May 7 1991
From The Space Library
The media reported that because of high winds in California, Space Shuttle Discovery landed at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The right tire was severely damaged on landing, but the new stronger brakes worked well. In addition, twice as much fiberglass thermal tile filler would have to be replaced than was customary after a flight. The astronauts accomplished 32 of 33 planned primary observations, 18 of 21 secondary observations, and 41 of 44 category-3 experiments. (P Inq, May 7/91; W Post, May 7/91; NY Times, May 7/91; USA Today, May 7/91; B Sun, May 7/91; WSJ, May 7/91; W Times, May 7/91; LA Times, May 7/91; AP, May 7/91; UPI, May 7/91; P Inq, May 8/91; AP, May 8/91; UPI, May 9/91)
The media reported on the failure of Orbital Science Corporation's Prospector rocket to take off from the NASA launch pad at Cape Canaveral. The rocket, produced by the Fairfax, Virginia firm, contained 500 pounds of scientific experiments. The flight was sponsored by NASA's Center for the Commercial Development of Space at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. (W Post, May 7/91; W Times, May 7/91; LA Times, May 7/91)
An editorial in the Christian Science Monitor commended the "modest, sober plan" of NASA for the revised Space Station, saying that it would enable the United States to make progress in space and should not be judged simply on its cost. (CSM, May 7/91)
Engineers began a practice countdown for Space Shuttle Columbia, and the four-man, three-woman crew prepared to begin dress rehearsal for a planned May 24 launching. The purpose of the nine-day 11th flight of Columbia was the Spacelab Life Sciences mission, the first Spacelab dedicated to life sciences research. The crew were to perform experiments to evaluate the adaptation of humans to space flight as well as to conduct some experiments on animals in a gravity-free environment. The planned experiments were to be conducted in the Spacelab module. (NASA General Release 91-69; AP, May 7/91; UPI, May 7/91; UPI, May 13/91; AP, May 13/91; B Sun, May 14/91; W Times, May 14/91; USA Today, May 14/91)
Space Shuttle Endeavour arrived at Kennedy Space Center. Considerable work remained to be done on the Shuttle, including the installation of the three main engines. (AP, May 7/91)
NASA announced that its mobile teacher resource center, LASER, would be on display and open to the public and to Washington metropolitan area teachers during Public Service Recognition Week, May 9-11. (NASA Release N91-31)
NASA announced the names of eight firms chosen as finalists in competition for the 1991 George M. Low Trophy for quality and excellence. The final selections were to be announced in November after validation of performance achievements. (NASA Release 91-70)
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