Dec 1 1972
From The Space Library
Intercosmos 8 was launched by U.S.S.R. from Plesetsk into orbit with 590-km (366.6-mi) apogee, 199-km (123.7-mi) perigee, 92.4-min period, and 70.9° inclination. Tass announced satellite would continue global research of ionosphere, including temperature and concentration of electrons, in cooperative program of socialist countries to study different cosmic ray particles and micrometeoroids which influenced weather, climate, radio communications, and biological processes on earth. Tass reported onboard scientific equipment and systems were functioning normally. Intercosmos 8 carried equipment designed and built in Bulgaria, German Democratic Republic, Czechoslovakia, and U.S.S.R. Satellite reentered March 2, 1973. (GSFC SSR, 12/31/72; 3/31/73; FBIs-Sov, 12/1- 2/72, L1; SBD, 12/2/72, 58)
Apollo 17 Astronauts Eugene A. Cernan, Dr. Harrison H. Schmitt, and Ronald E. Evans passed final four-hour physical examination at Kennedy Space Center. Manned Spacecraft Center Deputy Director of Life Sciences for Medical Operations, Dr. W. Royce Hawkins, told press astronauts were "well rested, in good spirits, and physically in excellent shape." (Wilford, NYT, 12/2/72, 58)
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics announced election of 19 new Fellows, including Dr. James C. Fletcher, NASA Administrator; Bruce T. Lundin, Lewis Research Center Director; and Harris M. Schurmeir, Jet Propulsion Laboratory Project Manager. Fellows would be honored at annual banquet during Jan. 8-10, 1973, annual meeting and technical display. Dr. Fletcher had been cited for "pioneering work in missile guidance systems and for his farsighted administrative leadership of this nation's aeronautical and space research and development programs." Lundin citation was for "contribution to research in turbojet and ramjet engine technology and his management of many aircraft, missile and spacecraft research pro-grams." Schurmeir was cited for "basic work in systems engineering for lunar and planetary spacecraft and in particular for his leadership of the Ranger photographic missions to the moon and the Mariner missions to Mars." Assistant Secretary of the Air Force Grant L. Hansen had also been elected AMA Fellow, for "contributions to the electronic design of the Nike, Sparrow, Thor and Skybolt Systems, management and direction of the Centaur program and his perceptive leadership in military research and development." (AIAA Release)
First results of new radar astronomy technique for accurately measuring lunar topography from earth were described in Science by Haystack Observatory astronomer Stanley H. Zisk. Earlier techniques had measured radar backscattering properties by analyzing lunar echo simultaneously in both time and delay Doppler frequency. New technique extended earlier technique to three-dimensional measurement using radio-interferometer receiver for lunar echo signals. Technique had been used to measure lunar area that included craters Ptolemaeus, Alphonsus, and Arzachel and portions of Mare Nubium. Results had shown evidence of late episode of volcanism that had partially filled two craters through crustal fault of Imbrian origin. Other features coinciding with local gravitational anomalies could be correlated with flow events. Science cover photo of lunar topography showed floor of crater Ptolemaeus to be higher than large mare to its left. Lunar elevations were indicated by lighter shades of gray on black-to-white photo. (Science, 12/1/72, cover, 977-80)
Major advance in research to control nuclear fusion for commercial energy was announced by Atomic Energy Commission. Experiments using adiabatic toroidal compressor (ATC) at AEC's Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory had achieved, for first time, plasma density in range in which tokamak fusion reactor was expected to operate and had demonstrated new technique for heating tokamak plasma to thermonuclear temperatures. ATC was device for containing and heating plasma fuel to temperatures that would melt any other container. It was improved version of Soviet- developed tokamak containing and heating device that had been hailed internationally as promising approach to production of fusion power. Soviet results from T-3 tokamak experiment, published in 1969, had been confirmed by Princeton tokamak experiments in 1970. Dr. James R. Schlesinger, AEC Chairman, had said new ATC results "further brighten the prospect of realizing commercial fusion power in a tokamak confinement system." But AEC had "many years of hard work ahead" to develop concept into "practical power system." (AEC Release P-404; AEC rio)
Astronaut Thomas P. Stafford, Deputy Director of Flight Crew Operations at Manned Spacecraft Center, was promoted by Air Force to rank of brigadier general. At 42 he was youngest officer of flag rank in any U.S. service and third astronaut to attain flag rank. Alan B. Shepard, Jr., had been promoted to rear admiral by Navy in December 1971 and James A. McDivitt to brigadier general by Air Force in March. Stafford had been Apollo 10 commander and Gemini 6 pilot. (NASA Release 72-235)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
