Aeronautics and Space Report of the President
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Aeronautics and Space Report of the President 1 9 75 Activities NOTE TO READERS: ALL PRINTED PAGES ARE INCLUDED, UNNUMBERED BLANK PAGES DURING SCANNING AND QUALITY CONTROL CHECK HAVE BEEN DELETED Aeronautics and Space Report of the President I975 Activities National Aeronautics and Space Administration Washington, D.C. 20546 President’s Message of Transmittal To the Congress of the United States: We continued to probe the unknown in space. Pioneer 10 will be the first Inan-made object to I am pleased to transmit this report on the Nation‘s venture beyond our solar system. Pioneer 11 will progress in space and aeronautics during 1975. This make the first flyby of Saturn in 1979. In passing report is provided in accordance with Section 206 of Jupiter these vehicles sent back pictures that added the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958 as greatly to our knowledge of the largest planet. Last amended (42 U.S.C. 2476). August and September we launched two Viking was another year of continued progress in 1975 spacecraft toward Mars. They will arrive at the the Nation’s space and aeronautics activities. It height of our Bicentennial celebration and may marked significant accomplishments in many areas. provide information on the existence of life in some Earth-orbiting satellites continued to bring new form on our neighboring planet. and increased benefits in a variety of applications. In aeronautics, research focused on the technologies Two additional international communications satel- needed to reduce fuel requirements, noise, and pollu- lites were launched, expanding the already impressive tion. Also emphasized was improved reliability, international satellite communications capability. A performance, and safety. Military aircraft develop- second domestic commercial communications satellite ment featured the first supersonic flight of the B-1, was put into operation. Military satellite communica- the operational deployment of the F-14 and F-15, tions were enhanced. In addition, a new system of and the selection of the F-16 and F-18 as future satellites for global weather reporting was initiated. fighter aircraft. providing reports every thirty minutes on weather The fruits of our research continued to be enjoyed across half the globe. by the transfer of space and aeronautics technology Landsat 2 was orbited to join Landsat 1 to provide to many beneficial uses in our society, including additional Earth sensing data to explore potential energy research. medical care, transportation, and uses in a wide range of activities, including crop new techniques and iiiaterials for manufacturing. forecasting, pollution monitoring, forestry and land Our Nation’s activities in aeronautics and space use studies, and in mineral exploration. continue to be a major contribution to our quality I had the pleasure and thrill of talking to our of life and economic growth. astronauts and the Soviet cosmonauts when they We can all take pride in our commitment to linked up in space at the culmination of the historic advancement in space and aeronautics as reflected in U.S.-U.S.S.R. Apollo Soyuz Test Project. the accomplishments aexribed in this report. Major milestones were met in the development of the Space Shuttle, the Nation’s current major space 1’HE 14’131~~HOUSE, project. Canada agreed to develop the remote June 1976 manipulator system for the Shuttle, a major. and welcome contribution. GERALDR. FORD Development of Spacelab, a key systeiii to take advantage of the capability of the Space Shuttle and being built and funded by the European Space Agency, continued on schedule. iii Table of Contents Page Page I. Summary of U.S. Aeronautics and Space Ac- X. National Academy of Sciences, National Acad- tivities. .. in. 1975 ____________________----1 emy Of Engineering, National Research Introduction __________-______________ 1 Council ____________________-----------65 Space ______________________________ 1 Introduction ______________________---65 Aeronautics _ ____ _______ ___ _ ________ _ 5 Aerospace Science _____-----_-------- 65 11. National Aeronautics and Space Administration 7 Space Applications __-___-____________ 67 Introduction _ ___ - ________-__ ________ _ 7 Aerospace Engineering _________-_____ 68 Study of the Universe and the Sun-Earth Education ___________ ________________ 69 Relationship .____ ___________________________. 7 XI. Office of Telecommunications Policy _______- 70 Explor?tion of the Planets and the Moon 10 Introduction ___--_________-_____-----70 Life Sciences _____-__________________ 11 AEROSAT __________________-_______ 71 Study of the Earth’s Atmosphere ___---_ 12 INMARSAT __________2 _________-_-_ 71 Applications to Earth _-______________ 12 Proposed Amendmrnts to the Communi- NASA Energy Program __________-____ 16 cations Satellite Act of 1962 __--____ 71 Space Flight _________________________ 17 Direct Broadcast Satellites ____________- 72 72 Space Flight Transportation ___________ 17 Frequency Management___--______-___ Tracking and Data Acquisition _________ 19 High Power Satellites ________________ 73 International Affairs -_ . ______________ 21 XII. Federal Communications Commission ____-- 75 University Affairs .................... 23 Introduction _______ ______________ - -- - 75 Space and Nuclear Research and Tech- Communications Satellites _____________ 75 nology __--_________-_--_----------23 Specialized Satellite Services ___________ 76 Aeronautics Research and Technology __ 24 International Telecommunications Union Disseminating Trchnology and Benefits __ 26 (ITU) ___________________________ 77 Frequency Allocation and Coordination _ 77 111. Department of Defense --_-_________-__-___ 27 78 Introduction _________________________ 27 XIII. Department of State _-____________--______ Space Activities ...................... Introduction _______________-_________ 78 28 Activities within the United Nations -___ 78 Space Ground Support __--__-_---_--_ 30 Space Research and Technology _______ 31 International Cooperation -____--______ 79 .. Satellite Services ..................... 80 .4eronautical Activities _-_-------_-___- 32 81 Relationship with NASA Support of Federal Agencies _________-_ ______________ 36 XIV. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency ____- 82 IV. Department of Commerce -_-_________-----_ 38 Introduction _____-___________________ 82 Introduction ________------_-_---_____ 38 Demilitarization _______ 82 Satellites in Environmental Monitoring __ _ ____________ Crisis Management and Verification _--- 82 and Prediction .................... 38 Space Technology .................... 82 Other Satellite and Space Applications -- 41 XV. Department of Transportation _____________ 83 Space Support Activities 43 _____________ Introduction __________ ____-_ - ___ _____ 83 Space and Atmospheric Physics Research 44 Office of the Secretary (OST) Programs 83 Data Programs ____--__-_____________ 45 FAA Research and Development: Avia- Aeronautical Programs _______________ 46 tion Safety ________________________ 84 V. Energy, Research and Development Adminis- Air Traffic Control and Navigation _____ 85 tration --_-___ ______ - -- - - __- -_- - __- - -_ - 47 XVI. The Smithsonian Institution ___--_________ 88 Introduction _______ - __ _ __ ___- __ ___ _ __ 47 Introduction __ _______________ ______ __ 88 Viking Mars Lander _-_-_____________ 47 Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory _ 88 Lincoln Experimental Satellite (LES) __ 47 National Air and Space Museum _______ 89 Mariner Jupiter/Saturn _---__--_------ 48 XVII. United States Information Agency __________ 91 Generator Technology ________________ 48 Introduction _________________________ 91 VI. Department of the Interior ------__--__-__-_ 49 Radio ______________________________ 91 Introduction _-___-___________________ 49 Press and Publications ______________ 91 Space __---___-____-_--_-------------49 Films and Television _________________ 92 Aeronautics ________-----__-__-______ 53 Information Centers and Exhibits ______ 93 International Activities ____-__________ 55 VII. Department of Agriculture _--------__--____ 56 Appendixes Introduction __________-_-__----______ 56 Remote Sensing Activity 56 A- 1 U.S. Spacecraft Record .................... 94 VIII. National Science Foundation _________--____ 58 A-2 World Record of Spare Launchings Successful Introduction _---_-_____________--_-_- 58 in Attaining Earth Orbit or Beyond __-_-__ 94 Astronomy _____--_________----______ 58 A-3 Successful U.S. Launchings-1975 _____---__ 95 Atmospheric Sciences __________-__--__ 59 +. B- 1 U.S. Applications Satellites, 1971-1975 _____-- 104 Polar.. Research Programs -----------_- 59 B- 2 US.-Launched Scientific Payloads, 197 1-1975 106 Engineering - _ ___ _ ___- ---_ -- - -_ _ --_ - - 60 B-3 US.-Launched Space Probes, 1971-1975 _---- 107 Materials Research _---__-_---___--_- 60 C History of .United States and Soviet Manned Education Activities _-__-__-----__---_ 60 Space Flights ___________________________ 108 IX. Environmental Protection Agency __________ 61 D US. Space Launch Vehicles _____-_-_-_--__ 110 Introduction _________________________ 61 E- 1 Space Activities of the U.S. Government --_-- 111 Energy-Related Environmental Research US. Space Budget-Budget Authority _--_-- 111 and Development __________--_-_--_ 61 E-2 Space Activities Budget .................... 112 Advanced Monitoring Programs ---_____ 63 Aeronautics Budget 112 V New Tools for Space Research An increasing array of Earth-based and spacecraft- borne instruments and sensors is joining together to study the planets of