March 1990
From The Space Library
“America's Ancient Skywatchers” and “Tracking Sea Turtles via Outer Space” articles appear in National Geographic Magazine
A NASA study released to the Senate disclosed that designs for the planned Space Station Freedom needed significant changes that would drive up the initial cost. The study found an elaborate program of preventative maintenance that would require about 2,200 hours each year for space walks by astronauts and begin before the station was even completed. Possible solutions included use of advanced robots for maintenance, newly designed spacesuits to ease space walks, and a redesign of Space Station parts that would make them easier to repair. (NY Times, Mar 19/90; Mar 20/90; Mar 28/90; Mar 29/90)
NASA's 1991 budget would be cut by $1 billion dollars, warned Congress. The Space Station, planned explorations of the Moon and Mars, and the Orbital Maneuvering Vehicle were slated to be trimmed. Money for the Earth Observation System was earmarked for an increase. (Sp News, Mar 26-Apr 1/90)
The Jet Propulsion Laboratory began testing its prototype for the Planetary Rover Navigation Test Bed Vehicle, a self-navigating vehicle, about the size of a small car, for use in planned outposts on the Moon and Mars. (Daily News, Mar 13/90)
Orbital Communications Corporation requested Federal approval for deploying a global satellite system for data transmission, 20 small satellites that would mostly be used for emergency services. Orbital planned to deploy them, beginning in April with its Pegasus rocket, launched from a B-52 aircraft. (W Times, Mar 6/90; NASA Release N90-18)
NASA successfully tested its self-repairing flight control system on an F-15 aircraft at Ames-Dryden Flight Research Facility at Edwards Air Force Base in California. The system detected damaged flight control components, such as ailerons, rudders, and elevators, and adjusted undamaged flight surfaces to compensate so the pilot could maintain good aircraft response. (NASA Release 90-43)
A one-year analysis of the results from a study of the ozone above the Arctic performed in the winter of 1988-1989 by Airborne Arctic Stratospheric Expedition reported a possible 17 percent loss in March. The finding was a reversal of the original conclusion that said no ozone depletion similar to that found in the Antarctic was present. (NASA Release 90-41)
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