Dec 4 1978
From The Space Library
NASA announced plans to launch the Canadian comsat Telesat-D (to be called Anik-B in orbit) from ETR on a Delta no earlier than Dec. 15, 1978. Telesat/Canada would reimburse NASA $19.2 million for launch support under a March 11, 1978, contract. Telesat-D would be the fourth domestic comsat launched by NASA for Telesat/Canada, which owned and operated the satellites. Telesat-D would replace Anik A1, launched in Nov. 1972 and positioned at 109°W over the equator south of California. With a 7-yr design life, Telesat-D would provide point-to-point voice, TV, and data communications traffic to Canada's 10 provinces.
In addition to 12 commercial channels in the 6 and 4GHz frequency bands, Telesat-D would offer 4 channels in the 12 and 14GHz frequencies; the entire capacity of the higher frequency bands would be leased to Canada's Department of Communications for 2yr with an option for a 2yr extension. CDC would devote these channels to social experiments such as telemedicine, tele-education, teleconferencing, and Eskimo broadcasting to demonstrate how satellites can reach remote locations with small ground stations (a use begun by the Communications Technology Satellite Cts, a joint U.S.-Canadian experiment). These channels would also carry out purely technical assignments to gather data on signal propagation and on power generation and usage.
NASA planned to launch Anik-C1 and -C2 spacecraft (Telesat-E and -F) on the Space Shuttle in 1981, to replace Anik A2 and A3 (Telesat B and C) launched in April 1973 and May 1975, respectively. (NASA Release 78-184; MOR M-492-201-78-04 [prelaunch], Dec. 12/78)
Space platform studies by NASA's Office of Space Science (OSS) had raised questions about the extent to which OSS would use Spacelab during the 1980s, Aerospace Daily reported. During the next yr or so, users would evaluate cost-effectiveness of the modular Spacelab being developed by ESA to fly in the Space Shuttle orbiter cargo bay against that of free-flying satellites and larger undefined space platforms. In the meantime, experiments and instruments for Spacelab would be selected partly on the basis of their adaptability to later missions aboard free flyers.
Operating-cost estimates and the outlook for funding had tempered earlier OSS optimism about using Spacelab [see Nov. 30]; the platform studies would likewise curb optimism if they substantially described activity that might be carried out better or cheaper on free flyers. A member of the NASA Advisory Council's space science advisory committee noted at a Spacelab review that NASA could develop two Explorer-class free flyers at about the same cost as a few Spacelab flights.
The space platform studies also had some political dangers: NASA had sold Spacelab previously as an integral part of the Space Transportation System, and would lose credibility if it backed off. However, Dr. Noel Hinners, NASA's associate administrator for space science, pointed out to the committee that the platform studies were intended to avoid the Spacelab situation, which had handed science and applications researchers a facility they had little if any role in defining. If NASA proceeded with a platform, Hinners said, it would be because mission requirements had been identified, "not because somebody who likes to build things says, `Here it is.' " (A/D, Nov 4/78, 144)
U.S. analysts believed the USSR would continue to fly manned military space station reconnaissance missions even though the Soviets had not launched any such Salyuts since June 1976, Av Wk reported. Salyut 3, launched in June 1974, and Salyut 3, launched in June 1976, were successful military missions; the Salyut 2 spacecraft, which failed in orbit in April 1973, was also apparently a military Salyut. Significant design differences between the military and scientific versions included docking configuration, overall structure, and solar-panel placement. Introduction of the military configuration as early as the second Salyut flight was considered to be evidence of USSR emphasis on military-man-in-space planning and engineering. Photo reconnaissance was the prime objective of Salyut military missions; other military activities such as high energy research for possible weapons application were secondary. (Av Wk, Dec 4/78, 17)
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