Feb 15 1972
From The Space Library
Secretary of Defense Melvin R. Laird, testifying before Senate Committee on Armed Services, said Communist China "could begin deployment of intercontinental ballistic missiles with a range of 3,000 nautical miles [5600 kilometers] or more, capable of striking all or most of the U.S.S.R. by 1975." Chinese satellites Chicom 1 and 2 (launched April 24, 1970, and March 3, 1971) and 12 nuclear tests since 1964 indicated "fairly high degree of sophistication in both missile and warhead development." (C Sun Times, 2/16/72, 18)
Nike-Apache sounding rocket, launched by NASA from Churchill Research Range, carried Univ. of Pittsburgh experiment to 141-km (87.6-mi) altitude. Primary objective was to confirm initial observation of nitric oxide in auroral zone and collect additional information on processes that produced nitric oxide in an auroral arc. Secondary objective was to measure density of major atmospheric constituents in D and E regions. Rocket and instruments functioned satisfactorily. (NASA Rpt SRL)
NASA issued technical memorandum "Description, Dissection and Sub-sampling of Apollo 14 Core Sample 14230," describing techniques used to preserve lunar sample intact. Techniques- developed originally by Dr. Roald Fryxell of Washington State Univ. to preserve sediments surrounding bones of "Marmes Man," oldest well-documented human remains in Western Hemisphere-had produced first permanent record of layering in dust that covered lunar surface. Scientists first removed 55 tiny subsamples from core length, working through rubber gloves in sealed nitrogen cabinets to protect samples from earth atmosphere. They then impregnated with resin three successive thin strips of lunar core with all layers intact and grains undisturbed. Stabilized deposits were then mounted on plexiglass as first permanent record of deposits beneath moon's surface. (NASA Release 72-30; NASA PAO)
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