July 1975

From The Space Library

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Current revision

The world's news media commented on the joint U.S.-U.S.S.R. Apollo-Soyuz Test Project [see 15-24 July].

A 15 July article in West Germany's Frankfurter Allgemeine said that "technically the Apollo-Soyuz enterprise will show nothing much." The reason for the mission had been political since it was agreed upon in 1972. It was "fully in line with the detente and rapprochement policy of the two superpowers." The astronautic field was particularly useful for propaganda because it could mark the "beginning of an intellectual and scientific exchange of opinion of advantage to both sides." However, "if one looks... at rapprochement in other fields, such as SALT. . . , one must remain skeptical regarding 'atmospheric' improvements to be achieved outside the atmosphere of the world." Milika Sundic, a Yugoslavian commentator, said concerning ASTP, "Nobody doubts its success, or. . .the good intentions and will of the two superpowers." The technical aspect of the mission was least important, and the political side "constitutes its essence." The joint undertakings both on earth and in space reflected the superpowers' belief in a "full equilibrium of forces rather than trust in one another." This lack of trust was the consequence not only of different systems but different interests which went beyond national borders. The fact that the U.S. and U.S.S.R. were leaders of two military alliances could not lead to greater trust between them. But, "without blocs and without ambitions going beyond national borders, the situation would be... more favorable both for the superpowers and for the rest of the world." One hoped that nobody intended to divide up space along bloc lines and that nobody would misuse it for solving this world's problems. "Third World countries may not be present at today's rendezvous in space, but they have a claim on the part played by science in the Soviet-American undertaking." Regarding their rights on the earth, "the Third World has no intention of renouncing them, and even less of abandoning the fate of peace to the big powers, for peace is indivisible both on earth and in space." Hungary's 15 July issue of Nepszabadsag said the joint space flight was a scientific undertaking inseparable from "normalization" between the two states and reflecting the advance of peaceful coexistence. The joint cosmic attempt called attention to the vast possibilities inherent in dynamic scientific cooperation between the two countries in other, no less important, areas.

Bulgaria's 15 July Rabotnichesko said in an editorial that ASTP not only would mark "a new stage in the development of space research and will open up new prospects for cooperation between the U.S.S.R. and U.S.A. but will also be a telling example to be followed by all other states and peoples on the earth. . . ." A 26 July commentary by a Peking correspondent in the People's Republic of China said that the U.S.-U.S.S.R. handshake in space-despite the show and all the money spent to advertise it could not "cover up their fierce struggle on earth." In fact, the two superpowers "regard each other as the enemy in space. They have been contending for military superiority in space ever since the first satellite was launched." The handshake was but a contention with "each trying to cheat and outwit the other." Finland's Karjalaimen called the joint mission "historic" from the point of view of both space technology and world politics. The superpowers had found it necessary to begin together to regulate the world's conflicts to prevent a world conflagration or wars that could endanger the interests of the superpowers. ASTP was one of the public symbols of this policy. (NCNA, FBIS-PRC, 28 July 75, Al; FBIS-Bulgaria, 16 July 75, C1; FBIS-Hungary, 16 July 75, Fl; FBIS-Yugoslavia, 16 July 75, Il; FBIS-Finland, 16 July 75, Pl)

Preparations continued for August launch of the two Viking spacecraft. Following the mating of Viking Lander-Capsule 2 (VLC-2)-with Orbiter 2 (VO-2)--to become the Viking-A spacecraft--cabling connections between the two were made and precountdown test was run on 3 July. Propellants were loaded on 9-10 July and final encapsulation inside the shroud was completed on 11 July. Viking-A was mated to the Titan IIID launch vehicle on 28 July.

The Lander (VLC-1) and Orbiter (Vo-1) of Viking -B were mated on 21 July and the spacecraft was encapsulated on 24 July, to be kept in a planned holding mode until it was ready for mating with its launch vehicle. (Viking status bulletins 8 & 9, 8 July 75, 29 July 75)

The Air Force had announced operational concepts for Space Shuttle launches at Vandenberg Air Force Base. Construction, planned to begin in mid-1978, would cost $50 million less than original estimates through maximum use of existing facilities such as Space Launch Complex No. 6--constructed in the 1960s for the Air Force's manned orbiting laboratory cancelled in June 1969-and existing roadways and railroad tracks. An "integrate on the pad" concept and modification of surplus Saturn III rocket transporters to move the Orbiter and external tanks to the launch pad had eliminated the need for a new highway and railroad system. A study coordinated with the Navy showed that the solid-rocket booster that dropped off the main tank into the ocean could be successfully recovered with a minimum of new facilities by using an existing Navy dock and large stationary crane.

Operations facility requirements would be programmed in two phases: Phase one, construction of a complete ground-support system, would allow the DOD to operate Space Shuttle missions from Vandenberg by December 1982. Phase two called for completion of a second launch pad in late 1986. (AFSC Newsreview, July 75, 16)

The Space and Missile Systems Organization had announced award of a $2 059 000 contract to Raytheon Co. Equipment Div. for a self repairing onboard satellite computer system. The 11-kg computer would carry two or more spares for each of its basic subunits, and a configuration-control unit (CCU) to monitor the computer's operating subunits and diagnose problems; if a subunit failed, the CCU would diagnose the problem and switch to a spare. The computer would also perform satellite housekeeping including power control, antenna positioning, temperature control, attitude control, and navigation, jobs normally performed by a computer on the ground. (AFSC Newsreview, July 75)

Arnold Engineering Development Center was studying the feasibility of the secondary burning-called external burning-of fuel-rich exhaust to increase the efficiency of solid rocket motors. The concept called for the diversion of the exhaust of burning propellant through ports that ring the rear end of the motor casing, and its injection at right angles into the airstream. Miniature nozzles in each port would accelerate the exhaust gas to sonic speed. Turbulent mixing of the fuel-rich sonic gas and the supersonic airflow would cause a secondary combustion, increasing pressure at the base of the motor and overall thrust of the propulsion system. (AFSC Newsreview, July 75, 12)

Potential propellants for the Space Shuttle had been tested at an underground facility at Arnold Engineering Development Center, the Air Force Systems Command reported. Testing was part of a selection process to find a compatible propellant for the auxiliary motors that would separate the Orbiter from the two solid-rocket boosters. Three candidate propellants were tested at a simulated altitude of 40 000 m. Reusable ballistic test-evaluation system motors, each loaded with 45 kg of propellant, were fired seven times, burning for 2 sec and generating 53 400 newtons of thrust. Exhaust plumes were directed at 15- by 15-cm tiles of thermal protective material at various distances and angles; after the tests, the tiles were checked for erosion of the surfaces and edges. Pressure and temperature were measured in the rocket plumes, and surface temperatures and heating rates were measured on 21 selected material samples. All data and samples were sent to Marshall Space Flight Center for analysis. (AFSC Newsreview, July 75, 3)

NASA awarded a 1-yr contract to Boeing Co. to study a proposed Large Lift Vehicle (LLV) made up of Space Shuttle engines, fuel tanks, and avionics. Launched without the Space Shuttle Orbiter, the LLV could carry tons of freight into space, or could rocket to the moon with a second stage attached. It would be less expensive than the Saturn V because the avionics package could be retrieved in orbit and the twin boosters were recoverable. In a 1974 interview with the Huntsville Times, John H. Disher, NASA Director for Advanced Programs, had said that no definite mission for the LLV was planned, but that NASA was looking to the future. (Casebolt, Huntsville Times, 12 Aug 74; NASA Hq Adv Progs Off, Fero, interview, 10 Aug 75)

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