May 23 1972
From The Space Library
Scientists at Manned Spacecraft Center detonated by radio command three of four explosive mortar charges left on moon by Apollo 16 astronauts. Fourth grenade was not detonated because data indicated attitude sensor might have been knocked out of position by previous firings. Analysis of data on pitch sensor was under way to determine if sensor had failed or if mortar package had shifted its position. First grenade contained 270 g (0.6 lb) of explosive with predicted range of 910 m (3000 ft). Second had 45 g (0.1 lb) and 150-m (500-ft) predicted range. Third had 140-g (0.3- lb) charge and 300-m (1000-ft) predicted range. Signals from three explosions, recorded by geophones left on lunar surface, indicated that moon's surface layer was at least 50 m (164 ft) thick. (MSC Release 72-112; O'Toole, W Post, 5/24/72, A3; um, C Trib, 5/24/72)
NASA's TF-8A aircraft, equipped with supercritical wing and piloted by Thomas C. McMurtry, completed flight from Flight Research Center. Flight was made with wing vortex generators off at constant g of 200 from mach 0.50 to 0.99 and altitudes of 4800 to 14 000 m (16 000 to 46 000 ft). Windup turns and a few stick pulses with augmentation system off were performed. Pilot reported no significant differences in handling qualities and buffeting between flight with vortex generators on and off but said pitch seemed softer with generator off. (NASA proj off)
House by vote of 367 to 10 passed H.R. 15093, FY 1973 Dept. of Housing and Urban Development-space-science-veterans appropriations bill that included $3.349-billion NASA appropriation [see May 18]. House rejected amendment by Rep. Bella S. Abzug (D-N.Y.) to delete $200 million for space shuttle. (CR, 5/23/72, H4896-924)
U.S. and U.S.S.R. signed two agreements during Moscow summit meetings. Agreement on Cooperation in the Field of Environmental Protection, signed by President Nixon and Soviet President Nikolay V. Podgorny, called for cooperation to prevent pollution, to study pollution and 'its effect on environment, and to develop basis for controlling "impact of human activities on nature." Agreement established Joint Committee on Cooperation in the Field of Environmental Protection to meet each year alternately in Washington and Moscow. Agreement on Cooperation in the Field of Medical Science and Public Health was signed by Secretary of State William P. Rogers and Soviet Minister of Health Boris V. Petrovsky. Parties agreed on joint efforts to combat most widespread and serious diseases, solve problems of effect of environment on man's health, and resolve other important health problems. Agreement would be implemented by coordinated research, exchange of specialists and delegations, organization of colloquia, scientific conferences and lectures, exchange of information, and familiarization with technical aids and equipment. (PD, 6/5/72, 97-20)
NASA announced start of development of space experiment to test equivalence principle of Einstein's general theory of relativity. Principle asserted that pull of gravity and oppositely directed mechanical acceleration could not be distinguished in small region of space. Thus, when two identical clocks were in areas with different gravitational pull, clock rates would appear to be different, although rates them-selves would not change. Gravitational Redshift Space Probe Equipment would be launched from Wallops Station on Scout-D rocket in late 1974. "Gravitational redshift" was term for decrease or shift toward red spectrum as a light wave escaped from strong gravitational field of sun or other massive body toward weaker gravitational field. Clock in experiment would follow 31/2-hr elliptical flight trajectory over Atlantic and would always be in weaker gravitational field than identical clock at Bermuda ground station. Frequency of clock in probe, as observed by telemetry, should appear greater than frequency of clock on ground and rate should appear to increase as strength of gravitational field decreased up to 18 000-km (11 000- mi) altitude and decrease as it returned to stronger field at lower altitudes. Difference between experimental and ground-based clock rates would be compared with shifts predicted by Einstein's theory. Hydrogen maser clocks for experiment would be developed by Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory under direction of Marshall Space Flight Center. (NASA Release 72-105)
Astronauts Edgar D. Mitchell and James B. Irwin announced plans to resign from NASA and military. Mitchell, Navy captain, had been lunar module (LM) pilot on Apollo 14 (Jan. 31-Feb. 9, 1971). Irwin, Air Force colonel, had been LM pilot on Apollo 15 (July 26- Aug. 7, 1971) and was backup pilot for Apollo 17, scheduled for launch in December. Because of Irwin's plans to retire, new backup crew for Apollo 17 had been named, effective July 1: John W. Young, Stuart A. Roosa, and Charles M. Duke, Jr. Original Apollo 17 backup crew was David R. Scott, Alfred M. Worden, and Irwin. Scott, Worden, and Thomas K. Mattingly II had been assigned to Space Shuttle Program in Manned Spacecraft Center Astronaut Office. Mattingly, who recently had become a father, had requested' assignment which would allow him more time with his family during next six months. (NASA Release 72-110)
Nuclear system for recycling all human wastes into potable water and converting spacecraft cabin wastes to easily stored ash during extended missions was ready for laboratory testing, NASA and Atomic Energy Commission announced. Water-recovery and waste-incinerator system fueled by plutonium 238 had been developed by NASA, AEC, and Dept. of Defense. Flight-model system built by General Electric Co. under AEC contract would be tested for 108 days, beginning in June, at GE Space Div. Manned tests in space simulator would be held later. System collected and recycled wash water, cabin condensate, human waste, cabin trash, and foods, along with containers, clothing items and other nonmetallic scrap. At least 98% of all liquid waste processed by system was recoverable as sterile water. Solid waste was incinerated into ash with volume 100 times less than original product. (NASA Release 72-108; AEC Release P-153)
Arcas sounding rocket launched by NASA from Antigua, West Indies, carried Goddard Space Flight Center payload to 55.8-km (34.6- mi) altitude to measure ozone in upper atmosphere in conjunction with overpass of Nimbus 4 satellite and to validate new parachute deployment system further [see May 4]. Payload was ejected successfully, parachute inflated properly, and good ozone data were acquired. (NASA Rpt SRL)
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