy Civil Service involvement in day-to-day operations.

"This management concept," Yardley reported, "will be in effect at the beginning of STS operations, but as the system matures the number of Civil

Service personnel involved in Shuttle operations should be reduced as will

the number of major contracts.

"The period between initial operations and mature operations, which is

called the transition period, is currently being examined in some detail.

Cross utilization of personnel between production and operations, contract

structures, labor relations, Civil Service personnel impacts, skill requirements, and flexibility to deal with uncertainty are all part of this

examination."

NASA's planning for the Shuttle era is underpinned by an independent study

by the National Academy of Public Administration, which concluded that NASA

should retain ownership and management of the STS at least until the mid--

1980's, when the ownership matter should be reviewed again.

Another key study, conducted by Booz Allen, has resulted in a planned

change in the contract structure at Kennedy Space Center.

KSC is now moving to consolidate most of its contracts into three major

contracts: 1) Shuttle operations; 2) cargo processing; and 3) base

support.

As the first step, KSC plans to release an RFP to industry by the end of

this year for the cargo processing contract, which will include "self sufficiency options."

Yardley said that NASA intends to provide this self-sufficiency option to

all contractors "to give them clear responsibilities for total performance.

This approach should assure optimum performance particularly if incentives

are involved."

Under the new system, a KSC intends to use a spot check and audit system to

evaluate contractor performance, a job which may require use of more higher

grade personnel.

84
NASA has also contracted with the _cKinsey Corp. for a study, to be comt Johnson pleted inSpace December, Center ofduring the most integrated efficientSTSwayoperations, to organizeincluding the agency's determining the institutional impact of transferring functions from Civil Service

to contractor personnel.

Yardley said that NASA intends to maintain the option to choose "the managemen t approach best suited to operation of the national STS. Positive

action is being taken at KSC on what we believe to be a firm and complete

analysis, but we are still maintaining options at KSC as well as at Johnson

Space Center, Marshall Space Flight Center and Goddard Space Flight Center.'' (Defense/Space Business Daily, Vol. 106, No. 117, Thursday, September 27, 1979, p. 120.)

September 2/: The first Ariane flight vehicle arrived in French Guiana September 25. It will be erected on the launch pad at Kourou next week, October 1. Launch is scheduled for December 8. Tracking and data support to

be provided to the French project includes the Ascension STDN station

(GSFC), the ETR Ascension station, the £TR Cyber computers and Tel IV. A

series of network checkout testing is scheduled for October 9-16. TS-NTS

has been actively involved in the requirements generation and will participate in the testing. Other developmental launch dates are presently scheduled for March 15, June 15, and October 1980. (Notes...Mindern_an [to

Center Director], 9-27-79.

o NASA-Johnson has awarded a $9.6 million modification to Rockwell International's Space Division for a number of previously approved work proposals,

including acoustic testing of a quarter scale model of the Shuttle Orbiter.

The contract brings Rockwell's Shuttle contract to $3.5 billion. (Defense/

Space Business Daily, Vol. 106, No. 19, Monday, October 1, 1979 p. 134.)

o The House Thursday approved the FY '80 HUD-IA appropriations bill, which

included $4,983.5 million for NASA, $6.5 million below the Administration's _-

request.

To resolve a difference with the Senate, chairman Edward P. Boland

(D-Mass.) of the HUD-IA Subcommittee agreed to add $23 million to the R&D

portion of the bill originally voted by the House to bring it up to the

Senate level. The Senate earlier restored most of the cuts made by the

House and added $17 million for the VCE, MSS, NOSS, rotorcraft and energy.

85
But Boland included language that the $23 million be earmarked as a reserve

for the Space Shuttle only, asserting that the Shuttle would need another

$200 million to $300 million in FY '80 above the amount already requested.

Sen. CharlesMcC. Mathtas (R-Md.),the man who pushed through the additions, was expected to argue for those additions, Friday, but might agree

to a compromise figure.

Boland also included language to require NASA to get approval of his committee before it awards contracts changing the Galileo Jupiter Orbiter/

Probe to a dual mission, as is now expected. The dual mission would add

$225 million to the cost. Mathias is also expected to object to that provision, although it had been accepted by Rep. Don Fuqua (D-Fla.)chairman

of the House Science & Technology Committee and is backed by chairman

William Proxmire (D-Wis.) of the Senate HUD-IA Committee. (Ibid, p. 138.)

Seplr_nlmer28: Approval of the $72 billion HUD-IA appropriationsbill,

including about $4.94 billion for NASA, was stalled in the Senate Friday

when Sen. Charles McC. Mathias {R-Md.) engineered a 49 to 20 rejection of a

House provisionrequiringNASA to come to Congressfor approval,before

_changingthe GalileoJupiter Orbiter/Probemission to a dual mission.

Mathias coupled this objection to a $13 million cut in $23 million in NASA

R&D funds that were originally cut by the House and restored by the Senate,

which the House Thursday agreed to restore. The House, however, provided

that the restored funds could be used only as a contingency for the Space

Shuttle, which it said wouldneed another $200 to $300 million in FY 80.

Mathias rejected that idea, and instead asked that $10 million of the funds

be provided for the Multi-Spectral Scanner, rotorcraft R&D and the Variable

Cycle Engine, with $13 million cut as "an economy" measure.

With Republicans voting 29 to i for the Mathias amendment, and Democrats

about evenly divided, the measure carried.

The Senate version of the HUD-IA bill had been sent back to the House,

which had recessed until Monday. If the House agrees to the NASA provision, which is not expected, the bill could be sent to the White House. If

not, it is back to conference. In the meantime, the Senate had prepared a

continuing resolution which would temporarily fund NASA in FY '80 at the

lower [House] pre-conferencelevel of $4.91 billion. {(Defense/SpaceBusiness Daily, Vol. 106, NO. 20, Tuesday, October 2, 1979, p. 141.)

86
o Countries, government agencies or companies who pay for a dedicated Spacelab mission on the Space Shuttle may provide two of their own payload specialist-astronauts for tilemission. NASA will make medical/psychological

t(;stsof the payload specialist,candidates and train them in emergency dnd

other necessary procedures. Users who pay for h_lf of the Spacelab's payload will be allowed to provide one payload specialist.

Four types of Spacelab flights, wittl differing costs, will be offered to

users:

1) Dedicated Shuttle Spacelab Flight -- Full ShUttle flown for a single

Spacelab user.

2) Dedicated Element Flight -- A partial Spacelab flown for a single

user and which includes all Spacelab hardware for autonomy.

3) Complete Pallet Flight -- A complete Spacelab pallet flown for a

single user but which flies with other Spacelab elements on a NASA Spacelab

flight and shares common services.

4) Shared Element Flight -- A pallet or pressurized module which is

shared by two or more users on a NASA Spacelab flight and which shares

services with other Spacelab elements on the same flight. (Defense/Space

Business Daily, Vol. 106, No. 18, Friday, September 28, 1979, p. 126.)

o An independent study panel has recommended that NASA retain ownership and

control of the Space Transportation System (STS) at least through the mid1980's; rather than turning it over to private or mixed ownership or to an

existing or new federal department. At that time, the ownership question

can be reevaluated, it said.

The study was conducted by a seven-man panel, chaired by James M. Beggs,

executive vice president of General Dynamics Corp., which was convened by

the National Academy of Public Administration at NASA's request.

Beggs told the House Subcommittee on Space Science & Applications Tuesday

that economics rules out private or mixed ownership of the STS "at least

through the lg80's.

"To attract private capital sufficient to establish a viable corporation,

would require user char9es much higher than that required to establish a

market," he said. "In fact, it would probably preclude usage by any except

the government, thus the government would be fully subsidizing the corporation. However, after suitable experience, and if commercial usage truly

flourished, private investment in the system would indeed become financially feasible and should be reconsidered at that time."

87
There has to be a "testing of price against the market" before it would be

viable for corporate operation of tile STS, he told the subcomnittee.

Private operation of the STS would require a capitalization of several hundred million dollars plus some funds for operations together with a subsidy

from the Government for its payloads, he said.

Under questioning, Beggs said that his panel did not find anyone who was

interested in making this kind of investment, and was told by the New York

investment community that there was not enough investment capital available

for such an undertaking.

As for government operation of the STS, the panel concluded that NASA, DOT

and a new agency were the only viable alternatives, and that among them,

NASA is clearly the best choice.

It concluded that there is "a marked difference in expected performance

depending upon whether the STS organization and NASA were joined or separated. When joined, they reinforced and complemented one another; when

separated, it...raised the )otential of conflict and competition for both

funds and support."

As to whether the STS organization should be a component of NASA or a government corporation within NASA, the panel noted that NASA already has most

of the flexibility of operations that is the typical advantage of a 9overnment corporation; while such a corporation would have to meet financial reporting requirements which "would add an undue burden which...is unwarranted and perhaps harmful during the initial period of Shuttle operations."

However, "the day may come when a corporate form would be advantageous and

should be studied at a later date, if and when commercial use of the Shuttle

has developed beyond current projections," Beggs said. "In the meantime,

the STS organization should take the form of a NASA component."

The panel further recommended that NASA comprise STS operational management

so as not to divert the agency's management attention from R&D. (Ibid, p.

127.)

o Satellite Business System, which is anxious to have its two domestic satcoms

launched by the Space Shuttle for both cost and operational reasons, now

expects to pull its first satellite off the Shuttle because of program

delay; but is hoping to launch i%s second satellite on the Shuttle.

88
SBS Vice President William D. English said that because the launch of the

first company satcom had been rescheduled from July 1980 to the fourth quarter of 1981, SBS "will in all likelihood have to exercise its Delta rocket

back-up option for the first launch in order to begin operations, as scheduled, January 1981."

This will result in a $15 million cost increase for the company -- the difference between the $22 million October 1980 cost for the McDonnell Douglas

Delta and the estimated $7 million costs for a Shuttle launch -- and a

resultant increase in satcom tariff.

Another disadvantage, English noted, is that the Shuttle can provide several

launch opportunities during its multi-day stay in space which provides "a

higher probability of a successful deployment" of the payload.

English said that SBS still hopes to launch its second satellite, an inorbit backup, on the Shuttle, but admitted that any further slip in the

Shuttle schedule would require the company either to delay its second satellite or to contract for a Delta launch.

At the same time, English told the House Space Science & Applications Subcommittee that he would like to see NASA maintain the Delta program, at

least until two Shuttle Orbiters are operational, to provide a guarantee of

a launch capability in the event that the first Orbiter malfunctions.

In such a case, as it now stands, he suggested, SBS and others would have to

turn to the European Ariane launch vehicle [scheduled for its maiden flight

in December].

On another Shuttle related area, English expressed general satisfaction with

NASA's satellite liability procedure, under which the agency is requiring

private Shuttle users to obtain a maximum of $500 million in commercial

third party liability coverage, naming the U.S. Government as an insured

party. In return, NASA agrees to indemnify users for any third party liability above that insurance coverage. If a user cannot obtain adequate

liabilityinsurance,NASA may provide the user with insuranceand/or indemnity to cover the user's exposure. English said that this provision is mandatory if private risk capital is to be available to finance high technology

satellite ventures. (Ibid, p. 130.)

o During September;a milestone in Space Shuttle progress was reached with the

transfer of the first flight-configured solid rocket booster aft skirts from

Marshall Space Flight Center's jurisdiction to that of KSC; and their subsequent mating with the first SRB motor segment to arrive by rail from Utah.

89
Two aft skirts support the entire 45.4-meter (150-foot), 3.7-meter (12-foot)

diamete C boosters, in turn supporting the external tank and Orbiter Columbia

on the mobi!e launcher platform. The aft skirts also contain the Thrust

Vector Control system, the steering mechanism for the solid boosters.

The right-hand aft skirt was moved September 24 from VAB's low bay (where

thermal insulation build-up and a detailed automatic checkout of the two SRB

assemblies were performed) across the transfer aisle into High Bay . Then

on September 25, it was mated with the right aft solid motor segment. That

same day, the left hand aft skirt was moved to High Bay 4, and mating of

that component with its respective motor segment was scheduled for today.

(Spaceport News, Vol. 18, No. 21, John F. Kennedy Space Center, September

28, 1979, p. 1.)

o Following about six months of painstaking checkout activities, Columbia's

Forward Reaction Control System was reinstalled. Shortly after Columbia's

arrival at KSC, the forward RCS module was removed and placed in a checkout

cell in the }_pergolic Maintenance Facility for initial processing. The

forward module, along with two similar pods at the orbiter's aft end, will

steer Columbia during various phases of orbital flight. (Ibid.)

9O
OCtober1979

October 1: Precision Fabricating & Cleaning, Inc. of Sharpes, Florida has

won a supplemental agreement to an existing contract with NASA's John F.

Kennedy Space Center. The agreement is for $549,715, bringing the cumulative value of the contract to $2,535,015.

The agreement is for the period from October 1, 1979, through September 30,

1980. During this period, the firm will provide refurbishment and retest

of government-owned compressed gas trailers. I

The trailers are u_ed for temporary storage and transfer of highly compressed gases to various facilities throughout Kennedy Space Center. The

gases are used in many kinds of ground equi_nent as well as launch vehicles, including the Space Shuttle. (NASA News, Release Ne. KSC-184-79,

October 29, 1979)

o NAS_ is beginning to accept applications for Space Shuttle astronauts on an

annual basis. This year, the period for submitting applications by civilians began Oct. i and ends Dec. 1.

Those chosen as applicants will be assigned to the astronaut office and

placed in responsible technical or scientific positions where they will receive assignments to the Space Shuttle Program and continue work in their

scientific or technical fields, where practicable.

Pilot astronauts will control the Space Shuttle during launch, orbital

maneuvers and landings and will be responsible for maintaining vehicle systems. Mission specialist astronauts will have responsibility for the coordination (with the commander and pilot) of Shuttle operations in areas of

crew activity planning, use of consumables and other Shuttle activities

affecting experiment operations. Mission specialists will continue in

their chosen fields of research and will be able to propose, develop and

conduct space experiments.

Pilot applicants must have a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in engineering, biological or physical science or mathematics.

They must have at least 1,000 hours of "pilot-in-core,and" time in high perfonl_ance jet aircraft, must pass a NASA spaceflight physical and be between

162 and 193 centimeters tall.

91
Mission specialistapplicants,while not requiredto be pilots,must meet

the same educational requirements and have at least three years of similar

experience. An advanceddegreem_kYbe substitutedfor experience. Mission

specialist applicants must pass a NASA spaceflight physical examination and

be between 152 and 193 cm. tall. (NASA Activities, Vol 10, No. 10,

October, 1979, p.7)

o Aerospace Services Division, of Cocoa Beach, Fla., has been selected by the

Johnson Space Center for negotiations leading to the award of a cost-plusaward-fee contrac_ for engineering support services. The contract, valued

at some $1.3 million, covers engineering design support for facilities and

testprogramsatJSC.(Ibid,p.16)

October 3: The Galileo Jupiter mission, )reviously planned as a combined

mission in January 1982 has now been proposed as two separate flights in

January 1984; as the Shuttle will not be capable of carrying the weight of

the combined mission.

In gettingHouse approvalfor languageprohibitingNASA from awardingnew

contracts for hardware development of separate orbiter and probe spacecraft, Rep. Edward P. Boland (D-Mass.) said that an option to be carefully

considered is to launch the orbiter and delay the probe until 1988.

NASA's recommended two flights in 1984, according to Boland, would result

in a $225 million or 75 percent overrun. (Defense/SpaceBusinessDaily,

Vol 106, No. 21, Wednesday, October 3, 1979, p.150)

October 4: The successfulargumentused by Sen. Charles McC. Mathias (R-Md.

to get the Senate to oppose the action by the House Appropriations Committee to give itselfa veto over the Galileo Jupiter Orbiter/Probeand to

place $23 million in "reserve" for the Shuttle, involved the question of

jurisdiction between the authorizing and appropriating committees in Congress.

If the appropriations committees are allowed to kill the Galileo project at

this point,Mathias said, the authorizingcommittees"are completelyshut

out of the game on that procedure." He Pointed out that there is no need

for the appropriations committees to have special authority over Galileo,

since "Congresshas all the safeguardsit needs to insurethat it will be

fully consulted during any change in the program."

92
As for tile proposal for a $23 million "reserve" for tile Shuttle, Mathias

said that such a fund has not been authorized and therefore there is no

authority to create it.

As part of his amendment, Mathias called for deleting $10 million of the

$23 million in question -- cutting the NASA R&D appropriation to $3,809.5

million -- and employing the remaining $10 million for new projects. Under

the amendment, the following projects would get the following minimum funding:

*Space Shuttle Thrust Augmentation -- $1.5 million ($15 million requested).

*Multi-Spectral Resources Sampler -- $2 mi I1ion (nothing requested).

*Advanced Rotocraft [echnology -- $5 million (nothing requested).

*Variable Cycle Engine -- $8 million ($5 million requested).

Mathias carried the day when he was supported by Sen. Howard Cannon

(D-Nev.), chairman of the Commerce Committee, which is responsible for the

NASA authorization, and by Sen. Adlai E. Stevenson (D-Ill.), chairman of

the committee's Space Subcommittee.

Among other things, Cannon reported that NASA "would find it difficult to

live with" the veto provision approved by the ttouse; that about $100 million has been spent to date on Galileo, and that NASA had not yet made a

decision to split the Galileo into two missions.

Sen. William Proxmire (D-Wis.) arguing that tile Mathias alnendment was false

economy, said that two of the new projects included would add $73 million

to the NASA budget -- the Multi Spectral Resources Sampler (runout of $24

million) and Advanced Rotocraft Technology (runout of $49 million).

The 20 senators who opposed the Mathias amendment (adopted 49-20) are

Baucus, Boren, Bradley, Burdick, Harry Byrd, Robert Byrd, Culver, Eayleton_

Inouye, Levin, Magnuson, Matsunaga, Moynihan, Muskie, Pell, Pressler,

Proxmire, Pryor, Sasser and Tsongas. (Defense/Space Business Daily, Vol

106, No. 22, Thursday, October 4, 1979, p.156)

o A preliminary revised working schedule is being used for OPF processing.

Tile new Orbiter rollout date is December 21 (was November 24). The July 11

official STS-1 schedule provided four weeks contingency time in the OPF

which is now planned work. Therefore, the success-oriented March 31, 1980,

launch date for STS-I is still possible. Critical path processing includes

internal manufacturing, modifications, and retesting. The VAB and Pad

schedules have not changed except for External Tank and Solid Rocket Booster processing which now is compatible with the orbiter. A new official

93
STS-1 processing schedule is under review and expected to be published in

early October. (Notes...Gray [to Center Director], 10/4/79 p.5)

o A Thermal Protection System In-flight Repair meeting was held at JSC on

Sept_nber 27 with Mr. Yard]ey. The decision was made to fix the TPS probl_J1first and, as an option, to fly the MMU. Also, the contract for the

stabilized TV system was extended for another month to determine the cost

and the impact of the TV system if flown with the Manned Maneuvering Unit.

A11 effort to fly the RMS/ITRS system on Flight STS-1 was terminated.

(Ibid, p.6)

October 5: NASA has concluded that it will not need to inspect in space, and

possibly repair, the insulation tiles on the Space Shuttle Orbiter on its

maiden flight, which is scheduled for June 1980.

"Inspection and repair of tiles should not be required on the first Shuttle

orbital flight, designed to cause lower than normal stress, because the

tiles will have been proof tested through the fu]l range of stress expected

in normal operational flight," the agency said. _

The major part of the proof testing, involving "pu]]" tests of some 10,000

tiles on the Orbiter Columbia at Kennedy Space Center [with strength monitored acoustically] began Tuesday. Aerodynamic tests of the tiles installed on aircraft are scheduled to begin at Dryden as soon as the tiles

are delivered, and wind tunnel tests are planned starting next month at the

Arnold Engineering Development Center.

According to NASA Associate Administrator John Yardley, there is only "one

chance in 100 that any one tile" will fail on the maiden flight.

At the same time, NASA has directed Martin Marietta to speed develo_nent of

the Manned Maneuvering Unit, which Will be used by Shuttle astronauts on

later flights to inspect the tiles and repair them if necessary, using a

repair system being designed competitively by Martin, General Electric and

McDonnell. Goal is to have the MMU ready by August 1980.-

In selecting the MMU, NASA dropped consideration of an alternate plan to

use a boom extended from the Remote Manipulator to carry a television inspection syst_n and to transport an astronaut for the repair effort. As

another option, NASA says it will study for another month the possibility

of a free-flying television system for the tile inspection, with the

Orbiter maneuvering around the system. (Defense/Space Business Daily, Vol.

106, No. 23, Friday, October 5, 1979, p.161)

94
o STS-1 Schedule. The revised STS-10tficial Schedule was published on

October 5 and was distributed. OPF rollout is now December 21. Launch

J date remains March 31, 1_80. TileManagement Presentation Sumary Chart for

STS-1 has been updated and is attached to it. Copies of the new official

schedule and the STS-1 summary charts have been sent to t3illLand/NASA

Headquarters, to be used for a presentation to the Administrator, October

15.

The Program Manager approved tilebaselined UFT launch schedule with the

following:

STS-1 March 31, 1980 to June 30, 1980

STS-2 November4, t980

STS-3 February 27, 1981

STS-4 May 19, 1981

STS-5 (FOF) September 30, 1981

(Notes...Gray Lto Center Director], 10/11/79)

October I1: In a move to 9ire Associate Administrator dohn Yardley more time

ti)wor k on the development problems of the Space Shuttle, NASA has divideo

its Space Transportation System Office into an Office of Space Transportation System Acquisition, to be headed by Yardley, and an Office of Space

Transportation System Operations, to be headed by a new associate administrator to be named.

The user-oriented sTS Operations Office will be responsible for scheduling,

manifesting, pricing, launch service agreements, Spacelab, expendable

Launch vehicles, and primary interface with STS users.

The realignment was presaged by the recent creation within the STS Office

of a separate operations organization under by a newly created deputy

administrator position. Charles R. Gunn, who had headed the Landsat-D

project at Goddard Space Flight Center, was named to the operations post.

(Defense/Space Business Daily, Vol 106, No. 16, Thursday, October 11, 1979,

p,185)

October 12: NASA's John F. Kennedy Space Center has awarded a $138,627 contract to Industrial Steel, Inc., of I_,ims,Fla., for construction and :_difications to Launch Complex 39's Pad A.

95
Under the contract, Industrial Steel will! Complete various modifications to

the Fixed Service Structure,the 247-foot-tallsteel tower which provides

access to the Space Shuttle orbiter at the pad. Alterations will be made

to various platforms on the structure,_and a steel sling will be made to

support the Emergency Exit System, which will remove personnel from the

orbiter and Fixed ServiceStructurein case of an emergency.

The contract is one of those set aside for a small business firm in an area

with a high unemploymentrate. The work under the contract is to be completed by December 15, 1979. {NASA News, Release No: KSC 179-79, October

12, 1979)

October 17: Because the Space Shuttle/InertialUpper Stage will not have the

requiredthrust to conduct the Galileo JupiterOrbiter/Probemission in

1982 as planned, NASA has chosen to split the mission into a separate

Orbiter and Probe to be launchedby two Space Shuttle/IUS'sin 1984, accord

lng to NASA's new associate administrator for space science, Dr. Thomas A.

Mutch.

Mutch told the House Subcommittee on Space Science & Applications that the

NASA action, assuming it is approved by Congress, will boost the cost of

the mission by an estimated $184 million plus the added cost of a second

Shuttle launch.

He said the cost of developing and operating the spacecraft will increase

by $153 million over the estimated $450 million for the joint 1982 mission,

and that the cost of procuring the Inertial Upper Stage systems will increase by $31 million over the original $23 million. He put the overall

cost increase at 39 percent.

Meanwhile, on Tuesday, NASA advised its authorizing and appropriating committees in Congress that, after its FY '80 appropriations bill is passed --

and it is stalled over the revised Galileo program -- it will submit the

revised program as a reprogramming, including a description of the revisions to the program and the budget impact, which wil) give Congress the

opportunity to decide if it wants to support the revised effort.

Asked by chairman Don Fuqua (D-Fla.) whether it would be more cost effective to cancel Galileo and use the funds for other missions, Mutch noted

that that would only result in a loss of $160 million on the program --

$100 mi)lion that has already been spent plus another $60 mil)ion in close_

Out costs. He termed the NASA action as the most cost effective course.

Mutch noted that the science for the mission would be improved slightly by

having the probe on a separate dedicated carrier.

Asked by Fuqua if the Probe mission could be delayed to 1985 or later,

Mutch said that NASA had not looked closely at that, but estimated that it

96
might'boost the cost of the mission by $20-$30 million over the $120 i_illion estimate and cause a problen in retaining the contractor (Hughes). He

also cited the advantage of mission simultaneity but said that might be

achieved even with a one-year delay.

At the same time, the NASA associate administrator reported that the weight

of the Galileo Orbiter comes close to the expected capability of the Shuttle/IUS in 1984, but termed the margin "comfortable."

Asked by Fuqua if the IUS is sufficient for the planetary missions planned

by NASA, Mutch said it is, provided that it is coupled with the Solar Electric Propulsion Systo_ (SEPS) which is in development, although the margin

is not great. Planetary missions planned, he said, include the Venus

Orbiting Imaging Radar (VOIR), Halley's/Tempel 2 cornetmission, and a

Saturn Orbiter Dual Probe.

In his first appearance before the subcommittee, Mutch conveyed the same

enthusiasm for NASA's space science program which had been exhibited by his

predecessor, Dr. Noel Itinners, and which has been an important part of garnering support for the program. At the same time, he acknowledged that

space science faces funding problems.

"Though I am excited by the number of opportunities we have to extend our

scientific knowledge in space," he said, "I am also sobered by the realization that financial constraints may cause us to make difficult selections

between many worthy new projects in ·our plan."

--International Solar Polar Mission. There are no cost problems on the

progr_n and frmn the U. S. point of view there is no probl_n in meeting the

planned February 1983 launch window. NASA believes that it will have a

comfortable weight margin for the mission using a Space Shuttle and threestage IUS. However, if the Shuttle thrust capability does not grow as

anticipated, the mission could be conducted on two separate Shuttle

launches. This is considered an "attractive backup with no major problems

involved.

--Infrared Astronmnical Satellite. NASA has experienced a number of technical problems in development of this international satellite, largely due

to the requirement to have the telescope operate at -270 degrees C. These

technological difficulties have resulted in a six-month slip in the projected launch date to August 1981 ·arid an increase in the runout cost of the

U.S. portion of the project from $37 million to $53 million.

--Space Telescope. The project is on schedule and within cost, although

NASA has had to dip into the reserves established for the program. The reserves are considered "adequate." NASA has established a committee to keep

a close watch on this project and believes it will be completed on schedule

97
and within cost. Mutch said he knows of no_technical "showstoppers" on the

project. The polishing of a 60-inch test mirror has been successfully

completed by Perkin-Elmer and the 96-inch primary mirror for the telescope

is currently being shaped and figured by manually-controlled machines.

Computer-controlled polishing is slated to begin in February. Eastman

Kodak has started grinding operations on a 96-inch backup mirror blank.

RFP's for operation of the Space Telescope Science Institute are planned

for release next month.

--Gamma Ray Observatory. Studies of the spacecraft have been completed by

NASA-Goddard and NASA is ready to proceed on the spacecraft, which will be

the first in a planned series of new high energy missions. NASA wants the

GRO as an FY '81 new start but needs OMB approval.

--New Explorers. Detailed studies are continuing on the Cosmic Background

Explorer (COBE), which will measure the residual microwave background radiation believed associated with the "Big Bang" origin of the universe, and

the Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer (EUVE), which will survey the sky to study

very hot objects.

--Advanced X-Ray Astrophysical Facility (AXAF). Studies have been started

on this mission, which will provide "the next major step in x-ray astronomy'' after HEAO-2.

· z

--Gravity Probe-B. Studies are continuing on this spacecraft, an orbiting

gyroscope experiment to test the theory of General Relativity.

--Origins of Plasmas In the Earth's Neighborhood. Definition studies are

being conducted on this mission, which will be the first to study the geospace environment as a whole. OPEN will have four instrumented spacecraft,

to be placed in different orbits within the solar wind and regions of the

Earth's magnetosphere and geomagnetic tail. The spacecraft will have orbit

adjust capability. An Announcement of Opportunity soliciting investigations for the OPEN mission will be released soon.

--solar Probe. Studies are underway for the definition and technology

development of this mission, which is planned for the late 1980's to explore the innermost parts of the solar wind, passing within three solar

radii of the Sun's surface. (Defense/Space Business Daily, Vol 106, No.

31, Thursday, October 18, 1979, _.221,225)

o NASA the Department of Energy (DOE) are continuing their studies of the

possibility disposing of nuclear wastes in space via the Space Shuttle,

with work to date continuing to indicate that the concept "is feasible" and

that there are no "major technological impediments." This report was made

Tuesday by NASA energy chief Donald A. Beattie.

98
As a result of studies to date, a mission profile has been defined using

the Shuttle and two chemically powered, recoverable Orbit Transfer Vehicles

to pllace _he nuclear wastes in a solar orbit "halfway" between the orbits

of Earth and Venus (0.85 AU).

NASA and DOE are now defining systems and operations concepts to handle the

waste from the time it leaves the reactor until it is deposited at a space

destination, and examining the majo_ technologLv development requirements

and engineering problems associated with safety, environmental concerns and

preparation of the waste. (Ibid, p.224)

o President Carter has been told by NASA Administrator Frosch that there are

no serious unsolvable technical problems remaining on the Space Shuttle and

that the agency is placing more attention on management of the program to

ensure its success.

In his report to the President, Frosch did not elaborate on the Shuttle's

tile insulation and engine problems; discuss the launch schedule for the

program, or estimate how much additional funding would be required for the

Shuttle in FY '80 and beyond.

He told the President that a "revised program financial operating baseline

is being developed" this month and will be presented as part of the FY '81

budget process. [NASA is expected to request an additional $200-$300 million for the Shuttle in FY '80.]

A reexamination of the Shuttle program by NASA and outside specialists has

concluded that the program "appears to be fundamentally technically

healthy," Frosch wrote the President. "While there are problems to be

solved and many unknowns still to be faced there are no currently known

serious problems that we do not know how to solve."

The NASA chief cautioned the President, however, "that an element of risk

always exists in space flight operations."

Frosch attributed the budget problems on the Shuttle to the fact that the

program "was underfunded at the start and. . has been underfunded since.

This was sufficient to force an overly lean program with management consequences: a short-term management attitude of solving problems as they

arise while putting off long-term large-scale planning," he said. (Ibid,

p.226)

99
October 18: NASA Administrator Robert Frosch estimated that DDT&E costs of

the Space Shuttle have risen to $6.1i5 billion inFY '71 dollars, an increase of 18.5 percent over the $5.15billion estimate made a decade ago,

and an escalation of $460 million since the beginning of the year.

He reported to the House Subcomittee on Space Science & Applications that

the estimated cost of building the remainin9 three Space Shuttle orbiters,

based on what NASA haa "learned about the difficulties of assembling and

testing an Orbiter flight vehicle," has increased 20 percent since January.

Frosch stated that as a result of problems in developing the Shuttle, NASA

will require more funds for the program in FY '80 and in future years for

the program than it previously estimated.

He said that NASA will submit an FY '80 supplemental request for "several

hundred million dollars" along with its FY '80 budget request in January,

adding that Congress would have to approve those supplemental funds by the

end of June in order for them to be properly used.

NASA Comptroller William Lilly reported that NASA would request $550 million in FY '81 for DDT&E of the Shuttle. NASA had estimated these costs at

between $500 and $550 million in January, he said.

Frosch told the subco:_dttee that NASA is working toward the first flight

Of the Shuttle in April 1980, but that is more likely that the flight will

take place in the mid to late summer. The chances for Shuttle launch, he

said, are:

* 10 percent by April

* 50 percent by July

* 80-90 percent by September.

He said flight go-ahead will depend solely on the readiness of the Shuttle:

"It will not fly before it is ready to fly."

The pacing item in the maiden Shuttle flight, he said, is the thermal insulation tiles, which are currently undergoing adhesion tests and replacement

if found to be inadequate.

Because of the time required for tile tile effort, he said, "we expect the

Orbiter (Col_nbia) to leave the processing facility in January or February,

and we can look to a first flight readiness firing on the pad in the

spring. If we do not have to bring the Shuttle back to the Vertical Assembly Building (VAB) for further checkout, we could have a first flight by

mi d-year."

100 .;
At the same time, NASA has revised its deliveryschedulefor the three addi

ttonal Orbiters as follows: Second Orbiter, June 1982, Third Orbiter, September 1983, and Fourth Orbiter, December 1984.

Frosch reported that over 9600 thermal protection system tiles have been

installed on the Columbia since its arrival at Cape Canaveral, leaving

about 2100 to go -- plus the replacement of those already-installed tiles

which are found inadequate.

Frosch said that NASA will pull test all of the20,O00 critical black tiles

on the Columbia plus some of the other tiles which are in less critical positions.

NASA Associate Administrator John Yardley reported the sobering news that

since the pull-tests began this month, 7 percent of the tiles examined on

Columbia have failed testing and will have to be replaced. He said that 2

percent actuallycame off the Orbiter and 5 percent exhibitednoises that

indicated that they would fail. He said NASA expects to pull-test 3000-

4000 tiles per week. Frosch said that NASA is "prepared to have one or two

thousand tiles that will require rework."

He said that NASA only became aware of the potential tile failure problem

about six months ago.

"Why it was not found earlier, I don't know," he said,

He said that most peoplewho have looked at the insulationproblem have

concluded that there must be a better way, but so far no one has found it.

However, he said that NASA had developed a second generation tile with much

greater strength, which it hopes to use on the second Orbiter if it can be

certified in time.

Frosch noted that the insulationtiles are an importantpart of the reusability of the Shuttle, but acknowledged that it remains to be seen if the

tiles are as reusableas planned. (Defense/SpaceBusinessDaily, Vol. 106.

No. 32, Frid_, October 19, 1979, pp.230,231)

October22-24: The Spacelab2 InvestigatorWorkingGroup, consistingof

about 75 scientists and engineers selected to participate in the second

Spacelab mission, met at the Kennedy Space Center October22-24.

Thirteeninvestigationswill be flown on the Spacelab2 mission,emphasizing astronontv, high energy astrophysics and solar physics research. Experiments will also be performed in plasma physics, botany and medicine.

101
Spacelab 2 is scheduled to be launched from KSC on the Shuttle's 14th

flight, operate in space for seven to 12 days, and land at KSC's Shuttle

Landing Facility. The Investigator Working Group consists of scientists

serving as principal investigators for the experiments to be conducted durirlgthe mission, and NASA mission planners and design engineers.

Of the 13 investigations planned for Spacelab 2, 11 originate in the United

States and 2 in the United Kingdom, resulting in the involvement of 47

scientists fr_ across the country, and 12 from the U.K. The group was

chosen from more than 1,000 candidates who responded to invitations to participate in the mission. (NASA Activities, Vol. 10, No. 12, Dece_ber,

1979, p.5)

o The Pegasus 2 spacecraft assembly, launched by NASA in 1965, reentered the

Earth's atmosphere on Nov. 3, according to the North _nerican Air Defense

Command. The command compiles information on satellite payloads, rocket

bodies and other orbiting pieces that could survive the friction and heat

of reentry and impact on Earth.

Pegasus 2, launched May 25, 1965, was used to gather micrometeoroid data

for use in the design of spacecraft. It was one of three such spacecraft,

aT1 launched in 1965. Pegasus 1 reentered Sept. 17, 1978, over Africa and

Pegasus 3 reentered Aug. 4, 1969, over the Pacific Ocean.

The Pegasus assembly weighed about 10,430 kilograms and was 21 meters long.

The spacecraft itself weighed about 1,450 kg. It was attached to the empty

S-IV stage and the instrument unit of the Saturn 1 launch vehicle. None of

the sections had any radioactive nuclear power sources or materials aboard.

It is estimated that approximately 9',705 kg of orbital hardware was destroyed by reentry heating. Such a breakup of reentering spacecraft is

normal and has not, in the history of space flight, resulted in personal or

property damage on Earth. No surviving pieces of Pegasus i or 3 were found

or recovered. (Ibid, p.9)

October 26: The House and Senate have agreed to a $4.93 billion FY '80

appropriations for NASA and sent the measure to the White House as part of

the $72 billion HUD-lA appropriations bill.

To end the impasse of the NASA bill, the House agreed to drop its language

that would have required NASA to come to the appropriations committees before proceeding with the modified Galileo Jupiter Orbiter/Probe mission.

102
NASA recently agreed to submit the revised program as a reprogra_mling,

which will allow Congress to evaluate it.

The House also agreed to drop its "compromise" proposal that $23 million in

R&D funds restored by the Senate be put into a reserve for the Space Shuttle. The Senate, after that House action, decided to pare the restoral to

$10 million. The bill sent to the White Itousecuts that to $8 million --

$5 million for Advanced Rotocraft Technology and an additional $3 million

for the Variable C_cle Engine. Cut was $2 million proposed to initiate the

Multi-Spectral Scanner. (Defense/Space Business Daily, Vol. 106, No. 37,

Friday,October26,1979,p.269)

October 29: The FY '80 appropriation for NASA approved by Congress last week

totals $4,923.5 million and compares with tile amount requested and last

year's appropriation as follows:

(in millions of dollars)

FY '80 Requested FY '79

Research & Developnent $3,807,500 $3,822,500 $3,477,200

_ Constructionof Facilities 156,100 157,600 147,500

Research & Program Management 959,900 964,900 936,469

Total $4,923,500 $4,945,000 $4,581,169

The FY '80 NASA appropriation is $13 million above the amount originally

approved by the Itouse and $20 million below the amount originally adopted

by the Senate.

The $15 million reduction in R&D comes from a deletion of the $15 million

requested for the Shuttle Thrust Augmentation System, a cut of $5 million

in Space Flight Operations and a $3 million reduction in computer acquisitions, offset by a $5 million increase in Rotorcraft Technology and a $3

million increase for the Variable Cycle Engine.

However, NASA will be able to continue design work on the thrust Augmentation System as well as to conduct computer acquisitions if it so chooses

with available funds, if it informs Congress of such moves. (Defense/Space

Business Daily, Vol. 106, No. 38, Monday, October 29, 1979, p.273)

o The first two items of hardware developed by NASA Marshall to fly in the

Space Shuttle Orbiter cargo bay have been delivered to Kennedy Space

Center. The items are an induced Environment Contamination Monitor, which

contains ten instruments to check for experiment-affecting contaminants in

the cargo bay, and a Release Mechanism, which will hold down the

103 /
contamination monitor, release it when required and then resecure it.

(Ibid, p.277)

o During October: A new Headquarters program office has been established to

be responsible for operations of the Space Transportation System, NASA

Administrator Dr. Robert A. Frosch announced this week.

The new office, headed by an Associate Administrator to be named soon, will

have charge of Space Transportation System operations and functions including scheduling, manifesting, pricing and launch service agreements, the

Spacelab progrmn, and NASA's expendable launch vehicles, except for develo_nent of Space Shuttle upper stages. The new office will be the principal

interface with all STS users.

The Office of Space Transportation Systems is being renamed the Office of

Space Transportation System Acquisition.

John F. Yardley, presently NASA's Associate Administrator for Space Transportation Systems, will be Associate Administrator for Space Transportation

System Acquisition. tte will be responsible for the development and acquisition of the Space Transportation System, including the Space Shuttle and

its upper stages, associated ground facilities and equipment, and system

improvements.

In announcing this change, Frosch said, "This organizational move streamlines our Shuttle management system by freeing John Yardley to focus his

attention on getting the Shuttle systen built and flying, and by centralizing our Shuttle services in a new, user-oriented organization." (Spaceport

News, Vol. 18, No. 23, John F. Kennedy Space Center, October 12, 1979, p.1)

o Tests began recently on one proposed method of preventing the formation of

possibly dangerous ice on the nose of the Space Shuttle's external tank.

The method being tested is referred to as the "beanie cap" by personnel at

the Launch Equipment Test Facility (LETF).

The necessity for the device became apparent when it was found that vapors

from the liquid oxygen vent system at the top Of the external tank may

cause chunks of ice to form at the vent system's exit louvers. During

liftoff, the ice chunks could dislodge and possibly damage the shuttle's

critical protective tile system. To prevent any damage, several methods of

preventing ice formation were devised.

104
The first such method to be tested at _he LETF involves a cap which will be

lowered over the top of the external t_nk and sealed by means of an inflatD able collar. Then cold oxygen vapors are pumped from under the cap and

vented some distance away.

The test equipment at the LETF enables technicians to verify not only the

fit of the cap to the tank, but also such variables as tank and cap movement due to wind, orbiter ignition and the effects of solar heating and

cryogenic shrinkage.

Should this method be adopted in actual use, the cap would be removed by a

swing arm assembly and swung safely aside shortly before engine ignition,

The "beanie cap" swing arm is not presently installed on the Launch Complex

39A Fixed Service Structure, and would have to be designed and fabricated

and then tested.

Other possible systems of preventing ice buildup include, a hot air blower

system, or a re-designed external tank vent system. Vapors from the hydrogen tank vent system do not pose an icing problem because they are removed

by an existing swing arm vent system to a burn pond, a safe distance from

the pad. (Ibid, p.1,2)

o Each year the first full week of October, KSC observes National Employ the

Handicapped Week, a nationwide program to acknowledge the accomplishments

of disabled people and to inform all citizens of what they can do to

eliminate the barriers still facing disabled people.

KSC has an active and ongoing program of selective placement for the

handicapped person.

Through the KSC Handicapped Proyram Working Group, KSC has implemented an

extensive program in recent years to provide non-discriminatory emplo_nent

for handicapped people. Renovations have been made to most KSC buildings

to ensure easy access by all employees. The Center also maintains contact

with federal, state and local agencies that deal primarily with the

handicapped, providing them with information concerning job vacancies.

(1bid, p.3)

I

o The special staff of individual consultants that was asked last Hay to

assess the adequacy of the _ASA Space Shuttle management system has submitted its report to the NASA Deputy Administrator, Dr. Alan M. Lovelace.

105
The special staff consisted of: Richard C. McCurdy, former NASA Associate

Administrator for Organization and Management; Willis H. Shapley, former

NASA Associate Deputy Administrator; Maj. Gen. James Abrahamson, F-16 Program Director, United States Air Force; A. Thomas Young, Deputy Director,

NASA Ames Research Center, Mountain View, Calif.; and John E. O'Brien,

Assistant General Counsel for Procurement Matters, NASA Headquarters,

Abraham Spinak, Associate Director, NASA Wallops Flight Center, Wallops

Island, Va., was executive assistant.

Lovelace, in receiving the report and passing it on to Administrator Dr.

Robert A. Frosch, said:

"This study was undertaken at my request in order to obtain an independent

appraisal of the Shuttle management process which may have contributed to

the sudden awareness of projected program cost increase which has been encountered during the past year. I want to commend the staff for their thoroughness and dedication during the four-month study. Their findin2s and

conclusions constitute a very important input to our overall examination of

Shuttle management."

The report contains eight major findings and conclusions excerpted as fol1 ows:

1. The original cost commitment for Shuttle development established an _

austere fiscal environment at the beginning of the program. This

environment became more constraining under the annual budgets establishedinsubsequent years, i

2. The overall Shuttle management systen has achieved a commendable

level of accomplishment.

3. In the effort to live with funding limitations while still progressing acceptably toward completion, Shuttle management has generally

set up work schedules that demanded more performance than could be

delivered.

4. There has been a lack of adequate long-range planning and timely

status reporting. Emphasis has been on the current fiscal year,

with only secondary attention to succeeding years and estimates to

completion.

5. The organization for the Shuttle Program appears to be functioning

well from a technical standpoint, but is not functioning acceptably

in the areas of schedule and budget. Strengthening of the organization at all levels is needed in these areas.

6. Fixed Shuttle delivery schedules and initial operations require a

new management approach.

106
7. The operational phase of the Space Shuttle Program takes on added

significance and importance as the design, development test and engineering phase comes to an end. Top NASA management should address

the overall organization, external interfaces, institutional, arid

other management aspects of the operational phase. In particular,

the NASA/Department of Defense interface needs immediate clarification to avoid misunderstandings which could have long-term consequences.

8. The near-term potential for unanticipated technical problems, schedule slippage, and cost growth is high and appropriate reserves

should be included in all aspects of program planning.

(NASA Activities, Vol. 10, No. 11, Nownber, 1979, pp.3-7)

o Two experiments that will be part of the first payload to be carried into

space by the Space Shuttle orbiter Columbia--the Shuttle Imaging Radar

Antenna and the Ocean Color Experiment--have been delivered to Kennedy

Space Center. The remaining five experiments are scheduled to arrive by

the second week in October.

Columbia's first payload, called OSTA-1, is made up of seven experiments

designed to carry out investigations for Earth resources applications. The

payload, under the management of NASA's Office of Space and Terrestrial

Applications will fly on the Space Shuttle's second orbital flight test

scheduled for launch from KSC.

Designed and assembled by the British Aerospace Corporation for the European Space Agency as part of the joint ESA/NASA Spacelab program, the pallet is nearly identical to experiment pallets to be used in Spacelab

missions. This is the first of two pallet systems, with the next scheduled

to carry physics and astronomy experiments on the fourth Shuttle flight.

([bid, pp.8,9)

o A historic U.S.-Canadian project to advance cofmnunications via satellite

ended in October when the world's most powerful communications satellite

relayed video and voice signals for the last time.

The Communications Technology Satellite has demonstrated that such powerful

satellite systems can bring low-cos1 television to remote areas anywhere on

Earth.

107
More than 160 United States experiments were conducted with the satellite

during more than three years, ranging from business teleconferences -

designed to save t{me and travel expenses for businessmen - to emergency

use during a disastrous 1977 flood.

The highly instrumented portable ground terminal was transported some

100,000 kilometers in support operations for the satellite, which is in synchronous orbit some 36,000 km in space.

I

The technology satellite has been u joint project of NASA and the Canadian

Department of Communication. NASA's Lewis Research Center was manager of

the U.S. experiments, which ceased in June of this year. Canada designed

and built the satellite which, for the first time, operated in the 12 to 14

gigahertz frequency band. The Lewis center also furnished the solarpowered traveling-wave transmitter which has 10 to 20 times the broadcast

power of current communications satellites. NASA did the pre-flight environmental testing on the spacecraft and launched it from the NASA Kennedy

Space Center on Jan. 17, 1976. (Ibid, p.12)

N

o An invention developed at KSC strikes a dramatic image on the cover of the

current issue of NASA Tech Briefs. Illustrated amid zigzagging thunderbolts is a lightning detection and rangin_ system, used to monitor the

atmosphere around Launch Complex 39.

The detector senses changes in the electric field during a lightning

strike, and the presence or absence of very-high-frequency electromagnetic

radiation. A strike from cloud-to-cloud produces two pulses, a pulse in

the electric-field channel and one in the vhf channel; while a strike to

the ground produces only an electric-field pulse. With a single pulse, the

instrument indicates a "hit" within its sensing range. This ability makes

it applicable for use as a shutter control for lightning photography, a

ground-stroke counter, or a lightning warning, among other uses. It was

develoged by Carl L. Leunon (TI-INS-32).

Seven other inventions from KSC are included in Tech Briefs. KSC's Charles

H. Bell (D1-NED-31) was responsible for the fiberoptic crossbar switch described in the issue. It automatically switches optical signals fren input

to output fibers without the problems associated with manual mechanical

connectors and patch plugs. The old style devices do not lend themselves

to automation, are suscepbible to contamination and difficult to align, and

have poor connector repeatability.

An inexpensive monitoring systeindeveloped by Robert L. Cason and John J.

McStay (DD-FED-21) and Andrew P. Heymann, Sr. (PRC)) detects short circuits

in underground or overhead power cables and displays the fault location at

i08
a remote monitoring station. It operates through ground current sensors

installed along a cable run.

Coleman J. Bryan and Clyde V. Moyers (TG-FLD-22) and Edward L. Wright, Jr,

(VE-FSD-31) designed a method for continuously sterilizing plumbing systems

such as those found in hospitals, clinics and biological testing laboratories. An Ethylene oxide/Freon 12 humidifier, originally planned for

sterilizing potable water aboard the Space Shuttle orbiten, allows this online disinfection of plumbing.

KSC's Charles W. Bright (TG-FLD-22) and Lester J. Owens (DD-ESO) teamed

with researchers from the Rancho I_os _aigos Hospital in Downey, California,

to improve artificial limbs. Tech Briefs describes a method of connecting

a prothesis to the bone within an amputee's stump -- in a manner which promotes healing and lessens stress on the skin around tile limb. A flexible

shaft, with a socket at one end and a through-the-skin sleeve at the other,

when surgically implanted at the bone allows the sleeve to move without

breaking its seal with the skin. The new limb connector may be used for

either an arm or leg prothesis.

A multiline telephone signaling systenl was the work of Pierce C. Tool_

(DL-NED-11), Jerry L. Belt, Reams Goodloe, and Donald B. Leiniger (PRC).

This systm_ permits spontaneous conferences, paging, and monitoring from

key locations. Single telephones may be connected to a number of telephone

lines, and users on from two to eight telephone lines in a network may be

interconnected.

W. D. Sumrall (IBM Corp.) wrote a systematic approach for identifying computer test configurations for the Space Shuttle. His approach may be used

to test other large complex systems, such as submarines, aircraft, and air

traffic control networks. Using variables and constraints, he identified

55 allowable test configurations for the Shuttle.

Tile work on the Shuttle orbiter has resulted in the development of a method for repairing holes and cracks in very thin glass. The process, expected to correct x-ray tube windows, Dewar flasks, and other thin glass

objects, was developed for the orbiter's reusable surface insulation. A

slurry Of glass frits is applied with a brush or spray gun and cured under

a heat lamp. After repair, scanning by electron micrographs has proved

that fill glass and base glass are homogeneous and the cracks completely

sealed. Donald D. Helman, Jack W. Holt, and Laurence W. Smiser (all of

Rockwell International Corp.) are credited with the process. (Spaceport

News, Vol. 18, No. 24, John F. Kennedy Space Center, October 26, 1979, pp.

1,2)

109
o The smoking lamp is out in the VAB, except in special approved areas, due

to arrival last month of the Space Shuttle solid rocket booster propellant

segments.

Several areas have been set aside and furnished with electric lighters for

the use of smokers. These areas are: Tower A--Rooms 1A7 and 3A10; Tower'

B--Rooms 2B6, 6B10 and lOB6; Tower D--Room 6D23; Tower E--Rooms 1E6, 3EIOB,

5E7 and 7E10; in the Low Bay, M&N--snackbar and crossover hallway on the

first floor, and all areas on the second and third floors and the mezzanine; K mezzanine--all areas except the lab; K&L--second and third floors,

except for MIX area on the second floor.

The smoking ban except in designated areas is in effect 24 hours a day,

seven days a week. Immediately outside smoking rooms are large signs indicating that smoking is not allowed beyond that point. In order to assure

compliance with the rule, fire inspectors hold daily walkdowns of the

area. So far, no flagrant violations have been noted. No-smoking areas

are being cleared of old cigarette butts and debris to assist in identifying any recent smoking activity.

Because of the nature of the SRB propellant and what could happen if it

were accidentally ignited, no-smoking rules will be strictly enforced. A

first offense will result in suspension for five days. The penalty for tile

second offense is dismissal. (Ibid, p.3)

o During the fourth quarter of fiscal year 1979, fifty-six KSC employees received performance awards. Forty-three people were given certificates for

superior performance in carrying out the functions and responsibilties of

their respective positions. An additional thirteen employees received

quality step increases. These employees_and theirorganizations are listed

below.

Perfomance Awards

PatsyR. Ashburn--SF · Curt F. Martin--DD

JamesW. Austin--CP Barry S. Olton--CV

Lynn A. Barnett--VT DonaldL. Orman--VE

Dorothy P. Bennett-_DL StephenT. Pantano--VO

WilliamA. Berndt--CV Yvonne C. Parker--TI

Howard R. Brenneman, Jr.--TI John B. Parks--DD

KennethW. Colley--VE John D. Phillips--CO

JessieM. Cook--SP James D. Polly--DF

BobbyR. DeLoach--TI Noma Randall--CD

OscarM. Fell--VE Mary B. Remley--AP

WiliamB. Glaser~-VE LorenzG. Simpkins--TI

Andrew J. Guillory--TO Marion C. Spence--SF

JaniceL, Hawk--DE AngeioJ. Taiani--TO

Billy L. Haynes--CS WilliamB. Trammell--VO

Dennis E. Heathcote--CP George W. Warren--VT

1!0
FrankS. Howard--DD HerbertD. Ward--CO

SuzanneF. Jamison--AP AlfredD. Willis--TI

SamuelE. Kicklighter--TO MarvinI. Wright--DD

WarrenR. Kicklighter--TI RobertJ. Yarbrough--CP

SallieL. Krell--DE PaulT. Yasaki--CV

WilliamK. Lewis--VE HaroldZweigbaum--TI

William E. Lockwood--VT

Quality Step Increase

James K. Amster--DL Jimmie G. Hangartner--DF

Edith H, Beard--PT H. Dean Hunter--CO

AmadorCapellin--DD BeaufortJones--AP

J. I. Daniel--DO ThomasG. Kreuzinger--DD

DonaldF. Doerr-MO ThomasH. Page--CO

DanielEvans--VE JohnShramko--DE

Allan R. Goldenberg--VE

(Ibid, p.3)

111
November 1979

o Digging deeply and generously into inflation-strained pockets, KSC

employees again topped their Combined Federal Campaign goal, collecting 111

percent of the $106,000 goal.

Through November 6, a total of $118,177 was pledged to the United Way of

Brevard County, National Ilealth Agencies and International Service

Agencies, with 95 percent of KSC's federal workforce participating in the

annual drive.

"It's been a most successful campaigd," said KSC CFC Chairman Bill Holden,

"thanks to all the hard work provided by our key solicitors and unit coordinators. It's also a tribute to our employees who, despite the economy,

continue to give more every year."

Working with Holden on the KSC drive was Vice Chairman Terry Mitchell, and

the Brevard County campaign was directed by Chairman Col. Jim Heinbaugh and

Vice-Chairman Bill Huseonica, chief of KSC's Cargo Projects Control Office.

Huseonica will move up to Brevard CFC Chairman next year. (Ibid, p.3)

o Fernando Esparza, KSC's Hispanic Employment Program Manager and a

supervisory mathematician in Information System's Computer Services

Division, was recently elected Regional Director of the Atlanta Region of

IMAGE, a national organization concerned with the public employment of

Hispanic-Americans.

IMAGE represents Hispanics in the federal sector and their contractor,

state and local workforces. With 105 chapters in 35 states, IMAGE's objectives are to implement equal opportunity and affirmative action plans in

c_npliance with U.S. public laws.

In this position, Esparza will serve on IMAGE's national board of directors

with its officers and nine other regional directors elected from throughout

the country.

At KSC, Esparza coordinates the Hispanic Employment program, participating

in the preparation of affirmative actio n plans relating to the Hispanic

community. (Ibid, p.3)

112
November 1-3. The Space Shuttle Orbiter Columbia passed a major series of

tests last week, taking _t:one Step closer to first launch. The orbiter's

three auxiliary power units (APU§) were tested for the first time in a

series of "hot fire" runs designed to exercise most of the vehicle's major

systems.

"The APU hot fire was an extremely hazardous orbiter test which involved

many operational elements of the Center," said STS Processing Director A1

O'Hara. "Even though we had several hardware, software and operational

problems, the test was successful and demonstrated that our Shuttle test

team is ready. We're looking forward to rollout of the orbiter from the

Orbiter Processing Facility and a successful launch next year."

The APUs are hydrazine powered, and each powers one of three independent

hydraulic pumps. The three hydraulic systems are used to gimbal the main

engines, move the aerodynamic flight controls and perform other tasks during the launch and landingphases of flight.

The APU tests began Nov. 1 and continued until late evening, Nov. 3. The

test series involved running each APU singly for a two minute checkout,

then a 40-minute run of all three units during which a variety of systems

checks were performed. Finally, two flight profile runs of approximately

15 minutes each simulated the launch and reentry phases of flight. There

were several short delays in the series. One twelve hour delay was caused

by a power failure in the Launch Complex 39 area during a storm.

The prime flight crew for Columbia's first mission, Commander John Young

and Pilot Bob Crippen, as well as other astronauts, participated in the APU

tests. All personnel were evacuated from the OPF during the tests, with

the exception of two observers in the viewing room and astronauts monitoring the tests from within the orbiter's crew cabin.

Meanwhile, at the National Space Technology Laboratories in Mississippi, a

scheduled 15D-second static firing of the Space Shuttle main propulsion

system was terminated after nine seconds of firing on Nov. 4. A sensor

gave the automatic cutoff due to excessive pressure in the seal cavity of a

high pressure oxidizer turbopump on engine No. 3.

During the cutoff sequence, engine No. 1 was damaged due to a hydrogen line

rupture near the base of the engine nozzle, creating an imbalance of propellants in the combustion chamber. This caused a hotter-than-normal,

"lox-rich" cutoff. The damaged engine was removed and shipped to the manufacturer's plant in California for thorough inspection and repair. It will

be several days before a decision can be reached on the hardware to replace

the engine for the next main propulsion system test. (Spaceport News, Vol.

18, No. 26, John F. Kennedy Space Center, November 23, 1979, p.3)

113
Nove_d_er2: CenterDirectorDick Smith was in WashingtonNow. 2 to face the

bosses and stand on the carpet. But the bosses were smiling and the carpet

they rolled out was red, for Smith was in town to receive the NASA

Outstanding Leadership Medal at the 1979 NASA Headquarters Annual Honor

Awards Ceremony.

In receiving the medal, Smith's past achievements as deputy director of the

Marshall Space Flight Center, deputy associate administrator for Space

Transportation Systems at NASA Headquarters and director of the Skylab Task

Force also at Headquarters were cited.

While at Marshall, Smith served in positions of increasing responsibility

before being appointed deputy manager of the Saturn program and later

manager of that program. He then became director of science as such until

he was named deputy director at Marshall.

For his contributions to the Apollo lunar landing and the Skylab programs,

he previously received NASA's Exceptional Service and Distinguished Service

Medals, respectively. He became director of KSC in September. (Spaceport

News, Vol. 18, No. 26, John F. Kennedy Space Center, November 23, 1979,

p.3)

o NASA said Tuesday that it has firm payload commitments for the first 37

operational flights of the Space Shuttle, which are Scheduled to begin in

1981, meaning that the Shuttle is "almost completely booked" through early

1984.

A total of 47 payloads are involved in the 37 flights, NASA indicated that

15 of those payloads will be for itself, 7 for the Defense Department, and

25 for other users.

In addition to these payloads, some 300 small self-contained payloads are

scheduled to fly on the missions.

NASA reported in February that it had booked payloads for the first 28

Shuttle flights. At that time, it was planning six Orbital Test flights,

with the maiden flight this month. The agency is now planningto conduct

four test flights,with the first flight plannedfor April but not expected

until July or August. (Defense/SpaceBusinessDaily, Vol. 107, No. 2, Fri

day, November 2, 1979, p.lO)

114
o NASA has awarded a contract to Western Union, from whom !t is leasing its

Tracking & Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS), for a study to determine

the feasibility of expanding the TDRSS. Two of the four TDRSS satellites

to be orbited by WU will be dedicated to NASA use, and NASA is looking at

the possibility of a third satellite because of a coverage gap for LandSat

Ddata.(Ibid)

November 3. Dr. William H. Pickering, former Director of the Jet Propulsion

Laboratory, was one of five aviation and space exploration le_ders admitted

to the International Aerospace Hall of Fame at a ceremony in San Diego

October 20. The other men honored were Gen. Curtis E. LeMay, World War II

bomber commander and later the leader of SAC; Lawrence B. Sperry, pioneering U.S. aviator and designer; Sir Thomas O. M. Sopwith, the famed British

aircraft designer of both World Wars; and Prof. Willi Messerschmitt. foremost designer of German military aircraft.

Pickerin9 had a key role in the deveTopment of U.S. space flight technology

leading to the Apollo landings on the Moon. He also guided the nation's

highly successful deep space probes to Mars, Venus and Jupiter. Since retirements from JPL, Dr. Picketing has remained active as an instructor at

Caltech. (NASA Activities, Vol. 12, December, 1979, p.9)

o Members of the Biomedical Office and Public Affairs Offices attended ceremonies Saturday, 3 November 1979, at the Shands Teaching Hospital, University of Florida, Gainesville, dedicating the new Hyperbaric Chamber

Facility (HCF). The event coincided with a statewide divers' s_posium on

hyperbaric physiology and medicine. Dr. Jerry Modell, Chairman of the

Department of Anaesthesiology and Director of the HCF, planned the ceremonies. Other speaking participants from the University Medical Center

were included as well as Representative Bill Richardson who was instrumental in obtaining state funds for construction; Mr. Jerome Johns, a

former patient in their small one-man chamber who endorsed the augmentation

to the present capability for whom it is named; Dr. Will Deal, VP for

Health Affairs; and Dr. Buchanan, who paid tribute to those at KSC who had

worked to effect the long-term loan of the former KSC Hyperbaric Chamber,

the core of the new facility. Following formal ceremonies, Mrs. Johns unveiled appropriate plaques, and attendees and guests enjoyed an inspection

walk-through of the chamber and facility. (Notes [Buchanan to Center

Director], 11/15/79)

115
November 4. The Auxiliary Power Units for the Space Shuttle Orbiter Columbia

successfully passed a series of "hot fire" tests Nov. 1-3 at Kennedy Space

Center. The three hydrazine-fueled Units provide hydraulic power to steer

the Orbiter's main engine nozzles during launch and to drive aerodynamic

control surfaces during the Orbiter's flight through the atmosphere. The

units were operated for up to 40 minutes in the tests which included simulations of the ascent and descent phases of a Shuttle mission.

Next ulajormilestone for Columbia is an integrated test of all of its

flight systems late this month. (Defense/Space Business Daily, Vol. 107,

No. 8, Tuesday, November 13, 1979, p.Sl)

o The failure of the Space Shuttle Main Engine cluster test on Nov. 4, with

the subsequent damage to one of the three test engines, will result in

another two to three month delay in the first launch of the Space Shuttle,

NASA said ·lastweek. This would make June the earliest that the Shuttle

could fly and_a possible delay to the end of the year. The damaged engine

has been shipped to Rockwell's Rocketdyne Division for inspection and repair. NASA is examining alternatives for replacing the damaged engine in

the test stand at NSTL. (Ibid)

November 5. Guided bus tours of the John F. Kennedy Space Center for the

month of October were up 2.3 percent over tilesame month in 197_, breakin9

a four consecutive month _ecline in tour patronage that began in June, when

gas shortages cropped up around the country.

Guided bus tours of the nation's Spaceport and adjacent Cape Canaveral Air

Force Station attracted 64,437 visitors during October, compared to 62,989

for the san_ month a year ago.

October tour patronage brought the cumulative total for the first 10 months

of 1979 to 1,122,160, a drop of 1.2 percent below the 1,135,318 recorded

over the same period of 1978.

Tour patronage through May of this year had been proceeding at a record

pace as the Spaceport continued its buildup for the first manned orbital

flightoftheSpaceShuttle. i

But nationwide fuel shortages at the beginning of Florida's heavy sunmler

tourist season caused attendance _igures from June through September to

drop. As fears of gas shortages around the state have eased, patronage has

steadilyincreased.

116
In anticipation of increasing numbers of visitors to the Kennedy Space Center when the space Shuttle beyins operational and routine flights into

space, TWA Services, KSC's concessionaire for the public tour and visitor

program, recently announced it will invest up to $8.5 million in construction of new visitor facilities. {I_ASA News Release No: KSC 188-79, November 5, 1979)

Novend)er6. NASA Administrator Dr. Robert Frosch said last week that he

would not be surprised, if, in addition to tile European Ariane, there are

other competitors to the Space Shuttle in the future. He said that one is

possibly Japan, As for the Soviet Union, he said there is no indication

that the Soviets will offer launch services to "undercut" Shuttle costs.

Frosch said ilehad no recent knowledge about the reported development of a

heavy lift launch vehicle in Africa [by a West German group]. As for

Ariane, Frosch indicated he did not consider it as a major competitor to

the Shuttle for a number of reasons: the fact that only four Ariane

launches are planned a year; that the Shuttle can orbit most payloads at a

inuchcheaper cost; and because of the flexibility and guaranteed launch

ability of tileShuttle. (Defense/Space Business Daily, Vol. 107, No. 4,

Tuesday, November 6, 1979, p.25)

Nove_nber8. NASA's John J. Kunnedy Spdcu Center lidsawarded a $3,280,416

contract modification to ttoneywellInformation Systems, Inc., Federal Systems Operations, 7900 Nestpark Ave., McLean, Virginia.

The contract extension is for continued maintenance and software support of

the Space Shuttle Launch Processing System's Central Data Subsystem in

KSC's Launch Control Center. For the first time under this contract, support will also be provided for the Honeywell 635 computer systems in KSC's

Central Instrumentation Facility.

The new award covers the period from January 1, 1980 to Septer_lber30, 1980

as a firm requirement and includes annual options through the first quarter

of Fiscal Year 1985.

The new award, coupled with $33,317,578 in previous awards and the

$19,964,494 in options brings the aggregate value of the parent contract to

$56,562,688. (Spaceport News Release No. KSC-192-79, November 14, 1979.

Also NASA Contract, NAS 10-8900, Modification No. 30)

117
The following is the Flight Assignnlent Manifest for tile first 43 flights of

theSpaceShuttle. _ _r

Three Orbiters will be used for tileflights -- 1(}2,which will fly tile

first ten missions; 099, which wi Il cuter the i)rogram for fltght 11; and

103, which will enter the progrdm for flight 32. Forty-two flights, including the first 35, will be conducted from Kennedy Space Center. The

first flight is now officially scheduled for April, but not expected before

July-August. (Sic) 1980)

Flight Assignment Manifest

Flight Date Payload

1 (102) 4/80 Development Flight Instrumentation (DFI), Induced

Environment Contamination Monitor (IECM), Aerodynamic Coefficient Instrument Package (ACIP). Number of crewmen/days in orbit: 2/3.

2 (102) 11/80 DFI, IECM, ACIP, OSTA-1 Pallet. 2/5.

3 (102) 2/81 DFI, IECM, ACIP, PDRS Test Article. 2/7.

4 (102) 5/81 DFI, IECM, ACIP, OSS (physics & astronou_) Pallet.

2/7.

5 (102) 9/81 TDRS-A, ACIP. Will use 2-stage IUS, with SSME

rated at 100/109%. 2/2.

6 (102) 10/81 SBS-A, Intelsat F-5, ANIK-C/1, ACIP. To employ two

SSUS-D's, one SSUS-A. 3/3.

7 (102) 1/82 Galileo, ACIP. Will employ 3-stage IUS. 2/1.

8 (102) 2/82 TDRS-B, ACIP. Will employ 2-stage IUS. 2/1.

9 (102) 3/82 Defense Department Mission 82-0, ACIP.

10 (102) 4/82 Spacelab 1, 6/7.

11 (099) 6/82 TDRS-C, Shuttle Pallet Satellite-01 (SPAS). 2/3.

12 (102) 6/82 SBS-B, ANIK-C/2, Intelsat F-6, SILTS (Shuttle Infrared Leeside Temperature Sensor), SEADS, SUMS.

To employ two SSUD's and one SSUS-A. 3/3

13 (102) 7/82 DOD 82-1, SILTS, SEADS, SUMS. 2/1.

14 (099) 8/82 Spacelab 2. 6/9.

15 (102) 9/82 TDRS-D, Insat-lA, SILTS, SEADS, SUMS. To employ

2-stage IUS and a SSUS-D. 3/2.

16 (102) 10/82 LDEF deploynient,SMM retrieval, OMS Kit, SILTS,

SEADS, SUMS. 3/3.

17 (099) 11/82 Insat-lB, Material Science Pallet, RCA-D,

ANIK-D/1. To employ three SSUS-D's. 3/9.

18 (102) 11/82 Spacelab-3, SILTS, SEADS, SUMS. 5/7.

19 (099) 12/82 DOD 83-1.

20 (102) 1/83 Palapa-B-1, Syncom IV-l, RCA-E, OSTA-2, SILTS,

SEADS, SUMS. To employ two SSUS-D's. 3/5.

21 (099) 2/83 Solar Polar Mission. To use 3-stage IUS. 2/1.

22 (102) 2/83 A reflight opportunity, SILTS, SEADS, SUMS.

SEADS, SUMS. To _ploy two SSUS-D's. 3/5.

23 (099) 3/83 Life Science-I, Earth Radiation Budget Experiment

(ERBE). 6/10.

24 (102) 4/83 Syncom IV-2, AMPTE, Palapa-B/2, RCA-F. To use

three SSUS-D's. 3/4.

25 (099) 4/83 DOD 83-2.
26 (099) 5/83 DOD 83-3.

27 (099) 6/83 Spacelab (physics & astronomy). 6/9.

28 (099) 8/83 DOD 83-4.

29 (099) 9/83 DOD-83-5.

30 (099) 10/83 LDEF retrieval, GOES-F. To use a SSUS-D. 3/3.

31 (099) 11/83 Spacelab-BMFT-Ol. 6/10.

32 (103) 12/83 Space lelescope, DMS Kit. 3/2.

33 (099) 1/84 Syncom IV-3, Arabsat-A, PRC-1, AT&T-1. Will use

two SSUS-D's and one SSUS-A. 3/4.

34 (103) 1/84 A reflight opportunity.

35 (099) 2/84 DOD 84-1.

1W (102) 2/84 Tiros-N. 3/3. This is the first launch from the

Western Test Range.

36 (103) 2/84 Syncom IV-4, Arabsat-B, PRC-2, AT&T-2. Two use two

SSUS-D's and a SSUS-A. 3/4.

37 (099) 3/84 Reserved for a planetary mission. 2/1.

38 (103) 3/84 A reflight opportunity.

39 (099) 4/84 Spacelab-2 (physics & astronomy). 6/7.

40 (103) 5/84 DOD 84-2.

41 (099) 5/84 Spacelab (applications). 5/7.

42 (103) 6/84 ANIK-C/3, Materials Science-2 Pallet, SSUS-D payload opportunity. 4/7.

Defense/Space Business Daily, Vol. 107, No. 6, Thursday, November 8, 1979,

!p.38)

Novefi_er9. President Carter has signed the $72 billion FY '80 HUD-IA appropriations bill which includes $4.924 billion for NASA. (Defense/Space

Business Daily, Vol. 107, No. 7, Friday, November 9, 1979, p.47)

Nov_er 14. As a result of the recent test failure of the Space Shuttle

Main Engine, NASA is removing the ti_ree main engines from tile Shuttle

Orbiter Columbia at Kennedy Space Center in order to strengthen a hydrogen

pipe ("steefhorn") which failed during the test.

NASA has already strengthened the pipe because of an earlier test failure

but is planning additional strengthening ll_thods to be on the safe side,

according to Stluttle program director Mike Malkin. He noted that the pipe

had not been strengthened in the recent test. The break occurred at a

welded joint.

Halkin attributed the failure to a peculiar oscillation _ffect which occurs

when the engine is started and when _t stops. However, if the problem

occurred during ignition of the engine on the launch pad, the engines would

119
be stopped inmlediately without harm, he said. The problem would not occur

when the engine stops as planned in space because the pressure would be

less.

Malkin said that he hopes that the SSME test program at Bay St. Louis,

Miss., can resume before the end of the year and be completed by next May.

As a result of the setback, he said that the earliest the Shuttle could

make its maiden flight is June 1980, with a 50/50 chance that it will occur

by the August-September period. The prior earliest date for launch was

April, with a 50 percent probability of launch by July.

l_oreover, Malkin said that the first operational flight of the Shuttle will

probably be set back from September 1, 1981, to November 1981. (Defense/

Space Business bally, Vol. 107, No. 7, Wednesday, November 14, 1979, p.64)

o President Carter expressed his full support for the Space Shuttle development and production program to NASA Administrator Frosch in a 15-minute

private ii_etin9 at the White House and indicated that he would provide all

the necessary funds to complete the program on the currently planned schedule.

The NASA administrator said that the President is fully backing the program

because of its importance to science, national defense, U.S. co_mnercial

needs and as a contribution to and symbol of U.S, technological progress.

The military need for the reusable, flexible launch system, including SALT

monitoring surveillance satellites, is considered the primary reason for

the Administration's as well as the expected congressional support.

The Carter Administration has alreacLv provided an additional $220 million

for the Shuttle in FY '80 and will seek an additional supplemdntal of

several hundred million dollars [expected to be about $300 million]. FY

'81 fundin9 for the Shuttle will also be increased over the approximately

$1.1 billion planned at the beginning of this year.

Frosch said he told the President that the difficulties NASA is experiencing in developing the Shuttle are not "major central technical problems"

but are "technical odds and ends. . small problems which must be fixed"

and which cause delays in the proyram and concomitant cost problems.

120
tieindicated that the Space Shuttle Main Engine will be the pacing item in

the program, but he said there are no "major or intrinsic flaws" with the

engine, only normal problems expected in this type of program.

Erosch said that the Shuttle's reusable surface insulation tiles, which

have encountered a strength problem, necessitating a partial replacement,

is "not likely to be the pacing item" in the Shuttle schedule. Only about

11-12 percent of the tiles are Ilavingto be replaced. [The replacement

tiles, which are installed the same way as the original tiles, are failing

at about the same rate.]

As a result of the recent SSME test failure, Frosch said that the earliest

that the Space Shuttle could make its first flight is June 1980, adding

that it is most likely that the flight will be made in the August-September

period. According to the director, a maximum schedule would include

resumption of SSME testing in December; mating of the Shuttle components in

March and then moving the mated Shuttle to the pad for launch preparations;

test firing the SSME system on the launch pad in May; and launching the

Shuttle as early as the end of June.

Frosch said the President asked to be kept informed of any changes in the

status and schedule of the Shuttle as the first flight nears, (Defense/

Space Business Daily, Vol. !.07, No. 11, Friday, I_ovember 1.6, 1979,

pp.72,73)

o NASA is now estimating the Shuttle production program cost in FY '80 dollars to be $4 billion, compared to a $3.1 billion estimate at the beginning

of the year. Estimates are rising as additional problems occur in Shuttle

Development. NASA recently testified that the production cost estimates

have risen 20 percent since the beginning of the year. The cost estimate

increase since the beginning of the program is put at 30-35 percent. The

production program includes the manufacture of the second, third and fourth

Space Shuttle Orbiters; refurbishment of the first Orbiter; manufacture of

the production External Tanks and Solid Rocket boosters; provision of additional main engines and certain flight support. Contracts with Rockwell

International, prime contractor for the Orbiter, have not yet been signed.

(Ibia, pp.73-74)

November 15. NASA Headquarters issued a statement that "NASA has no plans,

in the forseeable future, for a return voyage to the Moon either manned or

unmanned, nor to establish a space station or settlement on the lunar

surface, nor to send a manned mission to Mars." (Defense/Space Business

Daily, Vol. 107, Nv. 14, Wednesday, November 21, 1979, p.96)

121
{tow_ber 16. _/orethan 500 civil service and contractor employees were honored at the Annual KSC Awards Ceremony last Friday. The awards included

both NASA-wide and Center honors.

Presiding at his first awards ceremony as Center Director, Richard G. Smith

expressed his pleasure with beiny here and his confidence in the Center employees and contractors. Smith said, "I am very proud to be part of a team

that is so wel] known for their successes."

i

NASA-wide awards included seven Exceptional Service Medals yiven for "si9- :

nificant achievement or Service characterized by unusual initiative or cre- _

ativeability,"and the NASA EqualOpportunityMedal. !

In presenting the seven NASA Group Achievement Awards and Public Service i

Group Achievement Awards, Smith said, "In many ways this is the ultimate

award you can receive.., because the great accomplishments of the space

program have been brought about throuyh a team effort which I think is the

greatest_nkindhaseverseen."

Topping the Center dwards were the presentations of the Director's Award to

Raymond L. Clark, director of Design Engineering, the KSC Woman of the Year _

Award to Jean String, Physical Security Specialist, and 30 Certificates of

Commendation.

Three letters from President JinmlyCarter were presented for first year

cost savings to the government totaling more than $50,000.

Fifty two people received their 30, 35 or 40 year service plaques. In

presenting the plaques, Deputy Director Gerald D. Griffin reminded the

audience, "It is the experience which people ]ike you have that makes it

possible to do the impossible."

Director's Award

Raymond L. Clark

WomanoftheYear

Jean S. String

Equal Opportunit_ Award and Medal

Hugh W. Harris

122 
Presidential Letters of Commendation

]_ H. Jack Grames

Norman R. Perry

John P. Wise

40-Year Service Awards

Robert ti.Clark

James C. Fulto_

35-Year Service Awards

J.Armstron9 M. l_arkum

A. Carroll G. r4orford

G.Halle W.Nichols

H. Heidler N. Shelton

W. Kavanauyh H. Stlockey

R. Kernan S,Tathaln

A._uchta W.Taylor

C. Magee

Exceptional Service Medals

JohnConway AlfredO'tiara

P. A. "Frenchy"Fagnant Ja_aesPhillips

Jol_nLyon Creighton Terhune

Gilbert Mayer

30-Year Service Awards

G. Anderson J. Kaufman R. Rabren

C. Arnau L. Keene J, Richardson

D. Bennett B. Kenerly A. Risley

C. Brown R. Kinch R. Ruby

E, C]e_g M. Konjevich D. Sheppard

C. Coates R. Lealman 0. Sparkman

R. Crowell R. Loenni9 E. Spivey

J. Finn G. Madery W. Stelges

R. Funkhouser R. Nagle C. Wade

D. Gerber L, Nonamaker A. Watson

d. ttanunond C. Perry

B. Huddleston A. Pickett

123
Certificates of Co_endation

J. Barfus H. Ford T. Levann W. Stampley

R. Duckley C. Green R. Luken J. Sumina

H. Clark R. Hahn R. MacCurry T. Tieche

C. Clary O. Jamison V, Nandese B. Tolson

G. Crawford M. Kinnan J. Meyer J. Towles

R. Enlow E.Lamar W. Moore M. Truitt

D. Flowers F. Law H. Springer M. Williams

(Spaceport News, Vol. 18, No. 26, John F. Kennedy Space Center, November

23, 1979, pp.4,5)

Nov_m_ber19. Through FY '79, Kennedy Space Center awarded 36 contracts

valued at $160.5 million for Space Shuttle-related construction, of which

$26 million went to small businesses. Of the $111 million in subcontracts

awarded for the work, $64.7 million went to small firms. Small minority

firms received $26,3 million, or Zq percent, of the subcontract awards,

"Largely as the result of the 20 percent minority subcontracting goal which

was set for the Shuttle construction effort," NASA said. (Defense/Space

Business Daily, Vol. 107, No. 12, _londay, November 19, 1979)

Nove_nber21. NA,SAhas concluded that the use of defective welding wire

sharply weakened the weld in tile segment of the hydrogen line which failed

in a test Nov. 4. An exalnination of two lots of the welding wire has revealed that about 20 percent of the wire is defective. The leak in the

hydrogen line occurred after a premature shutdown caused by excessive pressure in an oxygen turbopump in another engine. The cause of that problem

has not been diagnosed. (Defense/Space Business Daily, Vol. 107, No. 14,

Wednesday, November 21, 1979, p.96)

o The Orbital Maneuvering Systen (OMS) engine for the Space Shuttle Orbiter,

built by Aerojet Liquid Rocket Co., has successfully completed its qualification testing at White Sands and is ready for orbital flight. During qualification tests at White Sands, the OHS engine conducted 98 firings and

accumulated 6076 seconds of firing time, covering "all conditions expected

in actual flight," Aerojet said. It added that the engine meets the original NASA goal of reusability for 100 missions. Two OMS engines are currently being installed at KSC on the Space Shuttle Columbia, which is

scheduled to make the first Orbital Test Flight in late June. (Ibid)

124
Nove_nber26. Precision Fabricating & Cleaning, Inc. of Sharpes_ Florida has

won a $1,228,615 contract with NASA's John F. Kennedy Space Center. I

The fixed price contract extends through December 31, 1980. During this

period, the firm will fabricate 16 different pneumatic control panels to be

installed in the Space Shuttle Mobile Launch Platform No. 2.

The panels, which range in size from 3 to 12 feet in length and S feet in

height, are for the primary distribution and control of high pressure nitrogen and helium gas. Tilegases are used to purge and pressurize the

Space Shuttle vehicle and other systems on the Mobile Launcher Platform,

before propellant loading operdtions dnd launch.

lhe action initiates a new contract with the small business firm, which

holds several other NASA contracts. An earlier contract for identical

panels within Mobile Launcher Platform No. 1 was won by another firm.

(Spaceport News, Release No: KSC 238-79, November 27, 1979. Also NASA

Contract, NAS10-9717)

NoVember 27. New World Construction Inc., Titusville, Florida, has been

awarded a contract for $161,213 to modify the 247-foot-high Fixed Service

Structure on the Space Shuttle's Launch Pad A.

The work is part of a project designed to prevent ice damage to the Space

Shuttle Orbiter's thermal protection system during liftoff.

The Titusville Firm will strengthen the frame steel framework of the Service Structure, install a hinge column, various piping lines and electrical

work to prepare it for the addition of another swing arm. Swing arms got

their name because they ordinarily extend out frmn the service structure to

carry electrical connectors, propellant lines or gases needed on board the

rocket, and then swing back out of the way just before liftoff.

The new Shuttle swing arm, to be installed by KSC personnel, will be located between the Fixed Service Structure's 207 and 227 foot levels. It

will support a device known unofficially as the "beanie cap" which will be

lowered over the top of the Space Shuttle's external tank which contains

supercold liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen propellants, and is sealed by

means of an inflatable collar.

lhe need for tilunew system became apparent when it was fuund that vapors

from the liquid oxygen vent sysl:emaL the top of the external tank could

cause chunks of ice to form at the vent system's exit louvers. During

125
liftoff, the ice chunks could dislodge and possibly damage the orbiter's

protective tile system.

Heated nitrogen gas at a temperature of about 200 degrees F. will be introduced into the "beanie cap" through flexible ducting. The hot nitrogen

will mix with the cold liquid oxygen vapors being vented at a temperature

of about 297 degrees below zero F.

A return duct will carry the gas mixture back across the swing arm to the

Fixed Service Structure where it will be vented into the air away from the

external tank. The swing arm will be retracted to the parked position,

approximately two minutes prior to liftoff.

The work being performed by New World Construction is under a contract set

aside for small business firms. (NASA. News Release No. KSC 244-79, December 6, 1979)

November28. ChairmanEdward P. Boland (D-Mass.)of the House HUD-IA Appropriations Subcommittee has "directed" NASA to develop a modified Centaur

upper stage for the Space Shuttle if it intends to proceed with its plans

to conduct the Galileo Jupiter Orbiter/Probemission in 1984.

The use of the Centaur would allow the Galileo to be launchedas a single

spacecraft, rather than as a split mission requiring two Space Shuttles and

two yet-to-be developed Inertial Upper Stages (IUS's), Boland said.

This would save the cost of developing improvements needed for the IUS and

of making further weight reductions in the Space Shuttle with their attendant risk. More importantly, this plan would provide the nation with a

greatly improved space transportation capability which would benefit the

entire space program, according to Boland.

The Boland directive, contained in a letter to NASA Administrator Frosch on

Nov. 28, is a continuation of a two-and-a-half-year dispute on the Galileo

program between the congressman's committee and the three other congressional committees with jurisdiction over the NASA budget. The dispute

peaked this fall when the HUD-IA appropriations bill was stalled over the

question of whether Boland's committee could by itself prevent NASA from

proceeding with the restructured 1984 Galileo mission. The opposition was

led by Sen. Charles McC. Mathias (R-Md.), rankingminority member of the

Senate HUD-IA Appropriations Subco_nittee, who won that battle.

Therefore, Boland does not have the authority to directNASA to develop the

Centaur, which is built by General Dynamics, but as chairman of one of the

126
two NASA appropriations subco_m_ittees, he has a major say in what funds

NASA gets in the future. (Defense/Business Daily, Vol. 107, No. 20, t_onday, December 3, 1979, p.138)

o Before tile project's biggest critic, the House HUD-IA Appropriations Subcommittee, NASA Administrator Frosch defended the agency's plans for a dual

Galileo Jupiter DrbiCer/probe mission in 1984, calling the revised plan the

least expensive way to carry out the mission, which he said is NASA's h:ighest priority planetary mission.

NASA had intended to launch the JOP as a sinyle spacecraft in January 1982

with a Space Shuttle/Inertial Upper Stage (IUS); but concluded that the

combination would not have the required thrust to carry out the mission.

According to Frosch, after studyiny various alternatives, [_SA concluded

that "the most economical and efficient alternative" is to utilize separate

Space Shuttle/IUS launchers for the Galileo Orbiter and Probe, and to shift

the launches to the next launch window which occurs in February-March 1984,

Frosch said the revision in proyram plans would boost the Galileo mission

cost by $153 million to $603 million, with all of the increase resulting

from the two-year delay in development, plus the cost of developing a carrier spacecraft for the probe. The Galileo developu_nt estimate is now

$449 million, of which $112 million has been obligated to date, with another $154 million planned for mission operations data analysis. In addition to the $153 million project cost increase, an additional $72 million

would have to be spent for additional launch costs, for a total increase of

$225 million,

Subcommittee chairman Edward Boland (D-Mass.) and ocher members made it

clear that they are not happy with the increase costs of the prograJn, which

they did not support in the first place, but were unable to get NASA to admit there is a better alternative.

Frosch said the primary alternatives to the dual 1984 Shuttle/IUS launch of

Galileo were:

1) Launching the Galileo on a single Titan-Centaur in 1982. NASA concluded, however, that "It is not possible to procure a Titan-Centaur in

time for the 1982 launch opportunity."

2) Development of a Centaur upper stage for the Shuttle to replace the

IUS. While the Centaur "appears to be a more capable upper stage" for

deep space missions than the IUS, it would cost at least $100 million

more to develop than the ]US for the 1984 miss}on. (Defense/Space

Business Daily, Vol_ 107, No. 18, Thursday, November 29, 1979, pp.123,

124)

127
November 29. The NASA Administrator told Congress that NASA would prefer development of the trouble-plagued Inertial Upper Stage (IUS) to be continued

by the Air Force, rather than having to go to another stage for the Space

Shuttle such as Centaur. However, NASA has "not tried to interfere or be

involved" in the Air Force decision.

Frosch told the Senate HUD-IA Appropriations Subcommittee that the principal development problems have been solved and the vehicle can be successfully developed, albeit over original cost estimates. Frosch said he did

not know what the overrun was on the IUS development by Boeing.

Asked if he felt there was a danger of the IUS being cancelled by the Air

Force, Frosch replied: "I don't know. It is one of a set of options" that

the Air Force is considering. (Defense/Space Business Daily, Vol. 107, No.

19, Friday, November 30, 1979, p.129)

o NASA Administrator Frosch met at the White House in what he called the

"final" meeting on the agency's FY '8I budget request. Frosch is seeking

reclamation of key items excised by the Office of Management & Budget.

RePortedly at the top of the list of projects NASA would like restored is

the Solar Electric Propulsion Stage (SEPS). Go-ahead for the National

Oceanic Satellite System (NOSS), which was also cut frmn the agency's FY

'80 budget request te OMB, is also sought. OMB is said to have okayed the

agency's top priority new start, the Gamma Ray Observatory. (Ibid, p.130)

o During November: KSC's Saturn lB rocket returned home after spending 18

months in Japan on loan to the Space Science Exposition in Tokyo as part of

the largest foreign display of United States space hardware ever held.

The rocket, identical to the launch vehicles which carried Skylab and

Apollo Soyuz Test Project astronauts into space, will now undergo a six to

eight month fix-up period, and then be horizontally displayed at the Visitors Center. All display costs will be picked up by the Exposition's

sponsoring organization, the Association for Space Science Exposition.

More than 11 million people attended the Exposition which featured hundreds

of exhibits and space artifacts on loan from NASA centers, the SmithsonJan's Air and Space Museum and other American space-related organizations,

as well as from several Japanese space groups. Originally scheduled to run

from Sept. 16, 1978, to January 15, 1979, the Exposition was extended an

additional six months to accommodate the overwhelming public response. The

one-day record for visitors at the Exposition was well over a quarter of

a million people. (Spaceport News, Vol. 18, No. 25, John F. Kennedy Space

Center, November 9, 1979, p.1)

128
December 1979

o A key experiment for the first Space Shuttle flight mission was installed

i, the vehicle's cargo bay here on November 28.

The experiment called tile Induced Environmental Contamination PIonitor is a

376 kilogram (830-pound), trunk-sized package containing 10 detectors to

check for contaminants in and around the cargo bay. Such conta_inants

might damage other equipment, satellites, or experiments also present in

the cargo bay during a mission.

Substances to be monitored by the detectors could be produced by outgassin9

from materials w%thin the orbiter, as well as products from reaction control jets or propulsion units.

Installed with the detector package was a mounting and release mechanism

which connects the package (or other experiments) to a pallet in the cargo

bay. The release mechanism is a latching device which will hold an experiment, release it during a flight dnu re-attach it when required.

In the case of tl_e environu;ental uLonitor, the first two Shuttle flights

call for the package to remain mounted throughout the fli§ht. On the third

mission, the monitor package will be released and moved about within the

cargo bay and outside the orbiter body by means of the remote manipulalcor

arm, and then re-secured.

On Spacelab flights, the monitor will be part of the palletized experiment

package.

The environmental monitor was developed under contract with the Marsha)l

Space Flight Center. Several companies and one university took part in the

design and construction of the various detection instru{_ents. The release

mechanism was designed, built and tested at Marshall. (Ibid, pp.1,2)

o Thomas Utsman has been appointed deputy director of KSC's Technical Support

Directorate. The appointment becdme effective December 2.

129
As deputy director, Utsman will be assisting in the general management of

any technical support required to cunduct KSC launches and tests. Technical Support is responsible for maintenance and operation of test and launch

complex facilities and related ground support equipment. The Emergency

Preparedness Program at KSC also falls under the TS Directorate.

Prior to his new appointment, Utsman served as director of Operations Management for TS. Previously, he had been associate director, Uesign Engineeri n9.

Utsman joined KSC in 1963. Since that time, he has served as deputy director, Project Management; technical assistant to the associate director for

Facilities and Systems Management; and chief, Shuttle Project Engineering

Office. (1bid p.3)

o Center Director Richard G. Smith recently presented the first KSC Contractors' Aerospace Awareness Panel Team Awards to groups from Planning Research Corporation, Wackenhut, and Unified Services, Incorporated.

The award, to be presented once or twice a year, was established by the

Awareness Panel to recognize two or more persons assigned to work toyether

to accomplish a specific goal in support of the KSC effort.

A team award was presented to PRC's Multi-use Mission Support Equipment

Tea_% responsible f_r the _esign, _e_e_opment and systems integration of

equipment essential to the processing of Shuttle payloads at various KSC

facilities.

USI's VAB custodial crew was presented an award for providing support during water deluge tests in High Bay 3, readying platforms in the High Day 2

checkout cell to support the arrival of the first flight external tank, and

services performed on the mo6ile launcher platform during checkout operations at Pad A.

Wackenhut's award was presented to their Protective Services Engineering

Team for providiny reco_:nendations for appropriate fire suppression and detection systems, and monitoring the design, installation and maintenance of

fire protection and life safety systems in Shuttle support facilities.

(Ibid, p.4)

130
December 5. ItASAhas reported to Congress that it is projecting a "steady

state" cost of about $900 million to $1 billion annually (FY '80 dollars)

J for operation of tt_eSpace Transportation System. It noted that the STS

operation budget level is "somewhat dependent on flight rate and reimbursefirent levels."

Since this steady state funding estimate is about a billion dollars less

than NASA is spending in FY '80 for Space Shuttle DDT&E and production and

Space Flight Operations, if NASA gets budgets at the $4 billion level

(adjusted for inflation) or higher, "then there could be increased funding

for the non-STS program elements of the NASA budget" in the future, the

agency said. (Defense/Space Business Daily Vol. 107, No. 22, Wednesday,

December 5, 1979, p.152)

o NASA earlier this year estimated the cost of Space Telescope development at

between $485 and $530 million, with another $525-$620 million needed to

operate the telescope over its 15-year lifetime beginning in FY '84, for a

total of $1.01U-$1.130 billion in FY '80 dollars. Assuming a 5 percent

annual inflation, this estimate rises to $1,425-$1,600 billion; with a 7

percent annual inflation, the t_tal becomes $1.670-$1.885 billion. [These

estimates do not include civil service personnel costs or general T&DA suppqrt, since these costs are relatively fixed. NASA expects to use 200

civil service personnel durin 9 the six year ST development phase, at an annual cost of $3.75 million; 65-75 during the operations phase, costing $2

million per year.] (Ibid, p.156)

December 6. The RCA Communications Satellite, RCA Satcom-C was launched

aboard a Delta rocket, 150. Liftoff from Pad 17A, Cape Canaveral Air Force

Stationoccurredat 2035EST.

RCA Satcom-C, the third spacecraft in a USA domestic communications satellite system was injected into an elliptical transfer orbit, with an apogee

of 22,252 statute miles (35,811 kilometers), a perigee of 104 statute miles

(167 kilometers), and at an angle of 23.8° when crossing the equator.

Approximately 25 minutes after launch a subsidiary of RCA, RCA American

Communications, Inc. (RCA _ericom), will assume control of the spacecraft

after separation from the launch vehicle. Operating through two Telemetry,

Tracking, and Command (TT&C) ground stations located at Vernon Valley, New

Jersey on the east coast and at Moorpark, California on the west coast, the

_C/kco_trollers, at a selected apogee, will fire a solid propellant motor

on board the spacecraft to inject the satellite into a drift orbit just below synchronous altitude. When RCA Satcom-C has reached the designated

location over the equator at approximately 132° west longitude, the

13l
reaCtion control system will be activated to raise it to a fully syncilronous orbit at an altitude of 22,3D0 miles. From this location over the

Pacific Ocean it can provide reliable, continuously available telecommunications coverage for all the 50 states.

The RCA Satcom system will consist of three satellites in orbit, the two

TT&C stations, a satellite control center at each station, and a series of

communications stations located near major USA population centers. The

system will be greatly expanded by adding new communications stations when

all satellites are operational.

The RCA Satcom system is a co_nercial business Venture, a continuation of

the trend to utilize space technology as the best and most economical means

of meeting expanding electronic communications needs. RCA provides its own

spacecraft, and reimburses NASA for the cost of the Delta launch vehicle

and launch support services. The new system will provide teleco_iunications services which includes private-line analog and digital data for

business, voice and TV services to subscribers, and message and toll telephone service for Alaska.

:The RCA satellites are built for RCA Americom by another company division,

RCA Astro-Electronics. The spacecraft design is different from previous

USA co_mlunications satellites in that it is three-axis stabilized by means

of flywheels and control jets. In the RCA design the bifold solar arrays

are in two wings each 61 inches by 89 inches overall and are constantly exposed to sunlight to always produce power. The solar cells are expected to

produce up to 740 watts of power for 8 years. A backup system of nickel

cadmium batteries supplies power when the satellite is in Earth's shadow.

The spacecraft has 24 active transponders, or channels, each capable of relaying one color TV program or more than 1200 one-way telephone calls. In

actual operation the message traffic will be divided between digital data,

teleprinter, telephone, television, data fax, or other broad-band electronic transmissions, as the needs of the customers dictate. The RCA-C

spacecraft is augmented over RCA-A and B by having four spare transponders

which can be switched into service in case of failures.

The RCA-C Satcom spacecraft weighs about 1974 pounds (895 kilograms) at

launch, more than Other synchronous orbit communications satellites previously launched on the Delta. The design lifetime is 8 years. (Launch Mission Su_mnary and Sequence of Events, RCA-C, Delta 150, John F. Kennedy

Space Center, NASA, November 28, 1979, pp.4,5)

132
o If the Space Shuttle is to make its maiden flight June 30 as scheduled for

NASA, which says there is only a 10 percent chance of the launch being made

by that time, the followin9 events will have to occur at Kennnedy Space

Center: Rollout of the Orbiter Columbia from the Orbiter Processing Facility to the Vertical Assembly _uildin_ in late March; rollout of the complete Shuttle system from the VAB to Launch Pad 3gA in mid-April; flight

readiness firin9 (a 20-second firinu of the Shut(;leuJainengines of (;tie

launch pad) in mid-_ay. NASA also has to achieve Space Shuttle Main Engine

Certification prior to launch. (Defense/Space Business Daily, Vol. 107,

No. 23, Thursday, December 6, 1979, p.163)

December 7. The pull-testing, removal and installation of reusable surface

insulation tiles on the Space Shuttle Orbiter Columbia at Kennedy Space

Center is proceeding at a pace that will see completion within the schedule

set for rollout of the Columbia from the Orbiter Processing Facility (late

_arch).

Through Nov. 29, the most recent count available, there were 28,100 tiles

installed on the Columbia, leaving 3090 cavities. However, Associate

Administrator John Yardley says that as many as 10,000 tiles which have

been insta]led on tile Orbiter may prove to be under-stren§th and have to be

removed and rebonded. As many as possib]e of the approximatey 6800 whi:e

tiles on the Orbiter are being pull-tested along with some 18,000 of the

24,110 black tiles. Certain of the tiles, i.e,, under an inch thick, are

not 9oing to be pull-tested; some others, which because of their curvature

cannot be pull-tested, will be removed and rebonded without testing.

To date, NASA has pull-tested 7400 tiles, of which 6023 have completed two

pull-tests and have been certified as acceptable and 985 found unacceptable

and removed. The remainder face a second pull-test.

The current pace of rebondin9 is up to between 100 and 200 tiles per day.

(Defense/Space Business Daily, Vol. 107, No. 24, Friday, December 7, 1979.

p.170)

December 9. A $50 million RCA communications satellite was lost in space by

company officials.

Contact with the Satcom III spacecraft was lost shortly after 1:57 p.m.

when 9round controllers at RCA's Verno_ Valley, N. J. tracking station

fired a spacecraft motor to put the satellite into its pe_nanent orbit over

the Pacific Ocean.

133
A formal statementissued by RCA AmericanCommunicationsInc.--asubsidiary

that manages the Satcom operations -- offered no explanation of what might

have gone wrong.

RCA has asked the North American Air Defense Command in Colorado Springs,

Colo., and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to help find

the spacecraft. (Jim Ball, "OrlandoSentinelStar," Orlando,Florida, _

Tuesday,December11, 1979.)

December10. The Senate CommerceCommittee,responsiblefor the NASA authorizationin the Senate, informedNASA late ]ast week that it concurs in the

agency'sdecisionto split the Galileo Jupiter Orbiter/Probemission into

two missionsand to conduct them in 1984 using the Space Shuttle/IUS.

The House HUD-IA AppropriationsSubcommittee,a long-timecritic of Galileo, told NASA late last month that it would have to substitute a modified

Centaur for the still-to-bedevelopedIUS if it wants to conduct the mission.

The positionof the CommerceCommitteeand its chairman,Sen. HowardCannon

(D-Ney.) is that the NASA administrator is the man responsible for

determining how best to conduct the NASA mission, which involvescomplex

problems,and that there is no indicationthat he has not fully studied the i

matter before coming to a decisionon the best and most effectivecourse of _j

action. The committee does not like the idea of having two "program maria- ii

gers" for NASA -- the administratorand Congress. If Congressis not happy

with the course being followed by the administrator,then it should get a ii

new administrator, the committee believes, However, as it stated last

week, it believes that NASA Administrator Frosch is proceeding properly on

Galileo.

Still to be heard from are the Senate HUD-IA Appropriations Subcommittee

and the House Science& TechnologyCommittee,both of whom have supported

Galileo in the past, despite opposition by the House HUD-IA Appropriations

Subcommittee. Sen. Charles McC. Mathias (R-Md.), ranking minority member

of the Senate subcommittee and an influential voice on the subcommittee,

has endorsedthe revisedGalileo plans. (Defense/SpaceBusinessDaily,

Vol. 177, No. 25, Monday, December 10, 1979, p.177)

December11. Based on the recommendationsreceivedfrom the MarshallSpace

Flight Center, reviewsof the performanceof the HEAO-2 satellite,the mission was judged to be successful. Both the primary and secondaryobjectives, as stated in the Mission OperationsReport of October30, 1978, have

134
been accomplished. To date, more than 5,000 discrete observations have

been performed with HE^O-2.

The performance of tile HEAO-2 observatory has been excellent throughout tile

first 12 months of the mission. There have been two failures of redundant

components, but these have had no effect on the mission. The failed components were a rate gyro that is part of a set of six interchangeable units

(three are needed for observatory operation) and one of three star trackers

[two are needed for normal operation).

All spacecraft systems are functioning well. The overall accuracy of the

attitude deten_ination system has been better by an order of magnitude than

preflight conditions and is currently at 2 to 5 arc seconds.

The operation of the scientific instruments met or exceeded expectation.

All of the instrument continued to operate normally, with the exception of

the Solid State Spectrometer, which is no longer operating because of the

depletion of its cryogenic refrigerator, fhis unit performed excellently

for over 11 months, wi_ereas its expect life prior to launch was estimated

at about nine months. (Mission Uperations Report, Post Launch Report, MOR

NO. S-832-78-82, December 11, 1979)

o NASA, which decided last year to develop a Thrust Augmentation System for

the Space Shuttle, consisting of single solid rockets strapped to each

Solid Rocket booster, has dropped the solid strap-on concept in favor of a

Titan Liquid Boost Module (LBM).

The LBM is composed of two Air Force/Aerojet liquid-propellant engines developed for the Air Force/Martin Marietta Titan III launch vehicle, plus

four Titan propellant tanks modified ko fit beneath the Shuttle's External

Tanks to provide the needed impulse.

A major factor in the decision is reportedly that the LBM will give the

Shuttle a "softer ride" than the solid propellant motors would have. Other

factors included the lower cost of the liquid system, its growth potential,

Defense Department benefits and lower technical risks.

The Liquid Boost Module uses existing Titan engines and [_lodifiedTitan

Tankage and this requires little development money. The solid strap-on

concept, on the other hand, would have required the development of new

solid rocket motors at a cost ot $200 million to $300 million.

135
Because DOD plans to retain a Titan launch vehicle capability as a backup

to the Space Shuttle until the Shuttle is operational, unused engines from

that program will be available for use on the LBM, further reducing the

system cost. At the same time, the LBII program will retain Titan technology skills, which should help provide a lower risk more economical Shuttle !

backup program which DOD will need for critical payloads if the Shuttle is

del ayed.

]

First launch of the liquid augmentation package is planned for mid-1985,

about the same schedule as planned for the solid system. Funds will be

provided in FY '80 and FY '81 for advanced planning studies, with a new i

start to be requested in FY '82.

The $15 million NASA requested in FY '80 for the Thrust Augmentation System

was deleted from its appropriations bill, although the agency was given

permission to shift money within its budget forwork on the system.

The Thrust Augmentation System is required to make up a launch capability

shortfall of about 8000 pounds for large polar orbit missions from Vandenberg AFB, brought about by the increased weight of the Shuttle Orbiter.

(Defense/Space Business Daily, Vol. 107, No. 26, Tuesday, December 11,

1979, pp.179,180)

o NASA, which has apparently won its battle with the Office of Management & _

Budget over whether to initiate development of the Solar Electric Propul- :_

sion Stage in FY '81, December 11 announced the selection of Boeing Aerospace Co. (Seattle) and Lockheed Missiles & Space Co. (Sunnyvale, Calif.)

for 12-month parallel design definition studies of the SEPS.

The two companies were selected for the $1.15 million contracts over HugJies

Aircraft Co. (El Segundo, Calif.) and Rockwell International Corp. (Downey,

Calif.).

The design contracts will pave the way for award of the SEPS development

contract a year from now. NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center has been

named to manage the SEPS program for the agency.

Early go ahead for the SEPS is critical to the proposed Halley's Comet/

Tempel II Comet mission in 1985, which is dependent upon the sustained

thrust to be provided by the solar-electric engines.

NASA emphasized, however, that SEPS will be "an integral part" of its Space

Transportation System, with uses foreseen for Earth orbital, planetary and

solar missions.

136
NASA is expected to seek the Halley's/Tempel II mission as a new start in

FY '82. It began soliciting proposals for experiments to be carried on the

yet-to-be-approved mission last month. (Business Daily, Vol. 127, No. 28,

Thursday, December 13, 1979, p.195)

December 16. A five-day test to check the compatibility of all systems

aboard the Space Shuttle's Orbiter with ground and launch support equipment

beyan at q p.m. Sunday.

NASA officials said the test would be conducted around the clock using

various astronaut crews, including John Young and Bob Crippen, prime crew

for the first shuttle mission, who will operate the Orbiter.

They will alternate with members of the backup crew, Air Force Col. Joe

Engle and Navy Cmdr. Richard Truly.

Young is tileonly one who )lasbeen in space. He flew in two Gemini missions and two Apollo missions, including landing on the moon as commander

of Apollo 16.

The Orbiter spaceship will be tested by simulating various launch conditions, on-orbit activity and landing procedures.

The simulation will include emergencies and various possible problems as

well as normal missions. It will run 24 hours a day for the 140 hours.

Test results are expected to be known by the end of the week. (Today,

Today Newspaper, Cocoa, Florida, Monday, becember 17, 1979,)

December 1/. The Space Shuttle program moved a major step forward when engineers at Bay St. Louis Miss., successfully conducted a 550-second full duration static test firing of the three-engine Space Shuttle Main Propulsion

Test Article. Testing had been in abeyance since a test failure Nov. 4

which damaged one engine. NASA reported that all test goals were achieved

in the test, where the three engines were fired at rated power of 100 percent, 90 percent, 80 percent, and then 70 percent. One engine was cut off

during the test as planned. There were no gimballing or pogo problems.

(Defense/Space Business Daily, Vol. 107, No. 31, Tuesday, December 18,

1979, p.221)

137
December 20. After several days of delay, NASA lhursday successfully conducted the first of five sitl_ulatedSpace Shuttle launches and fliyht. NASA

termed the all systems simulation "super successful" aridwas hoping to make

a secondtestFriday. :

:I

The prime crew for the first Space Shuttle launch, astronauts John Young

aridRobert Crippen were at the controls of tile Orbiter Columbia for the

46-minute test. The vehicle is in the Orbiter Processin9 Facility at KSC,

restingonitslandinggear.

Objectives of the planned 140-hour Orbiter Inteyraton Test series included J

the demonstration of selected Orbiter hardware and software subsystem operations during a mission timeline. The test was also designed to demon- i

strate tile ability to switch from the primary to backup flight control

system, the ability of ground support systems to support an Orbiter countdown and the capability of the interface between the Orbiter onboard software to the Mission Control Center. Upcoming launch simulations will

include emergency and abort contingencies. (Defense/Space Business Daily,

Vol. 107, No. 35, Wednesday,December26, 1979, pp.244,245.)

0 The space shuttle Columbia "lifted off" on its simulated flight Thursday

night, with veteran astronauts John Young and Navy Cmdr. Robert Crippen in

the cockpit.

The Columbia began a 45-minute test designed to duplicate, by computer,

everything that would happen on a real blastoff.

The test with Young and Crippen had been scheduled for Tuesday, and was to

have been tilesecond of five days of tests. But the mock fli9ht was delayed several times by problems with the computer programs designed to run

the tests.

The latest delay came earlier Thursday, when another balky computer maifunctioned. A scheduled10:45 "liftoff"was postponedto 9 p.m. !

A space center spokesman said the liftoff went flawlessly, and the shuttle

performed well 14 minutes into the simulated flight. (UPI, Sentinel Star,

Orlando, Florida, Friday, December 21, 1979.)

DL_:ember27. The Geodynamics Experimental Ocean Satellite (GEOS-3) was

launched on April 9, 1975. On July 1, 1979, operation of the GEOS-3 aiti138
meter, the primary experiment instrumentation, was terminated. Functional

use of GEOS-3 for calibration of DOD C-band ground radar tracking systems

is expected to continue on a cost-reimbursable basis through February

1980. Tile decision tO terminate GEOS-3 altimetric observations was based

on serious degradation of the high intensity mode which occurred in late

19/8. This mode, which was used almost exclusively during tilemission,

provides a spatial resolution of 3._km. Uperations were continued in 1979

using the global mode (14.3km resoluLion) to complete joint NOAA dnd Navy

sea-state and ice-boundary monitoring investigations. While all other

GEO5-3 systems are performing satisfactorily, the resolution available with

the global mode has limited application and continued data acquisition is

not warranted.

Final processing of the GEOS-3 mission data (launch through October 31,

1978) is to be completed in December 1979. Tl_eintensive mode altimeter

dataset will be archived by the NOAA Environmental Data and Information

Service (EDIS) similarly to the handling of Seasat-1 data. The GEOS-3

altimeter data will be referenced to precise satellite orbits determined

using laser tracking data, augmented with STDN radar and DOD Doppler data.

The GEOS-3 data set will be archived in two forms; one consisting of about

12 magnetic tapes giving smooth sea surface heights which will be useful

primarily for geodetic analysis, and a second more extensive format

consisting of about 145 magnetic tapes which will be useful for either

geodetic or oceano§raphic analysis.

During the 3-1/2 years of normal operations, the GLOS-3 altimeter provided

the r_iostcomplete set,of geodetic und geophysical data ever collected over

the oceans, more than from all the previous years of ship measurements.

The DOD has stated that these data have resulted in an estimated accumulated savings of $140 million in ship gravity survey operations over the

next 10 years.

In each of the 13 areas of investigation, the GEOS-3 data have been successfully used to further scientific knowledge and to demonstrate practical

applications of remotely sensed data. All of the mission objectives were

satisfactorily achieved during the first year of operations and were so

certified on Page 4 of Post Launch Report #2, dated February 25, 1976.

GEOS-3 contributions to the understanding aridapplication of microwave altimetry as a source of ocean, ice, and land surface topography measurements

and as a means of sensing a variety of oceanic parameters, have been invaluable. Its primary instrument was the first altimeter extensively

operated in space with all capabilities fully demonstrated and applied, and

has paved the way for future operational radar altimeter satellites. (f_ission Operations Report, Post Launch Report No. 3, MORE No. E-855-75-01,

December 27, 1979.)

139
o During December: To increase Space Shuttle performance from the Western

Test Range, NASA has decided to adopt, as a baseline, the Liquid Boost

Module (LEM) concept for Space Shuttle Thrust Augmentation.

This concept employs the existing Titan first stage core engines and tankage, modified as required, to be mounted under the external tank. Thrust

Augmentation will increase Space Shuttle performance for missions from WTR

by 12,000 to 36,000 pounds, allowing NASA Spacelab flights from there, as

well as providing substantial growth capability for other Department of Defense and NASA flights.

Another plan studied by NASA proposed attaching strap-on rocket motors to

the Shuttle's solid rocket boosters. While total development and integration costs were assessed by NASA as being comparable for the liquid and

solid concepts, the LBM offers a greater increase in capability from the

baseline case. This results in a lower unit cost per flight in terms of

· dollars per pound of additional payload.

NASA's present target date for availability of the Thrust Augmentation at

WTR is mid-calendar year 1985. Authorization to proceed at the beginning

of FY 1982 would support the mid-198S availability date.

During FY 1980 and FY 1981, NASA will generate design specifications and

determine syst_n impacts for the Liquid Booster Module. (Spaceport News,

Vol. 18, No. 27, John F. Kennedy Space Center, December 7, 1979)

140
APPENDIX A

KSC ORGANIZATION CHART

OCTOBER 1979
_0_0

_

_Z

o

o_

IIJ ;------

tt
APPENDIX B

MAJOR NASA LAUNCHES

JANUARY THROUGH DECEMBER

1979
APPENDIX B

MAJOR NASA LAUNCHES

JANUARY 1 - DECEMBER 31, 1979

LAUNCH ETR

DESIGNATION DATE LAUNCHVEHICLE SPACECRAFT PAD TESTNO. RESULTS

SCATHA 01-30-79 DELTA148 SCATHA 178 7802 S

FLTSATCOM2 05-04-79 ATLAS-CENTAUR47 FLTSATCOM-8 36A 2513 S

WESTAR3 08-09-79 DELTA149 WESTAR-C 17A 2292 S

HEAO3 09-20-79 ATLAS-CENTAUR 53 HEAO-C 368 8310 S

RCA-SATCOM3 12-06-79 DELTA150 RCA-SATCOM-C 17A 4555 P