May 20 1972
From The Space Library
Unidentified satellite launched by Air Force from Vandenberg Air Force Base at 8:30 am PDT by Titan IIIB-Agena booster failed to achieve orbit. (Av Wk, 6/5/72, 14)
President Nixon and party left Andrews Air Force Base, Md., for Salzburg, Austria, first stop on scheduled 13-day visit to Austria, U.S.S.R., Iran, and Poland. Visit would include summit meetings with Soviet officials in Moscow to discuss possible cooperation in joint manned space flight mission, strategic arms limitation, environmental and health problems, reducing risk of incidents at sea, international trade, and other ventures in "peaceful coexistence." (PD, 6/5/72, 912; Marder, W Post, 5/21/72, Al)
Administration sources quoted in New York Times said U.S. and U.S.S.R. would pledge not to interfere with each other's reconnaissance satellites as part of agreement to limit strategic weapons that President Nixon expected to initial on forthcoming Moscow visit. U.S. had insisted on "open skies" arrangement because, with U.S.S.R. ban on inspection, spy satellites were primary means of checking on compliance with terms of arms control agreements. (Beecher, NYT, 5/20/72, 1)
Secretary of Transportation John A. Volpe announced award of $12.1- million contract to Boeing Co. to secure benefits from valuable work done in supersonic transport (SST) development program. Contract called for completion of seven advanced technological projects to enhance flight safety and efficiency and make aircraft more compatible with environment. Volpe said, by completing projects already begun, "funds already spent on them will not be wasted and the resulting technology will be available for advancement of aircraft design." Congress had voted against further funding of ssT program during 1971. (FAA Release 72-88)
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