Nov 2 1971
From The Space Library
Mariner 9 -launched by NASA May 30 and expected to orbit Mars Nov. 13-experienced anomolous condition at 11:00 am EST that, caused spacecraft to lose navigational lock on guiding star Canopus and lock on wrong star, Sirius. Resulting unfavorable high-gain-antenna orientation weakened spacecraft's radio signals. After extensive check showed instruments were still working and spacecraft was disoriented by only few degrees, Mariner 9 was commanded to search for Canopus; confirmation was received that lock had been acquired at 2:51 pm EST. Radio signals returned full strength and mission operations resumed planned schedule. JPL officials speculated that spacecraft had been struck glacing blow by dust particle or Canopus sensor had been distracted by light reflected from passing dust cloud. (NASA Proj Off; NYT, 11/4/71, 18; W Post, 11/3/71, A3)
U.S.S.R. launched Cosmos 454 into orbit from Plesetsk with 346-km (215-mi) apogee, 204-km (126.8-mi) perigee, 90.0-min period, and 65.4° inclination. Satellite reentered Nov. 16. (GSFC SSR, 11/30/71; SF, 7/72, 179)
Soviet scientist Boris Nepoklonov said in Tass interview that data from Lunokhod 1 (placed on moon by Luna 17 Nov. 17, 1970) would help define age of moon more precisely, Information showed that Sea of Rains was one of oldest lunar formations. Analysis of phototelevision panoramas had shown that large craters over 100 m (328 ft) in diameter had emerged several billion years ago, while small craters up to 10 m (32.8 ft) in diameter were millions of years younger. Study of lunar terrain showed many layers. Outer layer, from 0.2 to 0.5 mm (0.008 to 0.02 in), was loosest and had poor heat conductivity, which resulted in sharp temperature fluctuations on lunar surface within half hour. Denser layer beneath was strong enough to sustain weight of Lunokhod 1. Nepoklonov, scientific leader of Lunokhod 1 control team, said that information received from vehicle would be published in multivolume monograph. First book had already appeared. (FBIS-SOV-71-212-3, 11/3/71, L5-6)
Federal Government had filed $3 690 290 suit against Bechtel Corp. in Federal District Court in San Francisco, Wall Street Journal reported. Suit charged that Bechtel's designs for space environment simulation chamber for MSC were "inadequate, improper and unsuited for the purpose intended." Chamber had failed in 1964 NASA test, Government said. (WSJ, 11/2/71)
Nobel Prize for physics was awarded to Dr. Dennis Gabor, Hungarian-born British scientist with Columbia Broadcasting System laboratories, for invention of three-dimensional lensless photography system known as holography. Nobel Prize for chemistry was awarded to German-born National Research Council of Canada scientist Gerhard Herzberg for "contributions to knowledge of electronic structure and geometry of molecules, particularly free radicals." (NYT, 11/3/71, 1)
House Committee on Science and Astronautics favorably reported H.R. 11484, bill permitting sale of land at KSC for Chapel of the Astronauts. (CR, 11/2/71, D1109; H Rpt 92-600)
Rohr Corp. President Frank E. McCreery said in statement that extensive investigation had produced no evidence that Rohr Corp. had delivered cracked jet engine mountings for USAF's C-5A jet transport aircraft [see Oct. 30]. (UPI, NYT, 11/4/71, C38)
Lockheed Aircraft Corp. had announced "voluntary" early retirement of Lockheed-California Div. President Charles S. Wagner, Senior Vice President Dudley E. Browne, and Corporate Vice President for Manufacturing W. A. Pulver, Wall Street Journal reported. Browne would remain a director and member of board's executive and finance committees. (WSJ, 11/2/71, 16)
November 2-4: NASA sponsored conference on "Vehicle Technology for Civil Aviation: The 70s and Beyond" at LaRC and Williamsburg, Va. Dr. James C. Fletcher, NASA Administrator, said in Nov. 2 address to air-lines and aircraft industry executives and DOT representatives that environmental issue of noise provided "show case for technology" and "opportunity to apply technology directly to the solution of an environmental problem of increasing public concern." It was not enough "to think in terms of more power, more lift, more speed. If we wish the taxpayer to continue to support civil aviation, we should take as our motto, 'Fly Quiet!' " NASA could be proud of progress made in reducing aircraft noise. NASA was "well prepared" to develop super-sonic technology that would "permit supersonic flights over continents as well as oceans without harmful sonic boom effects and outstrip the current foreign models in speed, capacity, range, and profitability." Dr. Fletcher described NASA STOL aircraft program as "first research program of this magnitude focused on the needs of civil rather than military aviation." He felt U.S. should establish "clear national policy to maintain our leading position in world aircraft markets" and "should resolve to achieve this goal by whatever reasonable means are necessary, with emphasis on an unequivocal decision to stay out front in aeronautical research and technology." FRC engineer Marvin R. Barber said NASA study had predicted that by 1982 small aircraft would be "most economical mode of transportation on trips of between 40 and 450 miles [65 and 725 kilometers]." B/G Gustav E. Lundquist (USAF, Ret.) said attempts to introduce use of STOL transport to public had been unsuccessful in Northeast Corridor between Boston and Washington. (NASA Release 71-222; Newport News Daily Press, 11/3-5/71)
November 2-5: USAF Titan IIIC booster launched Dscs 2-1 and Dscs 2-2 improved Defense Satellite Communications System satellites from ETR at 10:09 pm EST into transfer orbits and then into separate, synchronous orbits over Pacific, Orbital parameters for both spacecraft: 35 816.0-km (22 255-mi) apogee, 35 807.9-km (22 250-mi) perigee, 1436.1-min period, and 2.6° inclination. Immediately after launch telemetry difficulties were experienced during standard operational status feedback. By Nov. 5 malfunctions had been corrected and satellites were functioning satisfactorily. The two 544-kg (1200-lb), 2.7- x 4-m (9- x 13-ft), TRW-built comsats were designed to replace smaller Dscs satellites launched since 1966. First of improved system, new satellites would increase DOD communications volume. Each satellite had 40-w output for multichannel communications, including 1300 two-way voice conversations, TV, teletype, and data relay and could transmit between large ground terminals over long distances, as well as tactical messages between small portable ground stations. (Pres Rpt 71; AFSC Newsreview, 1/72; SBD, 11/4/71, 25; Detroit News, 11/3/71; upi, M Her, 10/31/71)
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