Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center News Vol. 26 No. 17 August 28, 1987 National Aeronautics and Space Administration 'Leadership and America's Future in Space' Ride report proposes strategy of evolution, natural progression A strategy of evolution and natural pro- space. We must then go do it, balancing gression would allow the United States to Report excerpts on Pages 4 and 5 boldness and wisdom as we go," regain and retain leadership in space sci- JSC employees listed as significant con- ence, exploration and enterprise, according tion ourselves to continue leading the way totheAdministratorforStrategic Planning. tributors to the report were John Aaron, to a long-awaited report prepared by Dr. in human exploration." "You have well and truly discharged the Kenneth Atkins, Michael Duke, Kyle Fair- Sally K. Ride. "There is no doubt that exploring, pros- difficult task I asked you to undertake," child, Steve Hawley, Wendell Mendell, John But that strategy is only one the U.S. pecting, and settling Mars should be the Fletcher said in a letter to Ride. "You have Muratore and Barney Roberts. spaceprogramshouldconsiderasitdefines ultimate objectives of human exploration," opened a bright window on the issues of In the report, Ride asserts that the U.S. its course into the next century, Ride wrote the report concludes. "But America should leadership in space and the means to reach civilian space program is at a crossroads, in "Leadership and America's Future in not rush head-long toward Mars; weshouid --and sustain--that position." aspiring toward the visions of the National Space," presented this month to NASA adopt a strategy to continue an orderly JSC Director Dr. Aaron Cohen said the Commission on Space but faced with the Administrator Dr. James C. Fletcher. expansion outward from Earth." report was an important step in reasserting realities set forth bythe Rogers Commission. "The strategy emphasizes evolving our The 63-page illustrated report is the the nation's prowess in space exploration. Insteadofarguingaboutwhethertoadopta capabilities in low-Earth orbit, and using culmination of a year-long study by Ride "TheRidereportunderscoresthefactthat visionary goal or concentrate on Space those capabilities to study our own world and a task group of 70 other contributors, wecannottakeAmerican leadership in space Shuttle and Space Station operations, she andexploreothers,"thereportstates."With The astronaut, who will leave NASA on forgranted,"hesaid."Wearejustbeginning suggests, the space program needs to these capabilities, we would position our- Sept. 26 for a fellowship at Stanford Uni- to emerge from a very difficult period for the develop both a long-range direction and selves to lead in characterizing and under- versity, was detailed from JSC to Head- spaceprogram. Akeytothatemergenceisto the fundamental capabilities that would standing planet Earth; we would also posi- quarters in August 1986 as Special Assistant understand what we can realistically do in enable it to move in that direction. Shuttle-C definition voyagers marknfnlntindecade proposal..s.ha,ssus aree0q,,estrequestt,os,oot,r,easr0dee atoutMarsha,, .....x,....ra....n proposalsinvitingindustrytocom- Space Flight Center on Sept. 21. With one of its two spacecraft pete for two-phase systems defini- Based on the proposals received, enroutetodistantNeptuneandthe tion study contractsforShuttle-C, NASA expects to select two or other exploring the outer Solar a Shuttle-derived heavy-lift launch more contractors to perform the System, the Voyager mission cele- vehicle, systems studies, with fixed-price brateditsl0thanniversaryoflaunch Shuttle-C will use the propulsion contracts expected to be awarded Aug. 20. elements of the current Space in November. Voyagers 1 and 2 have logged a Shuttle with the orbiter being re- Funds available for Phase I of total of 7.6 billion miles over the past placed by an STS cargo element, this two-phase effort are approxi- decade, executingflybysofthegiant With a minimum lift capability of mately $3 million. Proposals also planets Jupiter, Saturn and Uranus. 100,000 pounds to low-Earth orbit, will include a priced option for Thetwounmannedcrafthaverelayed the vehicle would provide addi- Phase II which, if implemented, is astaggeringamountofdataoneach tional payload capability to the estimated at approximately $13 of the planetary systems, in the pro- Shuttle fleet, maximizing effective million total. Phase II will depend cess discovering such phenomena use of the National Space Trans- on availability of funding and na- as new moons, rings and the first portation System, other existing tional policy decisions on heavy- active volcano in space. systems and available test and lift launch vehicle development. After Voyager2'sencounterwith launch facilities. The most immed- A major purpose of the study is Neptune in August 1989, the two late value of the Shuttle-C would to determine whether the vehicle spacecraft will continue out of the beforSpaceStationassemblyand wouldbecosteffectiveinassembl- solar system in search of the logistics. Italsowould beavailable ing and operating the Space Station. heliopause, the outer boundary of for future science missions, espe- Marshall Space Flight Center will the Sun's energy influence. cially to the outer planets, have management responsibility for The mission was originally con- ProPosals for the system defini- the Shuttle-C studv'eff:)rt, ceived because of a rare alignment of the planets that occurs only Work begins on Grumman evalleryowed170a singlyeaers.spacTheecrafaltigntomenvisitt facility at EIlingto n Field planetplanets,each ofin usingatheslingfoursthehot-likegravitygiant effect.gaseousof each The Grumman Corp. began 66-acre tract at Ellington, with Voyager 2 was launched Aug. demolishing buildings at Ellington options for an additional 79 acres 20, 1977, followed by Voyager I on Field on Aug. 25 to make room for a and an extension of the lease until Sept. 5 of that year. Because of its planned$50-millioncomplextohouse the year 2067. trajectory, Voyager 1 overtook its the company's Houston Operations. As now planned, the Grumman twin and arrived first at Jupiter on The ultimate size and scope of complex could include a 130,000- March 5, 1979. Voyager 1 flew by the complex will hinge on Space square-foot office building, a Saturn on Nov. 12, 1980. Its flight Station Phase C/D contracts to be 120,000-square-footsimulationand path at that planet then took awarded in November. robotics laboratory and a 250,000- Voyager 1 up and away from the Grumman has signeda40-year square-foot assembly and test ecliptic, theplaneinwhichmostof leasewith the Cityof Houstonfor a building, the planetsorbit theSun. Rigorous training ahead Astronaut candidates are here By Steve Nesbitt astronaut office to the status of the The new group will be busy during Space Shuttle program, most of September tearning T-38 Displaying eagerness and inter- Dan Brandenstein, chief of the egress and survival skills in the est, the 15 members of NASA's astronaut office, gave an overview event of an aircraft bailout. A week newest class of astronaut candi- of the organization and objectives of wilderness survival training in dates were officially welcomed to oftheofficeand put to rest some of" Washington stateearly inthe month the the of will be followed by parachute/ _1_ JSC on Aug. 24, beginning a year- myths surrounding job Iongtrainingandevaluationperiod. astronaut. Contrary to popular parasailtrainingatVanceAirForce belief, Brandensteintoldthegroup, Base in Oklahoma and water sur- JSC Director Dr. Aaron Cohen the job of an astronaut is not all rival training at Homestead Air told the candidates that despite flying, playing golf and going to Force Base, Florida, late in Sep- rw what they may hear elsewhere, the beach. While it can be fun, he tember. NASA is alive and well and making said, the job requires hard work progresstowardnextJune'ssched- and dedication. Workbook study, self-paced uled launch of Discovery and the The candidates met with local computer training and briefings, The 1967 astronaut candidate= are: (front row, from left) James S. Vou, Jan D. crew of STS-26. reporters Monday afternoon, get- as well as T-38 flying will dominate Dawfs,GregoryJ. Harbaugh, AndrewM.AllenandKevlnP.Chllton;(secondrow, ThroughoutthedayMondayand tingtheirfirstexposuretothemedia the remainder of 1987 as the can- from left) Mac C. Jemlson, C. Michael Foale, William F. Readdy, Thomas D. Akers, Kenneth D. Bowersox and Bruce E. Melnlck; and (back row, from left) much of Tuesday, the candidates attention that likelywillfollow most didates tackle the difficult task of Marie Runco, Jr., Donald R. McMonagle, Curtis L. Brown and Kenneth S. heard from JSC officials on every- of them throughout their careers learning SpaceShuttlesystemsand Reightler, Jr. thing from the organization of the as astronauts, mission operations. Page 2 Space News Roundup Aug. 28,1987 [ Bulletin Board I Hinners takes on Chief Scientist duties Dr. NoeI Hinners has added the senior management on agency- to being appointed director of SARSAT van to visit Sept, 23 and 24 duties of NASA Chief Scientist to wide aspects of NASA's scientific Goddard in 1982. SARSAT van, a traveling exhibit that details the satellite-aided search his responsibilities as Associate activities. Prior to joining NASA in McDonald began his NASAcareer Rocketand rescueParkprojecton Se(COSPASptember /SARSAT),23 and 24.willCOSPASbe on/SARSATdisplay at JSC'sis an DeputyAdministrator/Institutions. 1972asdirectoroflunarprograms,