+ 1970 News Releases (7.6 Mb PDF file) - NASA

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Nr-,TIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION
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cMANNEDSPACE TER
483-511L 7O-6 AO
May 27, 1970
HOus41:On
Texas
HOUSTON, TEY_S---The NASA Manned Spacecraft Center has awarded a
$250 thousand contract to North American Rockwell Corporation for a
preliminary planning study of a lunar orbit station.
Major objectives of the study, which will be conducted at the
company's Space Division facility in Downey, California_ are to define
station configuration_ refine functions performed by the orbiting
station, detail the kind and nature of scientific investigations which
may be undertaken_ and to develop rescue capabilities.
The station initially will operate in zero gravity; however, it
is to be designed such that it can be modified to an artificial gravity
environment at some later date. The station may be 33 feeb in diameter,
made up of several decks and weigh between 60 and 90 tons.
The station is one element of the agency's Integrated Manned Space
Plight Plan. The plan envisioned reusable shuttles_ Earth orbiting
stations_ reusable Earth orbit to lunar orbit nuclear shuttles_ the
lunar orbit station and a space tug which also can operate on the Moon's
surface.
Operational flights for the lunar orbit station are projected for
the
1980's.
Identified as a Phase A effort, the study is to be completed by
February 1971. It is being conducted under direction of the Advanced
Missions Program Office.