Aeronautics and Space Report of the President, 1976 Activities
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Aeronautics and Space Report of the President 19 76 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 1976 Activities National Aeronautics and Space Administration Washington, D.C. 20546 Table of Contents Page Page I. Summary of U.S. Aeronautics and Space Ac- X. National Academy of Sciences, National Acad- tivities of 1976 _________________________ 1 emy .of Engineering, National Research 67 Introduction _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ __ __ 1 Council _______________________________ Space _______________________________ 1 Introduction _ _ _____ _ ______ __ _ ______ __ 67 Aeronautics __ __________ ____ __________ 4 Aerospace Science _ _ _ __ - _ _ _ __ _ __ _ __ _ - - - 67 The Heritage ________________________ 5 Space Applications .................... 69 .. 70 11. National Aeronautics and Space Administration G Aerospace Engineering _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ - - - - - 6 Education ____________________-------71 Introduction _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 72 Applications to Earth __________________ 6 XI. Office of Telecommunications Policy __i____-- 10 Introduction __ __ __________ _____ ____ __ 72 Science ______________________________ 72 Space Transportation __________________ 15 International Satellite Systems _____ _ _____ 18 Direct Broadcast Satellites ______________ 72 Space Research and Technology _ _ ___ ____ 73 Tracking and Data Acquisition __________ 19 Frequency Management _____ __ _ __ _ ___ __ 20 Domestic Satellite Applications __________ 73 International Affairs ___________________ 74 User Affairs ________________________ 23 XII. Federal Communications Commission ________ 23 Introduction _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ - - - - 74 Technology Utilization _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ - _ 74 NASA Energy Programs ________________ 24 Communications Satellites ______________ Specialized Satellite Services _ 75 Aeronautics Research and Technology ____ 24 _____ ______ XIII. Department of State 77 27 ...................... 111. Department of Defense ___________________ Introduction _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 77 Introduction __ _____ ___ _______________ 27 77 28 Activities within the United Nations _____ Space Activities _______________________ International Cooperation ______________ 78 Aeronautical Activities _________________ 33 79 38 Satellite Services ...................... Relationship with NASA _______________ XI\’. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency ______ 81 IV. Department of Commerce _________________ 40 Introduction.. _ ________________________ 81 Introduction _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 40 Demilitarization - _ _ __ __ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ ___ _ _ 81 Satellites in Environmental Monitoring Crisis Management and Verification ______ 81 and Prediction ...................... 40 Space Technology ..................... 81 Other Satellite and Space Applications ____ 45 XV. Department of Transportation ______________ 82 Space Support Activities _______________ 46 Introduction _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ - _ _ - _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ - - - - 82 Space and Atmosphere Physics Research __ 47 Aviation Safety ____________________--- 82 Data Programs _______________________ 18 Air Traffic Control and Air Navigation ___ 84 Aeronautical Programs _ _ ______ _____ ____ 48 XVI. The Smithsonian Institution ________________ 87 V. Energy Research and Development Adminis- Introduction ......................... 87 tration _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ 50 Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory ___ 87 Introduction _________________________ 50 The National Air and Space Museum _____ 89 Support to Space Programs ______________ 50 XVII. United States Information Agency ___________ 91 Satellite Power Systems ________________ 51 Introduction _________________________ 91 52 Press and Publications _________________ 91 VI. Department of the Interior ________________ 91 Introduction _ _ _______ __ ______________ 52 Films and Television __________________ Earth Resources Observation Systems Pro- Information Centers and Exhibits ________ 92 92 gram ______________________________ 52 Radio __________________________-__- Remote Sensing Activities Using Space Data 53 Remote Sensing Activities Using Aerial Data 55 Appendixes National Cartographic Information Center _ 56 International Activities ________________ 56 A- 1 U.S. Spacecraft Record .................... 93 VII. Department of Agriculture _________________ 57 A-2 World Record of Space Launchings Successful Introduction _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ - ___ _ _ 57 in Attaining Earth Orbit or Beyond _______ 93 _ _ __ 94 Remote Sensing Activity ________________ 57 A-3 Successful U.S. Launchings--1976 ____________ 100 GO B-l U.S. Applications Satellites, 1972-1976 ________ VIII. National Science Foundation ____ ___ _ ___ ____ US-Launched Scientific Payloads, 1972-1976 102 60 B-2 __ Introduction _ - _ ___ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ __ __ _ _ ___ B-3 US-Launched Space Probes, 1972-1976 ______ 103 Astronomy _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 60 C History of United States and Soviet Manned Atmospheric Sciences __________________ 62 Space Flights __________________________ 104 IX. Environmental Protection Agency ___________ 64 D US. Space Launch Vehicles ________________ 106 Introduction _ _ ___ _ _ __ __ _ ___ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 64 E- 1 Space Activities of the U.S. Government ______ 107 Interagency Energy-Related Environmental U.S. Space Budget-Budget Authority ________ 107 Research and Development Program _ __ _ 64 E-2 Space Activities Budget .................... 108 Remote Monitoring ___________________ 65 Aeronautics Budget _______________________ 108 Aerospace Events in the Bicentennial Year The United States in 1976 orbited spacecraft around Mars and landed and operated spacecraft on its sur- face, showed the first Space Shuttle Orbiter, launched a number of communications satellites, flight-tested research aircraft, and opened the new National Air and Space Museum. From an altitude of 1857 kilometers, the Viking 1 orbiter photographed the meteorite crater Arantlas on Man (above) in July. Twenty-five kilometers in diameter and with a typical clearly defined rim and conical peak at the bottom, Arantlas and some other craters on Mars have one surprising feature: the ejecta la~ciaIountl it ;ippe:ti.s to have Rowed out of the crater rather than having Iiecn 1)lastctl out by the impact of the meteorite. Similar re- sults ha\c been wen in cxpcritncntal cratering of \caterlogged ground. A closer look at the Slartinn lantlscape was affortlcd by the lander spacecraft. lhc panorama I~lowwas pltotogra~~licdeai-ly on an August morning by thc Viking 1 lander. The wind-sculpted sand dunes look much like parts of Mexico and California. The large boulder at left, about 8 meters away, measures abut 1 by 3 meters. iv Enterprise (top), first of five Space Shuttle Orbiters for the Space Transportation Sys- tem, was rolled out of the factory at Palm- dale, California, on September 17. The joint NASA/Army experimental Tilt Rotor Research Helicopter (above) was delivered and began flight tests in 1976. At right, the Comstar 2 domestic communications satellite was being readied for mating with its launch vehicle prior to launch in July. And below, a view of the Independence Avenue side of the Smithsonian’s new National Air and Space Museum which opened July 1. i V Summary of United States Aeronautics I and Space Activities in 1976 introduction Earth Applications This bicentennial year has been one of major Communications. In August the ATS 6 experi- achievements in space and aeronautics. In space, mental communications satellite completed its the most significant accomplishments were the year-long experiment with India, where it had highly successful Viking orbiter and lander mis- transmitted educational and agricultural instruc- sions to Mars and the rollout of the first of the tion programs, prepared by the Government of Space Shuttle orbiters. These highly visible mile- India, to inexpensive receiving antennas in some stones were balanced by the growing maturity of 2400 Indian villages. As it was moved back toward the world’s space communications systems and the the US., ift participated in a NASA-Agency for In- continuing exploitation and evaluation of data ternational Development program known as Aid- from Earth resources and weather satellites. In sat, beaming programs to 24 Asian and African aeronautics, there was promising research on air- countries on the potential uses of satellite tech- craft technology ,that could lead to better fuel nology in developing nations. economy, higher performance with quieter engines, On the other side of the world, the joint and increased safety both at cruising altitudes and Canadian-US. experimental communications satel- in terminal areas. New automated equipment was lite was launched in January. The most powerful placed into operation on the nation’s airways, im- communications satellite to date, Communications proving the safety and efficiency of the current Tcchnology Satellite (CTS) 1 used its higher trans- system. This chapter briefly summarizes and high- mission power and higher frequencies to transmit lights the more detailed contents of the agency to small, inexpensive antennas in remote cominu- chapters that follow. nities. Operational communications satellite systems con- Space tinued to grow in 1976. The international INTEL- The United States had 26 launches into orbit SAT system acquired additional capacity in Jan- in 1976. A total of 34 spacecraft were orbited. uary when NASA launched Intelsat IV-A F2 as a NASA orbited 15 satellites on 15 successful backup for the first of this uprated series.