Sep 2 1971
From The Space Library
OAO 2-launched Dec. 7, 1968, and exceeding all design specifications-marked its 1000th working day. (NYT, 9/2/71, 14)
Mariner 9 Mars probe had traveled 244 316 000 km (151 805 000 mi) in solar orbit since launch May 30 and was 39 424 000 km (24 497 000 mi) from earth, traveling at 96 540 km per hr (59 987 mph). Spacecraft was expected to reach Mars' vicinity Nov. 13, collect atmospheric and surface data, and map 70% of Martian surface during 90 days in orbit. (NASA Special Release, 9/2/71)
Nike-Apache sounding rocket launched by NASA from Churchill Research Range, Canada, carried GSFC experiment to investigate polar cap absorption event. Rocket and instruments functioned satisfactorily; pay-load recovery was delayed until Sept. 3 because of adverse weather. (NASA Rpt SRL)
U.S.S.R.'s Lunokhod 1 lunar rover, landed on moon by Luna 17 Nov. 17, 1970, had safely endured 10th lunar night and was functioning satisfactorily, Tass announced. (FIBS-Sov- 173)
Dr. James C. Fletcher, NASA Administrator, held news conference during first visit to LeRC. He said LeRC would play major role in development of commercial engines geared toward reducing noise pollution by future jet aircraft, (Lewis News, 9/10/71, 1; LeRC Flo)
Rep. Leonor K. Sullivan (D-Mo.), Chairman of Consumer Affairs Sub- committee of House Banking and Currency Committee, sent to FTC material on Franklin Mint, private corporation that produced silver medallions carried on Apollo 14 mission Jan. 31-Feb. 9. She suggested FTC investigate promotional use by Franklin of medallions, which had been melted down into `mimmoons'-coins advertised as containing silver that had been to the moon. Washington Daily News said Rep. Sullivan's action had been prompted by order issued by Apollo 14 commander Alan B. Shepard, Jr., Chief of Astronaut Office, that no more Franklin Mint medals be carried on NASA missions. Shepard had noted, News said, that Apollo 14 crew had carried 200 Franklin medallions in CM (which never left lunar orbit), had distributed 150 to friends and relatives on mission's completion, and had returned 50 to Franklin with understanding they would be made into coins for members of Franklin Mint Collectors Society, but not used to promote sales. (Thomasson, Scripps-Howard, W News, 9/2/71, 24)
September 2-11: U.S.S.R. launched Luna 18 unmanned lunar probe on Proton booster from Baikonur at 6:41 pm local time (4:41 pm Moscow time, 9:41 am EDT), inserting vehicle into translunar trajectory from earth orbit. Tass said purpose of mission was to carry out further scientific research of moon and near-moon space. During flight to moon 29 communications sessions were held with spacecraft and data on parameters and systems were transmitted. Midcourse maneuvers were conducted Sept. 4 and 6 and on Sept. 7 Luna 18 entered lunar orbit with 99.8-km (62-mi) altitude, 1-hr 59-min period, and 35° inclination. Spacecraft made 54 revolutions of moon, testing methods of automatic near-moon navigation, before braking for moon landing. Luna 18 reached moon's surface Sept. 11 near Sea of Fertility, 3° 34' north latitude and 56° 30' east longitude. Tass announced landing was "unlucky" and communications stopped at 10:48 am Moscow time (3:48 am EDT). Luna 18 was assumed to have crashlanded. Previous mission in series, Luna 17, landed successfully on moon Nov. 17, 1970, and released Lunokhod 1, self-propelled lunar rover designed to carry out scientific investigations. (FBIS-Sov-172-3, 9/3/71, Li; 174-3, 9/8/71, Ll; 173-3, 9/12/71, Ll; SF, 11/71, 401)
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