Nov 30 1973
From The Space Library
The U.S.S.R. launched Cosmos 613 from Baykonur Cosmo-drome into orbit with a 274-km (170.3-mi) apogee, 188-km (116.8-mi) perigee, 89.7-min period, and 51.6° inclination. Western observers identified the spacecraft as an unmanned Soyuz. It was brought down by parachute near Karaganda Jan. 30, 1974, after orbiting the earth 60 days, a record length of flight for any Soviet spacecraft recovered intact. Cosmos 613 flew the same orbital track as other manned Soviet spacecraft but at a higher altitude, leading to speculation that the purpose of the mission was to test the ability of Soyuz spacecraft to fly higher and the durability of its systems as a prerequisite to a possible two-month manned mission. (GSFC SSR, 11/30/73; 1/31/74; SBD, 12/3/73, 164; O'Toole, W Post, 12/16/73, A25; 2/10/74, A27; Av Wk, 2/11/74, 32)
The U.S.S.R. launched Molniya 1-26 communications satellite into orbit with a 40 830-km (25 370,6-mi) apogee, 618-km (384-mi) perigee, 740.0-min period, and 62.9° inclination. The satellite would help provide a system of long-range telephone and telegraph radio communications in the U.S.S.R. and would transmit Soviet central TV programs to the Orbita network. (GSFC SSR, 11/30/73; Tass, FBIS-Sov, 12/5/73, U1)
Skylab 2 Astronaut Charles Conrad, Jr., was retiring from NASA and the Navy effective Feb. 1, Johnson Space Center announced. He would become Vice President, Operations, and Chief Operating Officer, of the American Television and Communications Corp., a Denver-based cable TV firm. (JSC Release 73-158)
NASA announced award of a $41.8-million, cost-plus-award-fee contract to General Dynamics Corp. Convair Div. to continue management and engineering services in the Atlas-Centaur and Titan-Centaur launch vehicle program. The procurement extended an earlier contract two years. (NASA Release 73-271)
The U.S.S.R. was using onboard computers on multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles for the first time, providing "the approaching technological option over both MIRVing and having greater accuracy in . . . MIRVed warheads," Dr. James R. Schlesinger, Secretary of Defense, said at a Dept. of Defense briefing. The technological advantages held by the U.S. would "tend to wane" as the Soviets acquired improved warheads, improved guidance, and improved MIRVs There was no immediate change in strategic balance but "with these technologies avail-able . . . , one can look out to the period beyond 1976, say, and with marrying of these technologies to the throw-weight available to the Soviet Union, it could create an unbalance in the strategic area." (Tran-script)
The Rev. Walter J. Miller, Fordham Univ. astronomer and former assistant papal astronomer at the Vatican Astronomical Observatory, died in New York following a heart attack, at age 69. He had specialized in the study of faint variables, pulsating stars that varied their apparent magnitude periodically. He was known particularly for his observations of Cygnus in the Milky Way galaxy. (NYT, 12/2/73, 85)
November 30, December 3, 4: The Federal Aviation Administration sponsored an International Microwave Landing System Symposium in Washington, D.C., to exchange information between the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) member nations sponsoring MLS pro-grams and other ICAO states interested in MLS efforts. Presentations by the U.S., United Kingdom, France, Australia, and West Germany showed progress in the use of MLS. Canada reported on its short takeoff and landing (STOL) aircraft program. MLS provided pilots precise course and glide-slope guidance to runways during landing approach. Broad areas covered permitted operational procedures to increase airport acceptance rate and reduce noise over surrounding communities. (FAA Release 73-199 ; FAA PAO)
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