Jul 6 1972
From The Space Library
U.S.S.R. launched Cosmos 499 from Baikonur into orbit with 284-km (176.5-mi) apogee, 205-km (127.4-mi) perigee, 89.4- min period, and 51.9° inclination. Satellite reentered July 17. (GSFC SSR, 7/31/72; SBD, 7/7/72, 30)
NASA announced award of six-month, $197 000 contract to Arthur D. Little, Inc.-acting for four-firm industry team-for feasibility study of using large satellites in synchronous orbit to beam down electrical energy for power needs on earth. Station would convert solar energy to electric power in space and then transmit power via microwave beam to earth. NASA was investigating concept for comparison with other methods of producing large amounts of power from sun for use on earth. Contract would be managed by Lewis Research Center. (NASA Release 72-135)
Nike-Cajun sounding rocket launched by NASA from Arenosillo, Spain, carried Spanish and Goddard Space Flight Center experiments to 85-km (52.8-mi) altitude to study ion composition of D- and E-regions of ionosphere. Rocket and instruments performed satisfactorily except for short tone-ranging data dropout which was not expected to affect scientific results. Good data were obtained. Launch was made under April 21, 1972, modification of July 30, 1970, Memorandum of Agreement between NASA and Comision Nacional de Investigacion del Espacio (CONIC) for cooperative sounding rocket project to study ionosphere. (NASA Rpt SRL)
Apparent U.S. decision not to seek European participation in shuttle development was discussed by Nicholas Valery in British publication New Scientist: "By all accounts it seems that just as Britain and her continental partners were deciding whether to accept America's invitation to join the post Apollo space programme, Washington has slammed the door smartly in their face. Having used the idea of international participation-ostensibly to ease the burden on the US taxpayer-as a means of winning congressional support for its re-usable space shuttle, NASA is now quietly letting it be known that it has no intention of letting Europe get its hands on anything technologically important." (New Scientist [London], 7/6/72)
U.S.S.R., "in apparent attempt to display restraint," had "suspended space maneuvers with its fearsome SS-9 Scarp rocket," Washington Post reported. The United Nations "international space log shows that the Soviet Union has desisted from the SS-9 maneuvers in space so far this year, in contrast to earlier years." Since U.S. had not flight-tested any space systems comparable to U.S.S.R.'s fractional orbital bombardment system (FOBS), "the Russians might have reasoned it would have been impolite of them to stage maneuvers this year when the SALT [Strategic Arms Limitation Talks] agreement appeared in reach." (Wilson, W Post, 7/6/72, A2)
July 6-18: Series of meetings on Apollo Soyuz Test Project (ASTP), joint U.S. and U.S.S.R. rendezvous and docking mission scheduled for 1975, were held at Manned Spacecraft Center. Meetings' objective was preliminary definition of all elements of test mission, including mission plan and detailed design requirements for compatible systems. Group had met at MSC in June 1971 to discuss feasibility of compatible systems, U.S. delegation had visited Moscow twice, and individual working groups had exchanged visits during past two years. Communique on results of July 6-18 meetings was signed by MSC Director, Dr. Christopher C. Kraft, Jr., July 17. Agreements had been reached on launching Soyuz before Apollo, acceptable launch windows, necessary communications equipment, and development of technical requirements for compatible docking system. Areas for further study included possible emergency extravehicular activity, possible adjustment of cabin pressures, use of TV as docking aid, attitude control after docking, specific launch date, and development of public information plan that considered obligations and practices of both countries. [See also press conferences July 13 and 17.] Senior members of Soviet delegation were Chairman Boris N. Petrov of Soviet Intercosmos Council and Konstantin D. Bushuyev, ASTP Director for U.S.S.R. NASA delegation was headed by Dr. Kraft and Glynn S. Lunney, ASTP Director. (NASA Release 72- 134; Marshall Star, 7/12/72, 1; Text)
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