NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS) 19950025558: Aeronautics and space report of the President

154 Pages·9.2 MB·English

by  NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

(NASA-TM-110743) AERONAUTICS ANC
SPACE REPCRT CF THE PRESTCENT
Activities Report v Fiscal Year 1994
(NASA) 147 F Unclas
G3/88 0056008

Aeronadcs
and
SpaceReport
ofthe
President
FiscalYear
1994
ActiviUes
1995
NaUonalAerona_cs
andSpaceAdministraUon
Washington,DC20546

Executive Summary ........................................................................................... 1
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) ......................................................... 1
Department of Defense (DoD) ................................................................................................ 3
Department of Commerce (DoC) ............................................................................................ 4
Department of Energy (DOE) ................................................................................................... 4
Department of the Interior (Dol) ............................................................................................. 4
Department of Transportation (DOT) ....................................................................................... 5
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ............................................................................... 5
Office of Commercial Space Transportation (OCST) .......................................................... 6
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) ........................................................................... 6
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) .......................................................................... 6
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ................................................................... 7
1995
i
National Science Foundation (NSF) ........................................................................................ 7
Smithsonian Institution ........................................................................................................... 8
Department of State (DOS) ...................................................................................................... 8
The U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) .................................................................................... 8
The Arms Control and Disarmament Agency (ACDA) ............................................................. 9
The Information Agency (USIA) .............................................................................................. 9
Space Launch Activities .................................................................................... 9
Space Shuttle Missions ........................................................................................................... 9
Expendable Launches ........................................................................................................... 10
Space Science ................................................................................................. 11
Astronomy and Space Physics .............................................................................................. 11
Solar System Exploration ...................................................................................................... 15
Other Space Science ............................................................................................................ 17
11,
Space Flight and Space Technology ................................................................ 20
Space Shuttle ........................................................................................................................ 20
Single Stage Rocket Technology (SSRT) ................................................................................. 21
Other Launch Systems .......................................................................................................... 22
Satellites ............................................................................................................................... 22
Space Station ........................................................................................................................ 26
Energy .................................................................................................................................. 27
Safety and Mission Assurance ............................................................................................... 29
Other Space Technology ...................................................................................................... 30
Space Communications ................................................................................... 31
Communications Satellites ................................................................................................... 31
Space Network ..................................................................................................................... 33
Ground Networks ................................................................................................................. 34
Aeronautical Activities .................................................................................... 34
Technological Developments ............................................................................................... 34
Air Traffic Control and Navigation ........................................................................................ 41
Weather-Related Aeronautical Activities ............................................................................... 44
Flight Safety and Security ..................................................................................................... 46
Aviation Medicine and Human Factors ................................................................................. 49
ii Aeronautics and Space Report of the President
Studies of the Planet Earth .............................................................................. 50
Terrestrial Studies and Applications ...................................................................................... 50
Atmospheric Studies ............................................................................................................. 55
Oceanographic Studies ........................................................................................................ 57
Other Aeronautical and Space Activities ........................................................ 59
Discussions Concerning Arms Control of Space-Related Weaponry ..................................... 59
Cooperation With Russia and Other Foreign Policy Issues .................................................... 59
Commercial Development and Regulation of Space Technology ......................................... 62
Space and Public Diplomacy Abroad ................................................................................... 65
Appendixes ..................................................................................................... 67
A-1 U.S. Government Spacecraft Record ........................................................................... 67
A-2 World Record of Space Launches Successful in Attaining Earth Orbit or Beyond ......... 68
A-3 Successful U.S. Launches, October 1, 1993-September 30, 1994 ............................... 69
B-1 U.S.-Launched Applications Satellites, 1988-Sept. 1994 ............................................. 75
B-2 U.S.-Launched Scientific Satellites, 1988-Sept. 1994 .................................................. 77
B-3 U.S.-Launched Space Probes, 1975-Sept. 1994 .......................................................... 78
C U.S. and Russian Human Spaceflights, 1961-Sept. 1994 ............................................. 79
D U.S. Space Launch Vehicles ........................................................................................ 91
E-i Space Activities of the U.S. Government ..................................................................... 93
E-2 Federal Space Activities Budget ................................................................................... 95
E-3 Federal Aeronautics Budget ......................................................................................... 95
F-1 White House Statement on Treaty on Open Skies ........................................................ 96
F-2 Statement on Foreign Access to Remote Sensing Space Capabilities ............................ 97
F-3 Presidential Decision Directive/NSTC-2: Convergence of
U.S.-Polar-Orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite Systems ............................ 100
F-4 White House Fact Sheet: Landsat Remote Sensing Strategy ....................................... 103
F-5 White House Statement Releasing National Science Policy Report ............................ 106
F-6 Presidental Decision Directive/NSTC-4: National Space Transportation Policy ......... 110
Glossary ........................................................................................................ 117
Index ............................................................................................................ 139
1 9 9 5 iii

Executive Summary competitive in the world market. Additionally, on May 5,
1994, the White House announced that the National Oceanic
Note: The National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958 and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the DoD, and the
directed the annual Aeronautics and Space Report to in-
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
clude a "comprehensive description of the programmed
were establishing ajoint program to effect the convergence
activities and the accomplishments of all agencies of the
of civil and military Polar-orbiting Operational Environ-
United States inthefield of aeronautics and space activities
during the preceding calendar )'ear. " This year's report mental Satellite systems into a single operational program.
(like last year's) has been prepared on afiscal year (FY) Other White House announcements during the year included
basis, consistent with the budgetary period now used in a policy for licensing U.S. firms by the Secretary of Com-
programs of the Federal Government. The Administration merce to operate private remote sensing systems and sell
is continuing to work with Congress to amend the National their images to domestic and foreign entities and a national
Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958 accordingly. space transportation policy that will sustain and revitalize
U.S. space transportation capabilities by providing acoher-
There were numerous significant changes and develop- ent strategy for supporting and strengthening U.S. space
ments inU.S. aeronautics and space efforts during FY 1994, launch capabilities tomeet the growing needs of the civilian
which included seven Space Shuttle missions successfully
and national security sectors. In these and other ways
completed before the year ended and an eighth that re- discussed below, the 15Federal agencies involved in aero-
mained on orbit at the close of FY 1994. There were 15
nautics and space activities have contributed significantly to
Government launches of Expendable Launch Vehicles furthering the Nation's scientific and technical knowledge,
(ELV's) carrying payloads ranging from Global Positioning international cooperation, a healthier environment, and a
System (GPS) toDefense Support Program (DSP) satellites more competitive economy.
into orbit. Additionally, the Department of Defense (DoD)
provided its facilities with minimal oversight tocommercial National Aeronautics and Space
contractors for the launch of five satellites, one of them a
Administration (NASA)
DoD payload, which the Office of Commercial Space
Transportation (OCST) in the Department of Transporta-
NASA advanced U.S. aeronautical and space goals in
tion (DOT) licensed and monitored. Highlights of the
numerous ways during FY 1994 besides those just men-
Shuttle missions included the servicing mission for the
tioned. In space science, astronomers using HST's revital-
Hubble Space Telescope (HST), which replaced several
ized optics discovered disks of protoplanetary dust orbiting
faulty parts and installed asophisticated package of correc-
stars in the Orion Nebula, suggesting that the formation of
tive optics to compensate for the spherical aberration in
planets in the Milky Way and elsewhere may be relatively
HST's primary mirror. Also, the flight of the Space Radar common. Also, HST's revelationf-of helium in distant
Laboratory (SRL) began toprovide information onenviron-
constellations provides valuable information about the con-
mental change, and a mission with a Russian astronaut,
ditions in the universe during its initial evolution. Informa-
Sergei Krikalev, aboard signalled the beginning of athree-
tion from Ulysses increased our knowledge of the operation
phased cooperative program in space between Russia and 1
of the solar wind. Closer to home, the worldwide scientific
the United States, resulting from the completion of arrange-
community was able to predict and track the crash of Comet
ments by the United States and its international partners to
Shoemaker-Levy 9 into Jupiter with the resulting informa-
bring Russia into the partnership for the international Space
tion greatly enhancing our ability to understand such im-
Station. Among notable developments in the ELV area
pacts. Galileo discovered the first confirmed moon around
were the launch of the deep space probe, Clementine, initial
an asteroid. And the Spacelab Life Sciences-2, U.S.
use of the Titan IV Centaur upper stage, and the first launch
Microgravity Payload-2, and International Microgravity
of the Taurus launch vehicle. In aeronautics, activities
Laboratory-2 greatly increased our understanding of the role
included development of technologies to improve perfor-
of gravity on biological, physical, and chemical processes.
mance, increase safety, reduce engine noise and other
In biology, we learned that gravity affects the function of the
environmental degradation, improve air traffic manage- neural connections between brain cells, which can have
ment, lower costs, and help American industry be more
profound implications for rebuilding damaged brain cells
1995 1
duetostrokesanddiseaseI.nthephysicaalndmaterials focus on resolving critical environmental issues and laying
sciencems,icrogravirtyesearchemrsadestridesinunder- the technological foundation for an economical, next gen-
standintghestructurcahlaracteristoicfmsetalsim, portainnt eration HSCT. The United States reached agreement with
theirindustriaplrocessinagn,dofhowtoimprovetheir Russia to use the Tu- 144supersonic transport asatestbed for
physicaalndelectronpicropertiesN.ASAalsomadegreat HSCT development. In its high-alpha technology program,
strideisnapplyintgechnologuysedinthespacperogramto NASA sought to achieve a basic understanding of high
medicaclareonEarth.IntheSpacebridtgoeMoscow angle-of-attack aerodynamics, including the effects of
TelemediciPnerojecmt,edicaplersonninetlheUniteSdtates vectorable thrust nozzles as an advanced flight control
wereabletoremotelayidindiagnosinpgatientisnRussian concept. NASA also did important aeronautics research
hospitalsviatwo-wayinteractivveideolinks.InEarth using its F-18Systems Research Aircraft, its Vertical Short
scienceth,eSpaceRadaLraboratoriesa-n1d Take off and Landing (V/STOL) System Research Aircraft,
-2 plus the
and its F-15 testbed aircraft. A number of other NASA
Light Intersection Direction and Ranging (LIDAR) In-Space
programs sought to reduce aircraft noise, to help U.S.
Technology Experiment payload used powerful radar and
industry remain competitive inan environment of increased
laser technology to penetrate cloud cover and map critical
worldwide competition, and to reduce the environmental
factors on a global scale.
impact of future commercial engines through decreased
In ayear of tremendous accomplishments for the inter-
exhaust emissions. The joint National Aero-Space Plane
national Space Station, NASA developed an initial set of (NASP) program of NASA and the DoD was reduced by
specifications for itthat included Russian elements as part of congressional direction at the end of FY 1994 but continued
the design. Russia's agreeing tojoin the 12original partici- throughout the year todevelop exciting new technologies for
pating nations as a partner resulted in the expansion of the potential commercial use in various industries.
existing Shuttle/Mir program into Phase I of the interna- Also during FY 1994, NASA made significant progress
tional Space Station program, which officially began with in measuring, modeling, and mitigating the orbital debris
Sergei Krikalev's flight on the Shuttle. All of the partners environment. NASA's Mission to Planet Earth program
held asuccessful systems design review inTexas in March, included the LIDAR In-Space Technology Experiment that
and in June, Russia and the United States signed an interim flew on the Space Shuttle Discovery in September and
agreement on Space Station and a $400 million contract for observed clouds invisible toconventional weather satellites,
Russian space hardware, services, and data. In August, the dust clouds over Africa, and the structure of asuper typhoon
program completed a vehicle architecture review, and in in the Pacific. In cooperation with Italy and Germany, the
September, the Space Station Control Board ratified the Space Radar Laboratory flew onthe Space Shuttle Endeavour
recommendations itincluded. The redesigned Space Station during April (SRL- 1)and September-October 1994 (SRL-2),
costs $5 billion less than Freedom and still offers increased enabling ateam of 52scientists and ground teams around the
research capability and user flexibility. world toobserve the shifting boundaries between temperate
In aeronautics, NASA's Advanced Subsonic Technol- and boreal (northern) forests, as well as other natural phe-
ogy program continued work on its goal to facilitate a safe, nomena. FY 1994 was a year of transition for the Land
productive global air transportation system that includes a Remote Sensing Satellite (Landsat) program, as NASA
new generation of environmentally compatible, economic
assumed the satellite-development responsibilities for
aircraft that will compete ininternational markets. Efforts in Landsat-7 from the DoD in May, with NOAA and the U.S.
advanced subsonics focused on reducing aircraft and engine
Geological Survey (USGS) also having roles in this future
noise levels, on development of wind shear sensing devices,
Landsat mission. NASA's and NOAA's efforts to monitor
and on creating technologies that will improve general
ozone depletion continued toreflect the effects of the Mount
aviation aircraft and air traffic management. In the super-
Pinatubo eruption in June 1991. The Antarctic ozone levels
sonic arena, NASA's SR-71 aircraft testbed program con-
for 1994 were nearly as small as the record lows from
ducted baseline flights for aeronautical research to assist
October 1993. The slight recovery in 1994 probably resulted
industry in making key decisions about developing a High-
from fewer sulfuric acid particles remaining from the erup-
Speed Civil Transport (HSCT). More generally, NASA's
tion of Mount Pinatubo. TOPEX/Poseidon continued to
High-Speed Research program continued during FY 1994 to
2 Aeronautics and SpaceReport of the President