Nov 10 1972
From The Space Library
Apollo 17 commander Eugene A. Cernan announced that command module had been named "America" and lunar module "Challenger," during Apollo 17 press briefing at Manned Spacecraft Center. "We have never turned our backs on a challenge and the name The Challenger fits into the theme of what made America what it is today." Mission scientist, astronaut Dr. Harrison H. Schmitt, said he was confident that Apollo 17 findings would "help us understand that moon so it can start telling us what happened in the early history of the earth." (W Post, 11/11/72, A12; Wilford, NYT, 11/12/72, 24)
Interview with Glynn S. Lunney, U.S.. Director of joint U.S.-U.S.S.R. Apollo Soyuz Test Project (AsTP) scheduled for 1975, was published by Detroit News. Lunney had described agreements made during Oct. 9-19 ASTP meeting in Moscow. There had been complete cooperation between U.S. and U.S.S.R. during ASTP meetings to date, with both sides averaging about 50-50 on contributions. Biggest problem had been "reaching an understanding of what words mean. We have our jargon and they have theirs and there are different meanings for the same word. For instance, the word `revise' seems to have a bad connotation and yet the word `amend' can be used as a substitute." (Pipp, D News, 11/10/72)
Families of Astronauts [{Edward H. White]] II and Roger B. Chaffee-who lost lives in Jan. 27, 1967, Apollo fire-received awards totaling $300 000 from spacecraft manufacturers. North American Rockwell Corp. and former North American Aviation, Inc., Rockwell-Standard Corp., and Rockwell Standard Co. had been charged with negligence in suits filed by Chaffee's widow Nov. 6 and White's widow Nov. 7. In out-of-court settlement, Mrs. Patricia White Davis would receive $50 000 for herself and $50 000 for each of two children; Mrs. Martha Chaffee Canfield would receive $70 000 and $40 000 for each of two children. Widow of Virgil I. Grissom, third astronaut killed in fire, had won $350 000 settlement from NR March 8. (W Star & News, 11/8/72, A4; AP, NYT, 11/11/72, 7)
Award of $1.5-million contract to United Air Lines, Inc., for flight-test program to evaluate operational procedures and avionic system to reduce noise level near airport approach patterns was announced by Ames Research Center. Contract was part of ARC program in cooperation with Federal Aviation Administration. Avionics system would be developed by Collins Radio Co. under separate $233 000 NASA contract. (ARC Release 72-136)
Award of $35 913 123 cost-plus-incentive-fee contract to TRW Systems Inc. for Fleet Satellite Communications (FLTSATCOM) System satellite was announced by Dept. of Defense. Contract called for design, development, construction, and test of qualification-model spacecraft, software, and support equipment. Separate contract for production of five flight-model spacecraft would be awarded later, When operational, FLTSATCOM would provide satellite communication link among mobile users including major Navy ships, selected Air Force and Navy aircraft, and ground stations. (Don Release 775-72)
Award of $95 219 456 contract to Boeing Co. and $85 901 510 contract to McDonnell Douglas Corp. to begin design and development of advanced, medium, short takeoff and landing transport (AMST) air-craft was announced by Dr. Robert C. Seamans, Jr., Secretary of the Air Force. (non Release 773-72)
Inauguration of Traffic Control and Landing System (TRACALS, 404L Program) at Air Force System Command's Electronic Systems Div, at Hanscom Field, Mass., was announced by AFSC. Program would update management and control of Air Force aircraft takeoffs, en route flights, and landings in U.S. and overseas. Effort included development and acquisition of solid-state, low-cost, reliable electronic components and systems to replace outdated tube equipment in use for more than two decades. (AFSC Release 112.72)
Directors of North American Rockwell Corp. proposed to change firm's name to Rockwell International Corp. at meeting in El Segundo, Calif. If change was approved by shareholders at Feb. 15, 1973, annual meeting all trace of name North American Aviation, Inc., founded in 1928, would disappear, Los Angeles Times said later. NR had been formed in 1967 through merger of North American Aviation and Rockwell-Standard Corp. (LA Times, 11/12/72)
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