From The Archive: 45 Years Ago In Aviation Week

The cover of our May 14, 1979 issue of Aviation Week & Space Technology featured a photo of Enterprise, the engineless test space shuttle, mounted on Launch Pad 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. 

“Pathfinder tests with the vehicle will clear the way for the first flight of the space shuttle, now planned for the first quarter of 1980,” reported Space Technology Editor Craig Covault, who also took the cover photo. 

In that same edition, another report said the space agency was asking Congress for $220 million to help cover more than $600 million in shuttle cost overruns. NASA Administrator Robert A. Frosch pointed the finger at prime contractor Rockwell International. 

But Rockwell Space Systems President George B. Merrick fired back that NASA management in Florida and Washington did not have a clear understanding of the work being done on the shuttle. 

The shuttle finally made its first flight on April 12, 1981. Enterprise is now on display at the Intrepid Museum in New York.

See the cover of the May 14, 1979 edition. 

Read the article First Shuttle Reentry Poses Challenges on page 38. 

Read about NASA asking Congress for $220 million to help cover more than $600 million in shuttle cost overruns, in the Washington Roundup on page 12, under the Shuttle Funds subheading.

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