Jan 16 1978
From The Space Library
NASA announced it had selected 15 Space Shuttle pilot-astronaut candidates and 20 mission-specialist candidates as its eighth group of astronauts, including 6 women, 3 blacks, and an American of Japanese descent. The first women and minority astronauts could be in orbit within 3yrs. Selection criteria for the more than 8000 applicants had been motivation, educational background, and work experience. All but one of the 15 pilot candidates and 7 of the 20 mission-specialist candidates had come from the U.S. military services. Of the 35 selectees, 10 were from the Air Force, 9 from the Navy, and 1 each from the Marine Corps and the Army. The mission specialists selected had come from medical, biological, earth sciences, physical and chemical sciences, and engineering disciplines. The number of selections had been keyed to the expected need for Shuttle crews to supplement the 17 pilot and 10 scientist astronauts now on flight status in Houston. The new astronauts would begin 2 years of training July 1 at Johnson Space Center in Houston.
Selected to train as mission specialists were Anna Fisher, Shannon Lucid, Judith Resnick, Sally Ride, Margaret Seddon, Kathryn Sullivan, USAF Maj. Guion Bluford, USMC Capt. James Buchli, USAF Maj. John Fabian, Navy Lt. Dale Gardner, Terry Hart, Steven Hawley, Jeffrey Hoffman, Ronald McNair, USAF Capt. Richard Mullane, George Nelson, USAF Capt. Ellison Onizuka, Army Maj. Robert Stewart, Norman Thagard, James Van Hoften; as pilot astronauts, Navy Lt. Cdr. Daniel Brandenstein, Navy Lt. Cdr. Michael Coats, USAF Maj. Richard Covey, Navy Lt. Cdr. John Creighton, Navy Lt. Robert Gibson, USAF Maj. Frederick Gregory, Stanley Griggs, Navy Cdr. Frederick Hauck, Navy Lt. Cdr. Jon McBride, USAF Capt. Steven Nagel, USAF Maj. Francis Scobee, USAF Capt. Brewster Shaw Jr., USAF Capt. Loren Shriver, Navy Lt. Cdr. David Walker, and Navy Lt. Cdr. Donald Williams. (NASA press conference Jan 16/78; Marshall Star, Jan 17/78, 1; W Star, Jan 17/78, A-5; Av Wk, Jan 23/78, 19)
A NASA internal assessment chartered by the Carter Administration had found areas "where clearly there are too few people to do the job that needs to be done," reported Av Wk. The study would aid in defining the proper size and structure of NASA through the early to mid-1980s, based on tasks assigned. NASA would continue to analyze its alternatives, including agency employment levels and the outlook on agency responsibilities. The resulting recommendations would be designed to accommodate a variety of funding levels. (Av Wk, Jan 16/78, 21)
FAA questions about isolation of hydraulic systems in the Anglo-French Concorde had delayed the plane's certification, Aviation Week reported. The British Aerospace Corp. had expressed confidence that the FAA would approve certification; an FAA team concluded earlier that 129 out of 149 certification items had complied with U.S. standards. Later, the engine had been certified, and cabin and crew compartments inspected. An FAA memorandum to the British noted questions on "the possibility of single-hydraulic system failure causing loss of all hydraulic systems, including flight control." The British and French would have to show that their fail-safe type of system provided a degree of safety equivalent to that of the usual dual system, which observers expected them to do. (Av Wk, Jan 16/78, 31)
The Congressional battle over President Carter's efforts to delete funds for B-1 bomber aircraft 5 and 6 would resume after Congress reconvened in Jan., said Aviation Week. The outcome would depend on a Senate rescission move led by Sen. John Stennis (D-Miss.), chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, to uphold the administration's stand against B-1 funding. Last year the House had voted to oppose the Senate rescission stand after Senate-House conferees failed to resolve the issue. Senate B-1 proponents led by Sen. Alan Cranston (D-Calif.), Senate majority whip, had joined forces to sustain the House action and return the question to the conference. The administration might move quickly to win endorsement of the Stennis move to rescind while many senators were still away from Washington. (Av Wk, Jan 16/78, 15)
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