Jul 20 1971
From The Space Library
Final countdown for July 26 launch of Apollo 15 manned lunar landing mission began at KSC at 6:30 am EDT. (AP, B Sun, 7/21/71, Al)
More than 20 hrs of live TV coverage from Apollo 15 spacecraft and lunar surface would be carried via orbiting Intelsat comsats, ComSatCorp announced. Coverage would include liftoff, transposition and docking, intravehicular transfer, landing site approach, lunar surface exploration, first color broadcast of lunar liftoff, rendezvous and docking, film transfer in space, lunar eclipse, press conference from space, and splashdown. (ComSatCorp Release 71-39)
U.S.S.R. launched Cosmos 429 from Baikonur into orbit with 256- km (159.1-mi) apogee, 177-km (110-mi) perigee, 88.8-min period, and 51.7° inclination. Satellite reentered Aug. 2. (GSFC SSR, 7/31/71; 8/31/71; SBD, 7/26/71, 109)
President Nixon issued Proclamation 4067 designating day as National Moon Walk Day, "to commemorate the anniversary of the first moon walk on July 20, 1969, and to accord recognition to the many achievements of the national space program." He said, "Two years after the first landing . . . other brave men are following in the footsteps of Astronaut Neil A. Armstrong and Astronaut Edwin E. Aldrin to explore the unknown and advance scientific knowledge for the benefit of all mankind." (PD, 7/26/71, 1068)
U.S.S.R., in first status report on Salyut I (launched April 19) since deaths of Soyuz 11 cosmonauts June 30, said Salyut I was functioning normally after 1490 orbits of earth. Tass said station was in orbit with 262.3-km (163-mi) apogee and 223.7-km (139-mi) perigee and all systems were functioning normally. (upi, C Trib, 7/21/71)
Senate by unanimous vote of 87 passed H.R. 9382, FY 1972 HUD- space science appropriations bill that included $3.321 billion NASA appropriation and $647-million NSF appropriation (after adopting amendment increasing NSF research funds by $25 million). (CR, 7/20/71, S11478-502)
Senate passed H.R. 9388, FY 1972 AEC authorization bill that contained additional $37 million in operating costs for space nuclear propulsion program, bringing total authorization for space nuclear propulsion to $52 million. (CR, 8/20/71, 511502-65)
Members of 28-nation U.N. Scientific Subcommittee on Space, meeting in New York, had agreed to establish study panel to examine uses of satellites for earth resources surveys, New York Times reported. Agreement represented compromise. U.S. and U.S.S.R. had opposed earlier Swedish proposal that panel consider establishment of operational systems within U.N. framework. U.S. position, expressed by NASA Assistant Administrator for International Affairs Arnold W. Frutkin, had been that practical application of using satellites for remote sensing of earth would be demonstrated adequately only after testing of NASA's ERTS in spring of 1972. (Teltsch, NYT, 7/20/71, 12)
Wapakoneta, Ohio, birthplace of Apollo 11 Astronaut Neil A. Armstrong, celebrated second anniversary of first moon walk by Armstrong with display of flags and model of LM on concrete blocks on street corner. For third anniversary, in 1972, Armstrong expected to return to home town for dedication of $1-million Armstrong Museum being constructed at edge of town. Daniel R. Porter, Director of Ohio Historical Society, had said museum would feature Ohio's contributions to aerospace age from early balloon ascents through achievements of Wright brothers, who had lived in Ohio, to space exploits of Ohioan Astronaut John H. Glenn. Exhibits would include experimental aircraft flown by Armstrong as test pilot, gallery of flight artifacts, "NASA Room" containing space travel exhibits, and "infinity cube," mirrored room with lighting to give effect of projection into infinity. (Wilford, NYT, 7/21/71, 22)
FAA announced award of two cost-sharing research contracts totaling almost $6 million to Boeing Co. to determine feasibility in design hardware of acoustical treatment techniques in reducing noise levels of United Aircraft Corp. Pratt & Whitney Div.'s JT8D and JT3D engines. (FAA Release 71-118)
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