Aug 20 1971
From The Space Library
No viable organism and no evidence of fossil material had been found in Apollo 14 lunar samples, Lunar Sample Preliminary Examination Team reported in Science. Major findings had been: only 2 of 33 rocks had basaltic textures; samples differed from earlier lunar rocks and from their closest meteorite and terrestrial analogs in chemical content; chemical composition of soil resembled that of rocks; rocks displayed characteristic surface features and shock effects similar to those of Apollo 11 and 12 samples; concentration of solar-wind-implanted material in soil was large, as in Apollo 11 and 12 material, but solar wind contents of rocks ranged from that of soil "to essentially zero"; carbon content of Apollo 14 rocks was within range of that for Apollo 11 and 12 rocks; four fragmental rocks showed surface exposure time about an order of magnitude less than typical exposure times of Apollo 11 and 12 rocks; broader range of soil mechanics properties had been found at Apollo 14 site than at Apollo 11 or 12 sites and Surveyor landing sites; and no evidence of biological material had been found in Apollo 14 samples to date. (Science, 8/20/71, 681-93)
Apollo 12, 14, and 15 seismometers had located source of 80% of moonquakes in area 10 km (6 mi) wide and 650 km (400 mi) below lunar surface in Ocean of Storms, Dr. Gary N. Latham, Apollo program chief seismologist, reported in interview published in Washing-ton Post. (Brett, W Post, 8120/71, A2)
NASA launched series of three sounding rockets from Wallops Station to measure diurnal oxygen, density, pressure, and temperature and obtain comparisons of pitot and active-sphere density measurements. Rockets were launched during darkness and data would be compared with data from daylight series launched Aug. 19. Nike-Cajun carried Univ. of Michigan and NOAA experiment to 132-km (82-mi) altitude to measure diurnal variation of atomic oxygen in 80- to 120-km (50- to 75-mi) region. Nike-Apache carried Univ. of Michigan and GSFC experiment to 180-km (111.8-mi) altitude to obtain diurnal measurements of density, pressure, and temperature in 80- to 120- km (50- to 75-mi) region. Viper Dart carried WSMR experiment to 144-km (89.5-mi) altitude to provide density, temperature, pressure, and wind data from 40 to 130 km (25 to 80 mi). All rockets and instrumentation functioned satisfactorily. (NASA Rpts saL)
Three Nike-Apache sounding rockets were launched by NASA from Wallops Station carrying Univ, of Illinois and RCA Corp. experiments to measure electron concentration, collision frequency, and temperature in lower ionosphere before sunrise. Rockets reached 193-km (119.9-m), 198-km (123-mi), and 200-km (124.3-mi) altitudes with all instruments functioning satisfactorily. (NASA Rpts SRL)
U.S.S.R. launched Vertikal-2 cooperative geophysical research rocket to 463-km (287.7-mi) altitude to study solar uv and x-ray emissions, ionospheric parameters, and meteor particles. Nose section of rocket consisted of instrument compartment and recoverable container carrying scientific equipment for heliophysical research and Hungarian-Czechoslovakian-Soviet instruments to study micrometeors. Instrument compartment carried equipment for heliophysical and ionospheric research designed by Bulgarian, East German, Czechoslovakian, and Soviet scientists. Rocket and instruments functioned satisfactorily and payload was recovered. (Tass, FBIS-Sov-163-3, 8/23/71, LI)
Permanent charter for INTELSAT was signed by 54 nations-51 of whom were members of 80-member interim INTELSAT consortium- during State Dept. ceremonies. Signatures of three more original members were required for two-thirds majority necessary to inaugurate new agreement providing for gradual relaxation of U.S. control. Under permanent charter INTELSAT Assembly of Parties, prime organ of multitiered organization, would meet biennially and take decisions with one vote for each nation. Annual Meeting of Signatories would decide on financial, operational, and technical aspects of programs with one vote for each member. INTELSAT Board of Directors would meet at least four times a year to vote on design, development, construction, establishment, operation, and maintenance of space segment. No single Board member could cast more than 40% of total vote; decisions would be taken by two- thirds majority; and nonveto provisions had been written into charter. U.S. had agreed to relinquish unilateral veto power it had under interim arrangements. Permanent charter created new executive organ to assist Board of Governors, headed first by Secretary General and later by Director General. ComSatCorp would continue to provide technical and operational management of INTELSAT space segment under six-year contract. Net investment ceiling of U.S. $5 million was established with discretion in Board of Governors to increase ceiling by 10%. (Lydon, NYT, 8/21/71, 40; "Permanent Arrangements for the Global Commercial Communications Satellite System of Intelsat," IAF 22nd Int'l Astro Congress, 9/25/71)
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