Nov 23 1977
From The Space Library
The Marshall Star reported that, before the real Shuttle orbiter arrived in Ala. next year, a homemade orbiter constructed of scrap rocket parts and steel beams would stand in for it during practice lifts into the tower where the real thing would be tested. The stand-in would first make use of the device that would remove the Enterprise from its 747 carrier, then follow the route to be taken by the real orbiter, in order to check clearances on the sides. Its major tryout would come when MSFC engineers put it into the 430ft (131m) test stand to see what effect the wind would have on installation.
The simulator, basically a motor casing from a Titan solid-fuel rocket loft (3.04m) in diameter and 80ft (24.39m) long with added framing, collars, nose and tail structures, and wings plus aluminum sheeting for the outer skin, would closely match the Enterprise in size, shape, weight, and center of gravity. After its performance at MSFC, it would go by barge to KSC to take part in launch-procedure checkouts, and from there to Vandenberg AFB for DOD use in preparing Shuttle launch facilities. (Marshall Star, Nov 23/77, 4)
MSFC announced it would conduct on Dec. 1 at the Natl. Parachute Test Range in Calif. the third airdrop test of a parachute system designed to recover the Shuttle's reusable solid-fuel rocket boosters. Royce Mitchell of MSFC said the test article, a 48 000lb (21 773kg) dummy booster carried under the wing of a B-52 aircraft, would encounter 30% more dynamic pressure than the system should experience during a real deployment.
To test the durability of the drogue chute that would open first to pull out the main chutes, fins added to the test article would increase its speed and reduce drag. The drogue would deploy at a speed of about 420mph (676kph) 20sec after the plane released the dummy booster at an estimated speed of 230mph (370kph) and an altitude of about 19 400ft (5913m). The 2 boosters to be used on each Shuttle launch would separate after burnout at an altitude of about 27mi (43.5km), descending slowly by parachute into the ocean for recovery and reuse. (MSFC Release 77-221)
LaRC announced that NASA Administrator Robert A. Frosch would speak at the center's annual awards ceremony Nov. 29, presenting awards for outstanding leadership, exceptional service, group achievement, and 45-yr service. LaRC Director Donald Hearth would present 4 awards for 40-yr service and 83 for 35-yr service. An award for outstanding volunteer service would go to 4 employees, and 3 would receive the center's highest honor, the H.J.E. Reid Award, named for the man who had headed the center for 35yr, starting as engineer-in-charge in 1926 and retiring as director in 1961. The center would also make an award for technology utilization for the first time. (LaRC Release 77-55)
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