Mar 27 1972
From The Space Library
U.S.S.R. launched 1180-kg (2600-lb) Venus 8 unmanned probe into earth orbit from Baikonur at 9:15 am local time (11:15 pm EST March 26). At 10:42 am Baikonur time (12:42 am EST) 243-sec burn placed spacecraft on trajectory to Venus, where space-craft would study physical characteristics of interplanetary space and continue research of Venus. Spacecraft would reach Venus in July after traveling 312 million km (194 million mi). Five hours after launch Venus 8 was 65 000 km (40 000 mi) from earth and all systems were operating satisfactorily. Venus 8 was eighth spacecraft in Venus series. Venus 4 (launched June 12, 1967), Venus 5 (launched Jan. 5, 1969), Venus 6 (launched Jan. 10, 1969) had ejected capsules onto surface of Venus. Venus 7 (launched Aug. 17, 1970) had ejected capsule which transmitted data for few second after reaching surface. Orbit decayed July 22. (FBIS-Sov, 3/27/72, LI; SBD, 3/28/72, 147; A&A 1970; GSFC SSR, 3/31/72, 12/31/72)
Apollo 16 astronauts John W. Young, Charles M. Duke, Jr., and Thomas K. Mattingly II began three-week preflight quarantine at Kennedy Space Center to minimize exposure to disease or illness that could delay launch toward moon, scheduled for April 16. (AP, B Sun, 3/28/72, A6)
First launch of British Skylark sounding rocket to test techniques for high-altitude photography of earth resources was made from Woomera, Australia. Primary objectives were to test stabilization control system and remote sensing hardware. Advantages over conventional methods of high-altitude photography were that single frame was equivalent to 650 frames photographed from 15 000 m (50 000 ft), making assembly of photographic mosaics easier and more accurate, and that entire area could be photographed under identical conditions. Project was developed by United Kingdom's Dept. of Trade and Industry to assess mineral, agricultural, and other resources inexpensively. (SF, 8/72, 282-286)
Nike-Javelin III sounding rocket, carrying Naval Research Laboratory cesium cloud experiment, was launched by NASA from Wallops Station at 5:08 am EsT. Launch was second in series of five to collect atmospheric data; first launch had been conducted March 25. (WS PAO; WS Release 72-4)
Sen. William Proxmire (D-Wis.) released statement saying he would ask Dept. of Justice to investigate alleged overpayment for building Lockheed C-5 military transport aircraft. GAO study made at his request had found that Air Force paid some $400 million in excess progress payments to Lockheed because Lockheed overstated value of work in progress. (Text)
St. Louis Globe-Democrat editorial commented on high level of Soviet space activity: "It is fine to talk about devoting activities in space to peaceful purposes for the benefit of all mankind, as the United States has done. But the talk is hollow when the space scorecard shows the Soviets at an all-time high in military launches, and the United States at a low point, with the trend still further downward." There was urgent need for U.S. "to develop military space weapons capable of neutralizing Soviet supremacy." (St Louis G-D, 3/27/72)
March 27-April 3: Working Group of NASA and Soviet engineers met at Manned Spacecraft Center to discuss technical details of docking mechanisms. Talks continued U.S.-U.S.S.R. study of compatible rendezvous and docking systems for spacecraft. (NASA Release 72-69; MSC PAO)
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