Jul 11 1973
From The Space Library
The U.S.S.R. launched Molniya 11-6 communications satellite from Plesetsk into orbit with a 39 284-km (24 410-mi) apogee, 441-km (274.0-mi) perigee, 705-min period, and 65.4° inclination. The satellite would help provide a system of long-range telephone and telegraph radio communications in the U.S.S.R. and would transmit Soviet central TV programs to the Orbita network. Western observers said later that Molniya 11-6 also might transmit communications during a manned mission. Reports that Soviet tracking ships used for manned space flights had been sighted heading for their stations in the Atlantic possi-bly indicated an upcoming manned launch. (GSFC SSR, 7/31/73; FBIS-Sov, 7/12/73, Ll ; SBD, 7/12/73, 58; NYT, 7/12/73, 4)
The House agreed to the conference report on H.R. 7528 recommending a $3.056-billion FY 1974 NASA authorization [see June 28]. The bill was cleared for President Nixon's signature. (CR, 7/11/73, H5934)
Publication of Federal Plan for Meteorological Services and Supporting Research, Fiscal Year 1974 was announced by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. FY 1974 programs would cost $504 659 000, an increase of $22 032 000 over FY 1973. The increase would be used to employ computers, satellites, ocean buoys, automatic weather stations, remote sensing, and automated data-handling tech-niques to improve weather services with reduced manpower. NOAA would increase its expenditures for weather radars, satellite operations, new computers, and expanded weather-dissemination systems. The Dept. of Defense would add more weather radars, expand its satellite data-processing programs, and install advanced instrumentation aboard storm reconnaissance aircraft. The DOD surface and upper-air weather observ-ing program would be decreased because of curtailed military activities. The Federal Aviation Administration planned 100 more unmanned Flight Service Stations to provide weather information for pilots. The FAA's En Route Flight Advisory Service would be expanded from 4 to 25 stations. NASA launch of two Synchronous Meteorological Satellites, prototypes for the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES), would begin a new phase in the environmental satellite program. Subsequent GOES spacecraft would be funded by NOAA. Both NOAA and DOD were readying ground facilities for the GOES system. NOAA'S series of polar-orbiting operational satellites would be maintained with launches scheduled as needed. ITOS-E was to be launched by NASA in July to become Noaa 3. (NOAA Release 73-150)
The Senate agreed by a vote of 82 to 10 to S. Res. 71 to seek agreement with other governments to prohibit the use of environmental or geo-physical modification activity as a weapon of war. (CR, 7/11/73, S13101-02)
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
