NASA will conduct a test flight on June 2nd of a saucer-shaped vehicle from a facility in Hawaii to test technologies for landing large payloads on Mars. The test involves lifting the vehicle to 120,000 feet with a high-altitude balloon and then dropping it to be accelerated by a rocket motor to 180,000 feet. A press conference will be held before the test and the launch and portions of the flight will be live streamed. The test is aimed at demonstrating technologies for landing heavy payloads safely on Mars.
This document is a comprehensive log of NASA news releases for the year 1978. It serves as a historical record, detailing various significant events and developments within NASA during this period. Each entry in the log includes a specific release number, a brief title summarizing the news content, and the date of release. The topics covered in these releases range from contractual agreements and developments in space technology to astronaut selections and updates on space missions. For instance, some of the notable entries include NASA's awarding of the Shuttle Radio Contract to RCA, the selection of 35 astronaut candidates, and details about the construction of the Spacelab Simulator by the Singer Company. Additionally, the log provides insights into NASA's operational decisions and collaborations with other organizations, reflecting the diverse activities and milestones of NASA in 1978. This document is a valuable resource for researchers, historians, and enthusiasts interested in the history of space exploration and the specific activities of NASA in the late 1970s.
This document is a comprehensive log of NASA news releases for the year 1978. It serves as a historical record, detailing various significant events and developments within NASA during this period. Each entry in the log includes a specific release number, a brief title summarizing the news content, and the date of release. The topics covered in these releases range from contractual agreements and developments in space technology to astronaut selections and updates on space missions. For instance, some of the notable entries include NASA's awarding of the Shuttle Radio Contract to RCA, the selection of 35 astronaut candidates, and details about the construction of the Spacelab Simulator by the Singer Company. Additionally, the log provides insights into NASA's operational decisions and collaborations with other organizations, reflecting the diverse activities and milestones of NASA in 1978. This document is a valuable resource for researchers, historians, and enthusiasts interested in the history of space exploration and the specific activities of NASA in the late 1970s.
SpaceX’s 22nd contracted cargo resupply mission (CRS) to the International Space
Station for NASA will deliver more than 7,300 pounds of science and research, crew
supplies and vehicle hardware to the orbital laboratory and its crew.
Launch is targeted for 1:29 p.m. EDT Thursday, June 3, 2021
The NASA-contracted Antares cargo rocket, bound for the International Space Station, crashed on Tuesday during liftoff. This is an account of the launch from Pulse Social Media manager Ally Coonradt, an attendee of the event.
Long duration, lighter than air, stratospheric airships might offer a unique and compelling platform for a wide range of Earth science and astrophysics. There is also great commercial opportunity in stratospheric, stationary platforms that can remain aloft for months or even years at a time. A 2013 Keck Institute for Space Studies (KISS) series of workshops (http://kiss.caltech.edu/programs.html#airships) brought together a number of scientists and aerospace industry professionals to discuss this potential. The report from that study (http://kiss.caltech.edu/papers/airships/papers/airships.pdf) identified the need for a graduated approach to developing the necessary technology and recommended a funded challenge as one way to meet this need. The NASA Centennial Challenge office funded development of the Airships-20-20-20 Challenge, but NASA ultimately decided not to pursue the Challenge. I will describe the science enabled by airships and the proposed Challenge.
SpaceX’s 22nd contracted cargo resupply mission (CRS) to the International Space
Station for NASA will deliver more than 7,300 pounds of science and research, crew
supplies and vehicle hardware to the orbital laboratory and its crew.
Launch is targeted for 1:29 p.m. EDT Thursday, June 3, 2021
The NASA-contracted Antares cargo rocket, bound for the International Space Station, crashed on Tuesday during liftoff. This is an account of the launch from Pulse Social Media manager Ally Coonradt, an attendee of the event.
Long duration, lighter than air, stratospheric airships might offer a unique and compelling platform for a wide range of Earth science and astrophysics. There is also great commercial opportunity in stratospheric, stationary platforms that can remain aloft for months or even years at a time. A 2013 Keck Institute for Space Studies (KISS) series of workshops (http://kiss.caltech.edu/programs.html#airships) brought together a number of scientists and aerospace industry professionals to discuss this potential. The report from that study (http://kiss.caltech.edu/papers/airships/papers/airships.pdf) identified the need for a graduated approach to developing the necessary technology and recommended a funded challenge as one way to meet this need. The NASA Centennial Challenge office funded development of the Airships-20-20-20 Challenge, but NASA ultimately decided not to pursue the Challenge. I will describe the science enabled by airships and the proposed Challenge.
NASA Coverage for Saucer-Shaped Test Vehicle Flight
1. NASA Coverage for Saucer-Shaped Test Vehicle Flight
A
saucer-shaped test vehicle holding equipment for landing large payloads on Mars is shown in the
Missile Assembly Building at the US Navy's Pacific Missile Range Facility in Kaua'i, Hawaii. Image
Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
› Full image and caption
May 29, 2014
NASA's Low-Density Supersonic Decelerator (LDSD) project will fly a rocket-powered, saucer-
shaped test vehicle into near-space next week from the U.S. Navy's Pacific Missile Range Facility in
Kauai, Hawaii.
On Monday, June 2, a televised news conference about the test will be held at the PMRF at 8 a.m.
Hawaii Standard Time (11 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time/2 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time).
Briefing panelists include:
-- U.S. Navy Capt. Bruce Hay, PMRF Commanding Officer
-- Mike Gazarik, associate administrator of the Space Technology Mission Directorate at NASA
Headquarters, Washington
--Mark Adler, LDSD project manager at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena,
California
2. --Ian Clark, LDSD principal investigator
at JPL
NASA has identified six potential dates
for launch of the high-altitude balloon
carrying the LDSD experiment: June 3, 5,
7, 9, 11 and 14. Decisions to attempt
launch of the LDSD test will be made the
day before each launch opportunity date.
NASA will issue launch advisories via the
mission website, advisories and on
Twitter at:
https://twitter.com/NASA_Technology
and
https://twitter.com/NASA
On launch attempt days, journalists are invited to PMRF to watch the liftoff and flight of the balloon
carrying the LDSD. June 3 is the first launch attempt day, with a launch window extending from 8 to
9:30 a.m. HST (11 to 12:30 PDT/2 to 3:30 EDT).
NASA's LDSD carries several onboard cameras. It is expected that video of selected portions,
including the rocket-powered ascent, will be downlinked live and streamed live to NASA TV and
online.
The public may watch the news conference on June 2, and the balloon launch and subsequent test on
June 3, on NASA TV or on the Web at:
http://www.nasa.gov/nasatv
and
http://www.ustream.tv/nasajpl2
Live commentary is expected to begin at 7:45 a.m. Hawaii Standard Time (10:45 a.m. PDT/1:45 p.m.
EDT). For NASA TV streaming video, downlink and updated scheduling information, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/nasatv
After the balloon reaches an altitude of 120,000 feet, the rocket-powered test vehicle will be
dropped. Seconds later, its motor will fire, carrying it to 180,000 feet and as fast as about Mach 3.8.
More information about the LDSD space technology demonstration mission is online at:
cheap first class flights
http://go.usa.gov/kzZQ
3. NASA's Space Technology Mission Directorate funds the LDSD mission, a cooperative effort led by
JPL. NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, manages LDSD within the
Technology Demonstration Mission Program Office. NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Wallops
Island, Virginia, is coordinating support with the Pacific Missile Range Facility and providing the
balloon systems for the LDSD test.
For more information about the Space Technology Mission Directorate, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/spacetech
David Steitz
NASA Headquarters, Washington
202-236-5829
david.steitz@nasa.gov
DC Agle
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.
818-393-9011
agle@jpl.nasa.gov
Stefan Alford
Pacific Missile Range Facility, Kauai, Hawaii
808-335-4740
stefan.alford@navy.mil
2014-168