Word: orbital
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Dates: during 1980-1989
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There are other communications satellites now in orbit (Westar 1, Comstar D2), but cable programmers like Warner Amex and HBO regard the Satcoms as particularly desirable. Reason: their customers, the cable operators around the country, have antennas that can pick up signals from only one satellite at a time. Naturally, the cable operators would rather invest in a single antenna and still receive the widest possible variety of programs to pass on to home subscribers. Since the Satcoms carry almost nothing but cable signals, they offer such a variety. Thus for programmers, leasing a transponder on a Satcom is like...
Space officials tried to put the best possible face on Columbia's latest troubles, which began two weeks ago when clogged oil filters caused an abrupt postponement of the flight. After all, just getting a used spacecraft into orbit was a notable first. The Soviets, who have been hurtling cosmonauts into space with awesome regularity, have yet to attempt such a feat. U.S. space officials emphasized that all of Columbia's first four missions are in fact test flights. Their purpose is to turn up just such "glitches" as Columbia's problems with its electrical system, before...
Mission Control resolved to try again, but a new mechanical storm cloud soon appeared. Two oil filters, closely resembling the ones used in automobiles, had become clogged with gunk. As a result, two of the shuttle's three auxiliary power units-hydraulic devices crucial to entering orbit and landing-were questionable...
...believe this, but this is fun," Truly, who celebrated his 44th birthday yesterday, said to Mission Control after the craft achieved orbit. Engle said the launch from Cape Canaveral, Fla., was "very smooth...
...after a leak was detected in the catalyst which generates electricity by reacting hydrogen and oxygen. While mission flight operations rules dictate a minimal mission of 54 hours when only two fuel cells are working, the Columbia could still operate the full duration of its planned 124 hour, 83-orbit mission, a spokesman for United Technologies, which manufactures the cells, said yesterday...