Jun 24 1971
From The Space Library
U.S.S.R. launched Cosmos 428 from Baikonur into orbit with 248-km (154.1-mi) apogee, 204-km (126.8-mi) perigee, 89-min period, and 51.7° inclination. Satellite reentered July 6. (GSFC SSR, 6/30/71, 7/31/71; SBD, 6/25/71, 299)
NASA launched three Nike-Cajun sounding rockets carrying GSFC experiments to obtain temperature, pressure, density, and wind data between 35 and 95 km (22 and 59 mi) by detonating grenades and recording their sound arrivals on ground. Rocket launched from Point Barrow, Alaska, reached 110.8-km (68.9-mi) altitude, with all 19 grenades exploding as planned. Rocket launched from Churchill Research Range carried 19 grenades to 124.4-km (77.3-mi) altitude; 17 soundings were recorded. Rocket launched from Wallops Station carried 31 grenades to 114.3-km (71-mi) altitude; all 31 detonated and were recorded on ground. (NASA RptS SRL)
Aerobee 350 sounding rocket was launched by NASA from WSMR carrying Lockheed Aircraft Corp. x-ray astronomy experiment. Rocket and instruments functioned satisfactorily. (SR list)
USAF YF-12 aircraft, one of two in joint NASA-USAF aeronautical re- search program to advance technology of supersonic military and civil aircraft, crashed on routine flight from Edwards AFB, Calif. Both pilots parachuted to safety. Coincidentally, NASA announced addition of another USAF YF- 12 to program. New aircraft was specially instrumented for inflight propulsion studies of engine internal flow dynamics, propulsion and air-frame interreactions, air inlet dynamics, atmospheric turbulence and temperature variations, rapid airflow changes, and factors affecting inflight stopping and restarting of engines. (AFSC PIO; FRC Release 16-71; Aero Daily, 6/28/71, 316)
Lowell Observatory astronomers had made first accurate mapping of weather of Mars as result of worldwide cooperation of observatories in NASA-funded ground-based planetary patrol program centered at Lowell, Christian Science Monitor said. Principal investigator Dr. William A. Baum had said object of program, begun in 1969, was to "maintain nearly continuous photographic surveillance of Mars, Jupiter, and Venus during favorable periods." Mars weather seemed analogous to weather in arid regions of earth. (CSM, 6/24/71)
TRW Inc. would develop conceptual designs for manned research laboratory to support communications and navigation experiments under 10-mo, $288 000 contract, MSFC announced. Study assumed laboratory would be launched in 1980s and could be flown as research and applications module or as segment of orbiting space station. (MSFC Release 71-108)
Information systems on board manned orbital stations could collect data on geological formations and potential mineral deposits, G. Katys, head of Soviet institute for problems of control, said in interview released by Tass. TV systems, panoramic cameras, radiometers, and spectrometers in infrared range would find application on orbital stations for earth resources research. There would be need to install heat-sensitive devices to locate volcanoes and sources of geothermal energy and TV cameras to clarify topographic maps. Identification of photos had already produced tangible results in hydrologic and oceanologic research. Photos of rocks, geological structure, and tectonic disturbances had been interpreted. Cosmonauts on orbital stations could conduct research in various sectors of earth's surface, choosing most interesting zones. (FBIS- Sov-71-126, 6/30/71, 16-17)
MSFC announced selection of NR Rocketdyne Div. for 16-mo, $1.1-million contract to develop turbopump assemblies for hydrogen and oxygen space shuttle auxiliary propulsion system (APs) technology program. Six-phase contract included exploratory study; design for tubopump components; fabrication of turbopump system; testing, refurbishing, acceptance testing, and delivery to NASA; and engineering support. (MSFC Release 71-110)
MSFC announced it had modified existing contract with Martin Marietta Corp. for work in Skylab Program to incorporate earth resources experiment package (EREP) into flight version of multiple docking adapter, device to permit Apollo spacecraft to dock with Skylab cluster. Total cost of modification was $6 070 500. EREP would contain photographic experiments to study earth from orbit. (MSFC Release 71-111)
JPL announced selection of Motorola, Inc., Government Electronics Div. for negotiations on $2 179 000 contract with award fee to design, fabricate, and test flight-data subsystem for NASA Mariner Venus-Mercury spacecraft for 1973 mission. JPL also had selected Litton Industries Guidance and Control Systems Div. for negotiations on $10.4-million contract for development, fabrication, and testing of gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer (to be carried on Viking larder) to analyze Mars surface. (JPL Releases 581, 582)
House passed by voice vote H.J.R. 742 making continuing appropriations for FY 1972, including provisions under H.R. 9382 for NASA, NASC, and NSF [see June 23]. (CR, 6/24/71, H5848-50)
NSF released Federal R&D Expenditures Related to Budget Functions, 1960-72. Between 1960 and 1972 chief areas of Federal R&D funding had been defense, space research and technology, and health-totaling 86% of estimated R&D expenditures of $15.7 billion for 1972. In 1960 same three categories had totaled 95% of $7.3-billion R&D funding. Throughout 1961972 period, these three functions had led in R&D expenditures in same order. Ratio of R&D expenditures to total Federal budget outlays rose from 8.5% in 1960 to 12.4% in 1965. Ratio had decreased each year since 1965 and 7.4% estimated for 1972 was lowest in 1960-1972 period. Decline reflected more the absolute in-crease in total Federal outlays since 1965 from $111 billion to estimated $211 billion in 1972, excluding interest-than any substantial absolute decline in R&D expenditures. These expenditures rose from $13.8 billion in 1965 to $16.3 billion in 1968, but dropped back to $15- to $16-billion range after that. Defense consistently accounted for bulk of R&D expenditures but its share fell from 87% of Federal R&D total in 1960 to 53% in 1966, when space expenditures peaked. Later defense share increased but leveled off from 1968 at 57% to 58% of total Federal R&D. Space research and technology rose from 5% share of Federal R&D expenditures in 1960 to 36% in 1966, "This function experienced a dramatic rise in funds during that period followed by sharp cutbacks." Space had been only function with smaller R&D expenditure in 1970, 1971, or 1972 than in 1966. Its expected 1972 share was 20%. (NSF Highlights, 6/24/71, 1)
Dr. Addison M. Rothrock, retired NASA Director of Plans and Programs, died in Alexandria, Va., at age 68. During 45-yr career as propulsion research scientist he had joined NASA's predecessor, NACA, in 1926 and had become Assistant Director for Research in 1947. When NASA was established in 1958 he was appointed to similar post. Dr. Rothrock had retired from NASA in 1963 to serve as professor of applied science at George Washington Univ. (W Post, 6/27/71, C6)
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