Dec 26 1972
From The Space Library
Cosmos 540 was launched from Plesetsk by U.S.S.R. into orbit with 805-km (500.2-mi) apogee, 785-km (487.8-mi) perigee, 74° inclination, and 100.7-min period. (GSFC SSR, 12/31/72; SBD, 1/3/73, 2)
NASA announced immediate changes in key personnel. Director Joseph F. Malaga of Resources Analysis Div. became Assistant Administrator for Institutional Management. Assistant Administrator for Administration William E. Lilly became NASA Comptroller. Malaga had received William A. Jump Memorial Foundation Meritorious Award for exemplary achievement in public administration and NASA Exceptional Service Award in 1966. Lilly, former Director of Program Control in Office of Manned Space Flight, had received NASA Exceptional Service Award in 1965 and 1969. (NASA Ann)
Phase II of prototype development program for advanced medium STOL (short takeoff and landing) transport (AMST) was authorized by Dr. Robert C. Seamans, Jr., Secretary of the Air Force. Contractors Boeing Co. and McDonnell Douglas Corp. would design, build, and test two prototype aircraft, using existing engines. (DOD Release 863-72)
December 26-31: American Assn. for the Advancement of Science held 139th Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C. Fifteenth Annual Meeting of Society for the History of Technology (SHOT) was held Dec. 27-29 in conjunction with AAAS meeting. Dissident group, Scientists and Engineers for Social and Political Action, unsuccessfully attempted to disrupt opening AAAS meeting and later held press conference to protest alleged AAAS attempts to "exclude political dissent from scientific and community groups." (Lyons, NYT, 12/27/72, 14)
Space Shuttle Payloads Symposium Dec. 27-28 considered space shuttle system and its capability, science payloads, space operation roles, and other aspects of space shuttle system. Dr. S. Ichtiaque Rasool, Deputy Director of Planetary Programs in NASA Office of Space Science, discussed effect of data derived from Mars and Venus probes on understanding of solar system, during Dec. 29 session on NASA planetary research. (AAAS Bull, 11/72; AAAS PAO)
Dr. Raymond L. Bisplinghoff, Deputy Director of National Science Foundation, presented progress report on NSF'S Research Applied to National Needs (RANN) Program Dec. 29. RANN, originated in August 1968, was "gaining in strength and effectiveness." It had been receiving "excellent proposals in great numbers from good people" and had in hand "proposals which would cost over $400 million to support-which unfortunately, would somewhat overstrain our present budget." (Text)
William A. Fischer of U.S. Geological Survey said Erts 1 Earth Resources Technology Satellite (launched by NASA July 23) had discovered at least two major deposits that might contain Iarge quantities of copper. "And if I were a geologist looking for oil and natural gas, I'd buy up every ERTS photograph of Northern Alaska and Northern Canada that I could get my hands on." (Kirkman, Cl Press, 12/28/72)
During SHOT meeting Dr. John B. Rae, Chairman of Dept. of Humanities and Social Sciences at Harvey Mudd College, was elected SHOT President for term expiring Dec. 31, 1974; Dr. Eugene M. Emme, NASA Historian, was elected to Advisory Council. (NASA Hist Off)
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