Jun 14 1972
From The Space Library
Press conference on scientific results of NASA's Mariner 9 Mars probe (launched May 30, 1971) was held at Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Dr. Robert H. Steinbacher, project scientist, said Mars "used to be likened to earth in science fiction, and was compared to the moon after the first pictures from Mariner 4 in 1965. Now we are seeing that Mars has a character all its own. It is not earth-like or moon-like, it is Mars-like." Harold Masursky of U.S. Geological Survey said Mars could be divided into four major geological provinces: Nix Olympica-Tharis volcanic province with volcanoes up to 8 km (5 mi) high and 500 km (300 mi) in diameter; Ophir-Eos equatorial plateau region with faults and rifts 5 km (3 mi) deep; cratered and smooth terrains with large circular basins like lunar impact basins; and south polar cratered terrain covered with glacial sediment layers up to 100 m (330 ft) thick. Convincing evidence that water had played active role in evolution of Mars was shown in Mariner 9 photos of deep, winding channels that might have once been beds of fast-flowing streams. Masursky suggested two explanations for apparent heavy rains and floods on Mars in past: volcanic heat might have melted water ice stored below surface as permafrost or increased dosages of sunlight on polar caps every 50 000 yrs, because of axis wobbling, might have melted polar caps completely. Dr. Geoffrey A. Biggs of JPL described north polar hood of variable clouds that appeared to have general west-to-east flow pattern, with some systems resembling small cyclones. Photos also showed "white cloud phenomenon"-brilliant white spots, believed to be water ice clouds, associated with volcanoes. "The clouds appear mostly in the afternoon, when warmer air is moving up the slopes and cooling as it goes." Pictures of north polar area showed wavelike clouds "formed by a simple, harmonic movement of air, of winds up to 115 miles per hour [185 kilometers per hour] . very much like the cold fronts shown in earth atmosphere pictures." (Summary statement and abstracts; Wilford, NYT, 6/15/72, 1; Swaim, Pasadena Star-News, 6/15/72)
NASA'S Pioneer 10 (launched March 2) was continuing on trajectory toward planned Dec. 3, 1974, encounter with Jupiter. After 104 days in space Pioneer 10 was 113 800 000 km (70 700 000 mi) from earth and 554 000 000 km (344 300 000 mi) from Jupiter, traveling at 23.4 km per sec (14.5 mps) relative to earth. It was 256 800 000 km (1.7 astronomical units) from sun, moving through region of space never before traversed by man-made object. All science instruments had been turned on and checked out and all other instruments were operating satisfactorily. Meteoroid detector had recorded 42 hits to date. When Pioneer 10 entered asteroid belt between July 15 and 26, frequency of meteoroid encounters was expected to increase. Radioisotope thermoelectric generators were operating at power loss of about one watt per month-rate that would leave sufficient power remaining at Jupiter encounter. (NASA proj off)
Senate by vote of 70 to 2 passed H.R. 15093, FY 1973 Dept. of Housing and Urban Development-space-science-veterans appropriations bill that contained $3.432-billion NASA appropriation, as approved by Senate Committee on Appropriations May 31. (CR, 6/14/72, 89371-97)
European Space Conference delegation visited U.S. to complete resolutions for July 11 ESC conference in Brussels, which would discuss government action on European participation in U.S. post- Apollo space program. Brussels conference later was postponed. During Washington, D.C., meeting NASA and Dept. of State officials told ESC delegation that space tug was no longer being considered as item for European development. Possibilities for European participation had been reduced to four structural areas of space shuttle. U.S. urged ESC to undertake development of shuttle sortie laboratory. (NASA OMSF; Av ilk, 7/17/72, 19)
Ecological applications of first Earth Resources Technology Satellite (ERTS), scheduled for launch July 21, were discussed by NASA Associate Administrator for Applications Charles W. Mathews in speech before National Space Club in Washington, D.C.: "This mission is an experimental one, but through its operation we expect to develop understandable and highly useful applications." ERTS could "obtain images from any area on the globe every eighteen days and . . . provide repetitive coverage of every segment of the United States and of many selected areas in other parts of the world." Images obtained by ERTS would be "not just color photographs, but electronically derived, multispectral images amenable to many kinds of interpretive techniques developed recently by various agencies, universities and industrial organizations using data from Gemini, Apollo and flights of NASA earth resources airplanes." NASA had received more than 700 proposals from investigators for applications of ERT's data. From these, 300 were being selected, 50 investigations would be carried out in 35 other countries-about one third of the countries represented at United Nations Stockholm conference [see June 5- 16]. Investigations reflected "an understanding of real needs and are aimed at meeting these needs." (Text)
Dr. Wilmot N. Hess, Director of National Atmospheric and. Oceanic Administration's Environmental Research Laboratories, outlined space modification techniques at international meeting of Society of Engineering Science in Tel Aviv, Israel. Techniques would modify near-earth space environment to make it safe for manned space flight. "In the last few years experimenters have artificially modified the space environment. We can now produce artificial aurorae. We can change the population of the Van Allen radiation belt. We can artificially modify the ionosphere from the ground and our other ideas about artificial experiments for the future stretch as far as trying to copy the sweeping action being carried on naturally by Jupiter's moons." Other possible man-made changes in near-earth space environment included releasing beam of energetic particles from satellite to produce electromagnetic waves in space, injecting thermal plasma at high altitudes to change radiation population in space, and transmitting electromagnetic waves from earth to disturb particles trapped in Van Allen belt. Experiments would provide data on natural processes that caused geomagnetic storms on earth, permit improved predictions of radar clutter and quality of polar radio communications in future naturally occurring storms, permit modification or attenuation of naturally occurring storms, and enable scientists to make near-earth space environment ,safe for prolonged manned space flight and study. (NOAA Release 72-83)
Marshall Space Flight Center had awarded $11 165 375 contract extension to Boeing Co. for design changes on final five Saturn V 1st stages (S-IC-11 through S-IC-15), Marshall Star reported. Work would be completed by Boeing Aerospace Group at Michoud Assembly Facility by Feb. 28, 1973. (Marshall Star, 6/14/72, 4)
Dept. of Transportation and Dept. of State said in joint statement on growth of air piracy, terrorism, and sabotage in air and on ground : "We believe the United States Government can and must take the lead in solving these problems in our own country and internationally. We are confident that with cooperation from other governments, the air-lines and their crews, the airport operators, and other involved organizations and citizens, we will win the fight." U.S. was cabling resolution to Council of International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) directing immediate resumption of work on Convention to provide for joint actions against any state refusing to extradite or prosecute hijackers. Convention had been proposed by U.S. and Canada in April. (Text)
Soviet oceanologists had explored underwater volcanoes in Mediterranean using mobile Crab submarine apparatus similar to Lunokhod 1 lunar rover, Tass announced. Crab had TV system and system for transmitting control commands and was linked to control ship by cable for communications. Lowered 2000 m (6600 ft) below water from ship Academician Sergei Vavilov, Crab had examined underwater mountain north of Lipari Islands in Tyrrhenian Sea and collected samples of soil, algae, and marine animals. (y'BIS-Sov, 6/15/72, Ll)
Soviet news agency Tass reported completion of Polar Morning-joint U.S.S.R. and France experiment at E. T. Krenkel Hydrometeorological Observatory in Arctic. During three-month expedition, series of meteorological rockets had carried Soviet and French payloads to altitudes between 90 and 180 km (56 and 112 mi) during period of transition from winter to summer and from polar night to polar day. Data were obtained on atmospheric temperature, wind speed and direction, cloud formations, corpuscular radiation, and solar activity. (FBIS- Sov, 6/16/72, Ll)
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