Aug 11 1977
From The Space Library
NASA announced it had selected Hughes Aircraft Co.'s Space and Communications Group for negotiation of a $33 million contract to build, test, and deliver three Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites, GOES-D, -E, and -F, as follow-ons in the synchronous meteorological satellite (SMS) series providing near continuous high quality observation of the earth and its environment. The GOES spacecraft would carry a visible infrared spin-scan radiometer atmospheric sounder (VAS) to obtain day or night cloud cover photos of the portion of the earth viewed from geostationary orbit, with 'temperature readings at various levels of the atmosphere; the $33 million contract did not include the three VAS instruments being produced under contract by Santa Barbara Research Center. They would also carry a space environment monitoring system of three separate sensors to monitor solar emissions.
Goddard Space Flight Center would be project manager for the GOES systems developed and procured by NASA on a reimbursable basis for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which would operate the spacecraft after launch and checkout by NASA. (NASA Release 77-170)
JSC announced that the second group of 20 Shuttle astronaut applicants would report Aug. 15 for individual interviews and physical examinations. Like the first group, all those in the second group had applied for pilot positions. The second group included 11 USAF applicants, 7 Navy, 1 Marine, and 1 civilian. (NASA Release 77-171; JSC Release 77-44)
LaRC announced that the Charles W. Swain family of Tallahassee, Fla., would move into the Tech House Aug. 15 for a yr-long demonstration of NASA designed systems in and around the house to save energy and water and make the home more secure. They would pay a prorated rent and all utilities during their stay. Dr. Swain, a humanities professor at Fla. State Univ., would work with LaRC personnel in career counseling and employee relations. Mrs. Swain, a registered nurse, hoped to continue in her profession while living at LaRC. Their two children would attend local high schools. LaRC had chosen the Swains from a list provided by the American Council on Education, a nonprofit organization sponsoring university professors for lyr assignments to the federal government. (LaRC Release 77-37)
Calif. Gov. Edmund G. Brown, Jr., hailed the advent of the space age at a Space Day gala in Los Angeles sponsored by 11 aerospace companies and the United Bank of Calif. More than a thousand persons attended the exhibit, prelude to the Shuttle orbiter free flight Aug. 12 over the Mojave desert. The program included two space movies, as well as speeches by Carl Sagan on planetary exploration, Gerard K. O’Neill on space colonies, and Jacques Yves Cousteau on spaceflight and the oceans of the world. (W Post, Aug 12/77, A-9)
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