January 9, 1984

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Space Technology

Astronauts to Perform Untethered Evas From Shuttle

Johnson Space Center—Astronauts on the next space shuttle mission plan to fly new manned maneuvering unit backpacks 300 ft. away from the orbiter Challenger and ride atop a work platform attached to the manipulator arm. These will be the most complex U. S. extravehicular activities since repair of the Skylab space station 10 years ago.

By Craig Covault16 min

Avionics

New Zealand Updates P-3b Electronics

Seattle—New sensors, data processing equipment and crew station consoles being installed in Royal New Zealand Air Force Lockheed P-3Bs are intended to extend the useful life of these long-range maritime patrol aircraft by improving performance and reducing support costs.

By Benjamin M. Elson9 min

Manufacturing Technology

Swedes Seek to Penetrate U. S. Market

Vasteras, Sweden—The Asea Group, a diversified electrical products company established here in 1890 as Allmanna Svenska Elektriska Aktiebolaget, is establishing operations in the U. S. to aid penetration of the U. S. market for industrial electronics developed in Europe and applicable to aerospace manufacturing.

By Jay C. Lowndes6 min

Editorial

Sporty Course in Space

A real donnybrook has erupted in commercial communications satellites with the filing by a Hughes Aircraft subsidiary for a system operating in the untouched as yet Ka-frequency band. The move is likely to derail a NASA communications satellite technology development program, the Advanced Communications Technology Satellite, that could amount to a $95million increment in the Fiscal 1985 budget and close to $500 million in total funding.

By William H. Gregory4 min

January 21984

January 161984

January 9, 1984

January 9, 1984