April 20, 1981

April 20, 1981

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Space Shuttle First Launch

Crew Flies Precise Reentry

Space Shuttle First Launch

Columbia Exceeds Flight Goals

Space Technology

Boeing Optimistic Over 1982 Ius/titan Launch

By Richard G. O’Lone9 min

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More Features
2425
Space Shuttle First Launch

Crew Flies Precise Reentry

1819
Space Shuttle First Launch

Columbia Exceeds Flight Goals

Kennedy Space Center, Fla.—Space shuttle Columbia’s successful launch, orbital operation and reentry to a smooth landing at Edwards AFB, Calif., met or exceeded all flight test goals, carrying winged flight into uncharted territory.
4849
Space Technology

Boeing Optimistic Over 1982 Ius/titan Launch

Kent, Wash.—Boeing Aerospace Co., although still facing problems, is confident it can deliver a highly reliable inertial upper stage (IUS) in time for missions a year from now after a development program that has overrun both time and cost targets.

By Richard G. O’Lone9 min

6263
Avionics

Reporting System Offers Weather Data, Cost Savings

Silver Spring, Md.—Wider application of an automated aircraft reporting system, developed to collect and relay accurate, timely data on winds and temperatures at jet aircraft cruising levels, could help produce better, more current upper air weather analyses and result in significant fuel savings for transoceanic and domestic operators.

By Kenneth J. Stein7 min

2223
Space Shuttle First Launch

Orbital Objectives Achieved

5455
Business Flying

Iai Introduces Astra, Westwind Sales Rise

Lod, Israel—Israel Aircraft Industries, riding the crest of its best business-jet sales year ever, will boost production of its Westwind aircraft versions to five per month this fall and will introduce the Model 1125 Astra by mid-1985. The Astra will be slightly larger than the current Westwind and will be designed to fly New York-London with instrument flight rule reserves.

By David A. Brown7 min

5859
Missile Engineering

Usaf to Speed Mx Land Withdrawal

Washington—The Defense Dept. wants to join the Interior Dept. in a legislative plan for MX mobile missile land withdrawal to speed up a process that, if left in its current state, could delay construction as much as or more than basing design uncertainties.

By David R. Griffiths6 min

3435
Air Transport

New Cargo Accounting Tested

IATA assesses feasibility of centralized system for U. S. carriers, agents that would greatly reduce flow of checks

By Michael Feazel5 min

4647
Space Technology

Concern Over Landsat Budget Cutbacks Expressed

By Benjamin M. Elson5 min

2021
Space Shuttle First Launch

Quick Fix Leads to Flawless Performance

Kennedy Space Center, Fla.—The computer “time skew” that forced the scrub of the Apr. 10 shuttle orbiter launch was quickly diagnosed in about 5 hr. and produced a work-around operating solution later the same night. Accuracy of the troubleshooting effort, which involved more than 50 specialists from Johnson Space Center, IBM and Rockwell International, was reflected in the faultless performance of the onboard computer complex throughout the successful mission that began Apr. 12.
April 131981 April 271981