Oct 26 1974
From The Space Library
President Ford signed the Solar Energy Research, Development, and Demonstration Act of 1974 (P.L. 93-473) establishing the Solar Energy Coordination and Management Project. A NASA Associate Administrator would be one of six members of the project, which was tasked with determining and evaluating the resource base and conducting research, development, and demonstration of solar energies and technologies. NASA would cooperate with other Federal agencies in the project by providing management capability and development of technologies. NASA was further authorized to carry out programs assigned it by the project. (P.L. 93-473)
The first prototype B-1 intercontinental strategic bomber was unveiled at Palmdale, Calif., by the Air Force and Rockwell International Corp. Secretary of Defense James R. Schlesinger told on-lookers that the new aircraft was needed to complement the U.S. arsenal of land-based and submarine-based missiles. Although smaller and lighter than the B-52 it was meant to replace, the B-1 could fly farther and faster, carry almost twice the payload, and use a shorter runway. Powered by four 133.4-kilonewton-thrust (30 000-lb) turbofan engines and lifted by variable geometry, or "swing" wings, the bomber could fly efficiently at speeds in excess of mach 2. The projected cost of production models-$76.4 million each-made the future of the aircraft controversial and uncertain. (DOD Release 505-74; Getler, IV Post, 27 Oct 74, A6; Wright, NYT, 27 Oct 74, 43)
26 October-4 November: An agreement for NASA to submit life sciences experiments for flight aboard the next available Soviet biological satellite was negotiated during the fifth joint U.S.-U.S.S.R. Working Group on Space Biology and Medicine in Tashkent, U.S.S.R. The first U.S. experiments would be passive specimen modules, completely autonomous from spacecraft power, life support, and data-recording systems, and would require no operational commands from the ground during flight. NASA would prepare descriptions of the proposed experiments in December and deliver flight hardware by 15 Aug. 1975. U.S. investigators would also participate in pre- and postflight studies of blood and tissue samples from animals flown aboard the next Soviet biological satellite.
The protocol was confirmed by NASA and the Soviet Academy of Sciences 4 Dec. Representatives also discussed preparations for the joint July 1975 Apollo Soyuz Test Project mission; exchanged results from Apollo, Skylab, Cosmos, Salyut, and Soyuz programs; and discussed pre- and postflight examinations, vestibular training, and crew reaction to flight. (NASA Gen Mgt Rev Rpt, 16 Dec 74, 42-3; NASA Release 74-237; NASA Int Aff, interview, 17 Oct 75; Moscow Domestic News Service, FBIS-Sov,29 Oct 74, B10; 8 Nov 74, U1)
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