May 18 1973
From The Space Library
Newspapers commented on the Skylab 1 mission as engineers at Johnson Space Center and Marshall Space Flight Center prepared sun-shades to cool down the overheated space station: New York Times: The "partial recovery from earlier disaster has set the stage for an unprecedented improvisation in space. Present plans are for the Skylab crew to blast off a week from today and install a sun-shade or awning to replace the missing thermal shield. If that can be done, the temperature problem will be solved and the astronauts will be able to begin living in the space station and to carry out at least some of the projected experiments. All these plans transcend past space feats, and if successful, will mark a major advance in the nation's space capabilities. But the task will not be easy and a happy ending is by no means guaranteed." (NYT, 5/18/73, 32)
Chicago Daily News: "The space station experiments not only look outward toward the sun and stars, but also down at the Earth. From 270 miles [435 kilometers] up, men can learn much about the planet, its resources and its weather that they can't see on the ground. Much of the knowledge gained from Skylab can be expected to have practical application toward improving the quality of life on Earth." (C Daily News, 5/18/73)
The U.S.S.R. launched Cosmos 559 from Plesetsk into orbit with a 324-km (201.3-mi) apogee, 204-km (126.8-mi) perigee, 89.8-min period, and 65.4° inclination. The satellite reentered May 23. (GSFC SSR, 5/31/73; SBD, 5/21/73, 116)
NASA launched a Black Brant VC sounding rocket from White Sands Missile Range carrying a Univ. of Colorado and Marshall Space Flight Center payload to a 267.0-km (165.9-mi) altitude. The primary objective was to check out the reliability and performance of subsystems of the CALROC rocket configuration which would be used during Skylab missions after a manned crew joined the Skylab 1 Orbital Workshop launched May 14 [see April 18]. The rocket and instrumentation per-formed satisfactorily. (GSFC proj off)
A sun-powered laser was being developed by the Air Force Avionics Laboratory at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, as part of an Air Force program to determine the feasibility of satellite optical communications. The device collected and focused solar rays through lenses and mirrors, stimulating material in the laser to produce light beams to transmit data, TV, voice, and other communications. The laser's power output would equal that of solid-state lasers. A demonstrable brassboard working model of a sun pump laser was hoped for by the end of the fiscal year. (AFSC Release 055.73)
The first of six student volunteers in a Univ. of California at Davis experiment to determine if astronauts could survive social isolation was released after 105 days' isolation in two small rooms. Dr. Don A. Rockwell, project manager, said the experiment had shown that astronauts should be able to adjust psychologically to long periods in space. (UPI, W Post, 5/30/73, A4)
Aerospace Industries Assn. of America, Inc., released Aerospace Facts and Figures, 1973/74. Aerospace sales in 1972 had increased for the first time since 1968, from $22.2 billion in 1971 to $22.3 billion. Profits increased from 1.8% in 1971 to 2.4% in 1972. Average employment declined in 1972 to 922 000 workers, from 969 000 in 1971. Aerospace exports declined from $4.2 billion in 1971 to $3.8 billion in 1972; but, with a net positive aerospace trade balance of $3.3 billion, the industry remained a principal supporter of the U.S. international trade position. (Text)
French aviation pioneer Col. Dieudonn‚ Costes died in Paris at age 80. He had piloted the first westward transatlantic flight from Paris to New York Sept. 1-2, 1930, with Maurice Bellonte in a Breguet biplane. Flying time had been 37 hrs 18 min 30 see. Costes had established many records as chief test pilot for the Breguet Co. (UPI, NYT, 5/20/73, 64)
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