Jul 22 1972
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(New page: U.S.S.R.'s Venus 8 spacecraft, launched March 27, reached atmosphere of Venus after 117-day flight covering 482 million km (300 million mi). Tass said descent module separated from spa...)
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U.S.S.R.'s Venus 8 spacecraft, launched March 27, reached atmosphere of Venus after 117-day flight covering 482 million km (300 million mi). Tass said descent module separated from spacecraft and descended to surface of Venus by parachute, softlanding at 2:29 pm Baikonur time (5:29 am EDT). "In the process of aerodynamic deceleration its speed dropped from 11.6 kilometers per second [7.2 miles per second] to 250 metres per second [820 feet per second]. Studies of the atmosphere and surface layer of the planet were con-ducted during the parachute descent for the fifty minutes after landing. Carried out for the first time were experiments to determine brightness, pressure and temperature in the atmosphere and on the surface of the planet on its day side. Data has been obtained on the nature of the rocks of the planet's surface layer." Venus 8 was second Soviet spacecraft to complete softlanding mission to Venus successfully. First was Venus 7, which had landed capsule on Venus Dec. 15, 1970, that had transmitted data from surface for 23 min. (FBIS-Sov, 8/24/72, Ll; SBD, 7/25/72, 118; GSFC SSR, 7/31/72)
Report under preparation by General Accounting Office would urge Dept. of Defense to declassify more of technology developed by DOD research, Business Week reported. Report also would recommend that Office of Management and Budget establish technology transfer as Government-wide policy, Magazine said report would be "rousing vote of confidence" in and documentation for NASA technology transfer program. (Bus Wk, 7/22/72)
NASA spokesman said agency was tightening flight rules for Apollo 17 mission scheduled for Dec. 6, following commercialism of souvenir articles carried on previous missions. Personal preference kits in which astronauts carried articles to distribute to family and friends might be eliminated. (AP, W Star & News, 7/22/72)
Associated Press reported Apollo 15 crew had been favored to receive Air Force Gen. Thomas D. White Space Trophy but that trophy would be withheld because of unauthorized postal cover incident [see July 11]. Trophy was awarded annually for most outstanding contribution to U.S. aerospace progress. AP said Apollo 15 Astronauts David R. ScottAlfred M. Worden, and James B. Irwin also had been invited to annual meeting of Federation Aeronautique Internationale in Paris in October to receive other awards with Soviet cosmonauts and that Dr. James C. Fletcher, NASA Administrator, had advised FAI that efforts would be made to have astronauts accept invitation. (AP, W Star & News, 7/23/72, A23)
Federal Aviation Administration announced award of $119 249 contract to Parsons, Brinckeroff, Quade and Douglas, Inc., for architectural and engineering plans for 600-by-90-m (2000-by-300- ft) elevated STOLport for short takeoff and landing aircraft. Exterior design of structure supporting STOLport would be planned to provide approaching pilot with realistic cues resembling those included in actual landing facility on top of a multilevel structure. (FAA Release 72-142)
Grove Webster, NASA Director of Personnel, died at age 48 after long illness. Webster had joined NASA in 1959 after working for Air Force and Civil Service Commission. (NASA Special Ann)
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