Dec 2 1970
From The Space Library
U.S.SR. launched two Cosmos satellites. Cosmos CCCLXXXI, launched from Plesetsk, entered orbit with 1013-km (629.5-mi) apogee, 967-km (600.9-mi) perigee, 104.8-min period, and 74° inclination. Cosmos CCCLXXXII, launched from Baikonur, entered orbit with 5040-km (3132-mi) apogee, 320-km (199-mi) perigee, 143-min period, and 51.5° inclination. By Dec. 7 spacecraft had changed orbit to 5072-km (3152-mi) apogee, 1615-km (1004-mi) perigee, 158.9min period, and 51.5° inclination. Orbit changed again Dec. 8. By Dec. 31 it had stabilized at 5071-km (3151-mi) apogee, 2584-km (1605.6-mi) perigee, 171-min period, and 55.8° inclination. (Spacewarn, 12/150; SF, 6/71, 213-4; GSFC SSR, 12/31;/70; SBD, 12/17/70, 190-1; 12/18/70, 203)
Aerobee 150 sounding rocket was launched by NASA from WSMR carrying Princeton Univ. experiment to study stellar UV. Rocket and instruments functioned satisfactorily. (SR list)
LeRC Director Bruce T. Lundin established review board to investigate failure of Atlas-Centaur booster during launch of OAO-B Nov. 30. H. Warren Plohr, Chief of LeRC Advanced Systems Div., was named chairman. (NASA Release 70-208)
Dr. Robert H. Goddard Memorial Trophy was presented to Smithsonian Institution for permanent retention at National Space Club Christmas reception in Washington, D.C. Frederick C. Durant III, Assistant Director of Smithsonian's Air and Space Museum, received award from donor, Mrs. Esther Goddard, widow of rocket pioneer. (NSC News Letter, 1/8/71)
NASA announced selection of LTV's Service Technology Corp. for award of $14-million, cost-plus-award-fee contract to provide maintenance and operations, engineering and construction, technical information, and supply and public affairs support services at MSC. One-year contract with provisions for two one-year extensions was effective April 1, 1971. (MSC Release 70-124)
Aircraft arresting system of barrier net linked to energy absorbers to prevent transport aircraft from taxiing off runway was undergoing final tests at Edwards AFB, Calif., AP reported. Net developed by Aerazur Constructions. Aeronautique of Paris and energy absorbers developed by All American Engineering Co. could be available to airports in one year. Installation sufficient to stop aircraft of DC-8 size would cost $500 000 to $600 000; tandem system durable enough to stop Boeing 747 at end of runway would cost about $800000. Major airports could require 10 such devices-one at each end of runway. (Huntsville News, 12/2/70)
U.K. Aviation Supply Minister Frederick Corfield said in House of Commons that U.K. would not join other European countries in producing airbus for short-range flights. European airbus program had been offered at $72-million cost. (Reuters, W Post, 12/3/70, A23)
Urban Coalition draft study report on SST was quoted in Wall Street Journal by Albert R. Karr as saying SST was "environmental danger of unknown but enormous proportions." As Senate vote neared, Karr said, "whether those hazards are 'enormous' remains hotly at issue. The great SST debate hasn't answered this question. In fact, it hasn't even decided how the answers ought to be found." (WSJ, 12/2/70,16)
Senate approved nomination of William D. Ruckelshaus to head Environmental Protection Agency. (CR, 12/2/70, S19272)
December 2-3: NASA manned earth-orbital experiment program for next decade was discussed during meeting of more than 150 Government and industry scientists and engineers at MSFC. Purpose of conference was to discuss changes to planning document Reference Earth Orbital Research and Applications Investigations. NASA used book as primary source of experiment program data for continuing space station studies, research and applications module studies, and other manned space flight planning activities. General Dynamics Corp. had NASA contract to update book. (MSFC Release 70-252)
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