table3.71

SP-4012 NASA HISTORICAL DATA BOOK: VOLUME III
PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS 1969-1978

Table 3-71. Chronology of High Energy Astronomy Observatory Development and Operations

Date

Event

.

Spring 1969

NASA Headquarters assigned the management of a high-energy astronomy satellite project to the Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC), Huntsville, AL. MSFC began a preliminary definition study (phase A) for a High Energy Astronomy Observatory (HEAO).

Sept.1969

NASA recommended to the president's Space Task Group (STG) that high-energy astronomy capability was a high-priority scientific goal. The STG echoed that recommendation in its report to President Richard M. Nixon.

Feb. 26, 1970

MSFC issued a request for proposals (RFP) to 20 firms for a phase B preliminary design study for HEAO. Plans called for two large 9700-kilogram satellites.

Mar. 1970

MSFC established an HEAO Task team led by Rodney D. Stewart.

Mar. 19, 1970

A Grumman Aerospace Corp.-Bendix Corp. -Hughes Aircraft Co. team was the first to announce its intentions to bid for the HEAO contract.

Apr. 1, 1970

MSFC held a preproposal briefing for 155 scientists and industry representatives interested in participating in HEAO.

Apr. 14, 1970

General Electric's Space Systems Organization, teamed with American Science and Engineering, Inc., and the Radiation Systems Division of Harris-Intertype, announced that it would also be bidding for the HEAO contract.

May 22, 1970

MSFC announced that Grumman and TRW, Inc., had been chosen for HEAO phase B contracts.

July 7, 1970

John E. Naugle, associate administrator for space science and applications, and other managers from NASA Headquarters met with the MSFC HEAO team to discuss the project.

Nov. 8, 1970

NASA announced that it had chosen seven proposals for experiments for HEAO-A and five with one backup for HEAO-B from a total of 55 proposals.

Dec. 1-2, 1970

The principal investigators of the proposed HEAO experiments met at MSFC for a briefing.

Mar. 9, 1971

In Priorities for Space Research, the National Academy of Sciences-National Research Council Space Science Board recommended that NASA assign high priority funding to its HEAO program.

Mar. 29, 1971

MSFC announced that it had let 10 seven-month phase B definition contracts for HEAO experiments.

Apr. 1971

TRW and Grumman completed their phase B studies.

Apr. 21, 1971

The MSFC director named F. A. Speer manager of the HEAO Task Team; the team was redesignated the HEAO Program Office in August.

July 7, 1971

MSFC issued an RFP for the development, manufacture, and testing of two HEAO satellites.

Aug. 27, 1971

Grumman and TRW submitted contract bids for HEAO.

Oct. 28, 1971

NASA announced that Lockheed was building an Orbit Adjust Stage for use with the Titan III-D, proposed launcher for HEAO, to circularize HEAO's orbit (Lockheed began this work under a study contract in March).

Nov. 23, 1971

NASA announced that it would be contracting with TRW for HEAO.

Feb. 1972

NASA identified a follow-on HEAO as a potential payload for I of the first 10 Shuttle flights.

Feb. 1972

HEAO-A experimenters met at MSFC for two days of briefings.

Apr. 1972

NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center contracted with Grumman and Stanford University for phase B studies of the energetic gamma ray telescope proposed for HEAO-B.

June 30, 1972

NASA awarded a contract worth $83.65 million to TRW for two HEAO satellites, with a first launch scheduled for 1975 on a Titan IIIE. A total of 13 experiments would be carried on the two observatories.

July 1972

MSFC awarded contracts for the design and fabrication of seven experiments for HEAO-A.

Aug. 1972

The Physics Survey Committee of the National Academy of Sciences gave HEAO a high-priority rating in the field of physics-related projects being conducted in the U.S.

Oct. 11, 1972

NASA awarded Ball Brothers a contract to design and build a high-spectral resolution gamma ray spectrometer for HEAO-B.

Jan. 5, 1973

Because of budget cuts, NASA was forced to suspend HEAO for one year while its managers restructured the observatory program and looked for ways to cut costs. During the year, the program was redefined; it would include three smaller satellites weighing less than 3000 kilograms with smaller, modular experiment packages. The new HEAO would be launched by Atlas-Centaur.

Apr. 5, 1974

NASA approved four experiments for HEAO-A and let contracts totaling $23.35 million.

Apr. 10, 1974

MSFC announced that it would negotiate with TRW as contractor for the redefined HEAO Block I satellites.

Aug.-Oct. 1974

HEAO scientists conducted a series of balloon flights as part of the instrument development program. The balloons carried development models of HEAO instruments.

Aug. 28, 1974

MSFC completed negotiations with TRW for the HEAO contract, with the first launch scheduled for 1977. The NASA center also let contracts for five experiments for HEAO-B.

Oct. 1974

TRW began studies to determine how HEAO satellites could be deployed and retrieved by Shuttle.

Jan. 1975

MSFC announced that an x-ray telescope test facility would be built at the center for HEAD by Inscho's Mechanical Contractors. The contractor would complete construction by April 1976.

Jan. 1975

TRW chose Control Data Corp. to provide altitude control computers for HEAD.

Jan. 1975

In Opportunities and Choices in Space Science, 1974, the Space Science Board strongly endorsed NASA's HEAO program.

Summer 1975

MSFC began a phase A feasibility study of HEAO Block 11 observatories.

May 1976

Contractors began delivery of the HEAO experiment hardware to TRW, with integration of four of the experiments completed by September.

Sept. 8, 1976

NASA's Lewis Research Center announced that it had let a contract to General Dynamics Corporation's Convair Division for eight Atlas-Centaur launch vehicles, including those required for HEAO.

Sept. 14, 1976

NASA reported to Congress that it had reprogrammed $2.76 million from the Explorer program to HEAO and dropped two requirements (retrievability by Shuttle and compatibility with the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System) for HEAO-C. It also was noted that the complexity of the HEAO-B telescope was greater than anticipated.

Nov. 16, 1976

MSFC announced that three experiments would be carried aboard HEAO-C.

Aug. 12, 1977

NASA successfully launched HEAO 1 from the Eastern Test Range. The satellite returned data until its official termination in September 1979.

Nov. 13, 1978

NASA successfully launched HEAO 2. NASA operated the second observatory for 2.5 years.

Sept. 20, 1979

NASA successfully launched HEAO 3. This last of the series returned data for 20 months.

- Back -

Date	Event
.
Spring 1969	NASA Headquarters assigned the management of a high-energy astronomy satellite project to the Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC), Huntsville, AL. MSFC began a preliminary definition study (phase A) for a High Energy Astronomy Observatory (HEAO).
Sept.1969	NASA recommended to the president's Space Task Group (STG) that high-energy astronomy capability was a high-priority scientific goal. The STG echoed that recommendation in its report to President Richard M. Nixon.
Feb. 26, 1970	MSFC issued a request for proposals (RFP) to 20 firms for a phase B preliminary design study for HEAO. Plans called for two large 9700-kilogram satellites.
Mar. 1970	MSFC established an HEAO Task team led by Rodney D. Stewart.
Mar. 19, 1970	A Grumman Aerospace Corp.-Bendix Corp. -Hughes Aircraft Co. team was the first to announce its intentions to bid for the HEAO contract.
Apr. 1, 1970	MSFC held a preproposal briefing for 155 scientists and industry representatives interested in participating in HEAO.
Apr. 14, 1970	General Electric's Space Systems Organization, teamed with American Science and Engineering, Inc., and the Radiation Systems Division of Harris-Intertype, announced that it would also be bidding for the HEAO contract.
May 22, 1970	MSFC announced that Grumman and TRW, Inc., had been chosen for HEAO phase B contracts.
July 7, 1970	John E. Naugle, associate administrator for space science and applications, and other managers from NASA Headquarters met with the MSFC HEAO team to discuss the project.
Nov. 8, 1970	NASA announced that it had chosen seven proposals for experiments for HEAO-A and five with one backup for HEAO-B from a total of 55 proposals.
Dec. 1-2, 1970	The principal investigators of the proposed HEAO experiments met at MSFC for a briefing.
Mar. 9, 1971	In Priorities for Space Research, the National Academy of Sciences-National Research Council Space Science Board recommended that NASA assign high priority funding to its HEAO program.
Mar. 29, 1971	MSFC announced that it had let 10 seven-month phase B definition contracts for HEAO experiments.
Apr. 1971	TRW and Grumman completed their phase B studies.
Apr. 21, 1971	The MSFC director named F. A. Speer manager of the HEAO Task Team; the team was redesignated the HEAO Program Office in August.
July 7, 1971	MSFC issued an RFP for the development, manufacture, and testing of two HEAO satellites.
Aug. 27, 1971	Grumman and TRW submitted contract bids for HEAO.
Oct. 28, 1971	NASA announced that Lockheed was building an Orbit Adjust Stage for use with the Titan III-D, proposed launcher for HEAO, to circularize HEAO's orbit (Lockheed began this work under a study contract in March).
Nov. 23, 1971	NASA announced that it would be contracting with TRW for HEAO.
Feb. 1972	NASA identified a follow-on HEAO as a potential payload for I of the first 10 Shuttle flights.
Feb. 1972	HEAO-A experimenters met at MSFC for two days of briefings.
Apr. 1972	NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center contracted with Grumman and Stanford University for phase B studies of the energetic gamma ray telescope proposed for HEAO-B.
June 30, 1972	NASA awarded a contract worth $83.65 million to TRW for two HEAO satellites, with a first launch scheduled for 1975 on a Titan IIIE. A total of 13 experiments would be carried on the two observatories.
July 1972	MSFC awarded contracts for the design and fabrication of seven experiments for HEAO-A.
Aug. 1972	The Physics Survey Committee of the National Academy of Sciences gave HEAO a high-priority rating in the field of physics-related projects being conducted in the U.S.
Oct. 11, 1972	NASA awarded Ball Brothers a contract to design and build a high-spectral resolution gamma ray spectrometer for HEAO-B.
Jan. 5, 1973	Because of budget cuts, NASA was forced to suspend HEAO for one year while its managers restructured the observatory program and looked for ways to cut costs. During the year, the program was redefined; it would include three smaller satellites weighing less than 3000 kilograms with smaller, modular experiment packages. The new HEAO would be launched by Atlas-Centaur.
Apr. 5, 1974	NASA approved four experiments for HEAO-A and let contracts totaling $23.35 million.
Apr. 10, 1974	MSFC announced that it would negotiate with TRW as contractor for the redefined HEAO Block I satellites.
Aug.-Oct. 1974	HEAO scientists conducted a series of balloon flights as part of the instrument development program. The balloons carried development models of HEAO instruments.
Aug. 28, 1974	MSFC completed negotiations with TRW for the HEAO contract, with the first launch scheduled for 1977. The NASA center also let contracts for five experiments for HEAO-B.
Oct. 1974	TRW began studies to determine how HEAO satellites could be deployed and retrieved by Shuttle.
Jan. 1975	MSFC announced that an x-ray telescope test facility would be built at the center for HEAD by Inscho's Mechanical Contractors. The contractor would complete construction by April 1976.
Jan. 1975	TRW chose Control Data Corp. to provide altitude control computers for HEAD.
Jan. 1975	In Opportunities and Choices in Space Science, 1974, the Space Science Board strongly endorsed NASA's HEAO program.
Summer 1975	MSFC began a phase A feasibility study of HEAO Block 11 observatories.
May 1976	Contractors began delivery of the HEAO experiment hardware to TRW, with integration of four of the experiments completed by September.
Sept. 8, 1976	NASA's Lewis Research Center announced that it had let a contract to General Dynamics Corporation's Convair Division for eight Atlas-Centaur launch vehicles, including those required for HEAO.
Sept. 14, 1976	NASA reported to Congress that it had reprogrammed $2.76 million from the Explorer program to HEAO and dropped two requirements (retrievability by Shuttle and compatibility with the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System) for HEAO-C. It also was noted that the complexity of the HEAO-B telescope was greater than anticipated.
Nov. 16, 1976	MSFC announced that three experiments would be carried aboard HEAO-C.
Aug. 12, 1977	NASA successfully launched HEAO 1 from the Eastern Test Range. The satellite returned data until its official termination in September 1979.
Nov. 13, 1978	NASA successfully launched HEAO 2. NASA operated the second observatory for 2.5 years.
Sept. 20, 1979	NASA successfully launched HEAO 3. This last of the series returned data for 20 months.