Oct 4 1971
From The Space Library
U.S.S.R.'s Lunokhod 1, first self-propelled lunar vehicle, ceased operations after 321 days on moon, Tass announced Oct. 9. Eight-wheeled vehicle stopped transmitting photos and soil analyses to earth when its isotope heat reserves were exhausted during its 11th lunar night on moon. Depletion of nuclear heat source had caused temperatures on rover to drop during lunar night. Vehicle had been landed on moon in Sea of Rains by Luna 17 Nov. 17, 1970. Solar-powered Lunokhod 1 had successfully conducted scientific and technical research program with all systems functioning normally. It had traveled distance of 10 540 m (34 680 ft), exploring more than 80 000 sq m (860 000 sq ft) of lunar surface and had produced more than 500 panoramas, 20 000 TV pictures, 25 chemical analyses, and hundreds of probes of physical- mechanical characteristics of lunar soil. Vehicle had been parked on level surface with French-made laser reflector pointing toward earth, to permit continued use of laser for ranging experiments. (FBIS- Sov-71-197-3, 10/12/71, LI; 212-3, 11/3/71, L5-6; NYT, 10/10/71, 68; Av Wk, 10/18/71, 17)
NASA, FAA, and USAF began joint runway research program at Wallops Station to evaluate methods for measuring runway slipperiness at military and civil airports and improve techniques for estimating aircraft performance on runways that become slippery when wet. Tests would be followed by similar measurements at Houston Intercontinental Airport, Lubbock (Tex.) Regional Airport, Edwards AFB (Calif.), Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, and John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York. FAA Boeing 727 aircraft instrumented by LaRC would be used for flight portions of program. USAF C-141 aircraft would carry personnel and equipment. Runway surface measurements would be made by mu- meter-friction measuring device provided by USAF-and diagonally braked automobile developed by NASA at LaRC. (NASA Release 71-190)
Award of $11 640 773 addition to cost-plus-fixed-fee contract with Chrysler Corp. for launch operations support for Skylab from Oct. 1, 1971, to June 30, 1973, was announced by KSC. Addition brought amount of contract to $25 016 708. (KSC Release 226-71)
Two prototype x-ray devices for detecting weapons and explosives in carry-on luggage of air passengers had been successfully tested at Dulles International Airport in Virginia, FAA announced. Low radiation x-ray units-Flying Spot developed by American Science and Engineering, Inc., and Bendix Ray Inspectoscope developed by Bendix Aerospace Systems Div.-sent x-ray pulse through luggage to obtain shadowgraph, which was displayed on TV screen. Devices did not affect photographic film or recording tape. (FAA Release 71-162)
October 4-5: Representatives of ELDO and European space industries met with NASA officials at MSFC to discuss project for space tug to operate in earth orbit in conjunction with space station and space shuttle. Tug would transfer payloads in space and perform transportation services in orbit. (MSFC Release 71-168; MSFC PIO)
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