Feb 25 1972
From The Space Library
U.S.S.R. launched Cosmos 475 from Plesetsk into orbit with 1003-km (623.2-mi) apogee, 967-km (600.9-mi) perigee, 104.8-min period, and 74.1° inclination. (GSFC SSR, 2/29/72; SBD, 2/29/72, 295)
Reporting on Jan. 10-13 Third Lunar Science Conference results, Science said "far more comprehensive picture of the moon but far fewer claims to understand how the moon evolved were evident." Conflict in geochemical evidence suggested "an initially cold moon in which partial melting of its outer layers took place and magnetic evidence that suggests an initially hot moon with a molten core during the early part of its history." Other puzzles were indication that radioactive materials on moon's surface were concentrated in one area and evidence of unexpectedly high heat flux from moon's interior at Apollo 15 site. Seismic evidence that moon had layered crust 65 km (40 mi) thick had been unexpected. More details on lunar chronology had been determined, "such as the date of formation of the Imbrium basin about 4.0 billion years ago and of the Copernicus Crater only 900 million years ago." It also appeared that, "because of the initially high rate of meteoroid impacts on the moon, very little if any of the original crustal rocks have survived." Lunar-sample chemistry was "proving far from easy-the possibility that volatile elements have migrated on the lunar surface . . is complicating the analysis of trace constituents." Despite complications, "scientific understanding of the moon is much further advanced than ... even a year ago. The systematic coverage of the moon's surface provided by the orbital experiments on Apollo 15, in combination with the lunar samples, laboratory work, and the experiments on the lunar surface have provided new data to replace what sometimes proved to be unfounded speculations." (Hammond, Science, 2/25/72, 868-70)
Dr. Eberhard F. M. Rees, Director of Marshall Space Flight Center, received Hermann Oberth Award of Huntsville, Ala., Chapter of American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics for outstanding scientific achievement in aeronautics and astronautics. He was cited at awards banquet in Huntsville, for his "many valuable contributions to lunar science, planetary formation, and better understanding of the origin of the solar system through the Apollo program; high resolution astronomy through the Stratoscope and LST (large space telescope) programs; the science of our sun through the ATM program; stellar astronomy, earth resources, and life sciences through the Skylab program; the future of high energy astronomy through HEAD . and the promising possibilities for scientific payloads through the Shuttle program." (MSFC Release 72-14)
Dr. John S. Foster, Jr., Director of Defense Research and Engineering in Dept. of Defense, testified on early warning satellite system before Senate Committee on Appropriations' Subcommittee on Defense during hearings on FY 1973 DOD appropriations: "We now have a satellite that is capable of immediately reporting ICBM launches from the Sino-Soviet area. Additional satellites will be deployed to give us effective warning. This year, our early warning system will provide coverage of the entire threat area by at least two unique types of sensor." (Testimony)
Senate Committee on Armed Services rejected Administration request for immediate $35-million appropriation in supplementary funds to accelerate development of undersea long-range missile system (ULMs). Committee decided to consider ULMS program as part of FY 1973 Dept. of Defense budget and to hold further hearings on project. (Middleton, NYT, 3/4/72, 11)
NASA announced selection of 10 scientists and their proposals for Skylab ground-based astronomy program to acquire corollary solar data from ground simultaneously with Skylab observations from earth orbit. In related program, Apollo Telescope Mount principal investigators had offered guest investigator opportunities to all interested astronomers worldwide. Principal investigator and guest investigator would arrange for access to selected ATM data of mutual interest, and guest investigator would publish scientific paper on analysis of ATM data he received. Guest investigators would be approved by NASA but would have no automatic claim on NASA funding. Some astronomers interested in program had proposed that rocket and balloon flights be conducted in addition to ground-based observations. Acquisition of simultaneous solar data from many of these observations, with Skylab data, was expected to greatly enhance development of models of solar atmosphere. (NASA Release 72-39)
Lockheed Missiles & Space Co. scientists had reported development of "uniquely simple" power cell to produce more electricity per pound and up to 100 times more energy than lead-acid storage battery, Associated Press said. Device could operate without releasing harmful pollutants and was fueled with water and alkali metals like sodium or lithium. Scientists said they could control usual violent reaction of lithium and sodium to contact with water. (W Star, 2/25/72, C10)
NASA launched Nike-Tomahawk sounding rocket from Poker Flat Rocket Range, Fairbanks, Alaska, carrying Rice Univ. auroral particles experiment. Rocket and instrumentation performed satisfactorily. (SR list)
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