Nov 9 1972
From The Space Library
Air Force launched unidentified satellite from Vandenberg Air Force Base on Thor-Burner II into orbit with 879-km (546-mi)
apogee, 824-km (512-mi) perigee, 101.5-min period, and 98.6° inclination. (Pres Rpt 73; SBD, 11/16/70, 70)
NASA's M2-F3 lifting body completed 22nd flight at Flight Research Center after air-launch from B-52 aircraft. Flight objectives were to check out pilot, Cecil Powell, and to obtain stability and control data at mach 0.70. Both objectives were achieved. Vehicle reached 14 300-m (47 000-ft) altitude and mach 0.70 on flight using two chambers of four-chamber rocket engine. (NASA proj off)
Erts 1 Earth Resources Technology Satellite, launched by NASA July 23, was adjudged a success. Mission had accomplished primary objective, acquisition of synoptic, multispectral repetitive images for three-month period. By Oct. 24 Erts 1 had obtained data which equaled or exceeded quantity and quality required. Data would be used for investigations in agriculture, forestry resources, mineral and land resources, and environment and for mapping and charting. (NASA proj off)
Impact of large meteorite on moon's far side had provided first evidence suggesting moon still had molten core, Dr. Gary V. Latham, principal investigator for Apollo seismic experiments, said in press interview at Univ. of Texas. Data were preliminary and fragmentary but "I hope we'll be able to confirm or reject this core hypothesis in a month or so." Impact had been recorded July 17 by all four seismometers left on moon by Apollo astronauts but - had not been discovered until recently because of delays in examining telemetry reports from instruments. Meteorite's size had not yet been determined but it "probably was larger than the `whopper' recorded in May." Meteorite which impacted moon May 13 had been largest since seismometers began functioning in 1969. Seismic signals from July 17 impact had had "funny focusing effect that could be explained by a core." (Rossiter, W Star & News, 11/10/72, A3)
United Nations General Assembly adopted, by vote of 102 to 1 with 7 abstentions, resolution to prepare international convention on principles governing use of artificial earth satellites for direct TV broadcasting. U.S. cast opposing vote; U.S.S.R. and 11 other nations that voted against similar measure in U.N. First Committee Oct. 20 voted for General Assembly's resolution. Resolution noted "need to prevent the conversion of direct television broadcasting into a source of inter-national conflict and of aggravation of the relations among States and to protect the sovereignty of States from any external interference." U.S. Representative Robert C. Tyson said main reasons for U.S. opposition were that decision overlooked potential in direct satellite broadcasting for "furthering understanding among peoples" and importance of that potential to U.N. and did not sufficiently emphasize central importance of the "free flow of information and ideas in the modern world." (Dept of State Bull, 12/11/72, 691-2; NYT, 11/10/72, 16; SF, 3/73, 93)
NASA held 14th Annual Awards Ceremony in Washington, D.C. Guest speaker Caspar W. Weinberger, Director of Office of Management and Budget, said: "A country needs-even a country as great as America-to be reminded of its greatness from time to time. And that is the thing of overwhelming importance that NASA has done .... They have reminded us, at a time when we desperately need it, of our greatness. They have taken us out of the aura of self-criticism and of doubt .. . and given us a set of accomplishments that will be not only very hard to match, but a set of accomplishments in which every one of us .. . should take enormous pride."
Dr. James C. Fletcher, NASA Administrator, presented Outstanding Leadership Medal to Leonard Jaffe, Acting Director of Earth Observation Programs, for management of Earth Resources Survey program, He presented NASA Distinguished Service Medal to Dr. William R. Lucas, Marshall Space Flight Center Deputy Director, for exceptional contributions to Apollo program; to Richard C. McCurdy, Associate Administrator for Organization and Management, and Dr. Hans Mark, Ames Research Center Director, for management achievements; and to Dr. Paul W. Gast, Chief of Manned Spacecraft Center's Planetary and Earth Sciences Div., for Apollo science achievements. Secretary of the Interior Rogers C. B. Morton presented posthumous medal for Dr. William T. Pecora, late Under Secretary of the Interior, to Mrs. Pecora. Award was in recognition of work on Earth Resources Observation Systems (EROS) program. Distinguished Public Service Medal was presented to Dr. Riccardo Giacconi of American Science and Engineering, Inc., for work on cosmic rays and to Dr. Gerald J. Wasserburg, Cal Tech physicist, for work on lunar samples. Third awardee, Dr. Brian O'Brien, physicist on NASA Space Program Advisory Council, was unable to be present. Group Achievement Award was presented to Atlas Centaur Project Team, Hq., Lewis Research Center, and Kennedy Space Center; Deep Space Maser Development Group, Jet Propulsion Laboratory; Digital Fly-by-Wire Project Team, Flight Research Center; Earth Resources Technology Satellite Project Team, Goddard Space Flight Center; OAO 3 Project Team, ARC, GSFC, KSC, and Jet Propulsion Laboratory|JPL]]; Pioneer 6-9 Project Team, Hq.; Quiet Engine Team, LeRC; and Space Shuttle Technology Project Team, Hq. Other awards included Exceptional Service Medal to 41 persons and Exceptional Scientific Achievement Medal to 20. (Program; NASA Activities, 12/15/72, 245; NASA Hist Off; Huntsville Times, 11/9/72)
National Public Affairs Center for TV began poll of 223 public TV station managers at request of Corp. for Public Broadcasting, to deter-mine response to CPB proposal to show up to 21 hrs of live coverage from moon during Apollo 17 moonwalks Dec. 11, 12, and 13. Washington Post said later that NASA had offered public broadcasting opportunity to cover past Apollo missions but CPB had declined, to avoid conflict with commercial networks. TV coverage of astronauts' extravehicular activities (EVA), however, had been declining. During Apollo 16 mission (April 16-27), American Broadcasting Co. had shown 6 of estimated 21 hrs of EVA, National Broadcasting Co. had shown 8 hrs, and Columbia Broadcasting System, 61/2 hrs. (Carmody, W Post, 11/10/72, Bl )
Foreword to Jane's Surface Skimmers, 1972-73 predicted intercontinental hovercraft could travel between U.K. and Japan 10 times faster than ocean liner, Associated Press reported. Jane's editor Roy McLeavy had said in annual survey of hovercraft and hydrofoil technology that hovercraft offered tremendous opportunity for Arctic travel. Vehicles would move people and cargo across ice cap and also "support oil and mineral extractions and scientific observations." U.S.S.R. was building similar craft called "ekranoplanes" for high-speed service in areas normally impassable in winter. (W Star & News, 10/9/72, C8)
November 9-15: Canadian Domestic Communications Satellite (Telesat-A)-named Anik 1, Eskimo for brother-was launched successfully at 8:14 pm EST by NASA from Eastern Test Range on three-stage, long-tank, thrust-augmented Thor-Delta launch vehicle. Anik 1 was placed in highly elliptical transfer orbit with apogee of 36 470 km (22 661.4 mi); perigee, 188.9 km (117.4 mi); inclination, 26.9°. After checkout and reorientation of spacecraft, apogee kick motor on board Anik 1 was fired at 3:55 pm EST Nov. 13, bringing spacecraft into near synchronous circular orbit with 36 508-km (22 658-mi) apogee, 35 822-km (22 258.8-mi) perigee, 1455-min period, and 0.4° inclination and drifting to final operating position in synchronous equatorial orbit off west coast of South America.
Under contract between NASA and Telesat Canada, NASA mission objective was to place Anik l in orbit of sufficient accuracy to allow onboard propulsion systems to place spacecraft in stationary synchronous orbit while retaining sufficient station- keeping propulsion to meet mission lifetime requirements. Objective was met; mission was adjudged successful Nov. 15. Launch was first on Thor-Delta "straight eight" launch vehicle, so called because diameter was eight feet for all three stages including fairing. Previous Thor-Deltas had been tapered at joint of first and second stage. New design allowed Delta to launch new generation of larger volume spacecraft. Flight was also first with nine solid-fuel thrust-augmentation rockets from Cape Kennedy. Third stage was TE-364-4 solid-fueled motor. Anik 1 -first of two-was built by Hughes Aircraft Co. under contract with Telesat and designed to provide transmission of TV, voice, and data throughout Canada for seven years. It would provide 10 color TV channels or up to 9600 telephone circuits. System could distribute analog or digital signals with overall performance comparable to that of terrestrial methods. Spacecraft, 1.8 m in diameter and 3.4 m high (6 by 11 ft), weighed 540 kg (1200 lbs) at launch and 270 kg (600 lbs) in orbit. Electronics system was powered by 23 000 solar cells, with onboard battery capacity to maintain service during sun eclipse. Telesat Canada would reimburse NASA for cost of launch vehicle and services. Goddard Space Flight Center managed project for NASA Office of Space Science. (NASA proj off; NASA Release 72- 206; GSFC Operations Center Br)
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