Jul 12 1971

From The Space Library

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Current revision

U.S.S.R. announced findings of special commission which investigated deaths of Soyuz 11 cosmonauts during reentry from June 6-30 mission. Official report distributed by Tass said spacecraft's flight had proceeded normally up to descent trajectory, with cosmonauts Georgy T. Dobrovolsky, Vladislav N. Volkov, and Viktor I. Patsayev performing according to flight program. About 30 min before landing "there occurred a rapid drop of pressure within the descent vehicle, which led to the sudden death of the cosmonauts. This is confirmed by the medical and pathologico- anatomic examinations. The drop in pressure resulted from a loss of the ship's sealing. An investigation of the descent vehicle, which made a soft landing, showed that there are no failures in its structure." (Tass, FBIS-Sov-133-3, 7/12/71, Ll )

NASA launched series of three Nike-Cajun sounding rockets carrying GSFC grenade experiments to obtain temperature, pressure, density, and wind data between 35 and 95 km (22 and 59 mi) by detonating grenades and recording their sound arrivals on ground. Rocket launched from Churchill Research Range carried 19 grenades to 124.9-km (77.6-mi) altitude with 18 grenades detonating as planned and 16 sound arrivals recorded. Rocket launched from Point Barrow, Alaska, carried 31 grenades to 108.8-km (67.6-mi) altitude with 31 explosions and 30 sound arrivals recorded. Rocket launched from Wallops Station carried 19 grenades to 135.8-km (84.3-mi) altitude, with 19 explosions and sound arrivals recorded. (NASA Rpts SRL)

NASA Associate Administrator for Manned Space Flight Dale D. Myers had selected MSFC to integrate two proposed earth orbital projects, space station and research and applications modules (RAM), by supervising definition, design, and verification of design concepts, MSFC announced. Development of space station would follow development of space shuttle. RAM was family of space payload carrier modules to be delivered to earth orbit by shuttle. (MSFC Release 71-118)

NASA announced availability of two new publications. First, Implantable Biotelemetry Systems (SP-5094), listed biomedical telemetering instruments developed by NASA for monitoring physiological functions in human beings and animals and described devices and techniques for radiotelemetry physiological monitoring. Analysis of Apollo 10 Photography and Visual Observations (SP-232) described Apollo 10 mission and contained miniature halftones of photos taken by Apollo 10 astronauts, which could be obtained for study. (NASA Release 71-30; NASA Hq WB, 7/12/28)

FAA announced it would lower base of area-positive-control airspace (Arc) from 7300 m (24 000 ft) to 5500 m (18 000 ft) over south- western U.S., effective Aug. 19, to provide operating aircraft with additional protection against midair collisions. (FAA Release 71- 105)

President Nixon forwarded to Congress nomination of L/G Benjamin O. Davis, Jr. (USAF, Ret.), Deputy Assistant Secretary of Transportation for Safety and Consumer Affairs, to be Assistant Secretary of Transportation (Safety and Consumer Affairs). (PD, 7/19/71, 1060)

AFSC announced reassignment of officers: M/G Lee V. Gossick, Deputy Chief of Staff, Systems, would become Chief of Staff for AFSC on departure of M/G Clifford J. Kronauer; M/G Kenneth W. Schultz, Deputy for Minuteman, SAMSO, Norton AFB, Calif., would succeed M/G Gossick as Deputy Chief of Staff, Systems; B/G Abner B. Martin would succeed M/c Schultz as Deputy for Minuteman; B/G Herbert A. Lyon, Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff, Systems, AFSC, would succeed B/G Martin as Deputy for Reentry Systems; B/G William W. Gilbert, Vice Commander of USAF Flight Test Center, Edwards AFB, Calif., would command European Communications Area, with additional duties as Deputy Chief of Staff, Communications, USAF, Europe. (AFSC Release 216.71; AFSC PM)

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