Sep 8 1972
From The Space Library
NASA and U.S.S.R. Academy of Sciences had approved recommendations of joint working session of scientists on planetary exploration held in Madrid May 19-20, NASA announced. Session had recommended that Mars study try to determine physical and chemical properties of planet's surface, seek evidence of biological activity, determine precise composition of Mars atmosphere, and ascertain role of water in Mars' evolution. Venus study should determine how and why planet became hotter than earth by determining planet's atmospheric composition, cloud structure, depth of sunlight penetration in Venusian atmosphere, and characteristics of Venusian surface. Outer planets study should emphasize exploration of Jupiter and Saturn and environments. Session agreed meeting should be held before year's end to define promising Mars landing sites and small group of U.S. and Soviet scientists should meet to consider probe of Venusian atmosphere. Madrid session had been held in accordance with recommendation of Joint U.S.-U.S.S.R. Working Group on Exploration of Near-Earth Space, the Moon and the Planets, made Aug. 6, 1971. Cochairmen of Madrid session were Dr. Georgy I. Petrov of Soviet Academy and Dr. S. Ichtiaque Rasool, Deputy Director of Planetary Programs in NASA Office of Space Science. (NASA Release 72- 187)
Publication of A Current Index of Technical Briefs (Cl-1) by NASA and Small Business Administration was announced. Brochure contained abstracts from NASA's technical briefs filed during 1971 and 1972. NASA had published nearly 5000 technical briefs since 1963. First edition of new publication had been mailed to more than 50 000 small manufacturing and research and development companies. Brochure eventually would be published monthly. (NASA Release 72-188; NASA PAO)
President Nixon transmitted to Congress 26th annual report on U.S. participation in work of United Nations. He noted in transmission message that 26th U.N. General Assembly had endorsed two treaties sponsored by U.S., Convention on the International Liability for Damage Caused by Space Objects and Convention on the Prohibition of Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction. International Civil Aviation Organization conference had adopted Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against the Safety of Civil Aviation. (PD, 9/11/72, 1351-2)
September 8-9 Twenty-fifth anniversary of NASA Flight Research Center at Edwards, Calif., celebration included open house and Sept. 8 ceremony honoring original 14 employees who had participated with Air Force in successful 1947-1951 X-l rocket aircraft program to exceed speed of sound in level flight. Dr. James C. Fletcher, NASA Administrator, presented plaques to seven original employees who attended. Since creation in 1947 as Muroc Flight, Test Unit of National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, predecessor of NASA, FRC had participated in advanced aircraft research programs that had extended boundaries of manned aeronautical flight from subsonic speed to 7200 km (4500 mi) per hr achieved by X-15 aircraft between 1959 and 1968. Other FRC programs included rocket-powered D-558 II Skyrocket, first aircraft to fly twice the speed of sound; X-5, fore-runner of F-111, F-14, and B-1 aircraft; lunar landing research vehicle, prototype of Apollo lunar landing trainer; and XB-70 air-craft that had takeoff weight of more than 226 800 kg (500 000 Is) and mach-3 cruising speed. FRC programs were continuing effort to improve safety, utility, and flying qualities of general-aviation aircraft; M2, HL-10, and X-24A lifting-body flights to validate concepts for future manned spacecraft and aircraft; YF-12 program to acquire inflight data for future supersonic military and commercial aircraft; supercritical wing program to evaluate new NASA- developed wing's ability to permit modified F-8 aircraft to cruise economically at higher speeds; and digital fly-by-wire aircraft program to evaluate use of electronic flight control system to control aircraft completely. Fly-by-wire system was being considered for space shuttle use. (NASA Release 72-178; FRC Release 15- 72; FRC X-Press, 9/15/72)
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