Jan 30 1973
From The Space Library
The U.S. flight crew for the 1975 Apollo Soyuz Test Project mission was announced by NASA. Prime crew: Thomas P. Stafford, commander; Vance D. Brand, command module pilot; Donald K. Slayton, docking module pilot. Backup crew: Alan L. Bean, Ronald E. Evans, and Jack R. Lousma. Support crew: Richard H. Truly, Robert F. Overmyer, Robert L. Crippen, and Karol J. Bobko. Joint crew training would begin in the summer of 1973, when Soviet cosmonauts would visit the U.S. for several weeks. U.S. astronauts would spend an equal time in Russia in the fall of 1973. (NASA Release 73-15)
A model for the interaction of the solar wind with very thin hydrogen gas in deep space, developed by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration geophysicist Dr. Thomas E. Holzer, would aid future space flight planning and provide data on the origins and fate of universe, NOAA announced. The presence of thin hydrogen gas in interplanetary space had been observed by Ogo 5 (launched by NASA March 4, 1968). Interaction of the solar wind and interstellar hydrogen could become important at astronomical units from the sun. Neutral hydrogen could become charged and associated with the solar wind. Some solar wind energy would be converted to random motion or heat. At the same time, the velocity of the solar wind would be diminished. Neutral hydrogen could act as gentle, penetrable barrier to the solar wind. (NOAA Release 73-7)
The last lunar sample containment bag from Apollo 17, the last Apollo mission to the moon (Dec. 7-19, 1972), was logged into the processing cabinets at the Lunar Receiving Laboratory at Johnson Spacecraft Center. (Apollo Sample Analysis Planning Team, Science, 8/17/73, 615)
Effects of FY 1974 budget restrictions on Kennedy Space Center was conveyed to KSC employees in letter from KSC Director, Dr. Kurt H. Debus. The personnel ceiling for June 30, 1974, would be 2309-112 less than the current total onboard strength. The necessity for an average grade ceiling of 11.22 by June 30, 1973, would impose "further constraint in terms of available options.” (Text)
The Canadian National Research Council launched the first in a series of six sounding rockets, including two to be launched by NASA Feb. 2, to investigate growth and decay of auroras. A Black Brant IVB launched from Churchill Research Range carried a 84-kg (185 lb) payload to 714-km (443.7-mi) altitude to investigate the quiet prebreakup of the early evening aurora. Rocket and instrumentation performed satisfactority. (NRC prog off)
Cancellation of competition for procurement of a fixed-wing utility aircraft was announced by Secretary of the Army Robert F. Froehlke. Cancellation had been made because of "inconsistency between what was told the Congress and the eventual recommendation." Final decision on the award and contract had not been made, but details of proposals and their evaluation had been leaked by undetermined sources. A new solicitation would be based on a restated procurement objective, to be subject of new requests for proposals. (DOD Release 51-73)
A People's Republic of China team of diplomatic and transportation officials arrived in Seattle, Wash., to discuss PRC purchase of 10 Boeing 707-320 transport aircraft. Boeing would train crews in Seattle and would assist with further crew training in Shanghai. (Av Wk, 2/5/73, 29)
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