Oct 17 1972
From The Space Library
Ariel 4, cooperative United Kingdom and U.S. satellite (launched by NASA Dec. 11, 1971), was adjudged successful. During more than 10 mos in orbit, spacecraft had operated satisfactorily except for tape recorder failures and minor experiment problems. Primary mission objective-to investigate interaction of electromagnetic waves, plasmas, and energetic particles in upper ionosphere-had been achieved. High-frequency noise experiment had shown several apparently distinct kinds of radio noise, which were under study. Extremely- low and very-low-frequency experiment and impulse experiment showed ELF noise spectrum depended on latitude and therefore on shape of magnetosphere. Univ. of Iowa charged-particle detector was observing auroral charged particles, large field-aligned currents over auroral zone, and higher-energy protons of ring current. Observations, when combined with those from other satellites, were expected to delineate dissipation mechanism for ring current responsible for magnetic storms. Electron density experiment was providing worldwide coverage for morphological study of topside ionosphere. (NASA proj off)
Air Force Space Technology Program satellite Sesp 1971-2 (launched Oct. 17, 1971) was still transmitting data after year in orbit. Satellite, designed to operate for 6 mos, had traveled more than 214 million km (133 million mi) in 5233 earth orbits. STP program manager at Lockheed Aircraft Corp., Robert T. Johnson, had said some experiments aboard satellite would be extended six more months. (Lockheed Release 72-73)
Astronaut Thomas P. Stafford made joint "flight" with Soviet Cosmonaut Andrian G. Nikolayev in Soyuz spacecraft simulator at Zvezdny Gorodok (Star City), cosmonaut training center near Moscow. Stafford was member of NASA delegation to Oct. 9-19 Moscow meetings on Apollo Soyuz Test Project (ASTP), joint rendezvous and docking mission scheduled for 1975. (UPI, W Star & News, 10/18/72)
Soviet Academy of Sciences President Mstislav V. Keldysh and five members of Soviet Academy began 21-day coast-to-coast tour of U.S. scientific and space installations. Academician Keldysh addressed unpublicized session of U.S. National Academy of Sciences in Washington, D.C., from which even NAS staff members were banned. NAS had withheld announcement of Keldysh visit to discourage anti-Soviet demonstrations. He had been invited to U.S. by NAS President, Dr. Philip Handler. (W Post, 10/18/72)
World's largest radiotelescope array was dedicated in Cambridge, England. Eight dish antennas, each 13 m (42 ft) in diameter, produced effect of radiotelescope 5 km (3 mi) in diameter. Dishes moved through 360° daily with earth's rotation to permit research into structure of stars and origin and evolution of universe. Major task of $5.2-million installation built for U.K.'s Science Research Council and operated by Cambridge Univ. would be to map galaxies and quasars by pinpointing their radio signals and producing computerized charts of their locations. (Reuters, B Sun, 10/18/72)
Canadian government had said it would spend $80 million in three-year program to develop two prototypes of short takeoff and landing (STOL) aircraft, Wall Street Journal reported. (WSJ, 10/17/72)
Houston Chronicle editorial commented on Soviet attempt to restrict satellite TV broadcasts as threat to world peace; "We should be very slow to accept any limitations upon the use of satellites. We have just begun to tap the benefits that can flow from the exploration of space. Our international space program stands in contrast to Russia's secret effort. While we are opening new avenues of communications, Russia typically is acting to keep its citizens in ignorance." (H Chron, 10/17/72)
Second F-111 swing-wing fighter-bomber was lost over North Vietnam. First had been lost Sept. 28. U.S. Command in Saigon had no comment on North Vietnamese report that aircraft had been shot down. (AP, NYT, 10/19/72, 18)
October 17-19: Results of NASA research on powered-lift short takeoff and landing (STOL) aircraft were presented at Ames Research Center Conference. Papers were presented on short-haul transportation systems, aerodynamics, loads, flight dynamics, operation aspects, and quiet STOL propulsion by authors from ARC, Flight Research Center, Langley Research Center, Lewis Research Center, Federal Aviation Administration, and Army Air Mobility Research and Development Laboratory. (NASA Release 72-201; NASA SP-320)
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