Oct 2 1979

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Today reported launch of an unannounced classified payload from Cape Canaveral Air Force Base on a Titan IIIC at 7:22 a.m. Monday, September 30. The craft was a reconnaissance satellite, military sources said later, and would be used to photograph Soviet troop movements. (Today, Oct 2/79, 8A)

NASA reported it would speed up development of the MMU to be built by Martin Marietta for astronaut use in inspecting and repairing Space Shuttle insulating tiles while in orbit. The MMU, an improved version of a gas jet backpack tested inside the orbiting Skylab in 1973-1974, should be fully developed by next August for the second Shuttle flight in October 1980. NASA would not consider further an alternate method of tile inspection (an extendable platform on a boom with a television camera). (NASA Release 79-125)

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