Arabbit.229 net.space utcsrgv!utzoo!decvax!ucbvax!ihnss!vax135!harpo!npois!rabbit!sjb Wed Feb 10 20:54:40 1982 Space News NASA officials today asked Congress to approve money for a fifth space shuttle, citing that the fleet of four will not be enough to meet demands of those who want to launch cargo into Earth orbit. Last year, NASA signed up 41 customers who will pay to have their satellites launched with either the shuttle (upon operational readiness) or expendable boosters, (to be phased out slowly). A launch schedule was released, containing plans for 70 flights up to September, 1987, with most of them being multi-payload. These contain (in order of most to least) communications satellite, DoD cargo (usually secret), scientific instruments, and the European Spacelab. NASA plans 24 shuttle launches per year by 1988. Major General James Abrahamson, head of the shuttle project, said that when one of the shuttles needs to be taken out of action, be it for repairs or to fix a major accident, a fifth would smooth out launch schedule disruptions. The Columbia is scheduled to launch on its third test flight on 22 March, with STS-4 on 7 July and then it's first operational flight (with two communications satellites) is to come on 11 November. Challenger is scheduled to be delivered in June, with its maiden flight in January, 1983. Discovery is to be delivered in September, 1983 with Atlantis to follow in December, 1984. STS-4 will land at Edwards, in contrast to earlier hopes of landing on the runway at Cape Canaveral, to gain further descent and landing data. On the November, 1982, launch, the first shuttle spacewalk, utilizing a new jack backpack, may be made. New, lighter heat-protective tiles will be installed on Discovery, thus lightening it by 3500 pounds. Lighter external tanks and SRB's are also being developed. ----------------------------------------------------------------- gopher://quux.org/ conversion by John Goerzen of http://communication.ucsd.edu/A-News/ This Usenet Oldnews Archive article may be copied and distributed freely, provided: 1. There is no money collected for the text(s) of the articles. 2. The following notice remains appended to each copy: The Usenet Oldnews Archive: Compilation Copyright (C) 1981, 1996 Bruce Jones, Henry Spencer, David Wiseman.