Aug 3 1972
From The Space Library
NASA's Erts I Earth Resources Technology Satellite (launched July 23) experienced unexpected power transient during 149th orbit. Ground controllers, suspecting problem in No. 2 tape recorder, turned off all experiment-associated power systems and placed spacecraft in stowed mode until problem was analyzed. Sequential turn-on of payload instruments-bypassing tape recorder- would begin Aug. 4 and transmission of photographic imagery would resume Aug. 5. (GSFC Release 15-72)
Air Force F-15 fighter aircraft completed first supersonic flight, reaching mach 1.5 during 45-min test at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. Flight test program was scheduled to end March 1, 1973, when decision on production of first 30 of 729 aircraft would be made. (SBD, 8/7/72, 188)
Astronauts Charles Conrad, Jr., Paul J. Weitz, and Dr. Joseph P. Kerwin -prime crew for first Skylab mission-checked out Skylab airlock module (AM) and multiple docking adapter (MDA) in vacuum chamber at McDonnell Douglas Astronautics Co.'s St. Louis, Mo., facility. Crew, wearing pressurized spacesuits, entered chamber and took positions in AM and MDA. One hour after pumpdown began, chamber pressure was Is than 138 newtons per sq m (0.02 psi) -equal to that at 45 700-m (150 000-ft) altitude. Pressure inside AM and MDA was held at 34 500 newtons per sq m (5 psi), high enough for crew to remove spacesuits and work in constant-wear garments. Crew connected biomedical equipment and sensors for repressurization but did not put on suits. (MSC Release 72-176)
NASA and Soviet Academy of Sciences had approved recommendations of two joint working groups on compatible rendezvous and docking systems for manned spacecraft, NASA announced. Groups were Working Group on Guidance and Control Systems, which met in Moscow May 11-17, and Working Group on Compatibility of Docking Systems and Tunnels, which met at Manned Spacecraft Center March 27-April 3. Groups had considered lights, docking targets, communications systems, and other requirements of spacecraft control systems and also terminology, interface elements and assemblies, and docking system scale model. (NASA Release 72-160)
Senate Committee on Aeronautical and Space Sciences met in closed session to hear testimony from Dr. James C. Fletcher, NASA Administrator; Dr. George M. Low, Deputy Administrator; and Apollo 15 astronauts David R. Scott, Alfred M. Worden, and James B. Irwin on Apollo 15 commercialism. Discussed were selling of stamp covers carried on mission and of replicas of statue "Fallen Astronaut" placed on moon during mission. Following meeting Committee Chairman, Sen. Clinton P. Anderson (D-N. Mex.), issued statement: "The testimony of NASA management and of the astronauts was forthright and complete. There is no doubt that certain provisions of NASA's Standards of Conduct for NASA Employees were violated by the astronauts for which they have been punished. The question of whether or not they violated any law is being examined. No conclusions were reached by the Committee at this meeting and the Committee will decide at a later time what further action it will take." (CR, 8/3/72, D869; Text)
Senate agreed by vote of 88 to 2 to ratify U.S.-U.S.S.R. treaty on limitation of antiballistic missile systems. (CR, S12598-616, 512619-30, S12675-83)
NASA announced selection of 106 principal investigators, including 83 scientists from U.S. and 23 from other nations, for Skylab earth observation experiments. Investigators would use data from earth resources experiment package (EREP), consisting of five sensors developed to observe earth simultaneously in visible, infrared, and micro-wave spectral regions. (NASA Release 72-150)
NASA selected Lockheed Missiles & Space Co., Inc., for negotiation of $1-million, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract to design health-care delivery system using integrated medical and behavioral laboratory-measurement system (IMBLMS) concept. IMBLMS would provide remote medical care by medical instrumentation, computer-based data-management techniques, and advanced communications techniques. NASA would evaluate IMBLMS concept for possible use in advanced long-duration manned space missions. After 12-mo design phase NASA could exercise option to provide additional funds for 12-mo fabrication and checkout phase and 24-mo operational-testing and system-evaluation phase. (NASA Release 72-159)
Fairchild Industries, Inc., and Western Telegraph Co. announced formation of new company, as yet unnamed, to enter domestic satellite field. Spokesman for Fairchild and Western (which had no connection with Western Union Telegraph Co.) said new company would use Fairchild's satellite systems and development and manufacturing capabilities. (Smith, NYT, 8/9/72)
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