Jul 23 1971
From The Space Library
U.S.S.R. launched Cosmos 430 from Plesetsk into orbit with 265-km (164.7-mi) apogee, 187-km (116.2-mi) perigee, 89-min period, and 65.4° inclination. Satellite reentered Aug. 5. (GSFC SSR, 7/31/71; 8/31/71; SBD, 7/26/71, 109)
Battery and companion unit in Apollo 15 LM failed during tests at KSC and were replaced. Investigation revealed battery had been contaminated with magnesium chips. Problem did not delay countdown, which continued on schedule toward 9:34 am EDT liftoff July 26. (Wilford, NYT, 7/24/71, 29)
NASA's M2-F3 lifting-body vehicle, piloted by NASA test pilot William H. Dana, successfully completed seventh flight from FRC, reaching 18 300-m (60 000-ft) altitude and mach 0.83. Objectives were to expand flight envelope to mach 0.85, obtain stability and control data at mach 0.8, and evaluate reaction control system. (NASA PrOj Off)
Appointment of John P. Donnelly, Vice President for Corporate Communications of Whittaker Corp., as NASA Assistant Administrator for Public Affairs effective Aug. 15, was announced by NASA. He would be responsible for development and direction of public affairs activities, including public information, public services, and educational programs. Acting Public Affairs chief since resignation of Julian W. Scheer March 22 had been Alfred P. Alibrando, Director, Public Affairs Div. (NASA Release 71-137; NASA Ann, 2/23/71)
NASA announced it had signed agreement with New York Times Special Features, syndicate division of New York Times, for one byline article each by Apollo 15 Astronauts David R. Scott, James B. Irwin, and Alfred M. Warden after mission and three articles by Scientist- Astronaut Harrison H. Schmitt while crew was on lunar surface. Agreement, extending to 30 days after mission's end, provided for payment by Special Features of 50% of gross proceeds from syndication of articles: It also permitted still photos in Apollo 15 astronauts' homes and interviews of family members. Agreement did not infringe on NASA policy of free flow of information to all media nor limit NYT coverage of all aspects of space program. (NASA Release 71-138)
The Decision To Go to the Moon by John M. Logsdon of George Washington Univ. was reviewed in Science by L. Vaughn Blankenship, State Univ. of New York at Buffalo political scientist: Book pulled together "most of the publicly available data and commentary on the events surrounding President Kennedy's decision in May 1961 to commit the United States to effecting a lunar landing before 1970." Logsdon seemed to conclude that "because the decision process somehow corresponded to his theory of how decisions are, or should be made , the decision must have been a good one." It was "legitimate to choose to present a history of this decision within the limited framework adopted in this book" but "less legitimate to tout this decision as evidence of a political system operating at its best, Or if it is its best, we may well worry for the future." Dr. Logsdon replied to review Sept. 17. (Science, 7/23/71, 317-8; 9/17/71, 1079-80)
GAO published Comparison of Military Research and Development Expenditures of the United States and the Soviet Union. Report quoted Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) as saying much Soviet R&D was likely to have been directed toward military and space programs. Spin-off to civilian industry in U.S.S.R. was considered to have been small because all invention and innovation of military application, while in principle available for civilian use, was surrounded by impenetrable security blanket. Consequently, strain of R&D effort had been much greater for Soviet economy than for that of U.S. (CR, 7/31/71, E8607-81)
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