Fiscal Year 1979 Was the Remote Sensing Centers at Universities in 25 States
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Aeronautics and Space Report of the President 1979 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 1979 Activities National Aeronautics and Space Administration Washington, D.C. 20546 Table of Contents Page Page I . Summary of the US. Aeronautics and VI . Department of the Interior .............. 78 Space Activities of 1979 .............. 1 Introduction ........................ 78 Introduction .................... 1 Earth Resources Observation Communications ................ 1 Systems Program .................. 78 Earth’s Resources ............... 4 Monitoring the Environment ......... 80 Space Science .................. 10 Geology ............................ 81 Transportation ................. I3 Cartography ........................ 82 Space Energy ................... 18 International Activities .............. 82 I1. National Aeronautics and Space VI1 . Department of Transportation ........... 83 Administration ..................... 20 Introduction ....................... 83 Introduction ................... 20 Aviation Safety ..................... 83 Applications to Earth ........... 20 Air Traffic Control and Air Science ......................... 28 Navigation ....................... 85 Space Transportation ............ 35 Space Research and Technology . 39 Space Data Services .............. 42 Appendixes Aeronautical Research and Technology .................. 43 A-1 1J.S. Spacecraft Record .................. 87 111. Department of Defense .................. 48 A-2 World Record of Space Launchings Introduction ....................... 48 Successful in Attaining Earth Space Activities ..................... 48 Orbit or Beyond ...................... 87 Aeronautical Activities .............. 54 A-3 Successful U.S. Launchings-I979 ......... 88 Relationships with NASA ............ 59 B-1 U.S. Applications Satellites, 1975-1979 .... 92 IV. Department of Commerce ............... 62 B-2 US-Launched Scientific Payloads. Introduction ....................... 62 1975-1979 ............................ 93 Space Systems ...................... 62 B-3 U.S.-Launched Space Probes. 1975-1979 .... 94 Other Uses of Satellites and Space .... 69 C History of United States and Soviet Space Support Activities ............. 71 Manned Space Flights ................ 95 Space and Atmospheric Support ...... 72 D U.S. Space Launch Vehicles .............. 98 Aeronautical Programs .............. 72 E-1 Space Activities of the U.S. Government V. Department of Energy ................... 74 Historical Budget Summary-Budget Introduction ....................... 74 Authority ............................ 99 Progress in Space Applications E-2 Space Activities Budget .................. 100 of Nuclear Power ................. 74 Aeronautics Budget ..................... 100 Advances in Supporting Technology . 75 Status of Prior Missions .............. 76 F White House Statement on Management Satellite Power System ............... 76 of U.S. Civilian Remote Sensing Nuclear Waste Disposal .............. 76 Activities ............................. 101 Remote Sensing of Earth ........... 76 G The United Nations Moon Treaty- Nuclear Test Detection ............. 76 Text and 1J.S. Analysis ................ 103 iii cal flight characteristics at all speeds. V Summary of United States Aeronautics I and Space Activities in 1978 Introduction -Joint or coordinated civil/military activities where both parties’ objectives can be best In 1979 the United States programs in aeronautics met through this approach. and space made substantial technological and sci- -Separate defense activities which have no entific progress. In aeronautics, improvements in civilian counterpart.” The text of this an- engine components and systems promised reductions nouncement is reprinted as Appendix F. in fuel consumption, while improved computational Also in November, the United Nations completed and design techniques would provide aircraft de- action on a proposed treaty governing activities on signers with better design criteria. In space pro- the moon and other celestial bodies. The text of the grams, the Space Shuttle moved closer to its first treaty, together with United States commentary on orbital test flight, even as Voyager spacecraft flew some of its provisos, is given in Appendix G. past Jupiter and its spectacular moons and Pioneer In this summary chapter, highlights of 1979 in 11 became Earth’s first spacecraft to visit Saturn the national aeronautics and space programs are and its rings. United States expendable launch ve- organized topically across the government rather hicles attempted 16 launches; all were successful, than by agencies responsible for particular activities. placing a total of 18 payloads into orbit. The Na- Subsequent chapters further describe the activities tional Aeronautics and Space Administration of the agencies with the largest programs in aero- (NASA) in 8 launches orbited 8 payloads, includ- nautics and space. ing 2 for the Department of Defense (DoD) and 3 for its own program. DoD in 8 launches orbited 10 payloads, including a new Tiros-N-series meteoro- Communications logical satellite built by NASA for the Department of Commerce. Among the NASA satellites launched were the third and last of the big high-energy as- Communication satellites are among the most tronomy satellites and a satellite designed to survey profitable space systems to result from the nation’s the Earth’s magnetic field. investment in space activity. In Bern, Switzerland, and Vienna, Austria, the United States participated in the second and third Operational Space Systems sessions of talks with the Soviet Union on limita- tion of anti-satellite activity. The joint communique Intelsat. The internationally owned INTELSAT issued at the Vienna summit meeting stated that global communication satellite system now consists President Carter and President Brezhnev “agreed to of three active Intelsat IV-A satellites in the At- continue actively searching for mutually acceptable lantic Ocean region and two in the Indian Ocean agreement in the ongoing negotiations on anti- region. The Pacific Ocean region is served by space- satellite systems.” craft from the Intelsat IV series. Development of a follow-on generation, the Intelsat V, progressed, In November the President implemented a por- with launch of the first flight model projected for tion of the space policy decisions announced in mid-1980. Intelsat V will operate in both the 6-4 he designated the National Oceanic and 1978: gigahertz (GHz) and 11-14 GHz bands along with Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) of the De- the added flexibility of a “crowstrap” mode of partment of Commerce to be manager of all opera- operation (signal sent up to satellite on 6 GHz and tional civilian remote sensing activities from space. returned down from satellite on 11 GHz; and up on The decision provides three paths for the nation’s 14 GHz and down on GHz). Of the eight Intelsat space-based remote sensing: 4 V satellites under procurement, four will provide “-Integration of civilian operational activities maritime services. Those four satellites can be under NOAA. launched by any one of three vehicles: the Atlas- 1 Centaur, the NASA Space Shuttle, and the Euro- lation of Earth stations. The number of all Earth pean Space Agency’s Ariane. stations that have been authorized to date is in ex- Domestic Commercial Communication Satellites. cess of 2300. Westar 3, launched in September, brought the total Military Communications Satellites. Three broad number of domestic communication satellites to 8. categories of space communications are identified for These operate in the 4 and 6 GHz bands. Two are the defense establishment: part of RCA Americom’s SATCOM system, 3 are 0 worldwide point-to-point communications for in Western Union Telegraph’s WESTAR system, fixed users with high capacity and high data and 3 are in AT&T’s COMSTAR system. These rate satellites provide message toll service, television communications for mobile users, with moder- distribution, and single channel per carrier or mul- ate capacity and low data rate tiple channels per carrier for transmission of voice, 0 command and control of strategic nuclear data, television, and digital data. In July 1979, the forces. three-year ban on commercial usage of the AT&T DoD progressed in all three categories in 1979 COMSTAR system expired. Satellite Business Sys- with ( 1) the successful launch of Defense Satellite tems (SBS) continued its development efforts to- Communications System (DSCS) I1 satellites 13 and ward a two-satellite system. It plans to use the 12 14, (2) the successful launch of the second Fleet and 14 GHz bands and 5- and 7-meter Earth sta- Satellite Communications (FLTSATCOM) satellite, tions to provide voice, data, and television transmis- and (3) the achievement in May of the initial op- sion services to large industrial and government erating capability of the Air Force Satellite Com- users. The matter of construction of the SBS satel- munications system (AFSATCOM). The FCC is lite system is still before the U.S. Court of Appeals reviewing an application filed by Hughes Com- for the District of Columbia. Applications have been munication Services, Inc., to construct a satellite received from Western Union Space Communica- system known as LEASAT which will replace the tions, Inc. (SPACECOM) for an advanced Westar existing Fleet Satellite Communications (FLTSAT-