May 29 1972
From The Space Library
President Nixon and Secretary General Leonid I. Brezhnev of Soviet Communist Party's Central Committee signed "Basic Principles of Relations" outlining agreements made between U.S. and U.S.S.R. during May 22-29 summit meetings in Moscow. They then released joint communique at conclusion of President's visit to U.S.S.R. Communique described agreements on cooperation in science and technology and space: "It was recognized that the cooperation now under-way in areas such as atomic energy research, space research, health and other fields benefits both nations and has contributed positively to their over-all relations. It was agreed that increased scientific and technical cooperation on the basis of mutual benefit and shared effort for common goals is in the interest of both nations and would contribute to a further improvement in their bilateral relations." In peaceful exploration of space, "both Sides emphasized the importance of further bilateral cooperation, ... In order to increase the safety of man's flights into outer space and the future prospects of joint scientific experiments, the two Sides agreed to make suitable arrangements to permit the docking of American and Soviet spacecraft and stations. The first joint docking experiment of the two countries' piloted spacecraft, with visits by astronauts and cosmonauts to each other's spacecraft is contemplated for 1975." NASA and Soviet Academy of Sciences would plan and implement flight "according to principles and procedures developed through mutual consultations." (PD, 6/5/72, 945-51)
Apollo 16 Subsatellite for study of particles and fields apparently crashed onto lunar surface at about 4:00 pm EST after 425 revolutions of moon. Radio contact with satellite, launched from Apollo 16 orbiting moon April 24, was not reestablished when it should have reappeared on moon's near side on 426th revolution. Last tracking data, from 416th revolution, showed Apollo 16 Subsatellite in orbit with 4.8-km (3-mi) perilune on moon's far side near point 10.2° north latitude and 111.9° east longitude. Subsatellite had been designed for 12-mo lifetime, but had been placed in orbit closer to moon than desired because of problems with Apollo 16 command module engine. (NASA Release 72-115)
Development Test Satellite (DTS), full-scale ground-test vehicle characteristic of high-capacity next-generation communications satellites, had been built by 15-member international consortium led by Lockheed Missiles & Space Co., Aviation Week & Space Technology reported. Privately funded vehicle embodied concepts and technologies that Lockheed considered essential for profitable or cost-effective operations 1976-1985. Features included three- axis spacecraft stabilization; electric and hydrazine propulsion; sun- tracking, flexible, solar substrate solar arrays; multiple narrow antenna beams; onboard transponder/antenna switching; and advanced thermal control. (Av Wk, 5/29/72, 41-7)
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