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Abmd70.183 net.columbia utzoo!decvax!duke!bmd70!jcp Mon Dec 7 23:01:28 1981 Aviation Week 12/07/81 - 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

December 7, 1981 Vol 115, #23

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Galileo Cut ----------- Galileo Jupiter probe and 50% of NASA's aeronautics program have been cut from the agency's Fiscal 1983 budget request by the Office of Management and Budget. The $300 million already invested in Galileo would be lost, and 1200 jobs at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory would be destroyed. This move would end US planetary exploration, a concept the White House supports. NASA director James M. Beggs is expected to appeal directly to the President Reagan on this issue. It is possible that the White House could demand the same dollar cuts and let NASA determining what to ax.

Space Fund Cuts Concern Congress -------------------------------- House and Senate conferess have warned that budget costs are forcing US loss of leadership in space. The committee restored $20 million of a $58 million cut requested in NASA's 1982 budget. These funds are to be used for acceleration of research in advanced turboprop technology, large composite primary aircraft structures, high speed transport technology, commuter aircraft technology, critical aircraft resources, active controls technology, and feasibility studies of a numerical aerodynamic simulator. Of greater concern to NASA officials are Fiscal 1983 cuts in planetary sciences. The conferees specifically authorized NASA to proceed with the infrared telescope mid-level facility, and a fully funded Galileo Jupiter Orbiter/probe mission. NASA must commit to launch Galileo in 1985 before Congress will approve funding for the Centaur upper stage needed for the mission.

FCC Weighs Cutting Orbital Spacing ---------------------------------- FCC is weighing a proposal to decrease seperation of communications satellites in synchronous orbit from 4 to 3 degrees in the 4/6 Ghz band, with a further reduction to 2 deg. planned. 3 degree spacing is already the rule on the 12/14 Ghz band. It will be necessary to use cooperative techniques between adjacent satellites to achieve this seperation.

MX Operational Date to Slip --------------------------- First operational date for the MX missile will slip under a Senate proposal to split basing mode funding amoung all basing modes under consider- ation.

Soviet Launches --------------- 8 Soviet spacecraft were launched Nov. 28, by the same booster into a 1632x1507km (1014x936mi) orbit inclined 74 deg. The spacecraft have a military communications mission.

Vandenberg Readied for Shuttle Launch ------------------------------------- Air Force has begun checkout and validation of computer and support systems in the launch control center of the Defense Dept's space shuttle launch and recovery facilites here in preparation for first shuttle launch from Vandenberg in 1985. The 42000 sq. ft. control center, will be used to monitor pad work and launch processing. The control center is located only 1140 ft from the shuttle launch mount, and Air Force studies have been done to insure it will withstand launch pressures. The recovery airstrip is about 16 miles to the north. The shuttle/external tank mating procedure, which is now scheduled to be done on the pad, without environmental enclosure, is being studied. A mobile weather shelter is under consideration which, when mated with the launch stand, would completely enclose the orbiter/tank configuration, is being considered.

Ariane Delay ------------ Fourth and final launch of the European Ariane launcher's test program has slipped four days because of a strike at the French CNES (Center National d'Etudes Spatiales) facility in Toulouse, France. The launch is now scheduled for the night of December 18th.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Summary prepared by J. C. Pistritto (ARPA address jcp@brl) UUCP address duke!bmd70!jcp

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