Oct 1 1972
From The Space Library
Joint U.S.-U.S.S.R. space mission scheduled for 1975 would include 48-hr linkup of Apollo and Soyuz spacecraft and crew exchange, Soviet Cosmonaut Vladimir A. Shatalov said in report released by Tass. Soyuz spacecraft, manned by two cosmonauts, would be launched first. "In seven and a half hours, Apollo spaceship manned by three astronauts will be launched from Cape Kennedy. In 24 hours, Apollo will approach the Soyuz ship and link up will be made. The system that will be formed will be operated as a single spacecraft. Within two days, spacemen will move from one ship to another, scientific and technical experiments will be made and there will be television trans-missions to the earth. At the end of the third day, the spaceships will be undocked and will soon land on their respective territories." Shatalov said he hoped manned Mars mission before end of 20th century would be international flight "Possibly it will be the Soviet-American flight." (FBIS-Sov,10/2/72, L2)
Twenty-fifth anniversary of Office of Naval Research Project Skyhook was celebrated with launch from Cape Girardeau, Mo., of 940 000- cu-m (33.1-million-cu-ft) thin-walled plastic balloon. Balloon carried 1360-kg (3000-lb) experiment designed by Goddard Space Flight Center scientist Dr. Jonathan F. Ormes to measure high-energy cosmic rays. It reached altitude of nearly 40 000 m (more than 130 000 ft) and on-station time of more than 25 hrs. Payload was recovered 25 mi east of Nashville, Tenn. Project Skyhook, gathering information for future space flights, launched its first balloon Sept. 25, 1947. Since then more than 3000 flights had been launched throughout the world, including launches from the high seas. (ONR, Naval Research Reviews, 2/73, 1-10)
U.S.S.R. had tested stellar inertial guidance system for missiles, according to series of interviews with unidentified Administration officials quoted in New York Times, System corrected course of 5600-km (3500-mi) Sawfly missile during flight by taking bearing from certain stars. Also reported tested were streamlined new warhead for inter- continental ballistic missiles that entered atmosphere more rapidly than current warheads, improving accuracy, and ground-scanning device for course correction. Improvements were among number cited in offensive and defensive missiles tested by U.S.S.R. since May 26 arms limitation accords between U.S. and U.S.S.R. (Beecher, NYT, 10/1/72, 17)
Apollo 14 Astronaut Edgar D. Mitchell retired from NASA and Navy to form Edgar D. Mitchell & Associates, Inc., organization to study psychic potential of man and other forms of life. (NASA PAO; AP, NYT, 10/3/72, 45)
October 1-7: Federation Aeronautique Internationale held annual general conference in Paris. FM Gold Space Medal-Federation's highest honor -was presented to Apollo 15 Astronaut David R. Scott. Scott also accepted V. M. Komarov Diploma on behalf of Apollo 15 crew. (NASA Activities, 11/15/72, 235; NASA Int Aff)
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