March 17, 1986

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AVIONICS

Nasa Demonstrates Use of Ai with Expert Monitoring System

Kennedy Space Center—The first artificial intelligence project under way here is the liquid oxygen (LOX) expert system, and it has served to demonstrate to Kennedy Space Center management that artifical intelligence is real, not black magic.

By Edward H. Kolcum10 min

SHUTTLE 51-L LOSS

Nasa Identifies Failure Scenarios

Kennedy Space Center—Marshall Space Flight Center witnesses told a presidential commission that they are focusing their investigations on three failure scenarios as probable causes of the space shuttle Mission 51-L accident. In testimony given the commission Mar. 7 by Jerrol W. Littles, Marshall associate director for engineering, probable causes of the failure were identified as:

By Edward H. Kolcum8 min

Management

Usaf Urges Canceling Fairchild T-46, Extending Cessna T-37 Service Life

Washington—The Air Force recommended during congressional hearings last week that the Fairchild Industries T-46 trainer program be terminated and the Cessna Aircraft T-37, now used for initial pilot training, be modified to extend its service life.

SHUTTLE 51-L LOSS

Nasa Budget Facing Problems in Congressional Deliberations

Washington—Rising estimates of the cost of recovery from Challenger's destruction, now $5-6 billion, are fueling concern in Congress that the space budget is headed for political trouble, especially if the Administration continues to draw out its internal deliberations on an emergency funding request.

By Paul Mann5 min

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March 17, 1986

March 17, 1986

Flight Safety Critical Items Analyzed in Wake of Accident