Astronautics and Aeronautics, 1971 - NASA History Page

487 Pages·2007·13.65 MB·English

NASA SP-4016
A S T R O N A U T I C S A N D
A E R O N A U T I C S , 1 9 7 1
Chronology on Science, Technology, and Policy
Text by
Science and Technology Division
Library of Congress
Sponsored by
NASA Historical Office
Scientific and Technical Information Ofice 1972
NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION
For sale by the Superintendent of Documents
U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402
Price (paper cover) $3.80
Stock Number 3300-00483
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 6S-60308
Foreword
This volume is the eleventh in NASAs’esr ies of annual chronologies of
astronautics and aeronautics. The intent is to provide a preliminary his-
torical reference which at least identifies, orders, and offers partial docu-
mentation for key events of the year.
One of the curious aspects of these chronology volumes is that the very
process of documenting NASA’s portion of them reveals not only continuities
but also distinctive patterns in the unfolding events. Each year has seemed
to emerge with characteristics of its own. The year 1971 was no exception.
As NASA’rse cord unfolds in these pages, it can clearly be seen as a transi-
tional or bridging year. On the one hand many on-going programs demon-
strated their value in solid accomplishments: Apollo 14 and Apollo 15
brought manned lunar scientific exploration to dramatic maturity ;M ariner 9
went into orbit around Mars after its 400-million-kilometer journey and
began its extensive photography of that fascinating nearby planet; OS0 7
discovered “polar caps” on the sun; in aeronautics jet aircraft equipped
with the experimental supercritical wing made 27 successful research flights
and the quiet jet engine program was successful in its initial tests.
On the other hand, the shape of the next decade of the space program
took much firmer shape. It became clear that after a decade in which the
moon was the major focus of the U.S. space program, the next ten years
would emphasize earth-orbital programs geared to intensive study of our
homeland in the cosmos, the planet Earth. In manned spaceflight, even as
the final preparations were underway for the final two Apollo lunar mis-
sions, all flight systems for Skylab were in final manufacturing stages or in
checkout; another year’s intensive study by NASA and industry had refined
and hardened the design of the space shuttle to the point that we could ask
Administration approval to proceed, confident that a reusable, cost-effective
space transportation system could be built.
In unmanned space programs, the first Earth Resources Technology
Satellite was readied for its launch in 1972, while aircraft flights were test-
ing its remote sensing devices. In aeronautics, the joint Department of
Transportation-NASA study of national civil aviation R&D requirements led
to the contract for design of the experimental STOL transport aircraft.
Administratively, the quintupling of funds for space technology transfer to
the civilian economy and the establishment of the NASA Office of Applica-
tions were other indications of the increased priority for practical benefits
from space research. While all of the foregoing was accomplished within
the constraints of the lowest space budget since 1962, congressional ap-
proval of an FY 1972 budget that was slightly larger ended the trend of
progressively smaller space budgets that had begun in 1967. This was taken
in NASA as endorsement for the new stable realignment of the space program
toward the needs of man on earth for the decade ahead.
I commend to you, in the pages that follow, 1971, the year of transition.
James C. Fletcher
Administrator
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
October 31, 1972
iii

Contents
PAGE
Foreword ............................................... iii
.
NASA Administrator James C Fletcher
.............................................
Illustrations vii
Preface ................................................. ix
January ................................................ 1
February ................................................ 35
March .................................................. 59
...................................................
April 93
May .................................................... 119
June .................................................... 151
....................................................
July 185
August .................................................. 215
September ............................................... 245
.................................................
October 275
November ............................................... 305
December ............................................... 337
Summary ............................................... 365
Appendix A: Satellites, Space Probes, and Manned Space Flights,
....................................
a Chronicle for 1971 371
Appendix B: Chronology of Major NASA Launches, 1971 ........ 407
Appendix C: Chronology of Manned Space Flight, 1971 ......... 411
....................
Appendix D : Abbreviations of References 415
................
Index and List of Abbreviations and Acronyms 419
V

AGE M NOT FIL
Illustrations
PAGE
Dr. George M. Low and Dr. Wernher von Braun watch Apollo 14
........................
launch activities in Firing Room 2 26
.................
Saturn V propels Apollo 14 toward the moon 26
The modularized equipment transporter leaves tracks across the
...........................................
lunar surface 28
Scientists examine a seismic reading of the S-IVB impact on the
.................................................
moon 28
..
Apolb 14 astronauts relax in the recovery raft after splashdown. 31
Dr. Richard T. Whitcomb congratulates test pilot Thomas McMurtry
......
after the first flight of the supercritical wing on the TF-8A 66
Cosmonaut Yuri A. Gagarin and U.S.S.R. Premier Nikita
Khrushchev respond to crowds celebrating the first manned space
....................................
flight-10 years ago 100
Dr. James C. Fletcher is sworn in as NASA Administrator by Judge
James A. Belson as President Nixon, Mrs. Fletcher, and Dr.
...................................
George M. Low watch 114
Astronaut Alan B. Shepard, Jr., the first American in space, stands
by the plaque marking Launch Complex 5/6 in ceremonies 10
years after the Freedom 7 flight .......................... 123
President Kennedy-May 25, 1961-urges Congress to commit the
.................
United States to landing a man on the moon 143
............
The Mariner 9 spacecraft and its flight path to Mars 149
............................
Interior of the U.S.S.R.’s SaZyut 1 155
Lee Scherer, Director of NASA’As pollo Lunar Exploration Office,
exchanges lunar samples with Soviet Academy of Sciences Presi-
dent Aleksander P. Vinogradov ............................ 159
President Nixon and Secretary of Agriculture Clifford M. Hardin
............
are briefed on the Corn Blight Watch Experiment 169
Apollo 15 prelaunch activities : NASA Administrator James C.
Fletcher talks with NASC Executive Secretary William A. Anders,
L/G Samuel C. Phillips (USAF), and NASA Deputy Associate Ad-
.................
ministrator for Planning Wernher von Braun 202
The lunar roving vehicle Rover on the moon near Hadley Rille, with
.................................
Astronaut David R. Scott 204
....
Astronaut James 3. Irwin scoops a trench in the lunar sur€ace 205
The Apolb 15 command and service modules with the SIM bay orbit
..............................................
the moon 206
vii
PAGE
Apollo 15 CM splashes down on two parachutes .. . . . . . . . . .. .. . 208
NASA’s experimental., .q .u .i e.t .e .r .j .e. t .a .i .rc .r .a .f .t .e. n .g .in .e. .i s. .c .h .e c. k.e. d . . o .u .t . j .u .s .t
before noise tests 24J
The “Genesis rock” collected on the moon by the Ap0110 15 mission 258
A white light coronagraph of solar streamers with inset of the Os0 7
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. . .. . . . . . .
Orbiting Solar Observatory , 270
.
Interior of the 1-g training model of Skylab’s Orbital Workshop. 285
. . . . . . . .
Mariner 9 photo of a sinuous rille on the surface of Mars 316
.. . .
One of man’s first closeup photos of the Martian moon Phobos 317
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
Nix Olympica, gigantic volcanic mountain on Mars 317
The descent apparatus of the U.S.S.R.’s Mars 3, which landed a
. . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
capsule on the surface of Mars 338
. . . . . .. . . . . . . .
Graph-US.-U.S.S.R. Space Activity, 1957-1971 366
Table-Summary of Soviet and United States Payloads by Mission
. . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Category 367
viii
Preface
A chronicle is not a history explaining “whys” and “wherefores” in
refined literary form. But a reference of immediate usefulness is provided
by a chronology attempting to be comprehensive, with documentation to
available sources. Astronautics and Aeronautics for 1971, the eleventh
annual volume so compiled, also helps give future historians a running
start on events in aerospace science and technology gleaned from the vast
contemporary literature. More detailed chronology will be derived from
historical research in the primary document sources as well as from oral
interviews concerning pivotal events not necessarily committed to paper
form. This volume is thus but a first step in the historical process.
One of the intrinsic features of this annual chronology is the inclusion
of policy statements, some commentary on the impact of technology and
social concerns, and biographical notes which amplify the central story of
hardware, programs, and science activities. It covers worldwide aerospace
events. As with earlier volumes the reader is advised to make use of the
detailed index for subjects of particular interest. It has been somewhat
surprising that a few readers find it of value to read through the entire
volume. A concise chronology does not seek high literary marks other
than brevity, accuracy, and source citation to assist additional research.
General editor of this volume was the Deputy NASA Historian, Frank W.
Anderson, Jr., and the technical editor was Mrs. Carrie E. Karegeannes.
The entire NASA Historical Office participated in source selection, review,
and publication. Archivist Lee D. Saegesser collects current documentation.
The Science and Technology Division of the Library of Congress, under
an exchange of funds agreement, drafts monthly segments in comment
edition form, which are circulated for corrections and use. At the Library
Mrs. Patricia D. Davis, Mrs. Carmen B. Brock-Smith, and Mrs. Shirley M.
Singleton carry principal responsibility. At the end of the year, the entire
manuscript is reworked to include comments received and recent additional
information. Arthur G. Renstrom of the Library of Congress prepared the
extensive index, which is indispensable to the usefulness of a chronology.
The index serves also as a glossary of abbreviations and acronyms used
in the chronology.
Appendix A, “Satellites, Space Probes, and Manned Space Flights, 1971,”
Appendix B, “Chronology of Major NASA Launches, 1971,” and Appendix C,
“Chronology of Manned Space Flight, 1971,” were prepared by Leonard
C. Bruno of the Library staff. Appendix D, “Abbreviations of References,”
was prepared by Mrs. Brock-Smith.
Without the validation throughout NASA and other Federal agencies, the
content of this volume would be less reliable and less nearly complete.
Comments, additions, and criticisms are always welcomed by the NASA
Historical 05ce.
Eugene M. Emme
NASA Historian
ix