Aug 6 1971
From The Space Library
USAF launched nine satellites from Vandenberg AFB by one Atlas booster at 5:11 pm PDT (8:11 pm EDT). Ov 1-20 Orbiting Vehicle-carrying energetic proton analyzer, particle energy and flux thermal detector, and uv solar radiation experiment-- entered orbit with 1932.8-km (1201-mi) apogee, 136.8-km (85-mi) perigee, 105.9-min period, and 92° inclination and reentered Aug. 28. Ov I-21-carrying velocity mass spectrometer, atmospheric composition sensor, and ELF/VLF antenna effects transceiver- entered orbit with 917.3-km (570-mi) apogee, 788.6-km (490-mi) perigee, 101.9-min period, and 87.6° inclination. Cannonball 2 (OAR 901) carried accelerometers to model atmospheric densities into orbit with 1794.4-km (1115-mi) apogee, 130.4-km (81-mi) perigee, 104.2-min period, and 92° inclination. It reentered Jan. 31, 1972. Musketball (OAR 907) carried instruments to measure density variations into orbit with 653.4-km (406-mi) apogee, 130.4-km (81-mi) perigee, 92.3-min period, and 87.6° inclination. It reentered Sept. 19. Five remaining satellites were ejected from Ov 1-21. RTD 701, which would serve as calibration target, entered orbit with 915.7- km 569-mi) apogee, 774.1-km (481-mi) perigee, 101.7-min period, and 87,6° inclination. Four AVL 802 satellites would gather aerodynamic data for use in design and development of orbiting vehicles. Orbital parameters: apogee, 917.3 km (570 mi) ; perigee, 762.8-791.8 km (474 482 mi) ; period 101.6-101.9 min; and inclination, 87.5°-87.8°. (Pies Rpt 72; SBD, 8/10/71, 187; GSFC SSR, 1/31/72)
President Nixon approved H.R. 7109, $3.384-billion NASA FY 1972 authorization bill that became P.L. 92-68. Total authorization was $84 million above budget request of $3.300 billion and $86 million above FY 1971 new obligational authority (NOA) of $3.298 billion. Bill authorized for R&D $2.603 billion, increase of $85.5 million over budget request of $2.518 billion and decrease of $90 million from FY 1971 authorization of $2.693 billion; for construction of facilities, $58.4 million, up $2.1 million from budget request of $56.3 million and $24 million above FY 1971 authorization of $34.5 million; and for research and program management, $723 million, down $4 million from budget request of $727 million but $40 million above $683.3 million authorized in FY 1971. Bill included $29.3-million budget amendment to cover Federal pay increases. It added $30 million to budget request for Skylab and Space Shuttle programs, $43 million for nuclear power and propulsion, $2.5 million for earth resources survey, and $12.5 million for aeronautical research and technology. It reduced requested authorization for lunar and planetary exploration by $10 million. (PD, 8/9/71, 1136; NASA Budget Off; A&A 1970)
Final communications session of 10th lunar day was held by Soviet ground controllers with Lunokhod 1 lunar rover on moon, Tass announced. Vehicle had traveled 215 m (235 yds) during 10th lunar day, bringing total distance covered since landing on moon Nov. 17, 1970, on board Luna 17 to 10 452 m (11 430 yds) . (FBms-Sov- 159-3, 8/17/71, LI )
NSF announced $51 000 grant to Emory Univ. to develop and evaluate experimental program to reorient former defense- aerospace scientists and technologists into research on societal problems. (NSF Release 71-177)
Daniel J. Haughton, Chairman of Lockheed Aircraft Corp., told press in London that he hoped L-1011 TriStar airbus and Rolls- Royce RB-211 engine program would be revived in "matter of weeks." Lockheed needed more orders to reach estimated breakeven figure on TriStar sales of from 255 to 265 aircraft. (AP, NYT, 8/7/71, 28)
Senate confirmed nomination of Dr. James R. Schlesinger and William O. Doub as members of AEC. (CR, 8/6/71, D845)
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