Jan 12 1972
From The Space Library
U.S.S.R. launched Cosmos 471 from Baikonur into orbit with 317-km (197-mi) apogee, 194-km (120.5-mi) perigee, 89.5-min period, and 64.9° inclination. Satellite reentered Jan. 25 (GSFC SSR, 1/31/72; SBD, 1/13/72, 51)
NASA's Mariner 9 Mars probe (launched May 30, 1971) photographed vast Mars chasm with branching canyons resembling network of dry river beds. Describing photo, which was released to press Jan. 19, Harold Masursky, of U.S. Geological Survey, said in interview that chasm probably had been caused by "faulting of the crust," a cracking and sliding process associated with earthquakes. Masursky believed line of small craters running parallel to canyon had probably been caused by venting volcanic gases and ash. Wind erosion and landslides had probably altered canyon, but landscape in photo appeared to be geologically young. (Wilford, NYT, 1/20/72, 25)
Nike-Apache sounding rocket launched by NASA from Andoeya, Norway, carried National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration experiment to 208-km (129-mi) altitude. Objectives were to obtain information on precipitating charged-particle flux associated with quiet auroral form and measure electric-field strengths in and near auroral form. Rocket and instruments functioned satisfactorily. (NASA Rpt SRL)
Geraldine Cobb, former NASA employee, had piloted twin engine Islander aircraft for average six hours daily during 15-day search for survivors of Lockheed Electra airliner that crashed in Peruvian jungle Dec. 24, 1971, with 92 aboard, Reuters reported. Miss Cobb, who had picked up only survivor of crash and had flown her to missionary settlement, had passed all NASA tests to become astronaut, Reuters said. She had been "No. 1 choice to be the first woman to fly an Apollo mission until the space program was cut back and it became clear that no woman would be selected by NASA," (B Sun, 1/12/72, A2)
Lewis Research Center Deputy Director Eugene J. Manganiello was introduced as new President of Society of Automotive Engineers at SAE banquet in Detroit. (NASA Activities, 2/15/72, 35)
Marshall Space Flight Center engineers John R. Rasquin and M. F. Estes had received copies of patent issued to NASA for Rasquin- Estes invention-adaptation of magnetomotive hammer to diamond- making process -MSFC announced. Hammer, developed for Saturn V program, had been used to remove distortions from rocket tank sections misshapen by welding. In process developed by Rasquin and Estes, hammer was mounted on copper plate atop hardened steel horn. Hammer created shock wave in horn with sufficient energy to produce pressure and temperature necessary to change graphite to diamonds. (MSFC Release 72-1)
Cost reduction suggestion by Marshall Space Flight Center scientist Dr. Thomas A. Parnell had saved NASA $57 000 in development of gamma ray telescope for scheduled balloon probe to investigate gamma ray sources, MSFC announced. Dr. Parnell had suggested substitution of scrap crystal (sodium iodide) for large, expensive crystal used to shield gamma- ray detectors from radiation sources other than desired target during probes. Scrap crystal material in tank containing oil-based liquid served as effective shield. Balloon probe was to be launched in March or April from National Center for Atmospheric Research. (MSFC Release 72-2)
William Hines commented on space shuttle decision in Chicago Sun- Times: "What the President offered last week was not a completely reusable workhorse aerospace plane at all, but a scaled-down hodgepodge of obsolete, current and avant-garde technology that cannot possibly meet the stated goal of $100-a-pound payloads in 1980. The sad truth is that the original shuttle couldn't, either, once it became apparent that development costs would approximate $13 billion rather than the $5.2 billion estimated in 1969. As backers of the defunct supersonic transport finally had to admit, when you markedly alter the development cost of a flight system, you alter its economics also." (C Sun-Times, 1/12/72)
Success of first 27 test flights of new Maverick missile had enabled Air Force Systems Command to end demonstration phase of Maverick flight testing ahead of schedule, AFSC reported. Maverick Program Director Col. James A. Abrahamson (USAF) had canceled 13 additional tests originally scheduled under contract with Hughes Aircraft Co. (AFSC Release 256.71)
January 12-14: Secretariat for Electronic Test Equipment-organization funded by NASA, Dept. of Defense, and Federal Aviation Administration to collect and disseminate test equipment information for Government agencies-held electronic test equipment conference at Kennedy Space Center. NASA presentations described design, development, procurement, and deployment of automatic test equipment for Apollo program. SETE was administered by New York Univ. under direction of David M. Goodman of New York Univ. School of Engineering and Science. (KSC Release 8-72; KSC PAO)
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 28 29 30 31
J
