Nov 16 1971
From The Space Library
NASA notified U.S.S.R. of Mariner 9 Mars orbit in telexed message to I. A. Zhulin, Soviet space expert, in Moscow. Message, from Dan Schneiderman, Mariner 9 Project Manager at JPL, said spacecraft had achieved desired orbit but ephemeris used in planning orbit required 60-km (37-mi) adjustment. Mars "appears brighter than expected by a factor of two. Surface features are almost entirely obscured, but the south polar cap can be seen because of its brightness. This is believed to be the result of a dust storm which covers the entire planet." Infrared instruments on the two Mariner 9 cameras "appear to be seeing the [Martian] surface, but interpretation of their results is complicated by effects of the dust storm. Message invited Soviet request for additional orbit information and described Nov. 10 and 11 photos taken by Mariner 9 before Mars arrival. Photos had shown "four distinct dark features," one "possibly Nix Olympica." Nov. 12 photos had shown streaks 1000 km (620 mi) long originating at fourth spot. "Changes in appearance of these four dark areas over the coming weeks may provide unique information about the dust storm." (NASA Release 71-229)
Pioneer-F, 250-kg (550-1b) spacecraft, was expected to be ready for launch from ETR in late February or early March 1972 and would fly by Jupiter in December 1973, NASA scientists announced at JPL press conference. Pioneer-G was to be launched in 1973 and fly past Jupiter in 1974. NASA Director of Planetary Programs Robert S. Kraemer said Pioneer flights would be "vital precursor" to future Grand Tour flights to outer planets. Pioneer spacecraft would be first to penetrate vast asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter and first to study planet's intense radiation belts. (Wilford, NYT, 11/17/71, 26)
Assistant chief designer for U.S.S.R.'s Lunokhod 1 moon rover said in Tass interview that all goals of mission had been attained. Lunokhod 1 had landed on moon Nov. 17, 1970, on board Luna 17 and had exceeded expected three-month operating time and provided valuable information. Mission had resulted in acquisition of new skills and development of new techniques and control methods. Principles of remote control, reliability, and durability, as well as power supply, might find application on earth. (FBIS-Sov-71-223-3, 11/18/71, L2-3)
NASA announced it had issued RFPS for use of space-related technology in solving domestic problems of air pollution, water pollution, solid waste management, and clinical medicine. Proposals would be reviewed by experts in each field at ARC, LaRC, and MSC. Responses were re-quested by Dec. 15, 1971. One or more projects in each field might be selected for negotiations and award of contract worth up to $75 000 for maximum of one year. (NASA Release 71-226)
Dr. Cyril A. Ponnamperuma-Univ. of Maryland scientist, former Chief of ARC Exobiology Branch, and leading authority on chemical building blocks of life-commented on Oct. 29 report by Columbia Univ. scientists of "waterless" synthesis of amino acids suggesting life might arise on waterless planet. Dr. Ponnamperuma said chemical reactions in experiment were not independent of water's role, since formic acid-used in experiment-contained hydroxyl which was water molecule. Synthesis of life building blocks, amino acids, that had been identified in interstellar base had thus not been waterless. (NYT, 11/17/71, 13)
House rejected amendment to H.R. 11731, FY 1972 Defense Establishment appropriations bill, that would strike out $801.6 million for F-14 USN jet aircraft procurement. (CR, 11/16/71, H11082-117)
NAE issued An Assessment of Industrial Activity in the Field of Bio- medical Engineering. Report of Committee on Interplay of Engineering with Biology and Medicine recommended creation of Government-supported national advisory body to inform and make recommendations on development and marketing of biomedical products. It also recommended establishment of separate Government agency to develop and test prototype products, issue licenses for production, and subsidize production when market for product was too limited to allow profit. (NAE memo to press)
Elrey B. Jeppesen, Chairman of Board of Jeppesen and Co.-world's largest compiler and publisher of air navigation materials-received FAA's Distinguished Service Award "in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the progress and safety of aviation." Award was presented at Colorado Aviation Historical Society Dinner in Denver. (FAA Release 71-184)
November 16-23: Photos from Mariner 9 (launched May 30) showed dust storm on Mars appeared to have subsided somewhat over south pole area Nov. 16, and by Nov. 19 photos showed dust settling to surface in at least two regions of planet. Scientists believed winds might have died down in these areas. Mariner scientists reported in news conference at JPL Nov. 19 that instruments had shown planet was flattened at poles and bulging at equator and had more irregularities in its gravitational field than moon had, Bulge was discovered in area called Tharsis, on equator, making planet's diameter 39 km (24 mi) greater at equator than through poles. Infrared spectrometer had measured reflected radiations that suggested wide range of rock compositions on Mars surface, varying from high in silicon and oxygen to low. Spectrometer had also detected small amounts of water vapor at south pole, as had been observed on previous Mariner flights. On Nov. 23 Mariner 9's infrared interferometer spectrometer (IRIS) detected pocket of warm air above south polar cap in same region as water vapor traces had been found earlier. Air pocket was about 240 K (-30°C). (Wilford, NYT, 11/20/71, 51; O'Toole, W Post, 11/20, 23, 24/71; Miles, LA Times, 11/24/71; JPL Hist Off)
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