Sep 20 1971
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(New page: Joint West German and NASA barium-ion-cloud (sic) probe was launched from Wallops Station by Scout booster at 7:31 pm EDT. Objectives of cooperative project were to study behavior of bariu...)
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Joint West German and NASA barium-ion-cloud (sic) probe was launched from Wallops Station by Scout booster at 7:31 pm EDT. Objectives of cooperative project were to study behavior of barium ion cloud released at several earth radii and to determine what broad features of earth's magnetic and electric fields could be deduced. Barium was released into space at 11:05 pm EDT above Central America. Cloud was visible over North and South America and observations were made from all prime ground-based optical sites for one to one and one half hours. Parameters of 4th-stage burnout were 31479-km (19 560-mi) altitude, 6.77° N latitude, and 74.26° W longitude. Barium cloud was visible to naked eye for approximately 10 min. Cloud elongated along its local magnetic field line to length of about 10 000-km (6200-mi). NASA provided vehicle support necessary to accomplish mission and to make observations at NASA sites. (NASA Proj Off; WS Release 71-19)
Time magazine described Soviet swing-wing supersonic strategic bomber Backfire [see Sept. 5]. Aircraft believed to have been designed by Audrey N. Tupolev, was 39.9 m (131 ft) long and weighed 113 400 kg (250 000 lbs). Aerodynamicists believed it to be made of stainless steel with titanium to resist heat stress. Airframe had skin bonding instead of riveting. Wings were in forward position and jackknifed back about 40 for speeds of mach 2.1 at 152 000 m (50 000 ft) or mach 1 at 152 m (500 ft). Aircraft was "apparently crammed with sophisticated electronic aids to confuse radar tracking." Carrying crew of three, it had estimated payload of 50 megatons in weaponry, including parachute-dropped hydrogen bombs. "With one refueling, Backfire appears capable of striking the U.S. and returning home." Intelligence sources also had reported that U.S.S.R. was "well along in the design of the MIG-25 and MIG- 27; they are potential successors to the MIG-23 `Foxbat,' one of the most advanced fighters in the world." (Time, 9/20/71)
Apollo 15 Astronauts David R. Scott, James B. Irwin, and Alfred M. Worden received Order of Leopold from King Leopold of Belgium in Brussels. (NASA Activities, 10/15/71, 172)
Sen. William Proxmire (D-Wis.) issued statement that C-5A program was expected to cost $4.9 billion, increase of $300 million over 1970 figures: "Taking into account that the program has been reduced from 120 planes to 81, we find an overrun of $2.2 billion. On a unit basis, the costs have risen from $28 million originally estimated for each C-5A to $60 million, an increase of over 100%." (Text)
FAA, American Airlines, and Aeronautical Radio, Inc., in October would begin three- to-six-month operational test and evaluation of automatic data link communications techniques, FAA announced. American Air-lines 747 aircraft equipped with data link system that would print out air traffic control clearances, terminal advisories, and other information in cockpit and automatically process pilot position and weather reports to ground would test whether techniques could reduce communications workload on pilots and controllers. (FAA Release 71-152)
Office of Management and Budget had released $98.1 million in FY 1972 funds voted for science education and institutional support, while impounding $30 million, Aviation Week & Space Technology noted. "The 25% holdback of funding at the basic science level is considered by some in Congress as highly destructive because it will tend to reduce the number of future scientists." It was viewed as "direct contradiction of the pro-science policy they have been led to anticipate." (Av Wk, 9/20/71, 15)
September 20-26: International Astronautical Federation held 22nd Congress in Brussels. Apollo 15 Astronaut David R. Scott told opening session that analysis of 2.7-m (9-ft) Apollo 15 lunar core sample had disclosed 58 distinct layers that represented 58 "chapters in the history of the sun." Number of "pages in each chapter" awaited further analysis. Later Scott said in interview that Dr. Liaquat Husain, State Univ. of New York at Stony Brook scientist who had analyzed Apollo 15 "Genesis" rock, was concerned that alteration of rock by shock when it impacted with site at which it was found might have partly invalidated determination of rock's age at 4.15 billion yrs. ARC engineer John C. Arvesen described development of method for monitoring biological productivity from air by detecting signs of chlorophyll. Monitoring device, when tested over California lakes and offshore areas, had produced results that conformed closely to readings obtained by arduous direct sampling of waters. Ultimate goal was to develop satellite-borne system that could monitor global productivity of oceans. Dr. Charles A. Berry, NASA Director of Life Sciences, said newly completed studies of medical data from Apollo 14 had shown radiation exposure to crew that was more than twice that of previous Apollo missions. Primary reason for higher exposure was passage of Apollo 14 spacecraft close to Van Allen radiation belts. Dr. Berry said radiation dose was "of no hazard or biological significance." Soviet scientists said later that cosmonauts carried special antiradiation drug on all space flights but had never used it. Dr. Berry said Apollo 14 Astronaut Stuart A. Roosa had lost 27% of fluid within his body cells during mission. His total body water had dropped 18% and red cells in his bloodstream had decreased 9%. Losses had been far less for other Apollo 14 astronauts and no such dramatic losses had been recorded for Apollo 15 astronauts, indicating that individual responses to space varied widely. Heavy loss of "exchangeable" potassium had been noted in astronauts during ex-tended missions. On Apollo 15, loss had been as great as 15%. Potassium was deemed exchangeable because it could move readily in and out of tissues and thus could be purged from body.
E. G. Johnson, Equipment and Facilities Branch Chief in NASA Space Nuclear Systems Office, described program for development of teleoperator systems in which remote-controlled devices could perform tasks in situations dangerous to health or safety of humans. In space, teleoperator could enter high radiation environment of space station's nuclear power plant to change fuel elements or make repairs. Johnson said optical or radioastronomy observatory on moon's far side could be run for 40 to 50 yrs using computer- controlled teleoperators whose control could be assumed from earth when necessary. Fourth International Orbital Laboratory Symposium was held during IAF congress. Sessions discussed earth resources technology and scientific research objectives and needs of developing countries in regard to earth resources research. IAA Fifth History of Astronautics Symposium on Sept. 23 was chaired by JPL Historian R. Cargill Hall.
Soviet Cochairman V. N. Sokolsky did not attend for unexplained reason. Papers read included "From the History of the Development of Powder Rockets in the U.S.S.R.," by Soviet Academician Yu A. Pobedonostsev, which traced work on Soviet solid propellants leading to Katyusha rocket in current use; "Comparative Analysis of Projects for Jet Planes Constructed up to the 1940's," by V. N. Sokolsky; "Evolution of Spacecraft Attitude Control Concepts before 1951," by R. E. Robertson of Univ. of California at San Diego; and "Memoir: The Evolution of Aerospace Guidance Technology at M.I.T., 1935-1951," by Dr. C. Stark Draper. Fourth International Orbital Laboratory Symposium, held during Congress, discussed earth resources technology and scientific research objectives and needs of developing countries. Daniel and Florence Guggenheim International Astronautics Award was presented to Professor Luigi Broglio of Univ. of Rome for achievements in experiments with floating platforms to launch satellites into equatorial orbits. Only cosmonaut attending IAF Congress was Boris B. Yegorov, only physician to travel in space (launched in Voskhod 1 Oct. 12, 1964). (IAA Annual Rpt 1971; Sullivan, NYT, 9/21/71, 9/23/71, 9/27/71; Proceedings)
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