May 19 1972
From The Space Library
U.S.S.R. launched Molniya II-2 comsat from Plesetsk into orbit with 39 295-km (24 416.8-mi) apogee, 433-km (269.1-mi) perigee, 705.1-min period, and 65.3° inclination. Objective was to maintain "a system of long- distance telephone and telegraph radio-communications" in U.S.S.R., relay programs of Central Television Service to stations of Orbita network, and further international cooperation. Satellite operated in centimeter wave band. (GSFC SSR, 5/31/72; SBD, 5/23/72, 123; Tass, FBIS-Sov, 3/22/72, L1)
President Nixon signed H.R. 14070, $3.444-billion FY 1973 NASA authorization bill. Bill, approved by Senate May 11, became Public Law 92-304. (PD, 5/29/72, 900; NASA Off Admin)
President Nixon briefed press on forthcoming state visit to Austria, U.S.S.R., Iran, and Poland and outlined three areas on agenda "in which there is a possibility . . . of agreement" with U.S.S.R., "provided we can break some bottlenecks which still exist." Areas were arms limitation, trade, and cooperation in space. President recalled his TV speech to Soviet people during 1959 visit to U.S.S.R.: "I said at that time . . . let us go to the moon together." While he would not suggest that joint missions to moon or to Mars would be discussed during forthcoming visit, he said, "I do know that considerable progress has been made over the past several months with regard to cooperation in . . . exploration of space. We are going to try to see a culmination of that progress in this area." President said "NASA people" had been among those working "toward the time when this meeting would take place." (PD, 5/22/72, 876-9)
NASA announced appointment of Robin K. Ransone as Director of Aeronautical Operating Systems Office in Office of Aeronautics and Space Technology. Ransone-American Airlines Development Engineer, v/sToL Technology-would replace Deputy Associate Administrator (Programs) George W. Cherry, who had been Acting Director of office. (NASA Release 72-107)
Skylab statistics were released by NASA. Spacecraft, to be launched by two-stage Saturn V rocket in spring 1973, would contain 370 cu m (13 000 cu ft) of working and living space. More than 13 000 individual items weighing total of 5000 kg (11 000 lbs) for long-duration space mission would be stowed, including 910 kg (2000 lbs) of food, more than 2700 kg (6000 lbs) of water, 60 changes of astronaut jackets and shirts and trousers, 210 pairs of shorts, 30 constant- wear garments, 15 pairs of boots and gloves, 55 bars of soap, 96 kg (210 lbs) of towels, 1800 urine and fecal bags, 156 rolls of teleprint paper, 104 film magazines, medical kit, 108 pens and pencils, and vacuum cleaner. (NASA Special Release)
NASA launched two Aerobee 170 sounding rockets from White Sands Missile Range, N. Mex. One carried Massachusetts Institute of Technology x-ray astronomy experiment. Second carried Goddard Space Flight Center cosmic ray experiment. Rockets and instrumentation per-formed satisfactorily. (SR list)
President Nixon had approved assignment of M/G Kenneth W. Schultz (USAF) as commander of Space and Missile Systems Organization (SAMSO) effective Aug. 1, Dept. of Defense announced. Gen. Schultz, Deputy Chief of Staff for Air Force Systems Command, was nominated for promotion to lieutenant general. (Reuters, NYT, 5/20/72, 8)
May 19-20: Working session of U.S. and U.S.S.R. scientists met in Madrid to discuss scientific results, objectives, and strategy for planetary exploration. Meeting fulfilled August 1971 recommendations by joint U.S. and U.S.S.R. working group for discussions to propose complementary activity by one party during planetary investigations con-ducted by the other and for exchange of information from planetary experiments. Dr. John E. Naugle, NASA Associate Administrator for Space Science, headed U.S. group; G. I. Petrov, Director of U.S.S.R. Science Institute of Space Research, headed Soviet group. (NASA Release 72-106)
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