Mar 19 1971
From The Space Library
U.S.S.R. launched Cosmos 400 into orbit with 1005-km (624.5-mi) apogee, 983-km (610.8-mi) perigee, 104.9-min period, and 65.8° inclination. (GSFC SSR, 3/31/71; UPI, W Star, 3/19/71, A6)
NASA launched three-Nike-Tomahawk sounding rockets from Alaska: one from Fox Main, Dew Line Station, carrying GSFC experiment to study electric fields; one from Fairbanks, carrying Univ. of Alaska experiment to conduct auroral studies; and one from Fox Main carrying GSFC experiment to study magnetic fields. Rockets and instruments functioned satisfactorily,
Senate passed unanimously S. 1117, to regulate public exposure to sonic booms by prohibiting supersonic flights of civil aircraft over continental U.S. (CR, 3/17/71, S3466-76)
GAO study had disclosed that cost overruns on 61 weapon systems had reached $33.4 billion, of which some $9.5 billion had taken place before production began, Washington Post reported. Report blamed "deliberate underestimating," unanticipated development difficulties, faulty planning, poor management, bad estimating, inflation, and desire to exploit new technology. It said newer DOD programs "are characterized by a slower development pace and more conservative procurement practices." (Nossiter, W Post, 3/19/71, Al)
Astronaut Edwin E. Aldrin, Jr., received Honorary Knight of St. Patrick Award from College of Engineering, Univ. of Missouri at Columbia, Mo. (NASA Activities, 4/15/71, 61)
Boeing Co. had presented to its management results of diversification study completed by panel of Boeing executives, Wall Street Journal reported. Principal conclusion had been that best chances for new non-aerospace work lay in fields of surface transportation and community development. Study envisioned broadening Boeing's business base so that in 10 years' time one-third of Boeing's output would be outside its traditional product lines. (WSJ, 3/19/71)
Washington Post editorial commented on House vote against SST funding: ". . we do not see the need to hurry-either across the oceans or into the building of an aircraft which will convenience only a tiny fraction of the population at a time when great numbers of our people have more urgent needs. Some would say that we can have the SST and everything else at the same time, and perhaps we can. But we aren't doing the other things, which is precisely why the SST has become a very meaningful symbol of misplaced values and disordered priorities." (W Post, 3/19/71)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 2829 30 31
