June 1983:milestones

February 1983

18 The final report on the loss of the two boosters from the fourth Shuttle flight in June 1982 concludes that faulty switches allowed the main parachutes to separate early. The switches, normally activated when the boosters hit the sea, appear to have been triggered by the shock of small charges separating the booster skirts.

25 Challenger's no. 2 main engine (2015) is discovered to have a hydrogen leak. It is removed on the 28th, the same day engine 3 is also found to be faulty in the same place. Cracks have appeared near where a sleeve is attached to prevent chafing on a line taking hydrogen to the igniter. These two engines are reattached on 1 & 3 March. Checks on all seven of this engine type so far produced show that five suffer from the problem. All three of the Orbiter's main engines are now removed.

28 ESA announces that it is switching the launch of its Exosat X-ray satellite from Ariane to the US Delta rocket on 26 May because of delays in the European launcher series.

March 1983

2 Kosmos 1443 is launched at 0932 GMT to dock with Salyut 7 space station on the 4th. The module, similar to the Kosmos 1267 "Star" unit that spent a year attached to Salyut 6, will allow expanded manned operations. The next Soyuz launch window occurs in late April.

14 NASA announces that there will be further STS-6 delays. Technicians have found that high winds on 28 February carried sand, salt and silicate particles into the cargo bay, possibly contaminating the TDRS satellite's solar panel hinges. Such material could prevent the panels unfolding in space. The satellite is removed and cleaned; on 21 March the launch is set for 4 April.

15 The Soviets launch a second 1000 kg winged spacecraft from Kapustin Yar. Kosmos 1445, like Kosmos 1374 of last June, is believed to be part of a development effort for a small shuttle. It is recovered from a 206 X 158 km orbit after 1.5 revolutions.

21 A 4% more powerful version of the shuttle booster is test fired. It will allow up to 1400 kg more payload to be carried; STS-8 will be the first to use it.

29 ESA selects ISO (Infrared Space Observatory) as its new science project for the early 1990’s. ISO will observe specific objects located in the general survey of the present IRAS satellite.