Dec 6 1971
From The Space Library
NASA was "in search of new, clearly defined goals, and the search is not going well," John N. Wilford said in New York Times article. "Self-preservation" was believed to be factor in emphasis NASA placed on current "efforts in Moscow to reach an agreement with the Soviet Union that could lead to joint Soviet-American manned space missions." If NASA could establish opportunity for improved relations with U.S.S.R. through space cooperation, "this would probably create the need for a series of post-Apollo missions of historic proportions." It would be "hard" for Administration or Congress to refuse funds for such an effort. Soviet motives in current negotiations might be saving in space funds through cooperative ventures or "that the Soviet Union looks to cooperation as a way of sharing some of the advanced technologies developed by NASA." (NYT, 12/6/71, 30)
JPL announced selection of Motorola, Inc., Government Electronics Div. for negotiation of $2.8-million, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for design and manufacture of two communications subsystems- modulation de-modulation subsystem (MDS) and relay telemetry subsystem (RTS)-for Viking Orbiter '75 project. (JPL Release 606)
Dish-shaped 305-m (1000-ft) radiotelescope at Cornell Univ.'s Arecibo Observatory near San Juan, Puerto Rico, was undergoing $7-million modification program that would increase telescope's sensitivity 2000 times, Dr. Frank D. Drake, Cornell Univ. astronomer and former Arecibo Observatory Director, told San Juan meeting of American Astronomical Society. Modified telescope would search skies for unusual features and objects "we cannot even begin to predict" and organic molecules in intergalactic space that were clues to evolution of life and evidence of possible distant civilizations. "We expect to devote about 1 per cent of our time to just listening. If any civilization is advanced enough to communicate with other civilizations in the universe, we might get the message." (Goodwin, W Post, 12/16/71, E9)
USAF aircraft procurement in FY 1973 would reach "historic low of fewer than 100," Aviation Week & Space Technology reported. DOD preliminary budget estimates had indicated cyclical dip reflecting completion of procurement of LTV Aerospace Corp. A-7D and General Dynamics Corp. F-111 aircraft. Magazine said USAF procurement might rise in FY 1974 when McDonnell Douglas F-15 fighter aircraft and NR's B-1 bomber had passed development milestones. (Av Wk, 12/6/71, 13)
House defeated by vote of 203 to 172 H.R. 11624, "to amend the Military Construction Authorization Act, 1970, to authorize additional funds for the conduct of an international aeronautical exposition." (CR, 12/6/71, H11830-1)
Washington Evening Star editorial commented on Administration's New Technologies Opportunities Program [see Oct. 31]; Much was worth-while, "especially the attempt to mount a genuine program of conversion from defense and space-related to socially useful technological emphasis." But "purely economic objectives of the program are murkier, at least at present. Granted that this nation may be on its way, in a number of industrial fields, to losing the technological lead that for so long has been a mainstay of our economic strength. Does it follow that the answer, in high- technology fields like electronics and commercial aviation, is what one Presidential adviser has called `an unaccustomed set' of supports and subsidies to industry?" Question contained "all the elements of explosive controversy, and the administration will be hard-pressed to make a convincing case." (W Star, 12/6/71, Al0)
December 6-11: U.S.S.R. launched Cosmos 463 from Baikonur into orbit with 285-km (177.1-mi) apogee, 204-km (126.8-mi) perigee, 89.2-min period, and 64.9° inclination. On Dec. 7 satellite passed over East Pakistan at perigee on 14th revolution, British Royal Aircraft Establishment at Farnborough and British Interplanetary Society sources reported. On 16th revolution, perigee was lowered to 188 km (116.8 mi), reducing period to 89.0 min. Revolutions 30 and 46 crossed East Pakistan Dec. 8 and 9 and on revolution 48 apogee was raised, returning to original period. Satellite reentered Dec. 11. Spaceflight magazine reported telemetry had revealed that some consumables were used at twice normal rate for a 13- day mission. Changes in orbit supported earlier reports of U.S.S.R.'s ability to maneuver satellites for precise target coverage. Flights of Cosmos 463 and Cosmos 464 [see Dec. 10-16] were made during time of Indo-Pakistan war. Paths would permit observation of events in Pakistan before early reentry; any film cassettes could have been recovered within four hours of last pass over East Pakistan on each flight. (GSFC SSR, 12/31/71; SBD, 12/7/71, 160; SF, 9/9/72, 351; W Post, 1/7/72, A16)
December 6-9: American Geophysical Union held annual meeting in San Francisco. MIT seismologist Dr. Mehmet Nafi Toksoz presented findings of seismic team from MIT, Columbia Univ., Univ. of Hawaii, and General Dynamics Corp. that moon had been subdivided into layers by process somewhat similar to that which produced layering within earth. Conclusion had been reached after analysis of tremors induced in moon by spacecraft impacts. Report was released simultaneously at MIT, where Dr. Frank Press, coauthor of report, told press that separation into layers, some 3.3 billion yrs ago, had brought so much radioactive material close to lunar surface that there was not enough left at depth to keep lunar interior hot. He believed deep lunar interior cooled and was quiescent compared with earth. Dr. Press said energy released in form of moonquakes was 100 million times less than in earthquakes. Scientist Steve Korn of TRW Inc. Viking biological instrument team described instruments being developed for $11-million experiments to be conducted by two Viking larders scheduled for 1976 Mars landing. Sophisticated units for four experiments to search for microscopic life on Mars would be among most complex systems ever flown aboard unmanned spacecraft. Experiments included heat release experiment to analyze Martian soil for photosynthetic life similar to plant life on earth; experiment that would add nutrient to solid sample and measure metabolic conversion; gas exchange experiment to monitor environment surrounding sample for changes in gaseous makeup that would indicate presence of living organisms; and light-scattering experiment to provide nutrient to soil sample and detect any increases in scattering attributable to growth of microorganisms. Also, three-legged probes would snap photos; study Martian atmosphere; return meteorological data, pressures, temperatures, wind, and humidity; report on Mars' magnetic and physical properties; and check seismic events. Probes would be lowered by parachute and retrorocket after landers had obtained orbit in procedure designed to land them accurately in areas deemed most likely to be habitats for life. (Sullivan, NYT, 12/10/71, 29; Miles, LATNS, W Post, 12/19/71, A41)
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