May 10 1972
From The Space Library
NASA and European Space Research Organization (ESRO) were jointly soliciting proposals from scientists for planning experiments that could be carried on Explorer-class spacecraft in late 1970s. Scientists whose proposals were chosen would work in teams to aid in planning mission and help NASA and ESRO decide whether to conduct missions. Current plans called for one Explorer spacecraft to fly in circular, solar orbit with 2-million-km (1.2-million- mi) radius while dual mother-daughter spacecraft flew close together in elliptical earth orbit. Three spacecraft would be launched by Thor-Delta booster from Kennedy Space Center between 1976 and 1978. Mother-daughter space-craft would make repeated passes through earth's magnetic field to measure fine- scale space and time variations while interplanetary spacecraft recorded simultaneous variations of incoming solar wind. (NASA Release 72-100)
Apollo 12 commander Charles Conrad, Jr., parachuted safely from NASA T-38 jet aircraft just before it crashed near Bergstrom Air Force Base, Tex. Cause of crash was being investigated. Conrad was on routine flight from Dobbins AFB, Ga., to Ellington AFB, Tex. (UPI, W News, 5/11/72, 20)
Dr. William W. Duke, twin brother of Apollo 16 Astronaut Charles M. Duke, Jr., replied in letter published by Washington Post to April 26 article by Post columnist Nicholas von Hoffman that criticized astronauts and Apollo 16 mission. "My brother stated publicly that he would go to the moon anonymously. He sought no personal gain. No one will recall the names of these space explorers, but each time one mission is completed, the next is easier. I am sure the second, third, or one hundredth man to sail around the world found it easier than the one preceding. Who is to judge what is to be gained now or one hundred years hence in and from space?" (W Post, 5/10/72, A15)
May 10-17: U.S.-U.S.S.R. Working Group II met in Moscow to discuss compatible rendezvous and docking of spacecraft in space. (NASA Off Int Aff)
May 10-24: Committee on Space Research (COSPAR) held 15th meeting in Madrid. First firm indication of water ice on Mars from photos returned by Mariner 9 (launched by NASA May 30, 1971) was announced by Jet Propulsion Laboratory scientist Dr. James A. Cutts. He and team had noted that residual south polar cap 320 km (200 mi) wide was unchanged throughout southern summer but was hidden by thin carbon dioxide frost that covered region 3200 km (2000 mi) in diameter during winter. In spring, it appeared that dry ice again evaporated and cap shrank to 320-km zone of water ice. Working sessions on terrestrial planets and outer planets were held by NASA and Soviet scientists to discuss programs for exploration of Venus, Mars, Saturn, and Jupiter. Discussions fulfilled recommendation of August 1971 NASA-U.S.S.R. Working Group that planetary exploration be discussed jointly at international colloquia. Space Science Board of National Academy of Sciences and National Research Council submitted United States Space Science Program: Report to COSPAR. Report, covering 1971, summarized analyses and observations from experiments on board spacecraft, sounding rockets, balloons, and aircraft. (Miles, LA Times, 5/11/72; Text; NASA Int Aff; NASA Release 72-106; W Post, 5/23/72, A10)
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