Oct 6 1973
From The Space Library
The U.S.S.R. launched Cosmos 597 from Plesetsk into an orbit with a 214-km (133-mi) apogee, 163-km (101.3-mi) perigee, 88.3-min period, and 65.4° inclination. The satellite reentered Oct. 12. Cosmos 597 was the second of seven Soviet satellites launched and returned in quick succession, leading to Western speculation that they were reconnaissance craft monitoring the Arab-Israeli war [see Oct. 15]. (GSFC SSR, 10/31/73; SBD, 10/10/73, 193)
The Nippon Electric Co. of Tokyo had won a contract to design and install the antenna and communications equipment for the first Swiss communications satellite station, the New York Times reported. The station was being built above the Rhone Valley in the Valais canton. (Lusinchi, NYT, 10/6/73)
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