Aug 16 1971
From The Space Library
France's Eole (CAS-1) Cooperative Applications Satellite was launched by NASA from Wallops Station at 2:39 pm EDT. Four-stage Scout boosted spacecraft into orbit with 906.1-km (563.6-mi) apogee, 677.8-km (421.2-mi) perigee, 100.7-min period, and 50.2° inclination. Primary NASA objectives were to place spacecraft into appropriate earth orbit to obtain meteorological data from balloons and to analyze meteorological data acquired from constant-density surface balloons for study of characteristics and movements of air masses. Secondary NASA objective was to acquire technology of satellite range and range-rate system for locating free-moving balloons. The 85-kg (187-lb) satellite-developed by France's Centre Nationale d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES) and named for mythical God of Winds- would collect information on wind, temperatures, and pressures from up to 500 instrumented balloons flying at 11900-m (39 000-ft) altitude in Southern Hemisphere. Balloons, to be launched by CNES and Argentine personnel from three sites in Argentina, could be interrogated by Eole day and night, individually, in sequence, or in programmed group of up to 64 at a time. Eole's meteorological objectives were to study circulation of atmosphere from tracks of balloons, provide basis for standard reference system of pressure and temperature to be used in World Weather Program, and learn more about local winds. Mission would prove feasibility of modified Doppler system plus range measurements to determine accurately location of each balloon and prove out super- pressure balloon design and lightweight, frangible balloon-borne electronics. Eole was launched under May 27, 1966, Memorandum of Under- standing between CNES and NASA with no exchange of funds. CNES designed, built, and tested spacecraft and balloons and would manage balloon launchings, spacecraft tracking, data acquisition, and data processing. NASA provided launch vehicle, prelaunch support, launch operations, and initial tracking and data acquisition. Data would be analyzed simultaneously by CNES and. by Eole Data Interpretation Group comprising representatives of NASA, CNES, NCAR, NOAA, and UCLA. (NASA Proj Off; NASA; Release 71- 144)
Gerald J. Mossinghoff, former Director of Congressional Liaison Div. in NASA Office of Legislative Affairs, became Deputy Assistant Administrator (Policy). Robert H. Hood, former Manager of Spacecraft and Launch Systems in Washington, D.C., office of McDonnell Douglas Corp., became Deputy Assistant Administrator (Programs). (NASA Ann, 8/13/71)
August 16-20: Working Group on Remote Measurement of Pollution met at LaRC to investigate remote sensing in identifying and monitoring contaminants. Group reported trace gases were amenable to remote sensing, water pollutants could be measured in limited number, and remote measurement of specific particulate pollutants would follow only after improved understanding of their physical, chemical, and radiative properties. Remote sensing could provide essential information in all three categories that could not be obtained from other sources. Satellites and aircraft could obtain overall picture of global or regional pollution from gases but were inappropriate for local measurements because of inability of instruments to measure gases in upper atmosphere. Group recommended global measurement from satellites of gases contributing to ozone photochemistry and radiative equilibrium; study to establish feasibility of measuring these gases with current techniques in stratosphere and troposphere; acceleration of research on application of remote sensing to water pollution; coordinated physiooptical research program to advance level of understanding of optical properties of real atmosphere; immediate measurement of earth's albedo, reflected electromagnetic radiation; and establishment of global network of atmospheric turbidity-monitoring sites to determine any changes in worldwide turbidity due to man-made particulate matter. (Remote Measurement of Pollution, NASA SP-285)
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