Dec 30 1971
From The Space Library
Mars orbit of Mariner 9 was changed by 17-sec engine firing to compensate for effects of dust storm on mission objectives. Periapsis was raised from 1388 km (862 mi) to 1650 km (1025 mi) to expand area covered in mapping photos and to provide required over-lapping of pictures. Mapping would be completed in three 20- day cycles with fourth cycle available to fill in open areas where photos did not overlap. Period was increased by 1 min 19 sec to place periapsis in middle of Goldstone viewing period for maximum data return. (NASA Release 71-252; Pasadena Star-News, 12/31/71)
Two new clean rooms for checkout of Apollo Telescope Mount (ATM) in Skylab program were being constructed at KSC. Control of temperature, humidity, and air in rooms would help prevent contamination of delicate lenses and other critical components of ATM experiments. (KSC Release 279-71)
NASA announced award of $1.6-million, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract to Aerospace Corp. for studies of advanced space programs. Studies, which would advance work performed under previous contract, would include space shuttle mission and payload capture analysis, payload analysis for space shuttle applications, analysis of advanced program operations and logistics analysis, and advanced missions safety. (NASA Release 71-255)
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