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Abmd70.175 net.columbia utzoo!decvax!duke!bmd70!jcp Mon Dec 7 18:20:08 1981 Aviation Week 11/30/81 - Space Science -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A V I A T I O N W E E K A N D S P A C E T E C H N O L O G Y S P A C E S C I E N C E S U M M A R Y

November 30, 1981 Vol 155, #22

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Private Companies Study Shuttle Processing Flow ----------------------------------------------- 8 private aerospace companies are studying the shuttle launch/ recovery/turnaround cycle over a four month period as preparation for submitting bids to perform the processing work for NASA. The entire processing operation will eventually be handled via a single private contractor, rather than the 25 seperate subcontractors NASA now uses for the work. Currently, 1200 Civil Service workers, plus 7200 contractor employees are used for the processing. Cost reduction of up to 20% is expected by shifting the work to private industry. The Air Force is considering a similar arrangement for its Vandenberg AFB launch site. Participants will observe the entire turn- around cycle, and will submit proposals on Oct. 1, 1982. The winner will begin a 6 month transition phase with NASA on July 1, 1983. This will allow all 4 test flights, and up to 8 operational flights, under NASA control. The eight companies are: General Dynamics Corporation, Grumman, Lockheed, Martin Marietta, Rockwell International, United Airlines, and United Technologies. Booster Jettison System Failure Analyzed ---------------------------------------- Analysis is proceeding to determine the cause of failure of the solid rocket booster (SRB) nozzle extension jettison system to function on STS-2. Both nozzle extensions remained attached until impact, although jettison commands were received during the nominal time frame.

RCA Satcom 3R Launched Successfully ----------------------------------- Satcom 3R arrived on station in synchronous orbit at 132.W Longitude after successful firing of the apogee kick motor Nov 22nd. 3R replaces Satcom 3, which was lost to tracking stations in December 1979, after firing of the apogee kick motor. The satellite is used to distribute cable television programming in the US.

GTE to Launch Satellite on Ariane --------------------------------- GTE Satellite Corp announced plans to launch two domestic US communications spacecraft on Ariane 3. Ariane is the European Space Agency's launch vehicle, developed to serve the same market the American Space Shuttle will serve when it is operational.

Administration Official Doubts Space Station Need ------------------------------------------------- Victor Reis, the Assistant Director for National Security in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, says he forsees no need to establish a goal of manned performance in space or a space operations center, as the next NASA project following the shuttle program. Reis said we should, instead, exploit the capabilities of the shuttle system. NASA management had been trying to increase Administration support for large space projects. Reis was described as believing that large projects will come about as a product of the commericial, defense and other uses of the shuttle, and should not be established as goals now.

NASA Hopes to cut Shuttle Turnaround ------------------------------------ NASA is hoping to launch the 3rd space shuttle flight before the currently projected March 19 launch date. Current projections say that Columbia should spend 55 days in the Orbiter Processing Facility, 13 days in the Vehicle Assembly Building, and 27 days on Pad 39A before launch. Shuttle system maturity and less thermal protection system repair work than required by STS-1 has increased confideence in the March 19 launch date.

Soviet Launches --------------- The Soviet Union launched 3 spacecraft since mid-November

Cosmos 1319 - Reconnasisance spacecraft, launched Nov 13 into a 400x216km (249x134mi) orbit inclined 70.4 degrees. Molniya 1 - Military communications spacecraft, launched Nov 17 into a 39117x472km (24306x293mi) orbit inclined 62.8 deg. Bhaskara 2 - The Indian built earth observation spacecraft launched from Kapustin Yar Nov 20th, into a 557x514km (346x319mi) orbit inclined 50.7 deg. Carries television and microwave radiometer instruments.

Ferry Flight of Orbiter to Florida Accomplished ----------------------------------------------- Accelerated schedules have allowed the Columbia to be shipped back to Florida within a day of original schedule, despite lost time in early processing. Turnaround process during the second mission was characterized as smoother than mission 1, with the shuttle arriving at Kennedy Space Center at 1:19 EST Nov 25th, and was designate STS-3 upon arrival. Tile experts continue probing the reason for missing tile outer layers and bubbles, note encountered on STS-1. Some speculation holds that this was caused by tile absorption of water prior to launch. About 400 tiles will be 'densified' before the STS-3 launch, to increase surface adhesion. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Summary prepared by J. C. Pistritto (ARPA address jcp@brl) UUCP address duke!bmd70!jcp

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