Dec 3 1971
From The Space Library
Space News for this day. (1MB PDF)
U.S.S.R. launched Cosmos 462 from Plesetsk into orbit with 1782-km (1107.3-mi) apogee, 227-km (141.1-mi) perigee, 105.2-min period, and 65.7° inclination. Within hours after launch, Cosmos 462 passed close to Cosmos 459 (launched Nov. 29) and exploded in apparent test of satellite interceptor system at low altitude. Mission was first satellite-intercept test using target below 258-km (160-mi) altitude; previous tests had occurred at altitudes between 580 and 885 km (360 and 550 mi). (GSFC SSR, 12/31/71; AP, NYT, 1/2/71, 25; Av Wk, 12/13/71, 20)
Discovery of polar caps on sun by Dr. Werner M. Neupert and team of GSFC astronomers was announced by NASA. Measurements made by Oso 7 (launched Sept. 29) had shown black areas on sun's north and south poles with temperature of 1 000 000 K (1800 000°F) . Hot areas on sun associated with solar flares registered temperatures of 3 000 000 to 4 000 000 K (5 400 000°F to 7 200 000°F) . Data from sounding rocket experiments that preceded solar polar cap discovery indicated seasonal variations in cap sizes. If data were accurate, caps were largest during time of least solar activity and might disappear near most active times. (NASA Release 71-237; NASA Special Release 12/6/71)
NASA held Mariner 9 press conference at JPL. Discussion centered on dust storm that had covered planet since mission began and on origin of Martian craters. Dr. Bradford A. Smith of New Mexico State Univ. said storm had begun 10 wks earlier, had reached peak of intensity in 5th wk, and was gradually but continuously clearing. Project scientists disagreed, however, how long dust would obscure Mars; predictions ranged from a few weeks to months. If storm continued throughout mission, primary objective might have to be changed. Dr. Smith explained prime objective "was to map 70 percent of the planet in high resolution. If the storm does not clear up immediately, it will not be possible to do that within the nominal mission.
An alternative might be to focus on the phenomenon that we have on our hands; that is, the dust storm. And instead of studying it in bits and pieces and waiting for the planet to clear up . . . to rearrange our sequences to make an all out study of this atmospheric phenomenon." Failure to complete mapping as planned would not significantly affect Viking Mars landing mission because, with only slight degradation, Viking zone could be mapped in last half or last third of Mariner 9 mission. "Also Viking has the capability to keep its landers in orbit for as long as two months while it does the mapping ... [and] the capability to do some photographic site selection even if there were no usable pictures returned from '71." Dr. Harold Masursky of U.S. Geological Survey described four high points on Mars, all with large summit craters, suggesting that they might be volcanic calderas. Great alignment of relatively young topographic highs with summit craters suggested that Mars was geochemically active - that in not too distant past there had been extensive volcanic activity. Similar features might be found at lower elevations; they would be of interest because they had been, and still might be, hot. Such volcanic sources had, according to most opinions, produced terrestrial atmosphere; that is, carbon dioxide and water had come from such volcanic vents. Dr. Masursky emphasized that volcanic theory was not agreed on; project scientists' views ranged from "agreement, to skepticism, to outright disbelief." Data on Mars moons Deimos and Phobos were described by Dr. James B. Pollack of ARC. Deimos was 12 by 131/2 km (71/2 by 81/2 mi) and Phobos was 21 by 26 km (13 by 16 mi). Moons were "among the darkest objects in the solar system," reflecting only about 5% of sun- light that fell on them. Moons' darkness could be attributed to basalts or carbonaceous chondrites in soil. If scientists could determine reason for darkness, they would soon be able to determine whether moons were captured asteroids or remnants of material from which Mars was formed. (Transcript)
NASA sent message to Dr. I. A. Zhulin in Moscow via telex communication system established for exchange of information on Mariner 9 and Mars 2 and Mars 3 missions to Mars. Message congratulated U.S.S.R. on success of Mars 2; requested Mars 2 coordinates, orbital parameters, doppler data, and data from uv spectrometer; and provided information on U.S. Mariner 9 photos of Mars and moons, doppler data, and uv spectrometer data. (NASA Release 71-240)
NASA announced establishment of new Office of Applications (OA). Charles W. Mathews, Deputy Associate Administrator for Manned Space Flight since 1968, was named Associate Administrator for Applications. Leonard Jaffe, Deputy Associate Administrator for Space Science and Applications (Applications) since 1966, was named Deputy Associate Administrator for Applications. Personnel, programs, and functions of Earth Observations and Communications Programs Divs. would be transferred from OSSA to new office and OSSA would be re-named Office of Space Science (OSS). Dr. James C. Fletcher, NASA Administrator said: "The application of space technology to solving problems here on Earth is perhaps NASA's most important new thrust. I believe it appropriate to centralize into a single office in NASA Headquarters all of the resources which we can muster to support space applications to Earth." (NASA Release 71-239)
Joint group of NASA and European Space Conference technical experts completed four-day meeting at NASA Hq. to identify candidate areas for possible European participation in post-Apollo space programs. NASA announced Dec. 6 that areas identified included space shuttle subsystems, major responsibility for orbit-to-orbit space tug, early development of major payload elements like sortie cans and research and applications modules, and support studies in related technology. Group's report would be studied by U.S. and European authorities. Group had proposed February 1972 meeting for further technical definition and consideration of programmatic, financial, and management implications. (NASA Release 71-241)
U.S. Embassy in Moscow released statement to press about Nov. 29- Dec. 7 NASA-Soviet Academy of Sciences meeting on compatible space docking system: "The main purpose of this third working session was to discuss the technical details of hardware compatibility and to discuss a joint American-Soviet space mission. It is intended to sign a final agreement within two months. Details will not be given out until then." AP, in bulletin from Moscow, said: "American and Soviet scientists plan to sign an agreement on a joint manned space flight within the next two months, a U.S. Embassy official disclosed today." Sources later described by Washington Post as "close to" NASA delegation in Moscow said in response to press query that it was misunderstanding to think that agreement already had been reached. NASA spokesman in Washington, D.C., told press AP report was result of misunderstanding of U.S. Embassy report. Embassy statement had stemmed from "routine programs report . . . on discussions . . . now in progress." Any understanding as to joint test mission would come after current talks had ended and been subjected to recommendations and approval. Press later commented on misunderstanding. New York Times said there was "considerable confusion ... as to how firm and far- reaching is the apparent understanding between the American and Soviet negotiators." Washington Post said Cosmonaut Andrian G. Nikolayev had said at October reception for U.S. governors visiting Moscow that astronauts and cosmonauts would work together in space: "We speak the common language of space." Baltimore Sun said "the Russians are traditionally sensitive about any publicity before official, simultaneous announcements are made on any bilateral agreement." It appeared "the Americans had inadvertently talked about the agreement prematurely." (AP News Service, 12/3/71; Wilford, NYT, 12/4/71, 1; Kaiser, W Post, 12/4/71, Al; Mills, B Sun, 12/4/71, A12)
First transatlantic picture telephone call was made successfully between U.S. and Sweden via Intelsat-IV F-2 orbiting over Atlantic. One-hour transmission was part of ceremonies in Sweden and at ComSatCorp headquarters in Washington, D.C., formally inaugurating new Nordic earth station at Tanum, Sweden, jointly owned by Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden. (ComSatCorp Release 71-67)
USAF announced issuance by Aeronautical Systems Div. of $1 781 382 fixed-price-incentive contract to General Dynamics Corp. for aerospace ground equipment for F-111 aircraft. (Don Release 1020- 71)
Senate confirmed nomination of H. Guyford Stever as NSF Director. (CR, 12/3/71, S20397)
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