Apr 6 1972
From The Space Library
U.S.S.R. launched Cosmos 484 from Plesetsk into orbit with 236-km (146.6-mi) apogee, 177-km (110-mi) perigee, 88.6-min period, and 81.5° inclination. Satellite reentered April 18. (GFSC SSR, 4/20/72; Sov Aero, 5/1/72, 9)
Establishment of Urban Systems Project Office was announced by Manned Spacecraft Center. Office would apply space technology and techniques to urban problems and systems in effort by NASA, Dept. of Housing and Urban Development, and Atomic Energy Commission to develop new methods of servicing urban areas. Modular-sized integrated utility system (MSIUS) would investigate and demonstrate feasibility of servicing limited-size communities with complete line of utilities generated by single processing plant. (MSC Release 72-75)
U.S. planned to commemorate 200th anniversary of Nation's birth by attempting to land unmanned spacecraft on planet Mars July 4, 1976, according to NASA spokesman quoted in Washington Post. Attempt would be made by Viking spacecraft scheduled to enter Mars orbit about July 1, 1976. (W Post, 4/6/72, A2)
NASA and National Science Teachers Assn. announced selection of 25 finalists in Skylab Student Project to propose flight experiments and demonstrations for performance aboard Skylab in 1973. Finalists' proposals had been selected from 3409 entries from students throughout U.S. and overseas. Selection of limited number of these proposals for actual inclusion on Skylab would be completed by June 1. (NASA Release 72-71)
Sen. William Proxmire (D-Wis.) conveyed to Senate report by General Accounting Office on C-5A aircraft program that showed Air Force was continuing to accept delivery of defective C-5A aircraft. From February through September 1971 Air Force had accepted 15 C-5As with average of 251 deficiencies per aircraft. Most serious defects were in wings, landing gear, and radar. (CR, 4/6/72, S5510-7)
April 6-7: Outstanding Handicapped Federal Employee of the Year Award-given annually by Civil Service Commission-was presented in Washington, D.C., to Shirley Price, armless 1.2-m-tall (4-ft-tall) administrative aid at Manned Spacecraft Center. Miss Price had graduated from Texas Southern Univ. with honors and had attended graduate school at Univ. of Wisconsin. At MSC she controlled 10 000-event data library, used and interpreted UNIVAC 1108 computer runs, filed, answered telephones, and typed 45 to 50 words per minute. Her hobbies included drawing, embroidering, crocheting, and knitting, all of which she did with her toes. Mayor Walter E. Washington presented keys to city of Washington, D.C., to Miss Price on April 7. (W Star, 4/8/72; NASA Activities, 5/15/72, 95- 6)
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