Sep 22 1972
From The Space Library
Skylab Orbital Workshop, scheduled to carry three-man crews in earth orbit in 1973, arrived at Kennedy Space Center after two-week barge trip from McDonnell Douglas Co.'s Huntington Beach, Calif., plant. Apollo Telescope Mount (ATM) was flown to KSC from Manned Spacecraft Center, where it had been undergoing thermal testing since mid-July. Airlock module (AM) and multiple docking adapter (MDA) were scheduled to arrive at KSC Oct. 9 and instrument unit Oct. '22. (um, NY News, 9/23/72; KSC Releases 268-72, 270-72)
Soil sample collected by Apollo 16 Astronaut Charles M. Duke, Jr., from natural hole beneath 3-m (10-ft) -high "Shadow Rock" on moon had been found to have characteristic resonance identical to that of sunlit soil near by, Naval Research Laboratory announced. Scientists were agreed that sample had not been in direct sunlight since being buried by rock propelled by ancient meteorite collision creating North Ray Crater on moon. NRL investigators were considering two explanations for similarity, between soil under rock and exposed soil. Either North Ray Crater had been formed relatively recently or tens of millions of years of solar heat had not affected characteristic resonance. Either way, experiment had revealed that resonance of North Ray Crater soils probably contained fossil record of thermal and weathering histories of those soils during or immediately after North Ray collision. (NRL Release 53-72-9)
Lewis Research Center scientists Dr. John V. Dugan, Jr., and Dr. Herman Mark told meeting of Northeast Ohio Congressional Council in Cleveland that space scientists and engineers dismissed because of aerospace recession should be hired for expanded programs to solve environmental and other societal problems. The LeRC scientists were invited by Rep. John F. Seiberling, Jr. (D-Ohio), to testify before House Committee on Science and Astronautics. (McCann, Cl PD, 9/23/72)
National Aeronautic Assn. named Federal Aviation Administrator John H. Shaffer to receive Wright Brothers Trophy. Shaffer was cited for "outstanding leadership of the worldwide operations of the FAA, which has greatly enhanced all aspects of U.S. aviation to the benefit and safety of the general public and of all who fly." (AP, IT Post, 9/23/72, A22)
U.S.S.R. announced selection of Soviet aircraft designer Andrey N. Tupolev to receive "Sickle and Hammer," his third gold medal for exceptional service in development of air science and Soviet aircraft construction. Tupolev had designed some 150 aircraft, including Tu-144 supersonic airliner. (Tass, Fsis-Sov, 9/28/72, K8)
Federal support to universities and colleges had reached $3.5 billion in FY 1971, increase of $253 million (8%), National Science Foundation reported. Total academic science activities were up $148 million, or 7%, to $2336 million. Federal funding of academic research and development increased by 7%, to $1544 million. Support of life sciences projects constituted 48% of total Federal obligations for academic R&D and 53% of all Federal support for fellowships, traineeships, and training grants. Total Federal obligations (exclusive of loans) to institutions of higher education increased 2% in constant dollars for first time since 1967. (NSF Highlights, 9/22/72)
Need for national technology policy was urged in Science article by Dr. J. E. Goldman, Senior Vice President for Research and Development of Xerox Corp. As U.S. began to channel technical efforts toward programs of social significance, "we must remember one of the important lessons of our recent past; the history of the space program . is a lesson in the mastery of the institutional technique necessary to bring together the segments of the intellectual, industrial, and technological community needed to fulfill goals in a timely fashion. If we choose to ignore this, if we set aside the space program's experience as nothing more than a $20-billion waste, then by our irrationality we will endanger the ultimate achievement of such important societal objectives as better housing and the renewal of our inner cities." (Science, 9/22/72, 1078-80)
September 22-25: NASA launched Explorer 47 (IMP-H) Interplanetary Monitoring Platform from Eastern Test Range at 9:20 pm EDT by three-stage, long-tank, thrust-augmented Thor-Delta booster. Satellite entered transfer orbit with 237 796-km (147 759.6-mi) apogee, 246-km (152.9-mi) perigee, 7365-min (5.11-day) period, and 28.6° inclination. Primary objective was to provide more detailed understanding of dynamics of regions discovered and broadly surveyed by previous earth-orbiting IMPS and lunar IMP by obtaining scientific data during period of decreasing solar activity. Explorer 47 would continue studies of interplanetary radiation, solar wind and energetic particle emissions, and magnetic fields in earth's environment from orbit halfway to moon. Apogee kick motor was fired Sept. 25 to place Explorer 47 in circular orbit with 235 639-km (146 419.3-mi) apogee, 201 599-km (125 267.8-mi) perigee, 12.3-day period, and 17.2° inclination. By Sept. 25, 10 experiments had been commanded on and were operating satisfactorily. Three remaining experiments would be turned on about Oct. 5. Explorer 47 was drum shaped, weighed 378 kg (833 lbs), and carried 13 experiments to measure energetic particles, plasmas, and magnetic and electric fields. Experiments were provided universities, industry, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Atomic Energy Commission, and Goddard Space Flight Center. Explorer 47 was ninth spacecraft in IMP series. First-Explorer 18 (IMP-A)-had been launched Nov. 26, 1963, and most recent-Explorer 43 (IMP-I) -had been launched March 13, 1971. Four of the eight previously launched spacecraft were still operating. (NASA proj off; NASA Release 72-185)
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