Jan 15 1972
From The Space Library
Pioneer-F spacecraft to probe Jupiter's environmental and atmospheric characteristics arrived at Kennedy Space Center to begin final checkout before Feb. 27 launch. Pioneer-F 3rd stage had been erected Jan. 7 and overall vehicle interface test had been conducted Jan. 10. Pioneer-F would mark first use of Atlas-Centaur booster in Pioneer program and first use of Atlas-Centaur with 3rd stage - TE-M-361, 4 solid-propellant engine with 66 750-newton (15 000- lb) thrust. (KSC Release 7-72; NASA Release 72-25)
NASA launched two Booster Arcas I sounding rockets from Churchill Research Range, Canada, carrying Univ. of Houston experiments to investigate auroral zone disturbances and study auroral phenomena at altitudes previously unstudied. Data would supplement data from three Canadian Black Brant sounding rockets launched by Canadian National Research Council during substorm movement. Rockets reached 53.1- and 60-km (33- and 37.3-mi) altitudes and functioned satisfactorily, with each set of instruments providing data for one hour. (NASA Rpts SRL)
Pan-Pacific Education and Communications Experiments Using Satellites (PEACESAT) program, using NASA's orbiting Ats 1 satellite for long-distance educational exchange, was described in New York Times. System would be used to convey information instantaneously by voice, print, and pictures between classrooms, laboratories, or libraries in different countries. Key component was inexpensive, easily operated two-way broadcasting and receiving unit. Impulses beamed by transmitter from primary station at Univ. of Hawaii to satellite could be received by similar device on ground anywhere in Pacific area. University's unit had been constructed for $1200, with $130 taxi radio as nucleus. Teachers on Honolulu campus had used system to conduct orientation classes for students traveling to Hawaii from Japan, Hong Kong, and Philippines aboard passenger ship thousands of kilometers away and to conduct five-week speech course between Honolulu and Hilo campuses. Other applications of PEACESAT might include multistation hookups for scholarly discussions among teachers and students, long-distance collaboration in medical activities, and exchange of library material. (Trumbull, NYT, 1/15/72)
Col. Daniel D. McKee (USAF, Ret.), manager of Bell Aerosystems in Houston and former Assistant Director of NASA Manned Satellite Programs in NASA Hq., died in Houston at age 53 after apparent heart attack. (MSC Hist Off)
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