Sept 23 1975
From The Space Library
A Senate and House of Representatives conference committee reported out H.R. 8070, appropriating FY 1976 funds for the Department of Housing and Urban Development and sundry independent executive agencies, after resolving the disagreements of the two congressional bodies. Total NASA FY 1976 appropriation recommended by the committee was $3 551 822 000, changed only with respect to funds allotted for research and development. The committee appropriated to NASA $2 677 380 000 for R&D, $48.4 million more than the $2 628 980 000 proposed by the House [see 19 and 24 June] and $8.0 million less than the $2 685 380 000 proposed by the Senate [see 24 and 26 July].
The conference committee agreed that NASA could reprogram $7 000 000 from the R&D total for an upper atmospheric research, technology, and monitoring program. The committee also agreed that $1000 000 of the total funding of $48 400 000 proposed for a Pioneer Venus mission might be reprogrammed for further planning of the Large Space Telescope, though not beyond evaluation of phase B studies. Appropriations for construction of facilities and for research and program management had been previously agreed on and remained unchanged.
23 September: NASA Pilot William H. Dana made the last rocket-powered flight of the X-24B lifting body, from Flight Research Center. Although a four-chamber firing had been planned, only three chambers ignited, and a three-chamber flight plan was executed. The X-24B reached an altitude of 17 678 m and a speed of mach 1.2. Six more glide flights were planned.
Objectives of the flight were to observe stability and control with rudder bias at 10°, to test handling qualities with all damper gains at zero, to survey body pressure, to perform a qualification test of a high density reusable surface insulator, and to make a left hand fin tuft study. The X-24B was part of a joint NASA-Air Force program to test concepts for a manned vehicle that could reenter the atmosphere from space, and to provide advanced technology for a future hypersonic cruise aircraft. (FRC X -Press, 26 Sept 75, 2; NASA Hq X-24B Flt Rpt)
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