Mar 27 1971
From The Space Library
U.S.S.R. launched Cosmos 401 into orbit with 291-km (180.8-mi) apogee, 186-km (115.6-mi) perigee, 89.2-min period, and 72.80 inclination. Satellite reentered April 9. (GSFC SSR, 3/31/71; 4/30/71)
Washington Post editorial commented on NASA's public information policy: "There is something strange about the decision ... to bring in a New York lawyer, Paul Sawyer, as a consultant on its public affairs policies. NASA has had, for a decade now, what seems to us and to most journalists to be the most effective and most honest public information program in government. It is hard to see why public monies should be spent to study it, particularly when the man chosen to make the study has represented the astronauts in recent months in negotiating private contracts for the stories of their activities." (W Post, 3/27/71, A18)
Pattern of recent ICBM construction in U.S.S.R. might presage deployment of new Soviet offensive weapon system, according to U.S. officials quoted in New York Times. Construction detected Dec. 20, 1970, had shown 20 holes large enough to accommodate Soviet SS-9 ICBM or even larger weapons. Holes were distributed in five clusters along wide arc forming Soviet offensive missile system from Polish border to Chinese frontier. (Szulc, NYT, 3/21/71, 1)
New Republic published interview with Communist China Premier Chou En-tai by Edgar Snow. Premier had said in Peking: "... our nuclear tests are still in the experimental stage, and every test carried out is limited and made only when necessary. The aim of our nuclear tests is to break the nuclear monopoly and nuclear blackmail and prevent a nuclear war. Therefore, each time when we conclude a test, we declare that at no time and in no circumstances shall China be the first to use nuclear weapons." (New Republic, 3/27/71, 20-3)
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