December 7
STS-35 science crew members taught a science lesson from orbit and answered questions from students at Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, and Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, as part of a pilot educational program called Space Classroom-Assignment: The Stars, Twelve students visiting the Marshall Center participated in a supplemental lesson taught in the Spacelab Mission Operations Control Center. The students spent the next two days visiting MSFC Laboratories, Space Camp, and experiencing hands-on science activities at the Marshall Discovery Lab. (MSFC News Release, December 6, 1990)
December 10
MSFC Director Jack Lee announced the following key personnel appointments: Keith B. Coates was appointed Chief Engineer, Advanced Solid Rocket Motor (ASRM) Project; John S. Chapman, was appointed Deputy, ASRM Project; Craig E. Sumner was appointed Deputy Manager, External Tank Project Office. (MSFC Management Announcement, December 10, 1990)
December 10
The Advisory Committee on the Future of the U.S. Space Program issued an advance copy of its Summary and Principal Recommendations. A portion of the report included the following: "Briefly stated the Committee believes that NASA and only NASA, realistically possesses the essential critical mass of knowledge and expertise upon which the nation's civil space program can be sustained -- and that the task at hand is therefore for NASA to focus on making the self-improvements that gird this responsibility." (Advance Copy of the Summary and Principal Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on the Future of the U.S. Space Program, December 10, 1990)
December 11
A static test of a Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Motor, designated Technical Evaluation Motor Number 7, took place at Thiokol Corporation Space Operations Test Facility near Brigham City, Utah. (Marshall Star, December 19, 1990)
December 30
Harold R. Coldwater was appointed Manager, Upper Stage Projects Office, Space Systems Projects Office. (MSFC Space Systems Office Inputs for Draft Chronology of MSFC Events for 1990)
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