Jul 9 1973
From The Space Library
NASA announced it had invited U.S. and foreign scientists to pro-pose experiments to be carried on the Apollo spacecraft during the July 1975 Apollo-Soyuz mission to rendezvous and dock U.S. and Soviet spacecraft in space. The U.S. would carry 180 kg (400 lbs) of scientific and applications experiments and NASA also would conduct experiments from the earth orbit in space science, applications, medicine, and technology. Proposals for experiments were due July 23. (NASA Release 73-127)
Boeing Co. announced it was preparing preliminary designs for a multi-purpose vehicle that could skim across Arctic ice and snow at high speeds under a $771 000 Navy contract. The arctic surface effects vehicle (ASEV) would operate like an air cushion vehicle but would be larger, faster, and able to cope with extremely harsh terrains and environments. It could be used as a mobile scientific station, cargo carrier, and a vehicle for military missions. (Boeing Release A-0448)
Several U.S. correspondents had been permitted by the U.S.S.R. to visit the Soviet cosmonaut training center at Zvezdny Gorodok (Star City) near Moscow, Time magazine reported. Time reporters included in the tour had quoted Maj. Gen. Vladimir A. Shatalov, chief of cosmonaut training, as saying that similarities rather than differences predominated in the U.S. and U.S.S.R. approach to manned space flight. The similarities included a preference for jet pilots as spacecraft commanders; "training is shaped by requirements, just as the shape of the aircraft is decided by its speed." Shatalov had recalled watching Skylab astronauts practicing in a simulator. "It was the same as we simulate here, not more, not less. We are treading the same paths." (Time, 7/9/73)
An Aviation Week & Space Technology editorial saluted Skylab as "a triumph of man's ingenuity, endurance and indomitable spirit? The May 14-June 22 Skylab 1-2 mission had been "a tremendous demonstration of why man is vital to the broad expansion of space missions that looms for the next decade, and it demonstrated on live television for every taxpayer who cared to watch exactly what the space shuttle is all about." The first Skylab crew had salvaged 80% of a successful mission and a $2.5-billion investment from the prospects of total disaster, opened new vistas on the scientific work that could be accomplished from a space platform, and proved that man could live and work usefully for extended periods in space. (Hotz, Av Wk, 7/9/73, 7)
July 9-20: Apollo Soyuz Test Project specialists from NASA and the Soviet Academy of Sciences met at Johnson Space Center. They continued development of trajectories and flight plans, agreed tentatively to a scientific experiment plan, and familiarized the Soviet crew of the July 1975 mission with the Apollo spacecraft. Participants included ASTP technical directors Glynn S. Lunney for the U.S. and Academician Konstantin D. Bushuyev for the U.S.S.R., Apollo and Soyuz flight crews, the Working Group on Mission Model and Operational Plans, and members of the Working Group on Control and Guidance. The Soyuz cosmonauts [see May 24] attended lectures on and demonstrations of the Apollo spacecraft, docking model briefings, and crew activity discussions. Lunney and Bushuyev reviewed ASTP milestones and reaffirmed that they were on schedule. On July 14 the Soviet delegation heads and cosmonauts toured assembly and checkout facilities at the Rockwell International Corp. plant in Downey, Calif., where ASTP work was being carried out. Meeting results were announced by NASA in a July 20 communique. Progress had been reported on crew activities, control center operations, trajectories, and other operational aspects. Agreements were reached on November familiarization of the U.S. flight crews with Soyuz equipment in the U.S.S.R., a preliminary cosmonaut training plan in the U.S. in April 1974 and February 1975, and astronaut training in the U.S.S.R. in July 1974 and March 1975. The training plan was expected to be completed in November and flight procedures finalized by the end of 1974. Final selection of joint experiments would be made in October 1973. Flight safety reports would be exchanged. The U.S.S.R. had specified the Moscow Center of Control of Manned Space Flight near Moscow as ASTP control center and had announced that Cosmonaut Aleksey S. Yeliseyev would be U.S.S.R. flight director. The U.S. technical director and several U.S. working groups would attend U.S.S.R. ASTP meetings in October. (NASA Release 73-93; NASA Communique)
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