Mar 15 1972

From The Space Library

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Current revision

Cosmos 478 was launched by U.S.S.R. from Plesetsk. Orbital parameters: 282-km (175.2-mi) apogee, 176-km (109.4-mi) perigee, 89-min period, and 65° inclination. Satellite reentered March 28. (GSFC SSR, 3/31/72; SBD, 3/17/72, 98)

Decision that space shuttle booster stage would be powered by recoverable, reusable, solid-fueled rocket motors in parallel burn configuration, rather than by pressure-fed liquid-fueled rocket motor, was announced by Dr. James C. Fletcher, NASA Administrator, to Senate Committee on Aeronautical and Space Sciences during FY 1973 authorization hearings. Announcement was also released to press during morning and Dr. Fletcher held press conference in afternoon. Dr. Fletcher said both solid- and liquid-fueled boosters had been found technically feasible but "choice was made in favor of the solid parallel burn because of the lower development cost and the lower technical risks. Cost estimate for shuttle development was now $5.15 billion instead of earlier $5.5-billion estimate. Request for proposals would be issued about March 17.

NASA expected to select shuttle launch and landing site shortly. At press conference he said: "I think we have made the right decision at the right time. And I think it is the right price." Dr. Fletcher said it was likely NASA would want to launch and land at same coastal site and possibly from sites on both coasts. Inland sites were unlikely because of requirement for booster recoverability. Dale D. Myers, Associate Administrator for Manned Space Flight, said at conference there would be eight-week response time to request for proposals to become prime contractor for shuttle development. NASA would evaluate proposals in another eight weeks and would be ready for choice of contractor in early July. Requirements had been developed jointly with Air Force and "we have a shuttle that meets the user's requirements, both in NASA and in the Air Force." Dr. George M. Low, NASA Deputy Administrator, estimated break-down of 580 shuttle flights projected over 12-yr period for newsmen. Out of 100% of missions, 26% would be manned or man-tended, 74% unmanned. Of that 74%, 27% would be for applications (including NASA and other agencies or commercial applications), 25% for science, and 22% for Dept. of Defense missions. (Hearings transcript; Press conference transcript)

NASA Associate Administrator Dale D. Myers-following detailed presentation on space shuttle decision announced by Administrator James C. Fletcher [see above]-moved to testimony on Apollo program, during Senate Committee on Aeronautical and Space Sciences hearings on NASA FY 1973 authorization. In new Apollo 16 lunar surface experiments, far-ultraviolet camera/spectograph would photograph celestial objects or areas emitting or absorbing energy from atomic hydrogen. Data would provide information on "composition, density, distribution, and motion of interplanetary, interstellar, and intergalactic gas clouds which will . enhance our understanding of the structure and evolution of the galaxy." Data, recorded on film and returned from lunar surface by astronauts, would be "first attempt to evaluate the Moon as a platform from which to make future celestial observations." Second new experiment, cosmic ray detector, would acquire data on origin and source mechanism of high-velocity cosmic rays and solar particles beyond effects of earth's atmosphere and magnetic field. (Transcript)

NASA TF-8A aircraft, equipped with supercritical wing and piloted by Thomas C. McMurtry, completed 29th flight from Flight Research Center. Purpose of flight was to check out new instrumentation and angle-of-attack and airspeed calibrations. Fixed rakes and rotating survey probes were checked out and angle-of-attack calibrations were obtained at 13 700-m (45 000-ft) altitude from mach 0.9 to 1.1. (NASA prof off)

Federal Communications Commission made public recommendations by its staff for domestic communications satellite system. Recommendations were for "policy of limited open entry permitting all qualified applicants to own and operate domestic satellite systems." Applicants for related uses of satellite systems would be expected to join forces. FCC spokesman said proposals for satellite use might ultimately be grouped into as many as four independent systems, each requiring its own satellite. Cost of complete system was estimated at $60 million to $100 million. Satellites would cost between $11 million and $26 million. Cost-sharing plan among applicants was recommended. Hearings on FCC staff report were scheduled to start May 1. (Schmeck, NYT, 3/16/72, 1)

Communications Satellite Corp. and Cunard Line, Ltd., jointly announced beginning of two-month test to demonstrate high-quality, reliable communications between Queen Elizabeth 2 at sea and ComSatCorp Laboratories in Clarksburg, Md., via Intelsat-IV F-2 over Atlantic. Test was first transmission of voice and data communications via satellite with commercial passenger liner at sea. Ship carried 2.4-m (8-ft) parabolic antenna, antenna control and stabilization system, and digital communications terminal for communications in C-band frequencies (400-600 mhz). When satellite communications became operationally available for use with ships at sea, service would be provided in L-band frequencies (1500--1600 mhz). (ComSatCorp Release 72-16; Com-SatCorp Pm)

National Science Foundation announced selection of 121-hectare (300- acre) desert site west of Socorro, N. Mex., as site for $76-million very-large-array (vi.A radiotelescope-most sensitive and accurate such instrument in world. vLA-which would consist of 27 dish-shaped radiotelescopes, each 25 m (82 ft) in diameter and movable along three 20.9-km (13-mi) Y-shaped tracks-would pick up naturally produced radio signals from objects within and outside Milky Way galaxy. NSF had included $3 million in FY 1973 budget request for initial phases of project. Subject to successful negotiations for land use and availability of funds, work on facility would begin during 1972. (NSF Release 72-127)

House Committee on Government Operations in 10th report, Aircraft Collision Avoidance Systems, criticized Federal Aviation Administration's failure to develop "vigorous and meaningful program for preventing mid-air collisions." Committee recommended FAA research and development program to provide "unified, coordinated approach encompassing all elements of air traffic control, including ground-based air traffic control, airborne collision avoidance, the structure of the Nation's airspace." Committee gave FAA Administrator until June 30 to report development by FAA, NASA, and aviation community of program to provide U.S. with "acceptable level of collision avoidance capability at the earliest possible date." (Text)

March 15-21: NASA launched 29 sounding rockets from Wallops Station in cooperative international program to test weather data systems for France, Japan, and U.S. Project was sponsored by United Nations World Meteorological Organization's Commission for Instruments and Methods of Observation. Objective was to compare data for better understanding of upper-air temperature and wind measurements and to encourage international cooperation in exchanging data obtained from meteorological rockets. Rockets-which carried radiosonde pay-loads ejected at apogee and descending on parachutes-included 12 U.S. Loki- Datasondes carrying NASA payloads, 10 Japanese MT-135s carrying Japan Meteorological Agency payloads, and 7 U.S. Super Arcas rockets carrying French National Meteorological Agency pay- loads. Twenty-four flights were successful, three were failures, and two were partially successful. Second series of launches was planned for late 1973 with U.S., U.S.S.R., United Kingdom, Brazil, France, and India. (WS Release 72-3; WS PAO)

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