Feb 23 1973
From The Space Library
Gamma ray spectrometers on Apollo 15 and 16 had mapped the moon's radioactivity over 20% of the lunar surface, scientists from Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Goddard Space Flight Center, and Univ. of California at San Diego reported in Science. Highest levels of natural radioactivity had been found in Mare Imbrium and Oceanus Procellarum with contrastingly lower enhancements in eastern maria. The rate of potassium to uranium was higher on far side of moon than on near side, "although it is everywhere lower than commonly found on earth." ‘’(Metzger et al.; Science, 2/23/73, 800-3)
Results of the Mariner 9 ultraviolet spectrometer experiment to measure seasonal variation of ozone on Mars were reported in Science by Univ. of Colorado and Cal Tech scientists. Observations made between Nov. 14, 1971, and Oct. 27, 1972, had shown ozone to be present in polar regions of Mars and to have seasonal variation. In summer, the amount in the polar atmosphere was less than three micrometer-atmospheres. In autumn, ozone increased and was found in association with formation of the polar hood. In winter, the maximum amount of ozone was present, 57 micrometer-atmospheres over the polar hood and 16 over the polar cap. In spring, the amount over the polar cap decreases monotonically until by the beginning of summer the ozone disappears. Ozone is not observed in the equatorial region during any season.” (Barth et al., Science, 2/23/73, 795-6)
Dr. Joseph V. Charyk, President of Communications Satellite Corp., announced organizational changes to strengthen new roles in domestic and international satellite communications. Three new vice presidents were elected by ComSatCorp's Board of Directors: David C. Acheson, Senior Vice President and General Counsel; John A. Johnson, Senior Vice President; and George P. Sampson, Senior Vice President in charge of International Systems Division. The subsidiary COMSAT General Corp. was formed to carry out ComSatCorp's U.S. domestic programs. It would be headed by John A. Johnson, President; Joseph H. O'Connor, Vice President and Treasurer; John L. Martin, Jr., Vice President; and Jerome W. Breslow, Secretary.
ComSatCorp had formed the International Systems Div. to consolidate all activities related to the International Telecommunications Satellite Organization's Global Satellite System. The division would be headed by George P. Sampson, Senior Vice President in charge of International Systems Div.; Richard R. Colino, Assistant Vice President for Technical Development and Support; and H. William Wood, Assistant Vice President for International Systems Operations. (ComSatCorp Release 73-9)
The Philadelphia Evening Bulletin editorial commented on the name change of Manned Spacecraft Center to Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center: "While the U.S. is cutting back its spending in space, this nation and the world can never forget the adventure and exploration of the Sixties and the person largely responsible, after John F. Kennedy's death, for getting man to the moon." It was therefore "appropriate that Mr. Johnson be honored. . . . At one point Mr. Johnson was reported to have called the creation of NASA his `proudest' legislative achievement as a congressman. The Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center will keep that achievement alive.” (P Bull, 2/23/73)
The U.S.S.R. had abandoned its women's cosmonaut training program, the Washington Evening Star and Daily News reported. Gen. Georgy T. Beregovoy, commander of the Soviet cosmonauts, had said in an interview with the Polish newspaper Express Wieczerny in Warsaw, "We train only young men, not women.” (UPI, W Star & News, 2/23/73, A3)
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