Nov 17 1971
From The Space Library
U.S.S.R. launched Cosmos 455 from Plesetsk into orbit with 487-km (302.6-mi) apogee, 271-km (168.4-mi) perigee, 92.1-min period, and 70.9° inclination. Satellite reentered April 9, 1972. (GSFC SSR, 11/30/71; 4/30/72; nu, 11/23/71, 111)
Lunar Roving Vehicle (Lxv) which would transport astronauts John W. Young and Charles M. Duke, Jr., on moon during Apollo 16 mission had successfully completed prelaunch checks and been installed on lunar module for flight, KSC announced. Astronauts Young and Duke would make three excursions on LRV in Descartes area of moon during mission, scheduled for March 1972. Final approval of LRV flight readiness was given by Dr. Rocco A. Petrone, Apollo Program Director, after installation review. LRV was managed by MSFC and was built by Boeing Co. (KSC Release 259-71)
Skylab flight hardware manufacturing was nearing completion, MSFC announced. Post- manufacturing checkout would soon begin at industrial and Government installations. Major Skylab spacecraft components include Workshop, Apollo Telescope Mount (ATM), airlock module (AM), and multiple docking adapter (MDA). (MSFC Release 71-212)
Appointment of David S. Gabriel as Manager of AEC-NASA Space Nuclear Systems Office was announced by NASA. Gabriel, Deputy Manager, would succeed Milton Klein, who had accepted position as Associate Administrator for Research, Development, and Demonstration Activities in Federal Railway Administration. Gabriel had joined NACA at LeRC in 1943. (NASA Release 71-228)
Nike-Tomahawk sounding rocket was launched by NASA from Kenya, Africa, carrying GSFC experiment to conduct stellar astronomy studies. Rocket and instruments functioned satisfactorily. (SR list)
Fine Arts Commission-overseer of Federal architecture in Washington, D.C.-endorsed plans for $40-million National Air and Space Museum but requested architect Gyo Obata to redesign facade details. (Combes, W Post, 11/18/71, H3 )
FAA announced appointment of Dr. Alan J. Grobecker of Institute for Defense Analysis (IDA) to direct new DOT High Altitude Climatic Impact Assessment Program. Purpose of program was to provide basic data for projected operation of supersonic aircraft at altitudes above 14 000 m (45 000 ft). (DOT Release R-81)
Apollo 15 astronauts on European tour met with Pope Paul VI in Rome. Pope told them he hoped their voyage to moon would help men appreciate God and live in harmony. (AP, W Post, 11/18/71, H3)
House by vote of 342 to 51 passed H.R. 11731, $71-billion FY 1972 Defense Dept. appropriations bill, after rejecting amendment to ear- mark $10 million to develop two prototype, light, air-superiority aircraft for USN as alternate to F-14 aircraft. (CR, 11/17/71, H11162-203)
Tass quoted U.S.S.R. scientists as saying it was possible to observe long-life plasma as "light of blinding brightness, and freely soaring in space," with optical instrument. Optical plasmatron at Physics Institute of U.S.S.R. Academy of Sciences had enabled scientists to apply energy to plasma by light beam from quantum generator. Broad application of technique could be expected in physics, technology, and engineering. (FBIS-Sov-71-223-3, 11/18/71, L2)
Cambridge Univ. astronomer Dr. David Dewhirst said in Cambridge that irregularities in orbit of Neptune, eighth planet from sun, indicated possible presence of another body. "But I must emphasize that at present this is only a notion." Dr. Dewhirst said U.S. Naval Observatory had supplied photos for study. (um, W News, 11/18/71, 15)
Baltimore Sun editorial commented on quantity of new scientific data to be expected from U.S. Mariner 9 and U.S.S.R. Mars 2 and 3 probes of Mars-data "certain to be gathered later if not now." Whatever was learned, "the store of mystery held by the skies and even their nearest objects will remain enormous. . . . The admiration for man's persistence in pitting his intelligence, skill, courage and inventiveness against the solar system's magnificent teases is equaled by the folly of supposing we shall ever read any but a few of their overpowering riddles." (B Sun, 11/17/71)
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