Jun 20 1973

From The Space Library

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Current revision

Cosmos 574 was launched by the U.S.S.R. from Plesetsk into orbit with a 1014-km (630.1-mi) apogee, 985-km (612.1-mi) perigee, 105.0-min period, and 82.9° inclination. (GSFC SSR, 6/30/73; SBD, 6/21/73, 289)

Johnson Space Center had signed a $700 000 contract with United Aircraft Corp. Hamilton Standard Div. to design, build, and install a laboratory model of a modular, integrated utility system (MIUS), NASA announced. The contract was part of a NASA project for the Dept. of Housing and Urban Development to use space technology to conserve natural resources, lessen air and water pollution, and reduce energy consumption. MIUS was a single, combined source of electric power, water management, solid-waste treatment, and heating and air conditioning. Communities could be served with networks of modules arranged to serve larger population concentrations. NASA and HUD would test the integrated concepts on a low-cost, small scale before full-scale demonstrations. Other agencies participating were the Atomic Energy Commission, National Bureau of Standards, and the Environmental Protection Agency. The contract called for completion of testbed installations at JSC by spring 1974. (NASA Release 73-119)

Rep. Larry Winn, Jr. (R-Kan.), with cosponsors from the House Committee on Science and Astronautics, introduced H.R. 8871 to authorize the NASA Administrator to conduct research and development programs to increase knowledge of tornadoes, hurricanes, large thunderstorms, and other short-lived weather phenomena and to develop methods for predicting, detecting, and monitoring such atmospheric behavior. (CR, 6/20/73, HSO64)

A Navy F-14 jet fighter aircraft shot itself down over the Pacific with a Sparrow air-to-air missile launched erratically from its mount beneath the aircraft. The two Grumman Aerospace Corp. crewmen ejected and were rescued unharmed by a Navy helicopter. The F-14 had been flight-testing the missile's ability to drop clear of its mount before firing, the Navy explained in a statement issued June 21, but the missile failed to clear, struck the fuselage, and exploded. It was the third loss of an F-14 since the swing-wing aircraft's December 1970 maiden test flight. (Witkin, NYT, 6/22/73, 8)

The House Committee on Armed Services voted in closed session to appropriate $172.7 million to continue production of F-111s at a one-a-month rate through 1975 [see June 6]. (Kelly, W Star & News, 6/21/73)

The Aerospace Industries Assn. released AIA Survey of Aerospace Employment, its semiannual aerospace employment survey. Aerospace employment had increased from 924 000 to 944 000 in 1972 despite an anticipated decline, largely because of accelerated aircraft deliveries. A reduction during 1973 to approximately 913 000 was anticipated. From December 1972 to December 1973, production workers were expected to decline by 3.4%, from 473 000 to 457 000. Scientists and engineers were expected to decline 4.2%, to 161 000. Peak scientist and engineer employment of 235 000 was reached in 1967. Technicians were expected to remain at 1972 levels, with all other aerospace employees declining 3.4%. Aircraft production and research and development employment was expected to decline from 556 000 to 552 000 between December 1972 and December 1973, while employment in missiles and space was expected to be reduced by nearly 10%, from 217 000 to 196 000. (AIA Release 73-15; Text)

June 20-July 4: The American Assn. for the Advancement of Science celebrated its 125th anniversary with an inter-American meeting, "Science and Man in the Americas," in Mexico City. The meeting, cosponsored by the Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Technologia of Mexico, explored Western Hemisphere problems: aridity, populations, education, earthquakes, nutrition, and the sea. (AAAS Bulletin, 4/73, AAAS PIO)

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