May 10 1978
From The Space Library
MSFC announced that its weather scientists working with colleagues from Texas A&M had encountered practically every kind of severe weather-thunderstorms, tornadoes, torrential rains, hail, and snow-within the study of the zone, roughly the south central states, during the 7th atmospheric variability experiment (AVE-7). As a 3-day weather pattern had moved across the test area, 24 rawinsonde stations operated by NOAA and one each by MSFC and Texas A&M had acquired data. The experimenters had also received for comparison a weather picture from a Goes satellite every 15min and reports from weather radars throughout the area every hour.
In the AVE-7 experiment, rawinsonde stations every 3hr released balloons carrying instruments to record temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, and wind velocity and direction from ground level to an altitude of about 25km (15.5mi). The balloons, normally released about every 12hr, on a 3-hr schedule had allowed researchers to spot small-scale events that could dissipate quickly. The balloon data, combined with satellite pictures at 15-min intervals, had permitted computerized weather forecasts by showing scientists how to spot approaching bad weather much earlier; comparison of ground-based with satellite data would help identify the causes of severe weather. With more such experiments using space technology, scientists could eventually accumulate enough information to more accurately predict severe weather. (Marshall Star, May 10/78, 1)
MSFC announced it had awarded contracts totaling $42 751 900 for scientific investigations in support of the Space Telescope project to five educational institutions: Research Foundation of the State Univ. of New York, Albany, Dr. J. J. Caldwell, Space Telescope interdisciplinary scientist, $126 000; Beloit College, Beloit, Wis., Dr. D. J. Schroeder, telescope scientist, $69 000; Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton, N.J., Dr. J. N. Bahcall, interdisciplinary scientist, $257 700; Johns Hopkins Univ., Baltimore, Md., Prof. W. G. Fastie, telescope scientist, $151 300; Univ. of Texas, Austin, Dr. William Jefferys, astrometry science team leader, $1 862 500; and Dr. K. L. Lambert, interdisciplinary scientist, $285 400.
The Space Telescope, planned for launch into earth orbit in the early 1980s, would permit scientists to see 7 times farther into deep space than before. MSFC had been lead center for the Space Telescope; GSFC had been responsible for scientific instruments and for planning telescope operations. (Marshall Star, May 10/78, 2)
To put space processes and space products within public reach as early as possible, NASA had sought private firms to do materials processing in space, MSFC reported. The center had named a special task team to work exclusively with firms interested in pursuing space-made or space derived processes and products; the team, headed by Richard Brown, would be the point of contact for information and assistance to firms with ideas for new or improved products that might be processed in space. "We intend to develop simplified working arrangements," Brown said, "and make it as easy as possible for commercial firms to try out new ideas for materials processing in the space environment." Promising results from earlier space experiments, coupled with the opportunity offered by the Space Shuttle to work routinely in space, could make material processing commercially attractive. According to Brown, gravity reduced to a millionth of that on earth could make "interesting things" happen: elimination of the forces of buoyancy, sedimentation, and movement in fluids caused by heat could permit uniform mixing or separation of materials that would be impossible on earth. Families of new materials might be derived from materials processed in space.
To reduce industry's initial capital outlays usually needed for joint ventures, NASA had planned to build an inventory of general purpose processing hardware for lease to any U.S. firm, institution, or individual that would conduct materials experiments or demonstrations consistent with NASA's objective of public benefit. Brown had invited anyone interested in the program to ask MSFC's task team for more information. (Marshall Star, May 10/78, 4)
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