August 27, 1990

August 27, 1990

View Full Issue Table of Contents
HEADLINE NEWS

Magellan Radar Produces Sharp Images, But Computer Problems Vex Controllers

AVIATION WEEK PILOT REPORT: BOEING/SIKORSKY H-76B FANTAIL

Boeing/Sikorsky Fantail Allows Radical Maneuvers

By NICHOLAS C. KERNSTOCK

AVIATION WEEK PILOT REPORT

Fan-in-Fin Antitorque System Completes light Test, Enters Demonstration Phase

View Full Issue
More Features
2829
HEADLINE NEWS

Magellan Radar Produces Sharp Images, But Computer Problems Vex Controllers

MICHAEL A. DORNHEIM PASADENA, CALIF. The Magellan spacecraft was in a “safe” mode late last week, having survived two periods in which communications were lost. It was in a stable Earthpointing attitude, sending low-speed telemetry and responding to commands from Earth.
3233
AVIATION WEEK PILOT REPORT: BOEING/SIKORSKY H-76B FANTAIL

Boeing/Sikorsky Fantail Allows Radical Maneuvers

WEST PALM BEACH, FLA. The Boeing/Sikorsky H-76B Fantail demonstrator aircraft, equipped with the companies’ fan-in-fin antitorque system, delivers unrestricted yaw pointing capability at airspeeds up to 80 kt. as well as other unusual agility and maueuverability characteristics.

By NICHOLAS C. KERNSTOCK

3435
AVIATION WEEK PILOT REPORT

Fan-in-Fin Antitorque System Completes light Test, Enters Demonstration Phase

WEST PALM BEACH FLA. The Boeing/Sikorsky fan-in-fin antitorque system demonstrator, known as the Fantail, has completed its initial flight test program and is being demonstrated at several military installations around the nation.
6465
SPACE TECHNOLOGY

Soviets Plan Intensive EVA Program To Reconfigure, Repair Mir Station

ARKALYK, KAZAKHSTAN; KALININGRAD, USSR The Soviet Union is entering a new phase of manned spaceflight activity with a planned reconfiguration of the Mir space station and the continuation of mediumduration missions that will keep the facility continually manned into 1992.
6465

New Thruster Package May Be Installed On Kvant 1 to Improve Station Roll Control

KALININGRAD, SOVIET UNION The Soviet Union is considering installing a new thruster package on the outside of Mir to improve the station’s roll control. The thrusters would be fixed on the end of a deployable mast placed on Mir’s Kvant 1 module, according to Vladimir Solovyov, flight director at the manned spaceflight control center in Kaliningrad.
6869
SPACE TECHNOLOGY

Soviets Employ Modified Reentry Procedure Following TM-9 Thermal Blanket Problems

ARKALYK, KAZAKHSTAN; KALININGRAD, USSR The Soviet Union used a modified reentry procedure for Soyuz TM-9 to increase safety margins following thermal blanket problems that occurred during its six-month orbital mission. The modified sequence involved a simultaneous separation of Soyuz TM-9's forward orbital module and aft-mounted service module after the spacecraft's successful retrofire propulsion burn for the reentry.
7273
JAPAN’S SPACE PROGRAM

First Japanese Shuttle Astronaut Set for 1991 Spacelab J Flight

TOKYO This is the third part of a series on the Japanese space program. Previous parts appeared in AVIATION WEEK & SPACE TECHNOLOGY Aug. 20, p. 63, and Aug. 13, p. 36. Japan’s first shuttle astronaut is undergoing final training for launch in 1991 on the U. S. space shuttle as part of a Japanese-sponsored Spacelab mission.

By CRAIG COVAULT

7273
JAPAN’S SPACE PROGRAM

Space Carp, Symbolic of Japan, To Provide Zero-G Vestibular Data

TOKYO The 12 Japanese life sciences experiments on the Spacelab J mission will include two 12-in. carp that will be kept in a water-filled unit where their vestibular response to zero-g can be studied. Japanese chicken eggs will be incubated in space during the mission as well.
7677
JAPAN’S SPACE PROGRAM

New Japanese Spacecraft to Study Solar Flares, Effects of Sun on Earth

SAGAMIHARA, JAPAN Japan is building two complex new spacecraft to image violent solar flares on the Sun and assess the effects of the solar wind on Earth. The two spacecraft illustrate the powerful instrumentation that can be packaged in small spacecraft using advanced microelectronics.
8081
JAPAN’S SPACE PROGRAM

Japan Developing Advanced Spacecraft For Deep Space X-Ray, Radio Astronomy

SAGAMIHARA, JAPAN Japan is preparing to launch two new space astronomy satellites designed to provide important data on the early state of the universe. The missions scheduled for 1993 and 1995 also will transition Japan’s space science agency, the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS), to the use of the powerful new M-5 booster.
August 201990 September 31990