May 11 1973
From The Space Library
Space News for this day. (1MB PDF)
The U.S.S.R. launched Cosmos 557 from Baykonur Cosmodrome into orbit with a 249-km (154.7-mi) apogee, 213-km (132.4-mi) peri-gee, 89.1-min period, and 51.6ΓΈ inclination. Western observers noted the satellite, reported by some sources to be equipped with remote-controlled photographic equipment, was put into an orbit almost identical to that of the crippled Salyut 2, launched April 3. Observers later speculated it had been a Salyut-class spacecraft launched as a docking target for a manned Soyuz [see May 19], The satellite reentered May 22 without maneuvering to extend its lifetime or an apparent attempt to recover it. (GSFC SSR, 5/31/73; SBD, 5/15/73, 81; O'Toole, W Post, 5/15/73, A14; 5/19/73, A12; SF, 1/74, 39-40; Lyons, NYT, 9/26/73, 33)
Skylab 2 Astronauts Charles Conrad, Jr., Dr. Joseph P. Kerwin, and Paul J. Weitz completed their last medical checkups at Johnson Space Center and were declared ready for the Skylab launch, as countdown proceeded for May 15. Data were also gathered for inflight comparison of the astronauts' physical conditions. (Wilford, NYT, 5/12/73, 58)
Objectives of Skylab's scientific and engineering experiments were outlined in a Kennedy Space Center press briefing. The 57 major experiment components aboard the space station scheduled for May 14 launch would provide data for 270 investigations in earth resources, solar astronomy, and materials science by 702 investigators and associates-200 of them foreign. Dr. Edward J. McLaughlin, NASA Director for Space Medicine, said 20 life sciences experiments would provide "a comprehensive picture of the interactions of man with his environment and of various body systems that are influenced . . . by the space environment." They would deal primarily with the metabolic and cardiovascular systems, exercise capacity, and nutrition.
Dr. Goetz K. Oertel, NASA Chief of Solar Physics, said the objective of Skylab astronomy was "the study of the stars, including the sun, and other objects in space such as planets, comets, objects and libration points near the moon, and x-ray objects in the sky." Emphasis would be placed on the study of solar activity known to influence general weather patterns and on solar flares, responsible for radio communication black-outs and interference. Skylab was unique in that it would be manned. The astronaut would be able to align the instruments and select targets of interest, taking advantage of phenomena as it occurred.
Dr. Robert A. Parker, astronaut and Skylab program scientist, said that corollary experiments would study gas and particles surrounding the Skylab and their effect on sensitive instruments, collect micrometeoroids, study man-made disturbances in Skylab and their effect on instrument alignment, and study flammable materials and manufacturing techniques in the zero-g environment. (Transcript)
Dept. of Defense efforts to support Skylab 1 and 2, scheduled for launch May 14 and 15, were described by the Air Force Eastern Test Range newspaper the Missileer. More than 3250 non personnel members world- wide-including the crews of 3 ships and 53 aircraft-would assist NASA with Skylab communications, recovery, bioastronautics, weather, and public affairs. The Don Manned Space Flight Support Office would coordinate NASA's requirements with DOD forces; AFETR, the Air Force Space and Missile Test Center in California, and Air Force advanced range instrumentation aircraft would provide tracking and instrumentation facilities; Air Force and Navy units would provide voice and teletype circuits for communications and recovery forces to assist NASA at the launch site and primary and secondary recovery zones; and Army, Navy, and Air Force personnel would contribute medical support at launch site and recovery areas. The Air Force hospital at Patrick Air Force Base, Fla., had been designated the Skylab launch site medical facility. `'(Missileer, 5/11/73, 1)
Flight tests of NASA's supercritical wing, developed by Dr. Richard T. Whitcomb in Langley Research Center wind tunnels, were being completed at Flight Research Center, NASA announced. Construction of the first wing for use on a commercial aircraft was planned for later in 1973 by LearAvia Corp. William P. Lear, developer of the Learjet executive transport aircraft, had said the wing could increase the Learjet's cruising speed by almost 10% and its range by 20/0, without an increase in power or gross weight. Other aircraft companies were interested in the new airfoil shape, which had demonstrated its ability to increase aircraft efficiency 15% during more than 75 successful flights at FRC since 1971. (NASA Release 73-96)
Employment assistance officers at Goddard Space Flight Center, Lewis Research Center, and Marshall Space Flight Center were providing detailed resumes of employees affected by NASA personnel reductions, NASA announced. Among affected employees were 200 engineers and scientists and 180 technicians at LeRC; 100 space scientists, engineers, and technicians at MSFC; and 106 GSFC specialists, including electronic, civil, mechanical, and aerospace engineers; physicists; chemists; mathematicians; and electronic and computer technicians. (NASA Release 73-99)
Award of a $20 543 500 fixed-price-incentive contract for equipping two Boeing 747-200B advanced airborne command post aircraft with electronic equipment was announced by the Air Force. (DOD Release 240-73)
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