Jan 14 1971
From The Space Library
Listen to Lunar Science press conferences on this date:
Dr Charles Meyer (MSC), Dr Norman J. Hubbard (MSC), Dr Robert L.Fleischer (GE), Dr Neil L. Nickle (JPL), Dr P. Buford Price (University California Berkeley)
Dr. Aleksander P. Vinogradov, Soviet academician and Director of Vernadsky Institute for Analytical Chemistry in Moscow, told conference U.S.S.R. would continue to explore moon with unmanned space-craft and would attempt bolder missions in future. He believed U.S.S.R. would exchange lunar samples with U.S. beginning with samples of Sea of Fertility returned by Soviet Luna 16. He said main task for Lunokhod 1, Soviet moonwalker still on moon, was to determine how eight-wheeled vehicle could best move about moon and how it could best be used in future. "We discovered that the moonwalker can move in very large angles and can go down into craters at angles of 20 degrees. The mechanical qualities of this car are very good." Dr. Vinogradov said Lunokhod 1 carried instrument to analyze soil, but device had not done so thus far. He described Luna 16 samples as bearing no evidence of water or life on moon. Drill used to dig samples had been stopped at 330 mm (13 in) below lunar surface because it hit rock. "We were afraid to send it any deeper." Dr. Vinogradov described Sea of Fertility as "blackish powder" sprinkled with "cosmic beads." Luna 16 sample was similar to soil brought back by Apollo 12 from Ocean of Storms and not very different from samples returned by Apollo 11 from Sea of Tranquility. Age of Sea of Fertility had been calculated at 4.6 billion yrs, older than some rocks returned by Apollo missions. (O'Toole, IV Post, 1/15/71, Al)
Academician Aleksandr Pavlovich Vinogradov
Prof Thomas Gold (Cornell), Dr Geoffrey Eglinton (University of Bristol), Dr Stuart Olof Agrell (University of Cambridge), Dr Robin Brett (MSC), Dr Michael Maurette (Laboratory of Spectrometry), Dr Harold Mizursky (USGS)
U.S.S.R. launched Cosmos 391 from Plesetsk into orbit with 796-km (494.6-mi) apogee, 266-km (165.3-mi) perigee, 95.2- min period, and 70.9° inclination. Satellite reentered Feb. 21, 1972. (GSFC SSR, 1/31/71; 2/29/72; SBD, 1/15/71, 56)
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