Apr 7 1972
From The Space Library
U.S.S.R. launched Intercosmos 6 from Baikonur Cosmodrome into orbit with 334-km (207.5-mi) apogee, 197-km (122.4-mi) perigee, 90-min period, 51.8° inclination. Purpose of mission was to study "particles of primary radiation with an energy range of 10Y2 to 1013 electron volts; the chemical composition and energy spectrum of space beams in the high energy sphere; [and] meteoric particles in inner space." Instruments including 1070-kg (2359-lb) photo-emulsionary block and ionization calorimeter-had been designed by U.S.S.R., Hungary, Mongolia, Poland, Romania, and Czechoslovakia. Satellite reentered April 11. (cSFC SSR, 4/30/72; SBD, 4/25/72, 301; Tass, FBIS-Sov, 4/7/72, Ll)
NASA'S Mariner 9 completed 146th day in Mars orbit. Since launch May 30, 1971, Mariner 9 had responded to 37 764 commands and had taken 6876 pictures. Spacecraft was undergoing solar occultation (passing into shadow of Mars) and would resume acquisition of data in early June when occultation ceased. Spacecraft resources were being budgeted to keep Mariner 9 active through superior conjunction of Mars and sun in September when spacecraft signals would be deflected by solar gravity. Analysis of deflection could provide accurate check on theory of relativity. (NASA proj off)
Manned Spacecraft Center announced redesignation of Medical Research and Operations Directorate as Life Sciences Directorate. Reorganized directorate would consolidate all biomedical research into Biomedical Research Div.; all medical, operational, and environmental health activities into Health Services Div.; and all equipment development, testing, and integration into Bioengineering Systems Div. Acting Director Richard S. Johnston of MR&OD would be Director of Life Sciences, Dr. Lawrence F. Detlein Deputy Director, and Dr. Willard R. Hawkins Deputy Director of Medical Operations. (MSC Release 72-76)
Manned Spacecraft Center announced it was negotiating parallel contracts for space-walk studies with LTV Aerospace Corp. and Hamilton Standard Div. of United Aircraft Corp. Contracts were to investigate emergency, contingency, and normal extravehicular and intravehicular activities by astronauts and protective equipment required. Firm-fixed-fee con-tracts would amount to $126 000 for LTV and $98 511 for Hamilton Standard. (MSC Release 73-78)
NASA launched Nike-Apache sounding rocket from Thumba, India, carrying Indian Langmuir probe experiment. Rocket and instrumentation performed satisfactorily. (SR list)
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