Jan 31 1973
From The Space Library
Manned Spacecraft Center had named 10 investigators to receive the first Apollo 17 lunar samples, NASA announced. Five U.S. and five foreign scientists would receive allocations that included tiny rock chips and polished thin sections cut from three large rocks. Rocks 70035 and 75055 were dark gray basalts typical of material underlying the Taurus-Littrow valley; rock 76055-lighter colored recrystallized breccia that Astronaut Harrison H. Schmitt had described as "anorthositic gabbro"-might have been part of the mountainside at one time. The first investigators had been recommended by the Lunar Sample Analysis Planning Team (LSAPT). Most would attempt to determine sample ages by rubidium-strontium and argon analysis. Other studies would analyze trace elements and mineralogical content. Early allocations were being made with the stipulation that research be conducted so that results could be reported at he 4th Annual Lunar Science Conference scheduled for March 5-8. Additional preliminary allocations would be recommended by LSAPT, including samples of orange soil found at Shorty Crater. (NASA Release 73-16)
Fifteenth anniversary of the first U.S. satellite, Explorer I, launched by the Army Ballistic Missile Agency and Jet Propulsion Laboratory Jan. 31, 1958. The U.S. and the Western world had entered an age of space with the launch of the 14.0-kg (30.8-1b) stovepipe-shaped satellite. Dr. Kurt H. Debus, Director of Kennedy Space Center, recalled the mood of excitement surrounding the launch that had followed two successful U.S.S.R. launches and a failure in the first U.S. attempt to launch Vanguard. "I think we were all aware that this wasn't just another mission-that perhaps the entire world was watching this one." Explorer I had made significant scientific contribution with the discovery of the Van Allen Radiation Belt surrounding the earth. The satellite had transmitted data until May 23, 1958, when its small batteries were exhausted. It reentered the earth's atmosphere Mar. 31, 1970. (NASA Release 73-14; KSC Release 17-73)
Pan American World Airways, Inc., and Trans World Airlines, Inc., announced a decision not to exercise their options to buy 13 Anglo French Concorde supersonic transport aircraft. The action was expected to lead American Airlines, Inc., and Eastern Airlines, Inc., to drop their options, the Washington Post reported later. Concorde options would then stand at 30, but lack of competitive pressure from U.S. airlines was likely to cause additional cancellations. Nine firm orders for Concorde were from the state-owned British Overseas Airways Corp. and Air France. Iran Air and People's Republic of China had signed preliminary contracts for 5 Concordes but the Post said an order for only 14 aircraft could not sustain the Concorde production run. (Greer, Nossiter, W Post, 2/1/73, Al)
The Federal Communications Commission notified U.S. companies bidding on the European Space Research Organization's aeronautical satellite system that participation was subject to FCC approval. (Av Wk, 2/12/73, 21; FCC P10)
The last Air Force C-SA aircraft rolled off Lockheed Aircraft Corp.'s assembly line. The C-5A, world's largest subsonic jet transport, had been plagued by problems during its development phase but had since proved its effectiveness as a materiel and troop carrier. (Atlanta JC, 2/1/73, 8)
The Air Force had ordered the last F-111 swing-wing fighter bomber from General Dynamics Corp., United Press International reported. Plans to procure parts to maintain and modify existing models would require a $29-million budget item. (W Post, 1/31/73, A16)
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