Aeronautics and Space Report 

of the President 1972 Activities 
NOTE TO READERS: ALL PRINTED PAGES ARE INCLUDED, 

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Aeronautics and Space Report 

of the President 

1972 Activities 

Executive Office of the President 

National Aeronautics and Space Council 

Washington, D.C. 20502 
To the Congress of the United States: 

I am pleased to transmit a report of our national progress in aeronautics and 

space activities during 1972. 

The Apollo program was successfully concluded with the flights of Apollo 16 

and 17. These missions were designed to obtain maximum scientific return and 

provided almost half the lunar exploration time in the Apollo program. Though it 

is far too early to attempt a definitive assessment of the value of this program, it is 

clear that one result will be a quantum jump in both our scientific knowledge and our 

technological expertise. 

Our unmanned satellites include a variety of vehicles ranging from meteorological, 

navigational and communication satellites to a new experimental spacecraft providing information on our resources and environment. Increasing practical applications 

for satellite technology confirm the immediate value of our efforts in space, while 

observatory satellites and others carrying specialized scientific instruments provide 

accurate and dependable data never before available to scientists on earth. 

The conclusion of the Apollo program marks only another step in this Nation’s 

push into space. In the current year, we expect to launch Skylab, which will permit 

extended experimentation in a manned vehicle. After Skylab, a joint mission by this 

Nation and the Soviet Union will rendezvous and dock two spacecraft, helping to 

link our two space efforts in a mutually productive manner. The space shuttle 

presently under development will make the launching of satellites and laboratories 

less expensive and more productive. The shuttle will be augmented by the sortie 

laboratory which the Western European countries intend to develop as part of our 

joint cooperation in space. 

The past year has also seen advances in aeronautical research and development. 

It should be emphasized that work in this field is particularly vital if America is to 

maintain its leadership in the development and production of civil and military 

aircraft and engines. 

Our efforts in aeronautics and space will continue through programs balanced 

at levels which will allow us to meet demands in these and other important domestic 

and foreign areas. 

THE WHITE HOUSE, 

March 1973 

iii 
Table of Contents 

1 . US . Aeronautical and Space Activities in 1972 . . Introduction ............................... Space .................................... Aeronautics ... 

I1 . National Aeronautics 

Studies and Reports . Other Activities ...... ....... I11 . National Aeronautics and Space Administration . Manned Space Flight ....................... 

Applications Programs .. 

Tracking and Data Acquisition ............... International Affairs ........................ 

Technology Utilization Progr 

Other Relationships ........................ IV . Department of Defense ...................... Space Activities ............................ Space Ground Support ...... Aeronautics Activities ....................... Supporting Research and De 

Relationship With Other Government Agenues . V . Atomic Energy Commission ..... Space Electric Power ....................... 

Space Reactor Power Systems ........ Space Nuclear Propulsion ................... VI . Department of State ........................ Supporting Activities ............... VI1 . Department of Transportation ............... Aeronautics ............................... Aviationsafe ty ............................ VI11 . Arms Control and Disarmament Agency ....... 

Aeronautics ............................... 

International Cooperation ................... 

Space Science .......... 

Aeronautics and Space T ........... 

Industry Affairs ............ ........... 

Radioisotope Power Systems ................. 

IX . Department of the Interi 

Space ................ ......... 

X . Department of Agriculture .................. Remote Sensing Program Activities ..... Other Activities ............................ 

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XI . Department of Commerce ................... Satellite Programs .......................... Upper Atmosphere and Space Technology ..... Aeronautical Programs .... Environmental Data Progr 

Radio ............. Press and Publicatio 

emy of Engineering, National Research 

Council ................... Space Science Board ........ Aeronautics and Space Engin 

Division of Behavioral Sciences ............... Division of Earth Sciences ................... Division of Engineering ..................... Division of Physical Sciences ...... 

Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory ........ National Museum of Natural History ... National Air and Space Museum ............. Center for Short-Lived Phenomena ........... XVI . Office of Telecommunications Commission ..... XVII . Federal Communications Commission ......... Communication Satellites ................... Aeronautical Services ....... .... Maritime Mobile Service .................... Amateur Radio Service ..................... 

.. XV . The Smithsonian Institution ................. 

Appendixes 

A-1 . U.S. Spacecraft Record ..................... 

in Attainin Earth Orbit or Beyond ......... A-2 . World Record of Space Launchings Successful 

A-3 . Successful U.8. Launches-1972 .............. B . U.S. Applications Satellites, 1958-72 .. C . History of United States and Soviet 

Space Flights ............................ D . U.S. Space Launch Vehicles ............... E . Nuclear Power Systems for Space Application . . 

U.S. Space Budget-New Obligational Authority ..................................... 

F-1 . Space Activities of the U.S. Government ...... 

F-2 . Space Activities Budget ..................... Aeronautics Budget ... ............ 

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V 
I United States Aeronautics 

and Space Activities in 1972 

Introduction 

Considerable progress was made in both space and 

aeronautics activities in 1972. The achievements of 

the United States space program confirm our desire 

and our determination to continue space exploration 

and the application of space technology to the benefit 

of mankind. In aeronautics, while maintaining our 

leadership in civilian and military aviation, steps have 

been taken to minimize the undesirable environmental 

effects of aircraft operations through the introduction 

and application of advanced technology. 

Completion of the successful Apollo 17 mission brings 

to conclusion the Apollo lunar program. Its conclusion realized the accomplishment of one of the six 

specific objectives for the United States space program 

which was enunciated in March 1970-the continued 

exploration of the moon. From the samples brought 

back for study and the instrumentation which continues 

to make vital measurements on the lunar surface, the 

fundamental history and nature of the moon are being 

revealed. The lunar samples and knowledge gained 

from the Apollo program will be studied for many 

years by scientists from all over the world. 

The United States space program is balanced between exploration, science and applications, and is 

designed to accomplish the specific objectives outlined 

at the beginning of this decade. Pioneer 10 continues 

its epic journey which will take it near the planet 

Jupiter and from there it will become the first manmade object to escape the solar system. Mariner 9 

has completed its mission of photographically mapping 

the entire surface of Mars and its results have dramatically revised our understanding of that planet. Work 

is presently underway which will greatly extend man’s 

capability to live and work in space and also to substantially reduce the cost of space operations. Efforts 

are also being taken to apply the advanced technologies of the space program for the benefit of mankind. 

During 1972, the United States continued its desire 

to share the new knowledge and benefits derived from 

space. Further, the United States recognizes that much 

more can be accomplished in space activities if the 

costs are shared by other countries. Cooperative programs with the European nations and with the USSR 

have been actively pursued. These beginnings hold 

promise for increased international cooperation in the 

future. 

Though perhaps not as spectacular as space, the 

aeronautics program includes efforts to help maintain 

strength in commercial aircraft sales and superiority 

in military aviation. At the same time, programs emphasizing research and development activities that will 

lead to more comfortable, safe, and convenient air 

travel for all have been pursued. Progress has been 

made in the development of technology for efficient, 

quiet, and clean aircraft enghes to reduce undesirable 

impact of airplanes on the environment. 

This chapter reviews the activity in the United 

States space and aeronautics programs in 1972, summarizes the progress made, and emphasizes the need 

for continuing a balanced program. 

Lunar and Planetary Exploration.-During 1972 

both manned and unmanned spacecraft explored space 

and returned data which will yield for many years to 

come significant information on the origin and composition of the universe. 

The past year saw the completion of the planned 

lunar exploration with the flight of Apollo 17. This 

mission explored a combination of lunar mountain 

highlands and valley lowlands. The data returned will 

supply scientists with new information on the early 

crust of the moon, large meteorite impacts on the 

lunar surface, young volcanic rock, and other important 

geological discoveries. 

In an earlier mission of the Apollo series, Apollo 16, 

in April 1972, achieved several new records. The landing site, the first in the lunar highlands, permitted collection of lunar rock and soil samples believed by some 

scientists to be from the oldest region on the moon. 

1 
The Apollo 16 and 17 science program included experiments to determine the nature of the lunar interior 

and to help unlock secrets about the structure and 

evolution of the universe. The lunar science packages 

included a seismometer whose emplacement completed 

a four-sided network (together with Apollo 12 and 15 

instruments) from which many answers to questions 

regarding the moon’s interior are being derived. 

Another high point in planetary exploration was 

achieved by the Mariner 9 spacecraft as it mapped the 

entire surface of Mars, stimulating additional interest and revising many prior concepts of the planet. 

The major findings obtained from the Mariner 9 spacecraft are: Mars is a geologically active planet with 

volcanic mountains taller than those on earth; an equatorial crevasse three to four times deeper than the 

Grand Canyon marks the surface of the planet; freeflowing water might have existed during its geologic 

history; and its dust storms and clouds are primarily 

responsible for the Martian appearance to astronomers. 

Mariner also made the first close-up photographs of 

the red planet’s tiny moons-Phobos and Deimos. 

The Pioneer 10 spacecraft continued its flight to 

Jupiter and in the process was the first spacecraft to 

probe the cosmic debris forming the Asteroid Belt. 

Pioneer will observe Jupiter at close range in December 1973 and then swing by the planet to become the 

first man-made object to escape our solar system. Its 

complement of scientific instruments continues to collect data on interplanetary magnetic fields and meteoroids as well as solar and galactic radiation. Valuable 

scientific data on the solar environment was obtained 

during the several severe solar storms which occurred 

in early August 1972. 

A second Pioneer spacecraft is scheduled for launch 

during April 1973. The primary objectives of this mission include exploration of the interplanetary medium 

beyond the orbit of Mars and examination of the environmental and atmospheric characteristics of the 

planet Jupiter. A valuable dividend from the two 

Pioneer missions will be the information and technology derived to improve the operational capability 

for long-duration flights to the outer planets. 

Another Mariner spacecraft is scheduled to be 

launched during Oct&er/November 1973 and has as 

its primary objective the first exploration of the planet 

Mercury. On its way to Mercury the spacecraft will fly 

close by Venus and the high resolution TV cameras 

on board will take pictures of both planets. 

The Mariner 9 findings have laid the groundwork 

for America’s next venture to Mars-the Viking launch 

to search for evidence of life on the planet. Two Viking 

spacecraft are planned to soft land on the Martian 

surface in 1976. While scientific emphasis will be placed 

on obtaining data relative to the search for life, additional science results will aid in understanding the 

evolution of Mars and the solar system. The two 

separate Viking spacecraft are scheduled for launch 

in 1975. 

During 1972 a Mariner Jupiter/Saturn project was 

defined. This project involves two launches in 1977 

of spacecraft which will fly by Jupiter some one and 

one-half years after launch and will reach Saturn some 

three and one-half to four years after launch. In addition to obtaining information on these planets, the 

spacecraft trajectories will be designed to provide data 

from flybys of Saturn’s rings and of the various massive satellites of both these planets. 

Physics and Astronomy.-The physics and astronomy 

program was conducted on a broad front during 1972. 

Basic scientific data on the sun, planets, stars, and 

interstellar matter were acquired from orbiting operational spacecraft. 

Orbiting Astronomical Observatory-3 (OAO-3) 

was launched in August 1972. This satellite, named 

Copernicus in honor of the 500th Anniversary of the 

birth of the well-known Polish astronomer, has as its 

primary objective the acquisition of high resolution 

ultraviolet spectra of stars necessary to investigate the 

composition and physical state of matter in interstellar 

space. In combination with OAO-2, launched in 1968, 

basic scientific data on planets, stars, nebulae, and galaxies are being obtained. Among data acquired for the 

first time are ultraviolet observations of Uranus and 

observations of a super-nova. The Orbiting Solar Observatory-7 (OSO-7), launched in 1971, has continued 

to observe a number of significant events and phenomena of the sun. Nuclear reactions in solar 

flares were confirmed for the first time by OSO-7 

observations. 

Two Explorer class satellites were launched in 1972 : 

an Interplanetary Monitoring Platform, designated Explorer 47, to make long term observations of the earthsun relationships; and a Small Astronomy Satellite-B 

(SAS-B) designated Explorer 48, to measure the spatial and energy distribution of primary galactic and 

extra-galactic gamma radiation. In addition, SAS-A, 

launched in 1970 as Explorer 42, continued to provide 

data on spatial X-ray sources. Data acquired by this 

satellite led to discovery of binary star systems and lent 

possible support to the theories of “Black Holes’’ being 

massive stars that have collapsed to the point where 

gravitational forces prevent the escape of visible light. 

An Atmospheric Explorer program is underway, 

with the first launch scheduled for late 1973. This 

program will investigate the earth’s lower thermosphere 

where most of the chemical and energy conversion 

processes occur. High Energy Astronomy Observatories 

(HEAO) are being planned to perform an extensive 

study of celestial X-ray, Gamma-ray, and Cosmic-ray 

phenomena. 

2 
a very satisfactory manner. The initial’ study and design activity required to implement the docking of a 

U.S. Apollo and a Soviet Soyuz spacecraft is proceeding satisfactorily. Joint working groups have been 

formed and have met periodically throughout the year 

in both Houston and Moscow. Initial design of a common docking adapter has been completed and detailed 

designs are in progress. 

Significant progress was also made in defining 

European participation in the post-Apollo program. 

Discussions with members of the European Space Conference concerning their development of a Sortie Laboratory as part of the post-Apollo program have been 

proceeding. The Sortie Laboratory is envisioned to be 

a low-cost payload carrier to increase the capability of 

the space shuttle to perform manned and man-tended 

research in space science and applications. 

On October 9, the President announced a policy 

for launch assistance to other countries and international organizations. The availability of these launch 

services makes it possible for other nations to have 

access to the advantages of space. 

The Definitive Agreements for the International 

Telecommunications Satellite Organization, INTEL 

SAT, have been negotiated and will enter into force 

in February 1973. They will replace Interim Arrangements negotiated in 1964 by 11 countries including the 

United States, and in which 83 countries now participate as members. The United States has actively encouraged acceptance of the new agreements which are 

intended to provide the basis for the global commercial 

telecommunications system using satellite technology. 

Space ApP2ications.-Major advances in space applications were made during 1972. Earth resources, 

weather and communications satellites were orbited 

and are providing data to aid in solving some of the 

problems of man on earth. Near term follow-on efforts 

will employ both manned and unmanned spacecraft 

to continue to provide the benefits available from space 

applications. 

Launch of the first Earth Resources Technology 

Satellite (ERTS) took place in July 1972. This spacecraft is providing data to help us learn to cope with the 

earth’s environmental problems, as well as the critical 

needs caused by the increasing demands placed on our 

natural resources. ERTS is a modified version of the 

Nimbus experimental weather satellite. Among the 

many potential uses, ERTS data have been used to 

demonstrate that coastal circulation patterns are revealed by sediment distribution shown in the photographs; ERTS photos were used to show that dumping 

of acid wastes outside of designated areas off New York 

harbor can be detected. The first in a new series of 

operational environmental satellites, NOAA2, was also 

placed in earth orbit during the vear. The NOAA2 

satellite is commanded and controlled by the National 

Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National 

Environmental Satellite Service. This satellite, the first 

to obtain vertical temperature measurements of the 

atmosphere on a near-global basis, represents a major 

step in acquiring the data necessary for accurate long 

range weather forecasting. 

The first satellites of the Defense Satellite Communications Systems (DSCS) Phase I1 became operational 

during the year. These satellites provide communications in support of critical command, control, intelligence, and warning needs to satisfy unique requirements of the President, Department of State, and 

other special users. 

The final prelaunch phases of the Skylab program 

are now progressing satisfactorily. These consist of 

system checkout and detailed mission planning aimed 

at the flight of the nation’s first manned orbiting laboratory in the spring of 1973. The Skylab experimental 

space station will include experiments in earth resources, solar astronomy, and space applications 

involving the efforts of approximately 250 foreign 

professionals in addition to the over 350 American 

investigators currently on board. 

lnternational Cooperation.-On May 14, the President signed a space cooperation agreement with the 

USSR which features plans for a joint docking mission of U.S. and Soviet-manned spacecraft in 1975. 

The agreement also endorsed at the highest level a 

variety of ongoing cooperative programs in such areas 

as space meteorology, space biology and medicine, 

space science, and the use of space for studies of the 

natural environment. These activities are proceeding in 

Launch Vehicle Development.-Design and development of the space shuttle transportation system was 

initiated in 1972. It will consist of a reusable rocket 

booster for launch from earth and an airplane-like, 

manned reusable orbiter for flight into orbit to conduct space missions and return. The shuttle will be 

capable of delivering and retrieving from orbit unmanned and manned spacecraft, including communications, weather, navigation, and earth resources 

satellites. The shuttle will have a significant effect on 

the economies of space operation. It will afford two 

principal types of cost savings; reduced launch costs 

and reduced payload costs. The former are attributable 

to the reuse capability of the orbiter and booster. The 

latter are attributable to the ability to retrieve and refurbish satellites and the relaxation of weight and volume constraints that have heretofore increased satellite 

development and production costs. 

Aeronautics 

Issues of aeronautical policy were the focus of the 

Civil Aviation Research and Development (CARD) 

study, which was completed in 1971. A CARD Review 

3 
Group was formed early this year, with participation 

by NASA, DOT, and the NASC staff. In addition to 

providing continued CARD-type policy guidance, the 

Review Group is preparing a CARD Implementation 

Plan to assure appropriate visibility, coordination, and 

effectiveness of government programs for civil aviation 

R&D. 

A third model (L-1011) of wide-(bodied jet transport joined the civil aircraft fleet this year. While 

production was terminated for one early generation 

jet transport (DC-8), worldwide sales continued with 

other civil jet transports. In one case (the B-727), 

sales have far exceecied early forecasts. For the first 

time in aviation history, over 1000 jet transports of one 

basic model have been sold. 

Research programs for Advanced Transport Technology (ATT) and Advanced Supersonic Technology 

( AST) continued with active industry participation. 

The ATT program is developing technologies applicable to the next generation long haul subsonic air 

transports. Exploratory flight research of the supercritical wing is one outstanding example of progress. 

Supersonic flight technology applicable to large aircraft is being developed under the AST program in 

the absence of a national supersonic aircraft developmental effort. 

Paralleling the introduction of quiet, clean, widebodied jet aircraft to the world‘s airlines, research 

continues on the further reduction of jet transport noise 

and harmful exhaust emissions. The joint NASA/DOT 

Noise Abatement Office serves as a focal point for investigating solutions to aircraft noise problems. The 

introduction -of advanced technology and identification of effective means of quieting current aircraft of 

older design will permit additional reductions in future 

fleet noise levels. FAA and NASA research and flight 

tests continue in order to determine development options for noise reduction. In addition, NASA continued ground tests of experimental quiet engines to 

advance technology development for future aircraft 

applications. 

Both NASA and DOD engine technology programs 

are investigating combustion phenomena in order to 

determine ways of reducing exhaust emissions to desired levels. The Climatic Impact Assessment Program 

continued towards the goal of assessing, by mid-1974, 

the effect of high altitude subsonic and supersonic aircraft upon the world’s climate. 

As the year ended, the Air Force awarded contracts 

for design refinement and final cost effectiveness analysis of an advanced medium STOL transport (AMST) 

intended to replace the C-130 tactical transport. A 

development program for AMST would provide some 

technological advances applicable to future civil Short 

Take-Off and Landing (STOL) and other aircraft 

which would incorporate powered lift technology. Exploratory tests of powered lift technology were initiated 

by NASA this year with a small airplane. 

Further significant developments occurred in military aeronautical programs during 1972. The AX closesupport airplane competitive fly-off was successfully 

completed in December. The F-15 advanced tactical 

fighter made its first flight this year and is undergoing 

scheduled development tests. The EL1 bomber fabrication continued in support of a first flight milestone in 

early 1974. Lightweight fighter prototype aircraft are 

also under fabrication and scheduled to enter a competitive fly-off phase in 1974. 

Navy evaluation of the F-14A carrier-based advanced tactical fighter continued during 1972, and 

the first two squadrons were commissioned. First flight 

of the S-3A, a jet-powered replacement for the aging 

S-2 carrier-based anti-submarine warfare airplane, 

took place in January; carrier suitability and avionic 

system tests are now underway. 

The Army prototype advanced attack helicopter 

program was redirected in 1972, as a result of a special 

task force evaluation, towards a lower cost, more survivable, and somewhat smaller design. Industry proposals for a revised but highly effective weapon system 

are due in 1973. Other Army programs for the heavy 

lift helicopter (HLH) and the utility tactical transport 

aircraft system (UTTAS) continue on schedule. 

Summary 

Reviewing this year’s space and aeronautical activities, it is clear that 1972 was a year of significant, 

advanced accomplishments in lunar exploration, exploration of the planets and the universe, and in aeronautical concepts. In addition, a balanced program has 

been initiated to continue exploration in space, space 

science studies, application of space for benefits on 

earth, and the development of new technology for 

space and aeronautics. 

The activities summarized above are reported in 

more detail in the following chapters of this report. 

Each of the sixteen agencies involved has provided 

the report carried under its seal. 

4 
National Aeronautics 

and Space Council 

Introduction 

The National Aeronautics and Space Council wa~ 

established by the National Aeronautics and Space Act 

of 1958 to advise and assist the President on matters 

pertaining to aeronautics and space activities conducted 

by the departments and agencies of the United States. 

That same Act also established the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. 

The Vice President of the United States is the Chairman of the Council; its members are the Secretary of 

State, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Transportation, the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and the Chairman 

of the Atomic Energy Commission. 

The Executive Secretary and Council staff act in an 

advisory capacity throughout the year in providing 

technical inputs to the Executive Office of the President regarding aeronautics and space programs. In this 

respect the relative priorities of various U.S. aeronautics and space programs with respect to national 

goals are examined and the effects of proposed program 

funding revisions and projections evaluated. The Council staff continually reviews the aeronautics and space 

policies and programs of all governmental agencies with 

a view toward sponsoring interchange of technical information, avoiding duplication of effort, and assuring 

that programs are consistent with national goals. Where 

problems arise which transcend the jurisdiction of individual organizations they are brought to the attention af the affected Council members through the 

Executive Secretary. Affected Council members frequently meet to consider important issues which do not 

require the involvement of the full Council. The Council staff also provides a means for interchange of ideas 

between industry and government on aeronautics and 

space matters involving several agencies. 

Studies and Reports 

Typical of the activities of the Executive Secretary 

and Council staff are the reviews conducted at the request of the President or his staff. During 1972 studies 

relating to the problems of the aerospace manufacturing and air transport industries were continued. In addition to adverse effects on these industries caused by 

the Nation’s transition from a wartime to a peacetime 

economy, the influence of growing foreign competition 

is becoming more evident. The magnitude of these 

problems, their impact on the national economy and 

security were examined and policy options developed 

for Executive and Council consideration. 

The dominant position which the United States has 

held for many years in the area of international sales 

of commercial and military aircraft is being challenged 

by a coalition of foreign competitors supported by their 

respective governments. Paradoxically, agreements between United States and foreign companies for joint 

aerospace ventures also exist and others are under serious discussion. The Council staff continually reviews 

these challenges to our aeronautical leadership, identifies key policy options, and provides support to concerned Executive and Council organizations. A staff 

report was prepared which suggested government initiatives in the area of Foreign Military Sales. 

Last year the Council staff supported a joint DOT/ 

NASA study to examine the options for national policy 

with respect to civil aviation research and development 

(CARD). During 1972 the Council staff supported a 

joint DOT/NASA review group in the preparation of 

an implementation plan on CARD recommendations. 

The plan, which details selected member agency programs responsive to the broad CARD guidance, will 

provide a medium for an annual technical and policy 

accounting of these programs. 

Council staff members provided interagency coordination which led to start-up in November of development programs for prototype military STOL aircraft 

and civil STOL research aircraft. Council staff work 

has also contributed to progress in government research 

to find ways to quiet older noisy civil aircraft, to establish requirements for environmentally acceptable future 

aircraft, and has assisted in the understanding of the 

necessary balance between noise regulations and technology, and other demands on critical resources. 

The Executive Secretary and Council staff assisted 

in the formulation of European participation in the 

Post-Apollo Program. Members of the European Space 

Conference were encouraged to develop such a Sortie 

Laboratory, a manned scientific laboratory for use in 

conjunction with the Space Shuttle. 

Building on last year’s Interagency Ad Hoc Study 

Group report on earth resources survey efforts, the 

Executive Secretary consulted with members of interested government agencies and the Office of Manage5 
ment and Budget to aid in structuring the newly 

established Interagency Coordinating Committee for 

Earth Resource Survey Programs (ICCERSP). This 

committee is intended to insure that the individual 

agency activities results in an integrated and productive 

program. 

Other Activities 

I11 

The Council is represented by the Executive Secretary as Chairman of one interagency subcommittee of 

the National Security Council and by staff on others 

which discuss and advise on international cooperation 

in aeronautics and space. The Executive Secretary 

participated as a member of the U.S. delegation which 

went to Japan to review Japanese progress in space 

National Aeronautics 

Space Administration 

(and aeronautics) activities in relation to the manufacture under license and launching of Thor Delta 

launch vehicles and to propose joint aircraft development ventures with U.S. industry. 

Staff members participate in many interagency 

panels and committee meetings such as the NASA/ 

DOD Aviation and Astronautics Coordinating Board 

(AACB) and its panels, the NASAJDOT Short Haul 

Working Group, the NASAJUSAF National Aeronautical Facilities requirements review, the Space Transportation Systems Committee and the Interagency 

Coordinating Committee for Earth Resource Survey 

Programs. The Council staff also reviews and approves 

proposals for use of radioisotopes in space and aids in 

preparation of the President’s Annual Report on Aeronautics and Space to the Congress. 

1 I 

Introduction 

The past year witnessed the President’s go-ahead 

decision for development of the reusable Space Shuttle, 

the conclusion of the Nation’s successful lunar landing 

program, and preparations for the 1973 Skylab missions. Highlighting unmanned spacecraft programs 

were the launch of a Pioneer two-year flight to Jupiter 

and the orbiting of the first Earth Resources Technology Satellite. 

Aircraft noise abatement was assigned a high priority during 1972, and noteworthy progress was made in 

the development of a quiet, short-takeoff-and landing 

transport aircraft. NASA also began flight tests of its 

Supercritical Wing test aircraft. 

In a year marked by considerable activity in international affairs, this country and the U.S.S.R. moved 

to fulfill the NASA/Soviet Academy of Sciences agreement of January 1971 on space science and applications and to conduct a joint experimental flight during 

1975 to test compatible rendezvous and docking systems. 

During 1972 NASA also launched an Intelsat commercial communications satellite for the Communications Satellite Corporation and an ITOS-D operational meteorological satellite for the National Oceanic 

and Atmospheric Administration of the Department 

of Commerce. Further, an Orbiting Astronomical Ob6 

and 

servabry (named Copernicus in honor of the Polish 

astronomer) was placed in orbit to investigate stellar 

phenomena, and galactic and intergalactic media. 

Manned Space Flight 

A~oUo I6.-The fifth Apollo manned lunar missio 

was launched on April 16, 1972, carrying the crew 

John W. Young, Commander; Thomas K. Mattingly 

11, Command Module Pilot; and Charles M. Duke, 

Jr., Lunar Module Pilot. The landing in the Descartes 

area was 230 meters NW of the planned target point. 

At the beginning of EVA-1, the crew deployed and 

activated the Apollo Lunar Surface Experiments Package (ALSEP) and other experiments. During ALSEP 

deployment, the heat flow experiment cable was inadvertently pulled loose at its central station connector 

and that experiment was abandoned. Approximately 

42 pounds of samples were collected during the 7-hr. 

1 1-min. EVA and total distance travelled by the LRV 

was 4.2 km. 

The second traverse of 11.4 km took place during 

EVA-2 and took the crew half way up 500-meter 

high Stone Mountain, 4.1-km south of the LM. The 

lunar roving vehicle provided excellent mobility and 

stability, achieving eleven to fourteen kilometers per 

hour (kph) over rocky, cratered surfaces and easily 

climbing 15- to 20-degree slopes at about 7 to 8 kph. 
About 71 pounds of samples were collected during this 

7-hr. 23-min. EVA. EVA-3 lasted 5 hrs. 40 min. The 

LRV traverse was 4.5 km to North Ray Crater, the 

largest yet explored on an Apollo mission. Rocks were 

sampled, one about house-size, another with permanent shadowed area in the lee of the sun line and 

interesting “drill-like holes” normal to its surface. 

Approximately 100 pounds of samples were collected 

during the 11.4-km traverse and the film cassette from 

the far ultraviolet camera was retrieved after recording 

11 planned celestial targets. 

The Apollo 16 Far Ultraviolet Camera/Spectrograph Experiment, the first lunar astronomical observatory, allowed scientists for the first time to examine 

the whole Earth atmosphere and geocorona from outside the Earth‘s environment. The hydrogen in the 

geocorona is believed to be derived from the break up 

of water vapor in the Earth’s upper atmosphere. 

The 71-hour stay in the Descartes area featured excellent experiment, LRV, TV, and crew systems operation; revised theories of Cayley formation; provided 

less evidence of volcanism than expected and the highest recordings of local magnetic field of any Apollo 

landing site. 1809 frames of 70 mm film and 4% magazines of 16 mm film were exposed during the 20-hour 

14-minute total EVA time. One hundred eleven documented samples totaled approximately 2 13 pounds. 

LM ascent from the lunar surface, rendezvous, and 

docking were normal. 

During transearth coast final detailed objectives were 

completed and an 18-min. TV press conference was 

conducted. CM separation, entry, and descent were 

normal, with water landing 0.3 NM from the planned 

target point and 3.4 NM from the recovery ship on 

April 28, 1972. 

Total time for the Apollo 16 mission was 266 hours. 

ApoZZo 27.-The final lunar mission, scheduled for 

launch at 9 : 53 p.m. EST on December 6, was delayed 

for 2 hours 40 minutes by a tank pressurizing problem; 

actual liftoff came at 1.2 : 33 a.m. on December 7, but 

from then on the flight went with smoothness and precision. The last was also the best. 

Apollo 17 was planned to accomplish selenological 

inspection, survey, and sampling of materials and surface features in a preselected area of the TaurusLittrow region of the Moon; emplace and activate 

surface experiments ; and conduct in-flight experiments and photographic tasks. Flight crew members 

were Commander, Captain Eugene A. Cernan (USN) ; 

Command Module Pilot, Commander Ronald E. 

Evans (USN) ; Lunar Module Pilot, Dr. Harrison H. 

Schmitt (PhD) . The countdown proceeded smoothly until T-30 seconds when an automatic cutofF occurred. After a recycle and hold at T-22 minutes an additional hold was 

called at T-8 minutes. 

The hold was caused by a failure of a function in 

the terminal count sequence card which monitors 

S-IVB LOX tank pressurization. A workaround to 

jump the failed function was analyzed and checkedout on the breadboard at MSFC and a decision was 

made to proceed with the countdown which then proceeded smoothly. 

Earth parking orbit, translunar injection, translunar 

coast, lunar orbit insertion, and S-IVB stage impact 

were all nominal. The S-IVB impacted the lunar surface at 4’ 12‘ South and 12 O 18’ West and was recorded 

by the Apollo 12, 14, 15 and 16 ALSEP’s. 

The lunar landing occurred on December 11, 1972, 

at the Taurus-Littrow site. Total EVA time was 22 

hours, five minutes and six seconds, total distance 

traveled in the lunar rover was 35 Km (22 nm) and 

115 Kg (250 ltbs) of lunar samples were returned. 

Ascent, rendezvous, docking, LM impact, transearth 

injection, coast, reentry, landing and astronaut recovery were all nominal. Total mission time was 301 hours 

and 51 minutes. 

The Apollo 17 site, Taurus-Littrow, was the first 

selected largely in response to new knowledge acquired 

on earlier missions. Similarly, the science instruments 

placed on the lunar surface and those used on the 

traverses and in orbit were designed predominantly to 

obtain data useful in solving problems whose very 

existence could not be predicted prior to the first several Apollo flights. 

The sample objectives at Taurus-Littrow were 

clearly defined: (1) try to find some of the youngest 

lunar material in order to determine whether lunar 

volcanism ceased three billion years ago as pre-Apollo 

17 data indicate; (2) look for signs of volcanic activity 

possibly indicative of the presence of volatiles; and 

(3) obtain highland rocks, hopefully igneous, which 

might indicate what occurred on the Moon between 

four and four and one-half billion years ago, a time for 

which our record is limited. Although sample analysis 

has only just started, the commentary and descriptions 

of Geologist-astronaut Schmitt and Astronaut Cernan 

indicate that there is good probability that all sample 

objectives were met. In particular, the orange rocks 

and soil found at a probable volcanic crater on EVA-2 

appear to have been caused by volatile-rich volcanism 

of a relatively recent age (i.e., possibly billions of years 

after the last mare outpourings three billion years 

ago). Highlands breccias were abundant at South 

Massif and highlands igneous rocks, all possibly older 

than four billion years, were sampled at the North 

Massif. Overall, the variety of rocks and soil, and thus 

the scientific value, is greater than that found on any 

prior mission. 

The Apollo Lunar Surface Experiments Package 

was successfully deployed on EVA-1. The Heat Flow 

Experiment already indicates that the high value 

7 
found at Apollo 15 is not anomalous. The Mass Spectrometer and Meteoroid Detector are in good shape 

and undergoing pre-operation conditioning on the 

lunar surface. The Tidal Gravimeter is currently inoperative and, unless a workaround procedure is 

found, will constitute the only failure of the mission. 

The valley of Taurus-Littrow was an ideal spot to 

operate three new geophysical experiments designed 

to detect layering. The Seismic Profiling, utilizing eight 

explosive charges and the LM Ascent-stage impact, 

and the Traverse Gravimeter, obtained data indicating 

that layered igneous rocks, similar to those sampled on 

the traverses, probably extend to depths of at least a 

kilometer. The Surface Electrical Properties experiment will complement the data from these other 

traverse experiments. 

All orbital experiments performed successfully. The 

ultraviolet spectrometer detected a hydrogen atmosphere two orders of magnitude less abundant than 

predicted. The infrared spectrometer detected many 

thermal hot spots and showed the first convincing evidence for the existence of lunar cold spots. The preliminary lunar radar sounder telemeter data indicate 

layering in upper surface of the Moon but verification must await data reduction of the optical recorder film recovered during CMP Ronald Evans’ 

EVA during Transearth Coast. It also provided several 

orbits of altitude profile data which will be integrated 

with laser altimetry. Lastly, the camera systems operated as planned and obtained significant new photographic coverage with which to conduct photogeologic 

studies and with which we can construct accurate 

topographic products. Apollo 17, building upon the 

foundation of all earlier US. lunar missions, can be 

called the most scientifically rewarding Apollo mission. 

Continued Exploration of the Moon.-With the successful completion of Apollo 17, nine teams of astronauts have made the epic journey to the Moon and 

12 Americans have walked the lunar surface. These 

men have returned some 360 kg (800 Ibs.) of lunar 

sample for analysis and have established a network of 

geophysical stations on the Moon. 

While the flight portion of Apollo was completed 

with Apollo 17, we have only begun to reap the full 

benefits of the program. The geophysical stations are 

expected to operate for several years, laser ranging to 

the lunar reflectors will continue for at least a decade, 

and detailed analysis of the lunar samples and photography will continue through the seventies. 

We do not need to wait, however, to see that we 

already know more about the Moon than we might 

reasonably expect from the sampling of six rather is* 

lated points on its frontside surface. In fact, lunar 

scientists speak in terms of Moon-wide chemistry, 

structure, and processes. They are able to do this 

largely because of the extensive and sophisticated remote sensing conducted from lunar orbit on Apllo. 

The remotely-sensed data, when correlated with geophysical station and sample information, enables the 

broad extrapolation of landing site results to those vast 

unsampled regions of both the near and far sides of the 

Moon. 

The lunar program has also shown that the Moon 

is a unique and extremely advantageous platform from 

which to study the Earth and outer space as demonstrated by the laser ranging, far ultraviolet astrofiomy 

and cosmic ray experiments and the solar wind studies. 

The Laser Ranging Retroreflector Network was deployed during Apollo Missions l l, 14, and 15, and from 

it the McDonald Observatory in Texas now routinely 

obtains ranging accuracies to the Moon of a few centimeters. These accuracies make it possible to study the 

motions not only of the Moon, but also of Earth. 

The study of the Moon’s rocks and soil, all older than 

3 billion years, is providing data pertaining to that 

period of time where the Earth‘s history has been 

obliterated. 

Lunar highlands rocks returned to Earth via Apollo 

have been found to be rich in calcium and aluminum. 

Called anorthosites, these rocks are believed to be part 

of the early lunar crust. Anorthosites are rare on Earth 

but enigmatic and potentially very significant to the 

unraveling of early Earth history. The fact that they 

occur only in very ancient Earth rocks, those over lf/2 

billion years old, has suggested to some scientists that 

they may )be related to the Earth’s primordial crust. 

But there is no generally accepted way to produce 

anorthosites by melting rocks now thought to exist in 

the Earth’s interior. 

ASTP.-The Apollo/Soyuz Test Project is a joint 

US.-U.S.S.R. Earth orbital mission to test a compatible rendezvous and docking system. 

In June 1972, the Apollo Program Director was 

appointed Apollo/Soyuz Test Project Director in the 

Office of Manned Space Flight, Washington, D.C. 

Joint Working Groups with members from each 

country have been established to address the major 

technical subjects involved in the project. These Joint 

Groups continued to define program details in a meeting at Houston in July and at a meeting in Moscow 

in October of this year. Follow-on meetings were held 

in November and December 1972. The Apollo spacecraft for the test mission will be a modified version of 

the Command and Service Module flown during early 

lunar landing missions, and will incorporate a Docking Module and Docking System. The basic spacecraft was manufactured and checked out for the 

Apollo Program and has been in storage. Modifications will be required as a result of unique mission 

requirements, including additional propellants for the 

reaction control systems, heaters for thermal control, 
and controls and displays for the Docking Module, a 

cylindrical structure, about 5 feet in diameter and 10 

feet in length. Equipped with the necessary stored 

gases, displays, and controls, it will serve as an airlock 

for the internal transfer of crewmen between the two 

spacecraft. 

On its forward end there will be the new peripheral, universal docking device being designed by 

the US. and the U.S.S.R. Radio communications, 

docking displays, and antennas will also be mounted 

on the Module. The Soyuz spacecraft to be used by 

the U.S.S.R. has been the primary manned vehicle 

for the Soviet space program since it was introduced 

in 1967, and consists of an Orbital Module, a Descent 

Module, and an Instrument Module, to include the 

compatible rendezvous and docking equipment. 

The mission is scheduled to begin no earlier than 

July 15, 1975, with the launch of a Soyuz-type spacecraft which will be inserted into a circular rendezvous 

orbit with a nominal altitude of 230 km and an inclination of 51.6 degrees. The first Apollo launch 

opportunity will occur about 7.5 hours after the Soyuz 

lift-off. 

After separation from the second Saturn stage 

(S-IVB) , Apollo will turn around, dock and extract 

the Docking Module internally mounted in the adapter 

area in essentially the same fashion as the Lunar 

Module is extracted on current lunar missions. The 

Apollo Command and Service Module will then have 

the docking module attached in place of the Lunar 

Module. The Apollo spacecraft will perform the maneuvers necessary for rendezvous and then dock with 

the Soyuz using the universal mechanism on the 

Docking Module. For about 2 days, astronauts and 

cosmonauts will exchange visits between vehicles. Additional tests of the docking mechanism are planned 

and, after final separation, the two spacecraft will conduct independent activities before re-entry. 

SkyZab Program.-Delivery of the Skylab modules to 

KSC for the initial missions was completed in October. 

In step with the hardware program has been the training of our astronauts and the refinement of mission 

planning. Changes in operational concepts and procedures have resulted from special tests and simulations 

conducted with astronaut crews in preparation for 

launching this country’s first experimental space 

station. 

Additionally, the unique Skylab Student Project 

has completed its selection of experiments from 

among the thousands submitted, and these are now 

being integrated into the experiment program. 

Finally, Skylab has been given extensive international support for many experiments in earth resources, 

solar astronomy and space applications involving the 

efforts of about 250 foreign professionals and more 

than 350 American investigators. 

The final prelaunch phases of the Skylab Program 

are now in progress, consisting of equipment checkout, launch preparations, astronaut training, and 

mission planning. Attention is now focused on activities at the Kennedy Spaceflight Center. These include 

extensive checkout and launch preparation operations, 

changeout of some items that could not Ibe amomplished prior to delivery, stowage of consumables, systems tests, stacking of the modules on the launch 

vehicles, and movement to the launch pad. This will 

be followed by count-down demonstration tests and a 

final flight readiness review. At present, KSC activities 

are on schedule for the launch of the Skylab Workshop 

on April 30, 1973, followed by the first crew launch 

on May 1, 1973. 

With the selection of the flight crews in January 

1972, an active training program of approximately 

2200 hours was begun. Included in the training program, and first used in February 1972 is the Skylab 

Simulator, designed to provide training in the operation of the major Skylab systems including Electrical 

Power, Environmental Control, Communications, and 

Solar Experiments. An Apollo Command Module 

simulator, modified for Skylab, has been in use since 

May. A number of other simulators are also being used 

for training and mission planning. 

The first rehearsal, conducted in January, simulated 

the flight control activities that take place in the Mission Control Center at MSC. The second, held in May, 

included flight planning, as well as flight control elements. Flight control specialists, program personnel, 

and many scientist experimenters took part. 

In September the astronauts simulated flight operations which covered launch and rendezvous of rhe 

CSM with the Skylab, activation of the Skylab, some 

typical in-orbital days, deactivation of the Skylab, and 

return to Earth. 

The “Skylab Medical Experiments Altitude Test” 

was conducted in an altitude chamber for 56 days, from 

July 26 to September 20, 1972, at the Manned Spacecraft Center, to obtain baseline medical data for a 

typical Skylab mission under the expected Skylab environmental conditions (5 psia, 70 percent oxygen and 

30 percent nitrogen), except for zero gravity. The test 

results showed no significant physiological changes due 

to test duration or conditions. 

In 1972 the \breadth of the scientific and technological investigations associated with Skylab has been significantly increased. This came about through : selection of the Earth Resources Experiments investigations; the addition of new experiments; the efforts of 

existing Principal Investigators to bring additional 

talent into their areas of investigation; and through 

general efforts to achieve a maximum of scientific 

product from the Skylab data. Overall, the 70 special 

purpose instruments aboard the Skylab will gather 

9 
data for about 290 distinct investigations. Over 600 

senior scientists are now formally associated with the 

Pq*m. During the year the Solar Astronomy Principal Investigators have established agreements for joint investigations with over 40 astronomers and physicists 

in the USA and abroad to assure a thorough problemoriented attack on solar physics. Concurrent groundbased observations in accessible wavelength regions, 

and X-ray and gamma-ray spectroscopy from sounding rockets and balloons will provide needed supporting 

data to the space-born observation programs and will 

multiply the solar physics return from both activities. 

The Earth Resources Experiment Package (EREP) 

hardware has been completed and installed in Skylab flight vehicles. The six high-performance sensors 

in this experiment facility will be used to gather information to be utilized by scientists world-wide. Their 

investigations, using the Earth resources data acquired 

from space, will include studies of the atmosphere, the 

oceans, geology, environmental quality and agriculture. 

More than half of the 300 proposals received from 

potential EREP investigators have been selected for 

inclusion in the Skylab Program. A third of these 

represent participation by scientists of foreign nations, 

making this a truly international undertaking. 

The preflight phases of the Skylab Student Project 

were nearly completed during 1972. Early in the year 

approximately 3,400 proposals were received from all 

areas of the country. From these, 301 regional winners 

were selected and given suitable recognition, and a further selection resulted in the 25 national winners representing 18 different states. Of the 25, 11 required 

new hardware; the remaining 14 w?ll be able !o carry 

out their experiments using data from existing hardware. 

Space Shutt2e.-In the Space Shuttle Program significant progress was made during 1972. After two 

years of intensive study, undertaken by NASA with the 

assistance of major aerospace companies, it was determined conclusively that development of a low-cost 

transportation system based on a reusable vehicle was 

both economically and technically feasible. Accordingly, the President decided in January 1972 that 

NASA should proceed with development of the Space 

Shuttle. 

The configuration selected offers maximum economic advantages with minimum technical risk. The 

reusability concept makes it possible to reduce transportation and payload costs projected for the 1980’s. 

Configuration.-The Space Shuttle is a two-stage 

vehicle, consisting of an orbiter with an externally attached hydrogen/oxygen tank and two solid-fuel rocket 

boosters. This combination is launched vertically, with 

the twin boosters and orbiter main engines firing in 

10 

parallel. At an altitude of 40 km (25 miles) the boosters are detached and descend by parachute, so that they 

may be recovered, refurbished and reused. The orbiter 

vehicle continues its flight, using its own propulsion 

systems and jettisons the external tank after entering 

Earth orbit. Upon completion of its mission the orbiter 

returns to Earth and lands like a conventional airplane. 

Missions.-This configuration provides the flexibility 

necessary to place a wide variety of payloads, into 

Earth orbit for scientific, commercial and military space 

operations. Integrated space operations may include : 

the placement of unmanned satellites into low Earth 

orbit; the delivery of satellites and propulsion stages 

into high Earth orbit for scientific exploration or deep 

space probes ; the conduct of man-tended experiments 

in low Earth orbit by means of a “sortie laboratory”. 

In the case of unmanned payloads, the Space Shuttle 

will deliver, deploy and revisit satellites to service, update, repair, and retrieve them. 

Shuttle Economics.-In comparing the costs of conducting space operations utilizing a Space Shuttle in 

lieu of expendable launch vehicles, significant savings 

have been identified. These savings result from reusing 

the Shuttle, providing accessibility in space to payloads 

and spacecraft, and the capability to retrieve and reuse 

payloads. Of the savings expected to be realized, 62 

percent would result from retrieval and reuse of payloads and 38 percent from lower launch costs and increased vehicle reliability. 

Management Concepts.-Another major decision 

made in 1972 was the selection of the management concept for the Space Shuttle Program. This concept calls 

for a small program staff at NASA Headquarters in 

Washington, while day-to-day management of the program is delegated to a “lead center” (the Manned 

Spacecraft Center, Houston, Tex.) . Systems integration will be the responsibility of the orbiter prime contractor, who will be supervised in this task by personnel 

from MSC. The Marshall Space Flight Center, 

Huntsville, Ala., will be responsible for development 

and testing of the Shuttle main engine, the external 

tank and the solid rocket booster. Launch and landing 

operations (including vehicle refuhishment) will be 

conducted at the Kennedy Space Center and at Vandenberg Air Force Base depending upon mission requirements. Close cooperation will be maintained 

with the United States Air Force. 

Environmental Impact.-In 1971 a draft environmental impact statement was prepared and distributed 

to the Council of Environmental Quality, the Office 

of Management and Budget, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Departments of Transportation, Defense, and State. Based on comments received 

from these agencies, the potential environmental im- 
pact of the Space Shuttle was analyzed in 1972. It was 

agreed that the potential for adverse effects on rhe environment would be small, of limited duration and 

confined to narrow geographic areas. 

Technology Development.-The Space Shuttle represents, in effect, a “second generation” space transportation system and will take maximum advantage of 

advanced technologies, some of which were developed 

during earlier manned space flight programs but were 

not applied since those programs had matured to a 

point where it would have been uneconomical to make 

major changes. 

Contractor Selection.-In July 1972 the Space Division of North American Rockwell was selected as the 

prime contractor for orbiter development and systems 

integration. A letter contract was signed on August 9 

and negotiations for contract finalization were begun. 

The Rocketdyne Division of North American Rockwell, which had been selected as the prime contractor 

for development of the Space Shuttle main engine, was 

awarded a definitive contract on August 11,1972. This 

contract provides for the delivery of propulsion-test 

and flight-rated engines. Seven of these are to be used 

during the development phase, with the balance destined for operational flights. 

Program requirements for the external tank and 

solid rocket booster were definitized and work was begun on the preparation of procurement packages for 

these major Shuttle components. Major emphasis will 

be placed on low-cost manufacturing and tooling techniques to reduce unit costs to acceptable levels. The 

external tank will be fabricated and assembled in the 

government-owned plant in New Orleans, La. 

Program Baseline.-The approved program baseline 

calls for the delivery of two orbiter vehicles during 

the development phase of the program; plans call for 

three additional vehicles to be delivered during the 

operational phase. The Shuttle main engines, the external tank and solid rocket boosters will be furnished 

to the orbiter contractor by the government, with the 

Space Division of North American Rockwell responsible for integration of all Space Shuttle systems elements. First horizontal flight is planned in the mid 

1970’s and the first manned orbital flight in the late 

1970’s. 

Mission Planning.-Work continued to define payload requirements and to plan missions which will 

make maximum use of Shuttle capabilities. Discussions 

were begun with potential users and an organizational 

framework was established, which would insure close 

cooperation with user organizations. 

Shuttle Operations.-On April 4, 1972, Dr. James C. 

Fletcher, the NASA Administrator, announced that 

the Shuttle would operate from the Kennedy Space 

Center in Florida and Vandenberg Air Force Base in 

California. It was determined, after a thorough review 

of 150 potential launch sites, that those two existing 

facilities offered major advantages with respect to cost, 

safety, operational requirements and environmental 

impact. 

In early 1972 the Sortie Laboratory was suggested as 

a potential activity for European study and development. Active study of the Sortie Lab was undertaken 

by ESRO and a decision whether or not to proceed is 

under consideration. 

Space Tug.-Conceptual studies of the Space Transportation System include a propulsive stage that is 

carried into low Earth orbit by the Space Shuttle. 

The primary function of this reusable upper stage, 

termed Space Tug, would be to extend the operating 

regime beyond the Space Shuttle to include orbital 

plane changes, operations to and from higher energy 

orbits extending to geosynchronous positions, and 

Earth escape missions. The Tug could be used for 

orbit placement, retrieval, stage/payload reuse and 

in-on-orbit refurbishment, for civil and military programs. 

In early 1972, Tug definitions studies under sponsorship of the European Space Conference (ESC) 

were conducted by the European Launcher Development Organization (ELDO) in coordination with 

NASA. NASA later initiated a major planning activity 

to define and assess options that would provide an interim Tug capability at about the same time the Shuttle is initially operational. This effort is being well coordinated with associated Air Force work in this area 

and joint funded Tug study activities will be implemented in fiscal year 1973. 

Life Sciences.-Advances to date on “early warning‘’ 

disease detection systems, and medical diagnosis to 

remote areas by otherwise unavailable specialists show 

great promise for application to the general public. 

Development of a new concept in space suits for 

Space Shuttle application is rapidly moving along. 

The space suit is lightweight-less than 12 pounds; 

utilizes new soft fabric joint technology in shoulders, 

elbows, and knees; incorporates a soft, stowable visorhelmet; and provides short term comfort of five hours 

at the operating pressure. Suits will not require custom 

fitting, and can be reused. 

Cooperation with the U.S.S.R. in the medical area 

is also continuing. 

Remote Medical Diagnosis.-NASA and HEiv have 

begun a joint effort which ultimately will extend to 

remote areas the health care facilities and expertise 

heretofore only available in large metropolitan medical 

centers. The concept to be employed is based on techniques used in tracking the health status of astronauts 

11 

490-495 0 - 13 - 2 
during space flight. The system will make maximum 

use of advanced computers and modern communications to transmit patient medical data from a remote 

site to urban control centers, where physicians will 

diagnose ailments and prescribe treatment to be executed by trained medical assistants at the remote 

location. 

Advanced Program Studies.-These studies focused 

on the missions, systems, and interface studies needed 

to support the effective utilization of the space transportation system based on the Space Shuttle. 

Studies of the hardware and operating interfaces 

between the Space Shuttle, the Space Tug and a representative group of potential future space payloads 

produced a conceptual definition of appropriate interface equipment. Also investigated were the launch site 

service interfaces for the Space Tug, and the dynamics, 

control and capture of tumbling spacecraft. 

During 1972 the Materials Science and Manufacturing in Space (MS/MS) program, sponsored by OMSF, 

conducted two srpall “demonstration” experiments on 

the Apollo 16 and 17 lunar missions, added a group 

of ten new experiments to the Skylab mission, and considerably expanded its activities aimed at preparing 

payloads for the Space Shuttle. The new Skylab experiments will use a small, multipurpose furnace system added to the payload in 1972. Proposals were solicited in January, and eight United States and two 

foreign scientists were selected to participate. 

A Mission and Payload Integration Office (MPIO) 

has been established in OMSF. This new office is responsible for the planning, direction and coordination 

of payload activities between the various elements of 

the Space Shuttle, Tug, and Sortie Lab within OMSF 

and the payload sponsor in NASA and other government agencies. The primary objective of the MPIO 

is to assure the compatibility of the Shuttle, Tug, and 

Sortie Lab with the payloads to be flown on these vehicles. Payload/mission trade studies have been initiated and will be continued. 

The MPIO has also been assigned the responsibility 

for periodic updating of the NASA Mission Model. 

The Mission Model displays, in abbreviated format, 

planned and potential space missions scheduled to be 

flown in the period extending from 1973 through 1990. 

Studies of sonic boom and effects of exhaust effluents as related to Shuttle flights have been conducted 

and will be continued into the coming year. Cryogenic 

technology, structures, thermal control, propulsion and 

space power devices are typical of the tasks under development. Lightning warning and control in the 

launch area, development of short pulse lasers, control 

components and solar cell energy wheel systems are 

other areas of promising developments. 

Initial study activity leading to agreement with the 

Soviets for the Apollo/Soyuz Test Project was coordi12 

nated within the Advanced Development Office. With 

emphasis now shifting to the study of a Space Tug, 

system developments applicable to this type vehicle 

are being planned. 

Space Science 

Mariner Mars.-Mariner 9 was launched successfully 

on May 30, 1971, and was placed in orbit about Mars 

on November 13, 197 1. The spacecraft remained operational until October 27, 1972, approximately one 

year after orbital insertion. Despite a severe dust storm 

during the first 1% months of its orbital lifetime, it 

mapped 100 percent of Mars to an optical resolution 

of about 1 km by taking nearly 7,400 pictures of the 

planet and its satellites. It also mapped large portions of the planet in the infrared and ultraviolet 

spectra providing information on the atmospheric 

temperature and composition including definite identification of water vapor features, and on the surface 

characteristics including many elevation measurements. In addition, it provided a Mars gravity contour 

map, more precise information on the ephemerides of 

Mars, and conducted a relativity experiment as part 

of the celestial mechanics experiment. Finally, the 

S-band occultation experiment provided temperature 

and elevation profiles for major areas of the planet. 

Mariner 9 has been more than 100 percent successful in meeting all of the objectives of both the basic 

90-day mission and the 9-month extended mission. 

The results of Mariner 9 have completely rewritten 

the book of knowledge on Mars and have completely 

changed the previous image of the planet. 

Mars has now been identified as a live, dynamic, 

evolutionary planet with dust storms, changing cloud 

formations and volcanoes instead of a barren, dead, 

Moon-like planet. 

Mariner Venus/Mercury ’73.-During 1972 development continued on the Mariner spacecraft scheduled 

to be launched from Cape Kennedy during the October/November 1973 opportunity, which has as its 

primary objective the first exploration of the planet 

Mercury. 

On its way to’the closest planet to the Sun, the 

spacecraft will fly within 5,3000 kilometers (3,300 

miles) of Venus, where it will receive an increase in 

speed and the necessary trajectory deflection to reach 

Mercury. 

The high-resolution TV cameras aboard the spacecraft will take the first TV pictures of both planets. 

A total of 5,500 pictures of Venus, and 2,000 pictures 

of Mercury are scheduled to be taken. The average 

resolution of these pictures is expected to be two kilometers ( 1 f/4 miles), but selected targets will be photographed at a 100-meter (1 10-yard) resolution. 

Other science instruments aboard the spacecraft 
will investigate the composition, color and circulation 

patterns of Venus’ clouds. These same instruments 

will also investigate the surface of Mercury, measure 

any atmosphere present, and explore its environment 

both on the approach and departure legs of the encounter trajectory. 

Final assembly of the Launch Vehicle (Atlas Centaur D-1A) has been started, and will be completed by 

January 1973. 

The assembly of the Flight Spacecraft will begin in 

January 1973 and is scheduled for completion during 

April 1973. System and environmental testing will be 

completed by August 1973. 

Pioneer.-Two interplanetary Pioneer spacecraft have 

been designed for exploratory missions to fly to Jupiter. Pioneer 10 was launched on March 2, 1972, while 

Pioneer G will be launched in the April 1973 time 

period. Once it successfully achieves its trajectory it 

will be designated as Pioneer 1 1. These spacecraft each 

carry 11 separate scientific instruments to explore the 

interplanetary medium beyond the orbit of Mars, to 

determine the size, density and velocity of meteoroids 

and asteroids in the asteroid belt and to examine, during a close flyby, the environmental and atmospheric 

characteristics of the planet Jupiter. 

The information and technology derived will improve the operational capability for long-duration 

flights to the outer planets-Saturn, Uranus, or 

Neptune. 

Following the March 2 launch of Pioneer 10, the 

scientific instruments were turned on and checked out 

and 10 of the complement of 11 began to collect data 

on the interplanetary medium (magnetic fields, meteoroids, solar and galactic radiation.) The eleventh instrument is designed for the Jupiter encounter phase 

and therefore remains inactive for the greater part of 

the interplanetary cruise phase. With the exception of 

some anomalies, all subsystems and experiments have 

continued to function satisfactorily. During early August 1972, when several severe solar storms occurred, 

scientific data on the solar environment was collected 

simultaneously from both Pioneer 10 and Pioneer 9 

(launched Nov. 8, 1968) at their different heliocentric 

distances. 

Acceptance testing of the flight article Pioneer G 

was conducted throughout the latter part of the year 

following the integration of the experiments and spacecraft subsystems in June 1972. 

HeZios.-This program, first conceived in 1966 as a 

cooperative endeavor between the United States and 

the Federal Republic of Germany, is planned for one 

mission in 1974 and a second in two years to investigate 

the properties and processes in interplanetary space in 

the direction of and close to the Sun (within approximately 0.25 of the distance from the Sun to the Earth). 

The United States will provide three scientific experiments to complement the seven Germah experiments; 

will launch the spacecraft; provide tracking and data 

acquisition facilities and personnel; and will provide 

technical assistance to the German personnel in testing the spacecraft and in the review of the spacecraft 

design and the spacecraft test program. The Federal 

Republic of Germany will design, develop and fabricate 

the spacecraft (as well as the seven experiments), 

and will operate it during each 130-day mission. 

During the year a substantial test phase was completed with two developmental models (the spacecraft 

and thermal models) of the spacecraft. The engineering models of both the U.S. and German scientific 

instruments were delivered for integration with the 

spacecraft and subsequent testing. The spacecraft design review, conducted in Germany by a NASA team, 

essentially completed the design phase for the spacecraft and the scientific instruments. 

Viking.-The exploration of Mars will enter a new 

phase in 1976 when two Viking landers are scheduled 

to reach its surface and begin their detailed scientific 

investigations. 

Scientific emphasis will be placed on obtaining data 

relevant to the search for life on Mars. Additional 

science results will help us understand the evolution 

of Mars and the solar system. Two separate Viking 

spacecraft are scheduled to be launched in AugustSeptember 1975, to reach and orbit Mars in JuneAugust 1976. Each spacecraft will first inspect the preselected landing sites, then separate into two parts: an 

Orbiter which will continue to conduct visual, thermal, 

and water-vapor mapping of the planetary surface; 

and a Lander which will analyze the atmosphere as it 

descends and then will conduct varied surface experiments. 

Progress during the year included compIetion of the 

preliminary design reviews for the Orbiter, Lander, and 

Launch and Flight Operations systems. 

Most of the instrument and subsystem development 

tests were completed, leading to the beginning of prototype hardware fabrication. Three of the science instruments-for biology, meteorology and organic analysis of the soil-were simplified to keep within cost, 

weight, and schedule constraints. As a result of the 

science findings from the Mariner 9 mission, a new 

science experiment for inorganic analysis of the soil 

was added to the payload to increase the geological 

results from Viking. 

Outer Planets Missions.-The Outer Planets Mission, Mariner Jupiter/Saturn (MJS77), is planned to 

take advantage of a favorable planetary alignment that 

occurs in the latter half of the 1970’s, by using the 

gravity-assist “swingby” technique to explore these two 

planets. 

13 
The MJS77 mission will involve two launches in 

1977 of spacecraft which will fly by Jupiter some 1% 

years after launch and, after being accelerated by Jupiter‘s gravity and orbital velocity, will fly on to reach 

Saturn some 3% to 4 years after launch. 

Mission and spacecraft design studies have been 

underway to maximize the science return for the mission. The design calls for two identical spacecraft 

based primarily on Mariner/Viking Orbiter designs, 

making maximum use of leftover Viking hardware 

where possible. An Announcement of Flight Opportunity (AFO) was issued to the scientific community 

to solicit experiments for the mission. The proposals in 

response to the AFO have been evaluated and the science payload selected. Detailed design of the mission 

and refinement of the spacecraft system have continued. 

Orbiting Observatories.-Two OAO satellites are now 

orbiting the Earth and are currently obtaining scientific data on planets, stars, nebulae and galaxies. OAO2, launched December 7, 1968, has this past year extended the ultraviolet spectral coverage of both galactic and extra-galactic objects that has advanced our 

understanding of the true nature of these objects. The 

first ultraviolet observations of Uranus have been obtained, and complete light curves of eclipsing variable 

stars have been produced, permitting more detailed 

analysis of the outer atmospheres of these stars than 

has been possible before. The first observations of a 

super-nova are being interpreted as an expanding gas 

cloud. 

In its 4 years of operation OAO-2 has obtained 

over 13,000 observations of celestial objects with the 

University of Wisconsin experiment, and over 3,500 

observations with the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory experiment. OAO-3 (Copernicus) , whose 

primary objective is to obtain high resolution ultraviolet spectra of stars necessary to investigate the composition and physical state of matter in interstellar 

space and stellar sources, was launched August 21. 

In its first few months of operation, OAO-3 has 

observed a number of “bright” stars, both reddened 

and unreddened, which may give important information on mass loss from extended stellar atmospheres 

and on the nature of interstellar clouds. 

The X-ray experiment on OAO-3 has observed a 

number of X-ray sources and was able to correlate 

in soft X-rays a recent giant radio wave outburst from 

the X-ray source Cyg XR-3. 

The Orbiting Solar Observatory-7 (OSO-7), 

launched in September 1971, has continued to observe a number of significant events and phenomena 

of the Sun. Techniques for forecasting the appearance 

of active regions on the Sun have been improved. This 

will aid in the study of the Sun’s effects on the Earth’s 

environment. Nuclear reactions in solar flares were 

confirmed for the first time by OSO-7 observations of 

gamma ray emission lines from nuclear reacting pmducts. Development of the last spacecraft of the Os0 

Series, OSO-I, continued during 1972. 

High Energy Astronomy Observatory (HEAO).- 

Studies continued on the HEAO missions to investigate 

celestial X-ray, gamma-ray, and cosmic-ray phenomena. 

Explorer and Znternational Satellites.-An Interplanetary Monitoring Platform (IMP) designated Explorer 47 was launched on September 22, 1972. The 

IMP series was established to make long-term observations of Earth-Sun relationships, particularly the 

outer magnetosphere, the magnetosheath and the interplanetary medium. Earlier IMP’S have mapped in 

broad detail the interplanetary region, the Earth’s 

magnetosphere, solar and galactic cosmic rays, and 

other complex solar-terrestrial relationships. 

A cooperative mission with Germany, AEROS, wa~ 

launched in December to measure the main aeronomic parameters of the upper atmosphere and the 

solar ultraviolet radiation in the wavelength band of 

main absorption. 

SAS-B, Explorer 48, the second in the Small Astronomy Satellite series, was launched in November 

1972 by an Italian team from the San Marco facility 

off the coast of Kenya, Africa. SAS-B is designed to 

measure the spatial and energy distribution of primary 

galactic and extra-galactic gamma radiation. 

SAS-A, Explorer 42, since launch in December 1970 

has provided a continuing stream of highly significant 

scientific information. In addition to cataloging to date 

some 160 X-ray sources and discovery of X-ray pulsars 

which appear to differ in some respects from the more 

commonly known radio pulsars, other unique information includes the discovery of binary star systems identified solely on X-ray data and possible data to support 

the theories of “Black Holes” which are massive stars 

that have collapsed to the point where gravitational 

forces prevent the escape of any electromagnetic radiation including visible light. 

Atmosphere Explorer.-The three-mission Atmosphere Explorer (AE-C, D, E) program represents 

NASA’s primary effort in investigating the largely unexplored region of the lower thermosphere, the region 

where the bulk of solar energy is absorbed and most of 

the chemical and energy conversion processes occur 

which govern the structure and properties of the upper 

atmosphere. 

This year was devoted to the completion of the 

spacecraft and experiment final designs, fabrication 

of spacecraft and experiment hardware, procurement 

of the data handling system, and rhe initiation of the 

14 
integration and test phase of the AE-C mission which 

is scheduled for launch in late 1973. 

Sounding Rockets, Balloons, and Aircraft.-The 

NASA Airborne Science Program uses aircraft to make 

scientific measurements not possible from the Earth. 

The program is currently using a 30-cm diameter telescope installed in a Lear Jet which is capable of operating at altitudes near 15 kms (50,000 feet). One of 

the far-reaching results of this program has been the 

detection of enormous amounts of radiation emitted 

by gas and dust clouds in our galaxy at these long wavelengths. 

In 1972 the manufacture and assembly of the 91- 

cm (36-inch) infrared telescope was completed. Installation of the telescope into a C-141 aircraft was 

started. Initial observations are scheduled for 1973. 

‘The NASA Sounding Rocket and Balloon Program 

launched 84 rockets from sites including : Wallops Station; White Sands Missile Range; Ft. Churchill, Canada; Sweden; Alaska; Hawaii; and Norway. About 50 

research teams from universities, private industry, 

NASA centers, other U.S. Federal Government agencies and foreign governments were supported. A rocket 

launched from WSMR gathered X-ray data of sufficient precision to confirm that the binary star HZ 

Herculis is a source of X-ray emissions. A rocket flight 

gave information indicating that approximately four 

per cent of all hydrogen atoms are in molecular form, 

along the path toward the star Delta Scorpii. This is 

only the second positive detection of interstellar molecular hydrogen. 

There were 55 ,balloons launched from sites including: Palestine, Tex.; Ft. Churchill, Canada, and Australia. The balloons ranged from 0.008 million cubic 

feet to 46 MCF (the largest balloon ever flown successfully) ; the most common size was 11 MCF. A 

balloon launched in September 1972 carried an infrared experiment which directly observed a 3O K temperature for the cosmic background, strongly supporting 

the “Big Bang” theory of the origin of the universe. 

Physics and Astronomy Shuttle Sortie Payloads.- 

Possibilities for operating national physics and astronomy research facilities on the Space Shuttle by providing the capability for conducting unique experiments or observations of specific phenomena are being 

investigated. These facilities could encompass both 

laboratories and observatories configured as Shuttle 

payloads and operated by scientists on the Shuttle. 

Each payload could be flown several times per year 

and have an operational lifetime compatible with 

traditional ground-based facilities. 

Launch Vehicle and Propulsion Program.-The 

Scout launch vehicle successfully orbited five satellites 

this year. The Meteoroid Technology Satellite 

(MTS-A) was launched from the Wallops Station 

launch site in Virginia; three missions, the Transit 

Improved Navigation Satellite, European Space Research Organization/ESRO4, and the German COoperative Satellite/AEROS were flown from rhe 

Western Test Range in California; and the Small 

Astronomy Satellite (SAS-B) was launched from the 

San Marco Range off the east coast of Africa under 

a cooperative reimbursable launch services contract 

with the Italian Centro Ricerche Aerospaziali. The 

five missions extended the Scout launch record to 28 

consecutive successes-a new record for U.S. launch 

vehicles. The Scout Program has now sustained a 100 

percent reliability record since September 1967. 

In January, the HEOS I1 mission was successfully 

launched for the European Space Research Organization (ESRO) on a Delta vehicle. 

This was followed by another successful launch for 

ESRO when the TD-1 satellite was launched in 

early March. In July one of the most significant milestones in the history of the Delta Program was 

achieved with the launch of the ERTS-1 satellite. The 

launch vehicle/Delta 89 flew with the following firstflight items: first flight using nine solids (strap-on 

solids to the Thor booster) ; first flight of the spring 

separation system; first flight of the Delta inertid 

guidance system (DIGS) ; and first flight of the AJ10-138 second stage propulsion system on Delta. 

The vehicle performed flawlessly and placed the 

satellite into a nearly perfect orbit. A little over a 

month later, Explorer 47 (IMP-H) was launched 

using for the first time the extended Thor booster and 

the TE-364-4 motor third stage on a Delta mission. 

In November, ANIK I was successfully launched for 

the TELESAT Canada Corporation. This was the 

first mission requiring the new eight-foot diameter 

fairing (called “straight eight” Delta). The “year of 

firsts’’ for Delta was completed with the successful 

launch of Nimbus V in December. 

The Atlas-Centaur launch vehicle successfully completed the launch of four missions during this period, 

including two INTELSAT IV launches for the Communications Satellite Corporation, an Orbiting Astronomical Observatory (OAO-C) called Copernicus, 

and the Pioneer G launch to Jupiter. The launching 

of Pioneer G marked the first flight of the TE-3664 

solid rocket motor and resulted in the highest velocity 

ever achieved by a man-made satellite and the first 

man-made object to escape the gravitational pull of 

the Sun. 

Applications Programs 

On December 3, 1971, NASA announced the establishment of the Office of Applications within the Headquarters organization. At that time the personnel, 

programs, and functions of the Earth Observations 

Programs Division and the Communications Programs 

15 
Division were transferred to the new office from the 

Office of Space Science and Applications. That office 

was renamed the Office of Space Science. The Deputy 

Associate Administrator for the Office of Manned 

Space Flight was appointed to head the new OAice of 

Applications. 

In March 1972, the Applications Program Integration Board was established. This board is comprised of 

the Deputy Administrator, all Associate Administrators, and the Directors of field installations. The 

purpose of the board is to provide a mechanism for 

negotiating support with the cognizant Associate Administrators and Field Installation Directors for specific elements of the NASA Applications Program, and 

for establishing a consistent approach to institutional 

support. As a further effort to develop field installation 

support and to increase the depth of program staffing, 

the Applications office employed the Lead Center concept. This involves the assignment of program development effort by major discipline areas to selected field 

installations, as an extension of the cognizant Headquarters office. 

A very important part of the development of the Office of Applications is the addition of a User Affairs 

Division. This Division is intended to increase the 

responsiveness of applications programs to those whose 

technological requirements might be satisfied by NASA 

capabilities. It will also assist these potential users in 

identifying their program areas wherein NASA can 

make valuable contributions. The Lead Center organizations will add depth also to this critical two-way 

flow of information. 

Earth Resources Technology Satellites.-Perhaps the 

most important single applications program event during 1972 occurred on July 23, when the first Earth 

Resources Technology Satellite (ERTS 1) was successfully launched from the Western Test Range on a 

Delta launch vehicle. The accurate polar orbit 

achieved allows the satellite to cross over the equator 

at about 10 a.m. each day, phased with regard to the 

rotation of the Earth to cause the satellite to cross the 

same area of Earth every 18 days for repetitive coverage. The objective of this mission is to obtain multispectral earth resources imagery for 330 selected investigations in areas such as agriculture, forestry, 

geology, geography, oceanography, ecology, and environmental quality. 

Earth Observations Aircraft Program.-In 1972, 

as in past years, the Earth Observations Aircraft Program (EOAP) served as a major source of remote 

sensing data for the Earth Resources Survey investigative program and continuing support was provided to 

in-house and interagency surveys and to sensor development efforts. The major portion of the 1972 aircraft program effort resulted from the requirements 

16 

generated by ERTS and Skylab investigations lor supporting data in the new EOAP role as an integral part 

of prototype space-borne remote-sensing systems. 

Accomplishments included the completion in March 

of the ERTS simulation undertaken with the new 

high altitude aircraft. These two aircraft were later 

used to acquire data for severaI agricultural investigations during the early 1972 growing season. Because 

of delays in the launch of ERTS 1, an essential segment 

of data would have been missed, had it not been for 

the use of the aircraft. Since the launch of ERTS 1, 

all EOAP aircraft have been engaged in a supporting 

role. 

To date some 150 overflights of ERTS 1 test sites 

have been accomplished. With the assistance of rhe 

USAF, NASA remote-sensing aircraft also acquired 

photomosaic data needed for Skylab astronaut simulator training and for the development of on-board data 

files needed for site recognition in operating the EREP 

S191 Infrared Spectrometer sensor. 

During 1972, NASA aircraft contributed to several 

disaster surveys in cooperation with NOAA and the 

State of California. Disaster survey flights included 

two forest fires in California, a dike break and subsequent flooding in California and the flood damage 

associated with Hurricane Agnes. 

Nimbus.-Another major event during 1972 was the 

launch inlto polar orbit of Nimbus 5 (E) on December 12, on a Delta launch vehicle from the Western 

Test Range. This mission carries six major experiments 

to improve remote sounding of the atmosphere from 

orbital altitudes and to extend this capability to cloudcovered areas and to higher altitudes. These kinds of 

data are needed for research which could lead to improved long term weather for forecasting and increased 

understanding of atmospheric processes. 

This mission also carries a surface composition mapping radiometer (SCMR) to determine the composition of the surface by measurement of the modification 

of the thermal emission of igneous rock. Contracting 

for the experiments for the next mission, Nimbus F, 

was completed during early 1972 and the development effort more than half completed by the end of 

the year. Nimbus F is planned for a mid-1974 launch. 

Zmproved TZROS Operational System.-On October 15, 1972, the NASA-developed ITOS-D mission 

was launched by NASA into a polar orbit on a Delta 

launch vehicle from the Western Test Range. The cost 

for this mission (the spacecraft and launch services) 

is fully reimbursed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the patlaunch designation of the mission is NOAA 2. In addition to the cloud cover imaging sensors carried by 

the previous TIROS missions, NOAA 2 carries a vertical temperature profile radiometer. This sensor, 
which provides the first operational temperature profile sounding capability, stems from development work 

done in support of the Nimbus missions. The spacecraft was checked out by NASA and turned over to 

the National Environmental Satellite Service (NESS) 

on November 8 for operational service. Follow-on missions are planned at the rate of about one per year for 

the next 3 years. 

Applications Technology Satellites.-The Applications Technology Satellite (ATS) F is a multi-user 

communications experiments satellite. It is a heavy 

and complex spacecraft involving a large deployable 

parabolic antenna, an accurate three-axis, Earthoriented stabilization system and a sophisticated communications transponder. The ATS-F mission also 

carries several multidisciplinary experiments that benefit from the synchronous orbital altitude of the ATS 

mission. During 1972 a major review was undertaken 

to reestablish a proper schedule phasing between the 

various elements of the project. 

The Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (HEW), and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) will make use of ATS-F in coordination with the Rocky Mountain Federation area, the 

State of Alaska, and the Appalachian Regional Commission. This effort involves the demonstration of education and health care by satellite. Experiment coordination and working group meetings have been held 

and operations planning is on schedule. The users have 

educational and broadcasting groups under contract 

to generate the programs that will be used. In addition, separate contracts have been let to develop an 

evaluation subproject to help evaluate the results of 

these experiments. One year after launch ATS-F will 

be repositioned over the Indian Ocean to allow the government of India to conduct a one-year instructional 

television experiment. The receiving hardware being 

developed by India appears to be on schedule for a 

mid-1975 start, and television tapes are being prepared. 

During 1972 the ATS 1,3, and 5 missions continued 

to perform valuable services well beyond their design 

lifetimes. In addition to the well known synchronous 

altitude imagery of the Earth which has located and 

tracked many hurricanes, these missions have provided 

experience to many users in communications. 

Synchronous Meteorological Satellites.-The objective of the Synchronous Meteorological Satellite 

(SMS) project is to develop a geostationary satellite 

system which will meet the National Operational 

Meteorological Satellite System (NOMSS) requirements as specified by NOAA. Meteorological satellite 

imagery to date has found its main strength in the 

integrative effect of orbital altitudes. Such largescale imagery can afford to be intermittent in coverage 

as provided by the ITOS missions. However, shortterm, local-area forecasting can be helped immeasurably by near-continuous observation of short-duration 

phenomena such as severe weather features. These 

phenomena are frequently of such a size and have 

a brief lifetime in comparison to large-scale systems 

that they pass through the relatively coarse mesh of 

the conventional, land-based dbservational network. 

This short-term weather forecasting and satellite observational requirement will be met with the capability of the SMS spacecraft, which will carry the 

large and sophisticated Visible and Infrared Spin Scan 

Radiometer (VISSR) sensor. 

This sensor can take full-Earth disk pictures every 

half-hour, day or night. Additionally, the SMS system 

provides for the collection of environmentally significant data from up to 10,000 sensing platforms in 

remotely located sites. Both raw and processed environmental data can be distributed to small regional 

forecasting or warning stations by using the data relay 

capabilities of SMS. SMS experienced a deep and 

thorough management review during 1972. This review determined that advanced design features had 

been incorporated into the spacecraft design which 

had not been adequately assessed in the program definition estimates. As a result the launch of SMS-A 

has been delayed about ten months to late 1973, with 

SMS-B scheduled for early 1974. During 1972 the 

SMS spacecraft design and verification was complcted 

and the thermal/structural model fabricated and 

tested. Also, the VISSR engineering and prototype 

models were completed. 

Global Atmospheric Research Programs.-The 

Global Atmospheric Research Program (GARP) is 

the research arm of the international World Weather 

Program as contrasted to the operational branch, the 

World Weather Watch. Research in GARP is aimed 

at providing scientific knowledge needed to improve 

the range and accuracy of weather forecasts, to determine the feasibility of large-scale weather modification, and to assess the long-term effects of pollutants 

on the atmosphere. In pursuing these objectives, the 

program will center on the following tasks: (1) the 

design and testing by computational methods of a series of theoretical models of the atmosphere to permit 

a more precise description of the significant physical 

processes and their interactions; and (2) observational 

and experimental studies of the atmosphere to provide 

the data from various sources that are required for 

the design of such theoretical models and the testing 

of their validity. An interagency and international effort is necessary to execute these tasks. 

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is the coordinator of U.S. participation in GARP. NASA has been assigned two major 

tasks: conduct of a Data Systems Test (DST) and 

preparation of the Plan for the First GARP Global 

17 
Experiment (FGGE) . During 1972 NASA completed 

an overall project plan for NASA participation in 

GARP, and a detailed plan for the DST. The DST 

is a year-long activity to take place during 1974. 

Earth and Ocean Physics Program.-The Earth and 

Ocean Physics program plan was completed during 

1972. This comprehensive plan sets forth the objectives and activities envisioned for the Earth and Ocean 

Physics Applications Program (EOPAP) over the next 

decade. This applications program is based on the disciplines of Earth and ocean dynamics. Its primary 

goals are to identify, develop, and demonstrate relevant 

space techniques that will contribute significantly to the 

development and validation of predictive models for 

earthquake hazard assessment, ocean-surface conditions, and ocean circulation. In related program areas, 

the GEOS-C mission is planned for launch in the second half of 1974. Some of the objectives of the GEOSC project are to demonstrate the feasibility of satellite 

altimeters for measuring the topography of the ocem. 

surface, and contribute to the calibration and improvement of ground and satellite systems (such as C-band 

radar and satellite to satellite tracking) that can be 

applied to problem solving in the Earth physics discipline. During 1972, the final configuration of the 

GEOS-C spacecraft was resolved with the decision 

to include an intensive data rate mode in the altimeter 

radar, and work on the development of the spacecraft 

was begun. 

A significant amount of planning was also accomplished during 1972 on technical details leading to the 

Laser Geodetic Satellitte (LAGEOS) . The LAGEOS 

concept is a very dense (high mass/area ratio) laser 

reflector satellite which will provide a permanent 

reference point in a very stable orbit for precision Earth-motion measurements such as crustal motions, fault motions, polar motion and Earth-rotation 

variations, solid Earth tides and other kinematic and 

dynamic parameters associated with earthquake analysis. In the fall of 1972, the San Andreas Fault 

Experiment (SAFE) got underway with the establishment of laser ranging sites on Otay Mountain near 

San Diego and on Mount Shasta near Quincy, Calif. 

The baseline between these two sites nearly parallels 

the San Andreas Fault. By determining the distance 

between the two sites, and what changes occur over 

time, the relative motion of the crustal plates causing 

the fault can ,be inferred. This information will form 

the basis for estimating the rate of energy build-up 

in the fault area. Initial data was acquired during the 

last few months of 1972. 

Aeronautics and Space Technology 

Quiet Engine Program.-A major accompfishment in 

the experimental Quiet Engine Program was made this 

18 

April with demonstrations of the Quiet Engine with 

complete nacelle treatment. The noise levels demonstrated were even lower than the original goals of 

the program. Comparing the flyover noise of a DC-8 

with a hypothetical aircraft using the NASA Quiet 

Engine shows that takeoff noise is reduced by 26 

EPNdB and approach noise by 29 EPNdB. The extremely low noise levels of the Quiet Engine are actually 

14 EPNdB below the current regulated levels of FAR 

36 at takeoff and 17 EPNdB lower at approach. 

A second Quiet Engine utilizing a higher top speed 

fan was completed and testing began at the contractor's test site in March. Noise levels of a fully suppressed 

configuration were slightly higher than those of the 

first Quiet Engine. 

Clean Combustor Program.-Research is continuing 

in the important area of engine exhaust emission pollution reduction. The knowledge gained from research 

to date will be incorporated in a new technology pmgram started in late 1972, the Clean Combustor Program, aimed at the development and demonstration of 

a practical combustor with very low pollutant emission 

levels. The goal is to reduce carbon monoxide and unburned hydrocarbon levels by at least 60 percent and 

the level of oxides of nitrogen by 75 percent, and to 

emit no visible smoke. 

Advanced Supersonic Technology.-The Advanced 

Supersonic Technology program continued to provide 

an expanded technology base in the technical disciplines of propulsion, structures and materials, aerodynamics, and stability and controls. This expanded technology base can give the industry of our country the 

technology option to proceed with the development 

of an environmentally acceptable and economically 

viable supersonic transport if and when it is determined 

that it is in the national interest to initiate such a 

program. Airframe and engine systems studies are 

underway to assess the impact of new technologies 

on the concepts and characteristics of supersonic aircraft for the 1985-1990 time period, to identify major 

technology problems, and to submit recommendations 

for research programs. The airframe systems contractors are the Boeing Co., Seattle, Wash.; McDonnellDouglas Aircraft Corp., Long Beach, Calif.; and 

Lockheed Aircraft Corp., Burbank, Calif. The engine 

systems contractors are General Electric Co., Cincinnati, Ohio and United Aircraft Corp., Pratt & Whitney Division, East Harford, Conn. 

Hypersonic Research Engine.-The hypersonic research engine project was initiated to advance the 

technology of air-breathing propulsion for hypersonic 

flight. Last year, a test program was completed which 

verified the validity of flight-weight, hydrogen-cooled 

engine structural design and fabrication techniques in 
an environment simulating Mach 8 flight. Currently, 

a model incorporating combustion capability is being 

tested at Mach numbers of 5 to 7 in the Lewis Research Center hypersonic test facility at Plum Brook, 

Ohio. This test program will be completed early in 

1973. 

NASA-USAF YF-12 Flight Research Program.- 

Two YF-12 aircraft are involved in the supersonic 

flight research pmgram conducted at the NASA 

Flight Research Center, Edwards, Calif. Early in 1972, 

one of the aircraft completed the flight portion of the 

structures program and has recently completed static 

and thermal laboratory tests in the High Temperature 

Loads Calibration Laboratory. 

The second aircraft was acquired from the Air 

Force to conduct propulsion research. The instrumentation was installed in May 1972 and flight tests were 

initiated immediately to obtain data on the steady state 

performance characteristics of the air induction system 

and dynamic distortion measurements. The two YF-12 

aircraft completed 20 flights in 1972. 

Noise Reduction Flight Procedures Expm*ments.- 

NASA, in conjunction with an airline, has demonstrated with operational equipment in a Boeing 727 

aircraft that two-segment approaches are operationally 

feasible and can result in significant noise reduction in 

the airport community. 

joint DOT/NASA STOL Operating Experiments 

Program.-The objective of this program is to develop a data base for use by industry and government 

in establishing system concepts, design criteria, and 

operational procedures for STOL aircraft, STOL avionics, and air traffic control. This will be accomplished 

through analysis, simulation, and flight tests. 

Flight experiments will include the use of research 

aircraft equipped with an avionics system with sufficient capability and flexibility to allow investigation 

of alternative avionics functional configurations, flight 

paths, operational procedures, levels of automation, 

and landing aids. 

An advanced integrated avionics and display system has been developed. Unique flexibility has been 

obtained by the use of a single, general-purpose digital 

computer for all navigation, guidance control, and 

display computation. Modularity of the software insures easy change of the experiments. Flight experiments are now scheduled for April 1973. 

STOL Air Traffic Control Integration Simulations 

have been conducted to determine the airspace, air 

trafiic control equipment, and handling techniques to 

accommodate the STOL aircraft in a downtown 

STOLport and at STOL runways at major hub airports. The design characteristics, avionics equipment, 

and flight procedures required to operate the STOL 

aircraft in the ATC system have been determined during the simulation. STOL operations can be accommodated in high-density terminal areas. 

Aircraft Wake Turbulence.-NASA is accelerating 

its research on wake turbulence, the swirling air masses 

which trail from the wing tips of aircraft in flight. 

Vortices coming from large, heavy aircraft can be 

hazardous to other aircraft encountering these strong 

winds. NASA's Ames, Flight, and Langley Research 

Centers and Marshall Space Flight Center are engaged 

in wake turbulence research, using wind tunnels, water 

tanks, instrumented aircraft and towers, laser doppler 

velocity measuring systems and analytical techniques. 

General Aviation Aircraft.-A program to demonstrate an application of technology developed for commercial transports to light general-aviation aircraft has 

entered the flight test phase. A representative highwing general-aviation aircraft has been modified with 

an advanced technology wing optimized for cruise 

flight. Conventional approach and landing characteristics are provided through the use of high-lift slotted 

flaps, Krueger leading-edge services and aerodynamic 

spoilers both for lateral control and flight path control. 

Initial results of the flight program have shown the 

expected increase in cruise speed and a marked improvement in idle qualities and gust response 

characteristics. 

Short Take Ofl and Landing Aircraft (STOL).- 

The C-8 augmentor-wing STOL research airplane was 

delivered to NASA in July 1972, following modification 

to incorporate a high-lift concept which previous 

wind-tunnel model tests have shown to have promising 

performance and safety characteristics. By September 1972, the aircraft had been calibrated for the 

research proposed, and procedures for operating the 

vehicle in the STOL configuration had been established. A program was then initiated to measure in 

flight the low-speed aerodynamic, stctbility, control, 

performance and noise characteristics of the research 

aircraft, to verify the results obtained in the windtunnel, and to determine operational characteristics 

and limitations. The program is a joint one with the 

Canadian Department of Industry, Trade, and 

Commerce. 

Wind-tunnel model research on the STOL augmentor-wing concept continued with emphasis on means 

of reducing the noise to a level acceptable in civil transport operation, and in comparing high and low pressure ratio augmentors. Small-scale model tests were 

completed which compared the characteristics of the 

augmentor-wing concept with four other promising 

STOL high-lift concepts: an internally blown flap; a 

conventional flap with deflected thrust; and exter19 
nally-blown flaps with the engines mounted either below or above the wing. 

Vertical Take Ofl and Landing Aircraft (VTOL) .- 

Research on the lift-fan VTOL transport concept 

included wind-tunnel tests of the cruise characteristics 

of small unpowered models of designs having several 

pod-mounted arrangements, to determine the most attractive configuration for planned powered-model 

tests. The large-scale model of a lift-fan transport is 

being modified to incorporate tip podded lift fans for 

full-scale wind-tunnel tests in 1973. Measurement of 

the jet noise of a lift-fan aircraft (the NASA XV-5B 

fan-in-wing research aircraft) in flight and in the Ames 

40- by 80-foot wind-tunnel showed good agreement 

and indicated the future potential of predicting aircraft 

flyover noise characteristics from large-scale powered 

model tests in the tunnel. 

Basic studies continued at the Langley and Ames 

Research Centers, generally in joint programs with the 

Army, to aid in the development of rotorcraft with 

improved performance and reduced vibration and 

noise. Initial study was made under contract of such 

concepts as the variable-geometry rotor, air mass injection at the tip of the rotor blade, and of tip geometric 

changes intended to alter the vortices, resulting in a 

reduction of rotor noise and vibration. Follow-on largescale wind-tunnel and flight studies are planned. 

VTOL handling-quality and pilot-display requirement research included continued use of the CH-46 

variable-stability helicopter at the Langley Research 

Center. Early in 1972, this aircraft carried out the 

first fully automatic landing by a full-scale manned 

helicopter at a predetermined spot. Flight path angles 

from 6" to 15' were covered. This capability, when 

fully developed, will aid future VTOL operation in 

poor visibility weather. 

Transonic Maneuverability.-The joint United 

Kingdom-NASA program to investigate the use of 

thrust vectoring for improved maneuverability was continued. Initial flight tests using a Hawker-SiddeleyKestrel P-1127 at the NASA Langley Research Center 

and a Harrier prototype in the United Kingdom to 

document the effect of thrust vectoring on acceleration, 

deceleration, and turn performance were completed. 

A related program to check out and validate the Langley Differential Maneuvering Simulator for evaluating 

the effectiveness of vectoring in forward flight has also 

been completed. The results of these studies show 

promise of significant improvements in combat 

maneuverability. 

Advanced Transport Technology.-The objective of 

the Advanced Transport Technology program is to expedite technology advances to assure that the next generation of U.S. air transports will be competitive on 

20 

the world market and will have acceptable environmental and safety features. 

During the past year, in-house and industry-funded 

systems studies (airframe and propulsion) were completed. These systems studies were conducted to: (1) 

examine the practical application, to postulate new 

subsonic/sonic transport designs, of projected advances 

in the key disciplines of aerodynamics, structures, propulsion, controls and avionics (including air traffic 

control interfaces) ; (2) identify the technology advances offering the greatest potential economic and 

competitive position benefits; and (3) define the actions required to bring the advanced technologies to 

a state of readiness for industry utilization by the late 

1970's. 

Studies indicate that the application of supercritical 

aerodynamics and related configuration technology, 

engine noise and emission suppression techniques, composite structures, and active control systems result in 

a quieter, safer, more economical subsonic/sonic 

transport having greater productivity than the current 

wide-body jet transports. The combined advanced 

technologies of supercritical aerodynamics, active control systems, and composite materials when incorporated in a three-engine, 195-passenger, 3,000-nauticalmile aircraft with a reduced noise level of 10 EPNDdB 

below FAR 36, result in a 50 percent increase in return 

on investment compared with equivalent currenttechnology transports with noise similarly suppressed. 

This increase, if realized, would represent a return 

on capital investment equal to the total average annual 

profits of the US. trunks over the past several years. 

As a result of the systems studies, research and development activities required to bring each promising 

technologv area to an acceptable state of readiness have 

been identified, and these technology needs have been 

factored into on-going NASA programs. 

Flight tests were continued to examine two applications of the supercritical wing-a thick wing to pedt 

structural weight savinp, and a wing designed for highspeed cruise. A joint program with rhe Navy, 

incorporating a thick wing on a T-2C trainer to investigate the performance of the wing at moderate 

subsonic speeds, was completed. Performance, pressure 

distributions, buffet, and shockAboundary layer characteristics were investigated. The preliminary results reported last year have been substantiated by later flights : 

the drag of the T-2C with thick supercritical wings at 

the design Mach number is identical to that of the 

T-2C with the conventional thin wing ; the lift coefficients for the buffet onset is greater for the supercritical 

wing for all Mach numbers up to the maximum Mach 

number tested; and the boundary layer velocity distributions in the region of the shock showed similarity 

to wind-tunnel measurements. This validates the new 

wing design concept as providing better structural 
efficiency and maneuvering performance than the old 

concept. 

The first phase of the high-speed supercritical wing 

flight tests on a TF-8A airplane was also completed. 

Performance, pressure distributions, stability and control, buffet, and flutter were investigated, and wake 

surveys were made. The drag and handling qualities 

reported last year have been substantiated by later 

flights and were as predicted from wind-tunnel tests. 

Beyond the predicted buffet onset, buffet was intense 

but not severe, and no flutter was experienced. 

Upon completion of the first phase tests, the airplane 

was modified to contain side fairings designed to further 

minimize drag. Wind-tunnel investigations have indicated that improvement of the overall area distribution for the existing test vehicle through the addition 

of fuselage fairings will allow the supercritical wing 

to achieve near optimum performance. 

Community Response to Aircraft Noise.-The Stanford Research Institute, under NASA Langley contract, 

studied in the laboratory the electro-encephalographic 

and behavioral responses of eight women subjects during sleep. The aircraft noise stimulus intensities were 

101, 113, and 119 PNdB for subsonic jet fly-over and 

.67, 2.50 and 5.0 psf. for for the simulated sonic booms. 

The data analysis showed that women were 

awakened by approximately 42 percent of the fly-over 

noise and by approximately 15 percent of the simulated 

sonic booms. When this data was compared to that 

of earlier studies using men as subjects it was found 

that women were awakened more frequently by the 

subsonic jet noise than were men, while men were 

awakened more frequently by the simulated sonic 

boom. Additional work on sleep disturbance is underway; once enough data is collected to clearly establish 

trends of sleep disturbance, it will be submitted to other 

interested agencies, such as EPA, DOT, and HUD for 

possible inclusion in models describing the community 

response to aircraft noise. 

A unique facility has been completed under a NASA 

Langley grant with Columbia University. The facility 

is located off-campus northeast of the John F. Kennedy 

International Airport. It is designed to analyze community response to aircraft noise, under laboratory 

conditions, while simulating take-off, landing and sideline noise. The laboratory is so designed that it appears to be a modern living room. Subjects view 

television and the background noises of the room are 

precisely controlled. Simulated aircraft sounds are 

controlled for intensity, frequency, duration and direction. The laboratory is currently being used to evaluate 

the acceptability of the quieter engines demonstrated 

by the FAA JT8D nacelle. 

Head-Up Display for Air Transports.-A head-up 

dispIay (HUD) designed to improve approach and 

landing precision under visual flight rule *( VFR) conditions has been certificated by the FAA for use on Pan 

American World Airways’ Boeing 747 jet transports. 

NASA Ames Research Center and Pan American, coordinating with the FAA, have also conducted studies 

both in a simulator and in flight which indicate that 

the HUD may be useful in flying steep approaches for 

noise abatement. 

Studies at Ames are being continued to optimize the 

information content and symbology in the HUD and to 

evaluate the tradeoffs between a HUD and a ground 

VAS1 (Visual Approach Slope Indicator). 

Aircrew Thermal Protection.-The pilots of helicopters operating in hot, humid areas such as the southeastern United States and southeast Asia are sometimes 

subjected to heat loads so severe that their bodies cannot maintain normal temperature. Due to power and 

weight limitations total cockpit cooling is impracticable. In laboratory and field tests, conducted by the 

Ames Research Center, a new liquid-cooled helmet concept has been proven an effective way to improve subjective comfort and physiological heat balance without 

extensive suit cooling or air conditioning. The liquidcooling fabric is integrated into a standard Army helicopter helmet without changing its fit or structure. 

The helmet is attached to a cooling unit by a quickdisconnect, zero-leak, connector. The connector is a 

special walk-away design which may be separated instantly by a pull by the helmet. The cooling unit weighs 

only 5 Kg ( 11 pounds), draws 16 amps of 28VDC current, and has no moving parts except a circulating 

pump. The liquid-cooling liner with its tubing and 

attachments adds about one-fourth Kg (9 ounces) to 

the weight of the helmet. 

Military Support Programs.-In a continuing effort 

to more effectively make NASA’s capabilities available 

for support of the military, a NASA aeronautical engineer has been co-located in the USAF Prototype Program Office at Wright-Patterson AFB, Dayton, Ohio. 

Rotor Systems Research Aircraft.-The joint NASA f 

Army program established in November 1971 for the 

procurement and flight test of two Rotor Systems Research Aircraft was continued through 1972. The 

Rotor Systems Research Aircraft will be used to flight 

test the most promising of new advanced rotor concepts. First flight is expected to take place in early 

1976. Costs and management are shared equally by 

NASA and the Army. 

Tilt Rotor Research Aircraft.-The joint NASA/ 

Army program established in November 1971 for the 

procurement and flight test of two Tilt Rotor Research 

Aircraft was continued through 1972. Two competitive preliminary design contracts were awarded in OC21 
tober. Evaluation of these designs will result in the selection of a single contractor to complete the detail 

design, fabricate, and flight test the Tilt Rotor Research Aircraft. First flight is expected to take place in 

late 1975. Costs and management are shared equally 

by NASA and the Army. 

Transonic Aircraft Technology Program (TACT) .- 

The joint NASAIUSAF program for the procurement 

and flight test of a superficial wing on an F-111 

aircraft was continued through 1972. 

An F-111 aircraft was assigned to the program in 

February 1972. Baseline flights with the unmodified 

F-111 were completed in October 1972 and instrumentation and preparation for modifications to the aircraft to receive the supercritical wings has begun. The 

supercritical wings are nearing completion and first 

flight of the F-1 1 1 with supercritical wings is expected 

to take place in late summer 1973. 

Spuce Shutt2s.-Evaluation of the aerothermodynamic 

characteristics of candidate Space Shuttle configurations was continued. With the decision to use recoverable solid rocket engines for launch with both solid 

rockets and orbiter engines burning simultaneously 

(parallel-burn concept), an extensive wind-tunnel 

study has been undertaken to determine the rocket 

plume effect on aerothermodynamic characteristics. 

Planetary Entry Technology.-During 1972, progress 

has been made in developing thermal protection inaterial for use on planetary entry probes. A reflecting 

type heat shield has been recommended for study 

since it has the potential of reducing the heat shield 

weight and thereby permitting additional instrumentation in a probe. 

Further studies of graphite, a candidate heat shield 

material for planetary entry, were accomplished in the 

past year. In order to study mass loss rates, a highpower gas dynamic laser was used as a source of radiative heating to drive graphite to its sublimation temperature. Study has shown that much higher mass loss 

rates are experienced in a simulated high-temperature 

environment than can be predicted by theory. 

Lifting-Body Flight Research.-The joint NASA/ 

Air Force Lifting-Body Flight Research Program has 

been underway for several years and has developed 

a valuable technology base for safely landing manned 

space-type vehicles in a horizontal mode. The three 

vehicles used in this program (the M2, HI,-10, and 

X-24A) have demonstrated that the safe operation of 

these vehicles in supersonic and transonic flight, as 

well as during landing, can be accomplished by man. 

These flights have increased the confidence in the development and use of horizontal landing vehicles such 

as the reusable Space Shuttle. During 1972, the M2- 

F3 was the only aircraft flown in this program and 

completed a total of nine flights. These flights had 

the objectives of investigating the stability and control of this vehicle over the operational speed range 

and of investigating an improved rate command augmentation system combined with a previously tested 

reaction control system. 

Filamentary Composite Materials in Structural A+ 

pZications.-Filamentary composite materials composed of strong fibers of boron or carbon imbedded in 

a plastic or metallic matrix have been investigated for 

some time as a possible alternate to conventional metals for aircraft and spacecraft structures. These fibrous composite materials hold promise of significant 

weight savings over metallic structures. The structural 

weight thus saved could improve performance of military vehicles and increase passenger capacity or lower 

cost operation of civilian airliners. These materials, 

however, do not behave under load like metals do; 

NASA is working to gain fuller understanding of their 

behavior. 

During the past year NASA has conducted programs to advance basic understanding of composites 

and is proceeding to design and build components 

that will be installed on aircraft to demonstrate two 

types of application. One concept is called “selective 

reinforcement” of metal parts and makes use of the 

strength and stiffness properties of the composite by 

attaching it to a metal structure in areas where the 

composite will produce the greatest benefit. This concept has been applied to the tail cone of a CH-54B 

Army helicopter and is planned for the wing box of a 

C-130 aircraft. Another concept is the “all compositeyy 

structure. Planned applications of this concept include wing spoilers, fairings, and panels on commercial transport aircraft. 

Multichannel Photoekctronic Sensor.-A miniature 

photoelectronic device, which exceeds the capabilities 

of 10 ordinary photomultiplier tubes, has been developed for the observation and analyses of remote stars. 

The heart of the device is an array of 10 miniature 

channel electron multipliers which initiate cascades of 

secondary electrons and result in output pulses with 

gains as high as a factor of 100 million. Star intensities can be investigated with orders of magnitude of 

greater sensitivity than is possible with photographic 

plates and 10 times more quickly and precisely than 

can be done with standard photoelectronic devices. 

Optical Mars Memory Technology.-Optical memory 

technology is being developed for storing large quantities of data on-board space vehicles. During the past 

year, a demonstration optical memory system capable 

of storing lo5 bits of data in an area of one square 

inch has been constructed and operated. Read-write 

22 
techniques using laser beams are being examined. Materials for storing data are being evaluated. 

Digital Fly-By-Wire Experimental Program.-The 

first flight of a piloted aircraft in which the control 

surfaces are moved through electrical signals inputs 

and digital computers with no mechanical reversion 

capability was made by NASA at the Flight Research 

Center on May 25,1972. 

The flight involved a modified F-8 aircraft utilizing Apollo derived hardware in place of its original 

mechanical control system to demonstrate the feasibility of this space-developed technology in aeronautics. When fully developed, this can improve performance and reduce weight and cost of future generation 

civil air transports. 

CV 990 Shuttle Autoland.-A program to evaluate 

power-off automatic landings such as those anticipated 

for the Space Shuttle has been successfully completed 

by NASA‘s Ames Research Center in 1972 using a CV 

990 aircraft. The system installed in the aircraft for 

this program provided terminal area energy management and landing guidance, utilizing a digital computer for central management with conventional radio 

and aircraft navigation aids. The flight tests indicated 

that unpowered automatic or manual landings of a 

Shuttle orbiter are possible with existing ground navigation aids. 

General Aviation Lou Cost Control and Display 

Systems.-Recent advancements in NASA’s continuing program to enhance the safety and utility of general 

aviation aircraft have allowed design of a new splitsurface control system and a low-cost flight director 

display system, which minimize pilot workload by providing limited augmented stability for the aircraft and 

by combining several individual displays into one to 

lower the pilot’s scan pattern. 

VTOL Autoland System.-Continuing its research to 

bring downtown vertiports into practical reality, 

NASA’s Langley Research Center demonstrated a 

VTOL automatic-landing system concept early in 1972 

with a totally automatic landing on a CH 46 helicopter. 

The helicopter used a vertical velocity command system 

concept developed at Langley. The concept is being 

explored further to determine mechanizations for costeffective commercial applications. 

Approach Guidance Experiment MM 71.-A novel 

guidance technique, which combines onboard observations of planetary satellites against a star background 

through existing science television cameras with spacecraft radio tracking, has been verified during the Mariner Mars 1971 mission. 

The technique reduced guidance errors to less than 

half of the originally predicted errors, and the improved accuracy permits up to 50 percent payload 

weight increases for future outer planet missions. 

Detectors for Near Znfrared Radiation.-Industrial 

researchers working on a GSFC contract developed 

a sensitive detector for laser radiation at 1.06 microns. 

Efficient detectors will permit direct detection of communications signals without the necessity of expensive 

and inefficient frequency doubling. 

Solid Propulsion Technology.-The Astrobee F, an 

advanced technology, low-cost sounding rocket system 

finished its test program during this report period. The 

3,000-1b. solid-fuel motor boosts a 400-pound payload 

to about 200 miles. Advanced features include: a 

propellant design which develops an initial high boost 

thrust of 40,000 lbs. for two seconds, athen drops to a 

sustaining level of 10,000 pounds for 50 more seconds; 

a new low-cost propellant composition which is more 

resistant to temperature extremes; and a one-piecemolded plastic nozzle. The program was climaxed by 

a successful launch in September. Performance was unusually close to predictions-almtitude was 124 miles, VS. 

126 miles predicted and the ground impact was within 

5 miles of the expected point, 95 miles away. Negotiations are in progress to procure more flight systems. 

This program has been an excellent example of predicting a need, developing a technology to meet the 

need, and transferring the result to a user. 

The environmental impact of the exhaust products 

of solid propellant boosters has been of interest in past 

years because of the use of Scout, Delta, and Titan I11 

C/D launch vehicles. The decision to use solid ’boosters 

on the shuttle has renewed this interest. Solid boosters 

of this type exhaust hydrogen chloride (HC1) gas, 

and aluminum oxide dust along with other gases. 

Although there have ‘been no problems from firings 

of any operational solid boosters, a research program 

has been started to develop a better understanding of 

the composition of the exhaust, its interaction with 

the atmosphere and its effect on the ecology. 

Laser energy has been used to operate mechanical 

devices without any gas-producing pyrotechnic. A ruby 

laser pulse through a glass window onto a thin film 

of aluminum on a plastic sheet causes a *brief, but 

intense pressure pulse of considerable power. For instance, in one experiment a piston restrained by a 

250N (55 lbs) shear wire was freed and driven 2.5cm 

( 1 in). Such a pin puller or pusher is a common actuating device in spacecraft systems, and is normally driven 

by pyrotechnic charge which develops shmks. The laser 

system has no shock, is not affected by long-term storage, by radiation or heat, and can be remotely activated 

without connecting wires. In another application, this 

same system was used to simultaneously ignite a series 

23 
of widely separated pyrotechnic squibs through separate 3.7 meter (12 ft) long fiber optic cords. 

Planetary Spacecraft Propulsion.-The JPL Space 

Storable Propulsion Module Technology program directed toward advanced planetary spacecraft propulsion, progressed into system demonstration testing. 

Initial system feasibility was demonstrated by modifying 

surplus Mariner '71 orbiter propulsion hardware for 

the space storable flox monomethylhydrazine propellant combination and conducting system testing under 

simulated space conditions in the Air Force TAPR 

test facility at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. 

Shuttle Auxiliary Propulsion.-The Shuttle auxiliary 

propulsion technology program was redirected to Earth 

storable and monopropellant hydrazine design concepts 

due to the shift of the Shuttle orbiter to external main 

propellant tankage. Contracts were awarded to evaluate long life, reusable engine and propellant system 

component designs. The oxygen-hydrogen auxiliary 

propulsion technology work was discontinued except 

for propellant conditioning system and thruster contracts that were nearing completion. 

Electric Propulsion.-High specific impulse propulsion systems are of interest because of their potential 

for reducing cost to carry out future space missions. 

Current programs in electric thrusters, the only known 

practical rocket engines capable of achieving specific 

impulses in excess of lOOC seconds, are aimed at developing the technology for both primary and auxiliary 

propulsion. 

In the area of primary propulsion for high energy 

interplanetary and geocentric missions, a 1500-hour 

functional demonstration test was completed on an 

integrated breadboard of an electric propulsion system 

operating in a closed loop, automated mode. This 

test has provided the initial experience in the integration, operation, and interactions between components 

of an electric propulsion system. 

In the area of auxiliary propulsion, initial testing of 

a small one millipound ion engine system for flight on 

the Application Technology Satellite (ATS)-F as an 

experiment to demonstrate north-south station keeping has been successfully completed. A second ion 

engine experiment has undergone over 8000 hours of 

endurance testing without failure. 

Liquid Propulsion Technology.-A major focus of 

the liquid rocket propulsion program is the increase of 

useable life of rockets. Some deep space missions will 

require flight durations of up to 10 years, and other 

missions will realize large cost savings from re-using 

rocket stages many times. To predict how long metal 

and plastic parts can function after exposure to liquid 

propellants, a number of new concepts have been 

24 

evaluated. The goal is to trace the processes involving 

degradation of materials lby sensitive short-time tests, 

eliminating the need for life tests which could last for 

many years. It has been shown that there are three 

methods sensitive enough to detect .02 parts per billion 

of iron, chromium and other metals. The first employs 

radioactive tracers and uses nuclear counting devices 

to measure the amount of material. The second method 

is based on neutron activation of the trace elements 

resulting from reactions with propellants, followed by 

detection of the resultant radioactivity. A third method 

recovers the trace elements in organic complexes called 

chelates, and finally measures the amount present. 

These tests offer good promise of providing accelerating aging procedures for predicting lifetime of propulsion systems. 

Another aspect of long life systems is the need to 

inspect them after a use to determine if something 

has failed or is wearing out. Methods for non-destructive inspection of parts of rocket motors have been 

evaluated with good results. The approach involves a 

combination of ultrasonic scan, holographic diff raction patterns, and acoustical shock wave emission 

scan. It shows the state of brazed or diffusion-bonded 

joints, common in rocket motors, and can indicate 

when joints are weakening, before failure has occurred. 

A basic research program has been started to discover concepts which could provide large increases in 

the specific impulse of rockets. The individual tasks, 

some at universities and some at NASA Research Centers, include investigations of atomic hydrogen, activated helium, and other new concepts. If successful, 

the specific impulse of chemical rockets will be increased by more than 100 per cent above current levels. 

Reusable Oxygen-Hydrogen Propulsion.-Reusable 

vehicles offer the key to low cost space transportation 

in the future. The Lewis Research Center is working 

on the technology of high performance, reusable oxygen-hydrogen propulsion systems applicable to upper 

stages that could deliver significant payloads to geosynchronous orbit and beyond and then return to the 

Space Shuttle low Earth orbit for recovery and reuse. 

Studies to define the optimum high performance reusable engine for such an application were initiated. 

Work also started on developing design analyses and 

fabrication techniques that will maximize combustion 

chamber low-cycle thermal fatigue life, necessary for 

extended reusability. 

Solar and Chemical Power Systems.-Advancements 

were made in furthering the reliability and lowering 

the cost of solar and chemical power systems. 

A new effect in solar cell fabrication was identified, 

wherein an electric field at the rear of the cell can be 

employed to increase cell voltage and efficiency. This 

effect is being investigated experimentally and theoret- 
ically, together with other methods of increasing cell 

efficiency. 

Investigations were underway toward reducing solar 

cell cost, both for space use and potential terrestrial 

applications. Two promising approaches were being 

pursued, i.e., fabrication of single crystal silicon cells 

in ribbon form and development of automated cell assembly concepts such as FEP covered modules. 

NASA now has the first operating cells of a new type 

nickel-cadmium battery which are virtually non-gassing. These cells, currently under test, offer a significant advancement in battery life and reliability. 

Studies and analyses were completed and work initiated toward development and demonstration of high 

voltage ( 100-16,000 volts) dc power processing and 

distribution systems, as needed for future large aerospace vehicles. Experimental solid state control and 

protection devices were delivered. 

Space Nuclear Systems Program.-The space nuclear 

program investigated ways to use atomic energy in 

the research and development of power and propulsion systems. 

The power systems investigated are designed to 

deliver power from watts to hundreds of kilowatts. 

Advanced nuclear propulsion concepts promise specific 

impulses (Isp) as high as 5,000 seconds with long 

system life. 

Systems Design Studies (Experimental Programs) .- 

Development of the 75,000-lbs.-thrust nuclear rocket 

engine was terminated. Definition effort was conducted 

on a small nuclear rocket engine in the 15,000-20,000 

Ibs. thrust range. The program also included advanced 

propulsion comparison studies aimed at determining 

which of four advanced propulsion systems (Le., chemical, solar-electric, nuclear-electric, and nuclear rockets) would be best suited for the conduct of missions 

under consideration for the 1980's and beyond. 

In the space nuclear program, highlights during the 

year included the following: the successful test series of 

the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory Nuclear Furnace 

(NFX 1 ) containing advanced solid-core reactor fuel 

elements at the Nuclear Rocket Development Station 

in Jackass Flats, Nevada; the launch of the Pioneer F 

spacecraft powered by four SNAP-19 RTG's in March 

1972; and the launch of the Transit Navigational satellite into Earth orbit in September 1972. In December, 

Apollo 17, containing the fifth SNAP-27 powered 

ALSEP, was launched to the Moon. 

New Tunable CO, Laser.-The GSFC laser team has 

developed a new, small size waveguide capillary CO, 

laser. The tuning range of the laser is in excess of 

t700 MHz, enough to compensate for the doppler frequency shift encountered in tracking and communicating between a geosynchronous satellite and a low 

orbit satellite. The tuning is accomplished by changing 

the length of the laser cavity and the device will permit 

coherent communication and tracking of space vehicles, hitherto impossible at CO, wavelengths. 

Frequency Multiplication at Light Wavelengths.- 

Stanford University researchers working on a NASA 

grant have succeeded in tripling light frequencies. The 

technique uses a mixture of an inert gas (Xenon) and 

a metal (rubidium) vapor at a temperature of about 

500" C. This permits direct conversion of radiated 

light, from infrared to ultraviolet, without multiple 

doubling as it was necessary before, and opens new 

possibilities and applications in microscopy, spectroscopy, air pollution studies, combustion engine exhaust 

studies and possibly in thermonuclear fusion. 

Precision Tracking Technique.-GSFC has developed 

an improved laser tracking technique which gives measurement precision of about 10 centimeters, down from 

25 centimeters of previously best measurements. The 

technique is based on tracking of the centroid of the 

laser pulse rather than the very often highly distorted, 

leading edge. This kind of precision will be invaluable in studying of tectonics motions of the Earth crust, 

earthquake faults, polar caps and other geological 

phenomena, and may assist in predicting earthquakes 

and volcanic eruptions. 

Tracking and Data Acquisition 

The Tracking and Data Acquisition Program continued to play a significant part in support of 

NASA flight missions-both manned and unmanned. 

During the year, the tracking networks furnished support to two manned lunar landing missions, Apollo 16 

and 17. Throughout these missions, the network stations relayed realtime color television which permitted 

millions of Americans to visually accompany the astronauts to the Moon and back. 

The networks also supported over 50 other flight 

projects, several of which were launched during 1972. 

The new launches included the first Earth Resources 

Technology Satellite, and Pioneer F, the first spacecraft 

launched to Jupiter. 

In addition, progress continued on the construction 

of two new large antenna facilities in Australia and 

Spain. 

Spaceflight Tracking and Data Network.-The 

Spaceflight Tracking and Data Network (STDN) 

reflects a combining of the Satellite Network and 

the Manned Space Flight Networks. This change 

brings the budget structure into alignment with 

NASA's longer-range plan to merge the capabilities 

of the two networks into a single integrated network 

of fewer stations to support all Earth-orbital missions. 

25 
The STDN will continue to provide support to the 

manned program on a priority basis from sthe eleven 

land stations, four instrumented aircraft, and one instrumentation ship which formerly comprised the 

Manned Space Flight Network. The past year’s operational activities of these facilities were highlighted by 

the support rendered to the Apollo 16 and 17 missions. 

On both missions, from launch until splashdown, 

the network served as the vital communications link 

between the in-flight astronauts and the ground controllers in the Mission Control Center (MCC) at 

Houston, Texas. The network not only transmitted 

data critical to the success of the missions, but also 

provided the means for millions of persons to share 

the experiences of the astronauts as they watched on 

their television sets. 

Apollo 16 was plagued by a number of technical 

problems at various, points in the flight, but all were 

successfully overcome through the teamwork of the 

astronauts and ground personnel, working closely together by means of the communications link. 

Apollo 17, after its initial problem during countdown, went smoothly. On both missions, while the network stations were supporting the astronauts on the 

lunar surface, the same facilities were tracking the 

command ship orbiting the Moon. Also, the stations 

were simultaneously receiving and recording data from 

the Apollo lunar surface experiment packages 

(ALSEP) deployed by the crews of previously completed landing missions as well as those emplaced by 

the current ones. Adding to this workload were subsatellites placed in orbit by Apollos 15, 16, and finally, 

17. 

During the Apollo 16 and 17 missions the network 

transmitted liftoff of the lunar modules for the first 

times televised by a camera left at each landing site, 

remotely controlled from the Houston Control Center. 

With the successful completion of the Apollo 16 

mission, the network prepared for the launch of the 

next major NASA mission, the Earth Resources Technology Satellite (ERTS-1). Launched July 24 into 

a perfect polar orbit, ERTS-1 placed new requirements 

on the Tracking and Data Acquisition Program in the 

area of data processing. 

A major new data processing facility was required 

to process the large quantity of video data transmitted 

by ERTS. The facility, located at the Goddard Space 

Flight Center (GSFC) , became operational early this 

year and its performance to date in support of ERTS 

has been excellent. Shortly after the launch of ERTS-1, 

the image data processing facilities at GSFC began 

supporting users of the data from the Return Beam 

Vidicon and multi-spectral scanner sensors on the 

spacecraft. At present, this facility is handling Some 

13,000 scenes per week. 

26 

’ 

In addition to providing information to those 300 

investigators who a.re individually under contract to 

NASA, copies of all information processed by the facility are sent to both NOAA and the Department of Interior’s facilities at Sioux Falls, South Dakota, at the 

same time the primary users receive their data. The 

information at the Sioux Falls Facility is in the public 

domain, available to anyone for a nominal fee. 

During the year, the network rendered support to 

over 50 other NASA flight projects, including the Orbiting Astronomical Observatory, OAO-3. The spacecraft, named Copernicus in honor of the famous 15thcentury Polish astronomer, was successfully launched 

from Cape Kennedy on August 21. 

The network also continued its support to projects 

of the Department of Defense, other Government agencies such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration, and other countries and international 

organizations engaged in space research. 

Deep Space Network.-During the reporting period, 

the Deep Space Network (DSN) continued its support 

of NASA’s planetary and interplanetary space flight 

missions. The standard 26-meter-diameter antenna 

stations located around the world and the 64-meterdiameter antenna at Goldstone, Calif., provided support for the extended mission activity of the Pioneer 6, 

7,8, and 9 spacecraft in orbit around the Sun. Selected 

DSN stations were also used in joint operations with 

the Spaceflight Tracking and Data Network in support of the Apollo 16 and 17 missions. 

Adding significantly to this workload was the launch 

of Pioneer 10 on March 2,1972. One of the most difficult scientific space experiments ever undertaken by 

NASA, Pioneer 10 levied many new and complex requirements on the ground network. For example, when 

the spacecraft reaches the vicinity of Jupiter next December it will have traveled about a half-billion miles 

in approximately 2 years. During this entire period the 

network must provide continuous coverage to monitor 

the spacecraft’s condition and its 13 experiments, 

*about twice the number carried by early Pioneer 

spacecraft in solar orbit. 

As Pioneer 10 continues toward Jupiter, construction 

work is progressing well on two large antenna facilities 

needed to support the encounter phase of the mission 

in December 1973. The new antennas, updated duplicates of the @-meter Goldstone antenna, are being 

constructed in Spain, forty miles from Madrid, and 

in Australia at Tidbinbilla, a short distance from Canberra. Although designed, constructed, and required to 

meet the increasing demands of the planetary program, 

the antennas will also be used to support other projects, 

including radio science activities. The Goldstone antenna, in fact, played a prominent role in support of 

Apollo. 

In late July 1972 the Pioneer 7 spacecraft was in 
solar orbit some 312 million kilometers (194 million 

miles) from the Earth when its radio transmissions 

ceased. Flight directors for the project theorized correctly the problem which caused the spacecraft to stop 

transmitting data to the Earth, and by analyzing past 

tracking data were able to determine the spacecraft’s 

position in space. Turn-on commands were sent to 

Pioneer 7 from the 64-meter Goldstone antenna and 

35 minutes and 624 million round-trip communications kilometers later, the Goldstone antenna received 

a strong signal from the spacecraft. 

Network support to the highly successful Manner 9 

project was terminated on October 27 when the spacecraft on-board gas supply, needed to operate the attitude control system, was depleted. 

Since mid-July the Deep Space Network has been 

collecting precision tracking data to test Einstein’s 

general theory of relativity which states that electromagnetic radiation-in this case the spacecraft radio 

signal-passing close to the Sun will be slowed by the 

Sun’s gravitational field. Scientists will compare these 

tracking data to similar data acquired from the Mariner 6 in 1970. 

International Affairs 

The principal events affecting the NASA international program in 1972 were the May 24 US/USSR 

Agreement ,Concerning Cooperation in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space and the European decision to proceed with system definition studies of a 

Sortie Laboratory for use with the Space Shuttle. 

US/USSR Cooperation.-The May 24, 1972, U.S./ 

U.S.S.R. Agreement Concerning Cooperation in the 

Exploration and Use of Outer Space committed both 

countries to : 

Fulfill the NASA/Soviet Academy of Sciences 

agreement of January 1971 on space science and 

applications. 

Conduct a joint experimental flight during 1975 

to test compatible rendezvous and docking systems. 

In space science and applications, the principal developments have been continued exchange of lunar 

samples, exchange of findings from United States and 

Soviet missions to Mars, joint working sessions on exploration of the planets, work on a common system of 

lunar coordinates, exchange of detailed physiological 

data from the Soyuz and Apollo programs, exchange of 

meteorological data acquired by meridional sounding 

rocket networks in the eastern and western hemispheres, and progress in defining coordinated projects 

in remote sensing of the environment, as well as experiments designed to advance knowledge of temperature 

sounding from satellites and microwave observations 

of such parameters as sea surface roughness and 

temperature. 

In the case of the 1975 experimental mission, Joint 

U.S./U.S.S.R. Working Groups met in Houston in 

July and agreed on three basic documents to govern 

future work. They further agreed on detailed technical 

documents defining such sucbjects as timelines for crew 

transfer activities, requirements for the docking systems, and radio and cable communications between 

the Apollo and the Soyuz spacecraft, and on a launch 

sequence that would provide maximum flexibility in 

launching and rendezvous opportunities. At a meeting 

in Moscow in October, joint working groups made substantial progress in a number of project areas, including the atmospheric pressures to be maintained in the 

Apollo and Soyuz spacecraft during the docked phase, 

the definition of launch windows and trajectory plan, 

and the attitude profile and control of the spacecraft 

during rendezvous and docking. 

Under an earlier NASA/ Soviet Academy agreement 

of October 1965, a Joint U.S./U.S.S.R. editorial board 

is reviewing chapters prepared for inclusion in a joint 

review of space biology and medicine. 

Post-Apollo Participation.4ignificant progress was 

also made in defining European participation in the 

post-Apollo program. Discussions with members of 

the European Space Conference concerning their development of a Sortie Laboratory as part of the postApollo program have been proceeding. The Sortie 

Laboratory is envisioned to be a low-cost payload 

carrier to increase the capability of the Space Shuttle 

to perform manned and man-tended research in space 

science and applications. 

On October 9, the President announced a policy 

for launch assistance to other countries and international organizations. The availability of these launch 

services makes it possible for other nations to have 

access to the advantages of space. 

International Satellite and Probe Launchings.- 

During 1972, one cooperative and five reimbursable 

international launchings were conducted : 

HEOS A-2, an ESROLbuilt scientific satellite 

was launched January 31 by NASA on a reimbursable basis on a Delta vehicle from the Western 

Test Range (WTR) to conduct interplanetary 

physics investigations. 

TD-I, an ESRO satellite (the largest and 

most complex scientific satellite yet built in Europe) was launched March 12 on a Delta on a 

reimbursable basis from WTR to conduct a variety 

of stellar astronomical observations. 

ANIK-1, a Canadian operational telecommunications satellite was launched November 9 on 

a Thor Delta on a reimbursable basis from Cape 

Kennedy. 

Explorer 48, a gamma-ray astronomy satellite 

was launched November 16 by Italy for NASA 

27 

490-495 0 - 13 - 3 
on a reimbursable basis from the Italian San 

Marco Platform off the coast of Kenya. 

ESRO-4, an ESRO scientific satellite to investigate particles and fields in the ionosphere and 

lower magnetosphere was launched November 20 

on a Scout vehicle from WTR on a reimbursable 

basis. 

AEROS, a cooperative aeronomy satellite carrying U.S. and German scientific experiments was 

launched December 16 on a Scout vehicle from 

WTR. 

An agreement was reached with Spain to fly a Spanish ionospheric beacon satellite (INTASAT) in 1974. 

Work also continued on several major cooperative 

projects, including HELIOS, the German solar probe ; 

CTS, a Canadian experimental communications technology satellite; ANS, a Dutch ultra-violet and X-ray 

astronomy satellite; and UK-5, the fifth in a series 

of U.K./U.S. scientific satellites to conduct stellar 

X-ray observations. 

Foreign Participation in Approved NASA Missions.- 

Three foreign experiments were selected for flight on 

NASA missions. BIOSACK 11, a German experiment 

to study the biological effects of cosmic radiation flown 

on Apollo 17, carried further the investigations begun 

with a similar type experiment flown earlier in the year 

on Apollo 16. Two foreign experiments (one from 

Japan and one from Belgium) were selected to utilize 

the multipurpose electric furnace facility aboard Skylab in 1973. 

Announcements of Flight Opportunity (AFO) .- 

During 1972 NASA issued 19 announcements opportunities to participate in NASA programs through 

development of experimental flight hardware, membership in misison definition teams, conduct of groundbased investigations, and analysis of data. Programs included in these solicitations included materials science 

and space manufacturing experiment proposals for 

Skylab, proposals to use an airborne infrared observatory on a C-141 jet transport and selection of Science 

Working Teams for the proposed Mariner Jupiter/ 

Saturn planetary mission. In response to these announcements NASA received more than 140 letters of 

intent and/or proposals involving foreLgn participation. 

The evaluation of these proposals is in most cases still 

underway. 

Earth Resources.-One hundred seven foreign investigations proposed by 94 scientists in 38 countries and 

two international organizations were selected for postflight analysis of data returned by the Earth Resources 

Technology Satellite-1. In addition some 44 investigations which will use the data returned from the Earth 

ResOurces Experiment Package aboard Skylab have 

been approved. The remote sensing cooperation agreements with Mexico and Brazil were also extended. 

Sounding Rocket Programs.-New agreements for 

sounding rocket and/or meteorological rocket programs 

were signed with Norway, Sweden, Germany, United 

Kingdom, Brazil, and France/India. During the year, 

launchings occurred from ranges in India, Argentina, 

Brazil, Spain, Canada, Norway, and Sweden. 

Lunar Sample Program.-Fifty foreign scientists are 

participating as Principal Investigators in the Apollo 16 

program. Proposals for analysis of samples returned by 

the Apollo 17 mission were received at NASA in October and selection will be announced in early 1973. 

Countries and organizations currently having approved 

investigators are Australia, Belgium, Canada, Republic of China (Taiwan), ESRO, Finland, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Norway, South Africa, 

Switzerland and the United Kingdom. 

Tracking and Data Acquisition Cooperation.-In 

preparation for support of Project Skylab two new 

agreements were signed in 1972 ; an agreement between 

the United States and ,Canada providing for establishment of a temporary space tracking facility in Newfoundland, and a memorandum of understanding 

between NASA and the Argentine National Commission for Space Research authorizing the stationing of 

a NASA tracking and data acquisition ship, the USNS 

VANGUARD, in an Argentine port. Continuance of 

a satellite telemetry/ telecommand station of the 

European Space Research Organization (ESRO) in 

Fairbanks, Alaska, was arranged through extension 

of the 1966 agreement between ESRO and the United 

States establishing the station. 

New tracking and data acquisition assistance by 

NASA to other countries included support of the 

launching of the Japanese Radio Exploration satellite 

in August and accommodation at NASA's Hawaii 

tracking station of an ESRO transportable ground 

facility required to read out directly the ESRO TD-1 

satellite, which suffered tape recorder failure. 

Industry Affairs 

Inventions and Contributions Board.-The Board, 

under recent revised NASA patent regulations, has 

been given greater latitude in recommending the 

granting of patent licenses and patent waivers to industry. This year the Board made recommendations 

on 102 petitions for patent waivers received from 

NASA contractors and recommended the granting 

of approximately $90,000 in awards for scientific and 

technical contributions by NASA and contractor 

employees. 
Industrial Relations.-Coordination between the 

Headquarters Industrial Relations staff and Center 

management eliminated any adverse impact of labormanagement problems on overall Agency goals and 

important launches. 

Master Buy Plan Procedure.-After a test procedure 

over two years, NASA has formally adopted the 

Master Buy Plan Procedure. Under this procedure, 

each installation submits a Master Buy Plan to NASA 

Headquarters, prior to the beginning of a fiscal year, 

and lists thereon every known procurement which is 

expected to exceed an established dollar level for that 

installation. This procedure will : reduce the number 

of procurement actions requiring Headquarters approval; permit better visibility of those procurement 

actions submitted to Headquarters; permit better 

planning of workload and more effective use of personnel resources at both Headquarters and installation 

levels; shorten the review and approval cycles at Headquarters ; and increase the responsibility and authority 

of each installation. 

Small Business and Minority Business Programs.- 

During fiscal year 1972 small *business firms received 

$164 million in direct NASA procurement awards, 

which was 7.6 per cent of NASA’s total awards to all 

business firms. Additionally, small firms received in 

excess of $125 million in subcontract awards from 

major NASA prime contractors. During this same period, NASA more than doubled its total awards to 

small minority firms in placing $3.2 million in contracts under authority of Section 8(a) of the Small 

Business Act. 

Cost Accounting Standards.-Regulations have been 

issued to implement initial requirements of the Cost 

Accounting Standards Board, an independent body 

established by Congress to regulate the accounting 

practices used by Federal contractors in connection 

with the pricing and administration of negotiated defense contracts. The activities of the Cost Accounting 

Standards Board are designed to achieve uniformity 

and consistency in the cost accounting practices employed by contractors. 

Presently, Board requirements, as implemented by 

Agency regulations, deal primarily with various aspects 

of the requirement that would have the contractor 

disclose and adhere to his cost accounting practices, including compliance with applicable cost accounting 

standards promulgated by the Board. Agency regulations also prescribe the contractual provisions to be 

employed, and provide the necessary procedural guidance for the administration of the Board’s requirements. 

Reliability and Quality Assurance.-Efforts to improve microelectronics reliability continues with the 

establishment and implementation of a NASA-wide 

standardization program for obtaining qualified microcircuits. Coordination with the Department of Defense and other government agencies in the development of microcircuit specifications, and testing and 

inspection techniques, in which NASA is a leading 

developer, continues to improve the product as well 

as government relations with industry. 

Progress in avoiding or minimizing parts, materials 

and process failures continues with the release of an 

Experience Handbook summarizing accumulated data 

on basic design and application problems from NASA 

Alert reporting system. 

Cost effective methods for obtaining electronic parts, 

while maintaining or improving uniformity and reliability, continue to be implanted and evaluated for 

possible adoption NASA-wide. 

Stabilization of Prices, Rents, Wages, and Salaries.- 

The Procurement Office, NASA Headquarters, has 

served as the focal point in NASA’s implementation of 

the contracting aspects of Executive Order Numbers 

11627 and 11640, as amended, providing for stabilization of prices, rents, wages, and salaries. Procurement 

personnel were directed to consider as a decisive factor 

whether contractors are in compliance with the stabilization program in all of their transactions. Contractors 

are required to certify that they are in complete compliance with Executive Order 11640, if applicable, and 

that insofar as the Executive Order is applicable, 

amounts invoiced under contracts will not exceed the 

lower of the contract price or the maximum levels 

established in accordance with the Order. 

Technology Utilization Program 

The Technology Utilization Office is charged with 

the Agency’s prime responsibility for stimulating nonaerospace application of NASA technology. The program employs a variety of broadly disseminated technical publications and highly focused problem-solving 

teams in assisting users in the public and private sectors of the economy. 

The 1972 program has been directed toward the 

continued expansion of the technology base and industrial response capability and increased effort to 

apply NASA technology to specific problems in health/ 

medical care, air and water pollution, transportation, 

urban construction and fire safety. 

Publications and Dissemination.-The inventory of 

NASA Tech Briefs-single-page announcements of 

specific new materials, devices or methods-increased 

by 720 during 1972 to a total of 5,143. Approximately 

1,600,000 copies were distributed to over 100,OO firms, 
research groups and individuals throughout the United 

States. More than 100 significant scientific and technical publications were produced. 

The six NASA-sponsored Regional Dissemination 

Centers-located in Connecticut, Indiana, North 

Carolina, Pennsylvania, New Mexico, and California-continued to expand their subscriber enrollment, 

adding 200 industrial and public sector organizations 

nationally. The services available to the more than 

1,800 clients were increased to include NASA patent 

information and patent licensing assistance. 

The Computer Software and Management Information Center (COSMIC) in Athens, Georgia, increased its computer program inventory to more than 

1,100. A total of 2,499 program tapes and documentation were sold to industrial, university and government 

customers. 

Technology Applications Projects.-The Technology 

Utilization Program’s efforts to apply NASA technology to problems in areas of public concern were 

greatly expanded through the initiation of 31 new applications engineering projects at eight NASA field 

centers. 

Staff scientists and engineers at Marshall Space 

Flight Center, Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Langley 

Research Center are adapting existing NASA technology to improve prosthetic devices for the handicapped, working in conjunction with the Veterans’ 

Administration Hospital (Miami) and Prosthetics 

Center (New York City), Walter Reed and Huntsville hospitals and the National Academy of Science 

Committee on Prosthetics Research and Development. 

Adaptation of NASA power supply technology 

to rechargeable cardiac pacemakers (Goddard 

Space Flight Center- Johns Hopkins University) . Modification of vitreous carbon-graphite compounds for use in bio-compatible devices for implantation (Marshall Space Flight CenterRancho Los Amigos Hospital, Los Angeles) . Application of NASA reliability, quality assurance and safety procedures to medical instrumentation in hospitals (Manned Spacecraft Center-Boeing Co.-Baylor University) . 

A low-cost chemical drug detector using chre 

matography (Ames Research Center with the 

Army Surgeon General and New York City). 

Use of ultrasonic techniques in cataract surgery (Lewis Research Center-Baylor University). 

Several Techndlogy Utilization projects in air pollution have been closely coordinated with EPA. Examples are two projects initiated ( 1 ) to adapt a NASA 

hydrogen detection system to measure hydrocarbons 

and methane concentrations in auto exhausts, smokestack discharge, and ambient air; and (2) to use laser 

30 

Other projects now underway include : 

radar techniques to measure and track hazardous aerosols in the atmosphere in several locations in California. 

Fire safety has received specific program attention 

through projects jointly defined with the National Bureau of Standards Office of Fire Research and Safety 

and with a user design committee representing seven 

major cities. An improved fireman’s self-contained 

breathing apparatus is being developed by the Crew 

Systems Division of the Manned Spacecraft Center. 

Znteragency Cooperation.-A broad range of ties with 

other Federal agencies has been developed or strengthened during 1972. Cooperative arrangements for purposes of technology dissemination have been expanded 

with SBA, AEC, and the National Technical Information Service (U.S. Department of Commerce). In addition to those mentioned, joint project activities have 

been established with the National Eye Institute, National Academy of Engineering, HUD, DOT, Department of Interior, EPA, and U.S. Postal Service. 

Equal Employment Opportunity Program.-To develop a more comprehensive Equal Employment 

Opportunity (EEO) program, EEO was transferred 

from NASA’s Personnel Office and combined with the 

Agency’s Contract Compliance Office to form an independent Equal Employment Opportunity Office, 

reporting to the Associate Administrator for Organization and Management. The new Office will be 

directly responsible to the Administrator and Deputy 

Administrator. 

Research Grants and Contracts 

NASA funded 1,574 project-oriented research grants 

and contracts at 219 universities with obligations of 

$1 19 million to support research related to the mission 

of the Agency. Considerable emphasis this year has 

been placed on science involving unmanned explorations, Earth observations, and aeronautics. The Agency 

made project research grants to 20 predominately 

black colleges and universities in 1972. 

The Office of DOD and Interagency Affairs continued to coordinate and monitor activities involving 

the National Academies of Sciences and Engineering; 

Federal Council for Science and Technology; Interagency Committee for Marine Science and Engineering; Intergovernmental Personnel Act; U.S. Bureau 

of Standards studies on the impact of increased use of 

the international metric system of units; interagency 

activities associated with the Mississippi Test Facility 

where in 1972 the Coast Guard joined other agencies 

in conducting research ; significant foreign activity and 

achievements in aerospace endeavors; and the exchange of technology between NASA and other 

agencies. 
This office also continued to be active in coordinating NASA’s Earth observations programs-remote 

sensing of the environment from aircraft and spacecraft-at the policy level with other agencies including 

the White House, Office of Science and Technology, 

National Aeronautics and Space Council, Department 

of State, Department of Defense, and others. There 

has also been considerable effort in effecting a technology interchange between NASA and other agencies 

in the areas of remote sensing equipment, procedures 

for processing and handling data, and in data interpretation and analysis techiques. 

IV Department of Defense 

Introduction 

Significant progress in space communications and 

technology was a highlight of the Department of Defense space programs for 1972. Launched in 1971, the 

first two satellites of Phase I1 of the Defense Satellite 

Communications System (DSCS) , became operational 

early in 1972, although operational problems with one 

of these satellites later prevented its use. A new development earth terminal was placed into service to extend the operational use of the DSCS. Development 

of the Navy Fleet Satellite Communications System 

continued and the contract for five Atlas-Centaur 

launch vehicles was awarded late in the year. Agreements were negotiated in 1972 with the United Kingdom (U.K.) , NATO, and the Soviet Union. The U.K. 

and NATO agreements provide for the development 

and launch of additional advanced communications 

satellites for use in the U.K. Skynet I1 and NATO 

Phase I11 communications satellite systems. The agreement with the U.S.S.R. provides for the implementation of an improved Direct Communications Link 

(DCL) between the two governments. The Soviet 

Molnyia I1 and the Intelsat communications satellites 

will be used. 

Important milestones were passed in the major 

aeronautics programs. 

The first prototype El bomber aircraft is in final 

assembly while the prototype engine has accumulated 

over 300 test hours toward flight certification. A recent 

design change in the engine nacelles of the El will 

reduce weight and cost with a minor change in aircraft 

performance. Over 500 of the F/FE1 11 aircraft have 

been delivered and the F-I11 force had passed 200,000 

total flying hours by September with the lowest accident rate of any modem day Air Force fighter aircraft. 

First flights of the A-9 and A-10, prototype aircraft 

in the A-X program, occurred in May. The aircraft 

were delivered to the Air Force for the flight evaluation that was completed in December. The Navy F-14 

carrier-based tactical fighter has accumulated over 

1700 flight hours and has successfully fired a variety 

of missiles. The Air Force F-15 advanced tactical 

fighter flew for the first time in July and its development program proceeds on schedule. 

Development of the lightweight fighter prototype 

was continued to determine the feasibility and operational practicality of low cost, high performance, relatively austere fighter aircraft that incorporate new aerodynamic concepts and design ideas. Two contractors 

were selected to design, fabricate, and flight test two 

prototype lightweight fighter aircraft each. The first 

production aircraft of the Navy airborne early waning 

command and control aircraft, the G2C, successfully 

completed its first flight in September, one month 

ahead of schedule. The maiden flight of the new Navy 

carrier-based, anti-submarine aircraft (S-3A) took 

place on January 21, 2 months ahead of schedule. 

The E-3A airborne warning and control system 

(AWACS) will provide command and control of interceptor forces and for sustained air operations. TWO 

competing AWAC radar systems, designed to detect 

low-flying targets in the presence of severe ground clutter, were evaluated and one design was selected 

for further development. The procurement of three 

747 aircraft and the start of development of the advanced electronics for the advanced airborne command post (AABNCP) were approved in October. 

The heavy lift helicopter (HLH) program is intended 

to develop an increased lift capability for rotorcraft. 

Development of a single austere prototype HLH, configured with advanced technology components, started 

in 1972. Engineering development began on the utility 

tactical transport aircraft system (UTTAS) , a helicopter intended specifically for the tzctical troop as31 
sault mission. When in the inventory, this helicopter 

will significantly improve the Army's air mobility. 

Space Activities 

Defense Satellite Communications System.-The mission of the DSCS is to provide secure communications 

in support of critical command, control, intelligence 

and warning needs and to satisfy unique requirements 

of the President, the Department of State and other 

special users. 

Phase I, the Initial Defense Satellite Communications System, was acquired primarily for research and 

development purposes with limited operational use 

a secondary objective. This system continued to provide essential service during the year. These small nonsynchronous, limited capability satellites have greatly 

exceeded their design life and are scheduled to automatically turn off by late 1974. Of the 26 satellites in 

Phase I, 16 are still operational, 5 having failed during 

1972. 

Implementation of the Phase I1 system proceeded 

during the year. The objectives of this phase are to 

provide significantly increased capabilities through the 

development and acquisition of new earth and shipboard terminals, the development and acquisition of 

new modulation devices, and the modification and improvement of earth terminals from Phase I. 

A Phase I1 contract was awarded in early 1969 for 

development and production of six high-power, geostationary satellites for three launches of two each, utilizing Titan IIIC space boosters. The first two Phase I1 

satellites, launched on November 2, 1971, were positioned during 1972 to provide service to Pacific and 

Atlantic users. Due to operational problems encountered with the Pacific satellite, it has been necessary to 

use the lower quality Phase I satellites in its place until 

after mid-1973 when plans call for a Phase I1 satellite 

from the second launch to become available. Corrective technical action is being taken on the four satellites 

for the second and third launches to prevent the operational problems experienced with the first launch 

satellites. 

Phase I Earth terminals were converted for use 

with the Phase I1 satellites and some of the 29 Earth 

terminals were moved to new locations to meet 

changed operational requirements. The Earth terminal modification program to provide increased capability and reliability was continued with a number of 

significant contracts awarded during the year. 

Concomitantly, the Army continued development of 

new Earth 'terminals and put the engineering model of 

a new heavy terminal into operational use to satisfy 

a critical requirement. The Navy continued its program to develop shipboard terminals. In early 1973 

some off-the-shelf shipboard terminals will be installed 

on major command ships for interim service until 

production terminals are availdble from 'the development program. 

A comprehensive study was made to provide a basis 

for future DSCS planning. It examined user requirements in relation to available transmission media, 

identified those that were postulated for fulfillment 

via satellites, and translated them into recommendations for numbers of operational satellites and replenishments as well as numbers, types and locations of 

Earth terminals for the DSCS. 

Fleet Satellite Communications System.-The Fleet 

Satellite Communications System (FLTSATCOM) is 

intended to provide improved communications for 

Navy ships worldwide and, in addition, to satisfy important Air Force communications requirements. Development of the system continued in 1972 and a contract 

for five Atlas-Cen'taur launch vehicles was awarded 

late in the year. The FLTSATCOM is an outgrowth 

of TACSATCIOM, an experimental program to investigate the use of spaceborne communications 

receivers to satisfy selected communications needs 

of our mobile forces. The success achieved in the 

TACSATCOM program has permiltted the use of 

these assets in an interim operational status. The number of ships, shore stations, and aircraft using TAC 

SATCOM terminals increased steadily during the year, 

and there was heavy use of the TACSAT I satellite by 

units of the Navy's 7th Fleet. 

lnternational Cooperation.-The United States has 

developed, procured, and launched several advanced 

communications satellites for the United Kingdom 

(U.K.) and NATO. The U.K.'s Skynet DSCS initially 

achieved full operational status in 1971. By early 1972, 

it had failed, making the U.K. dependent on the 

NATO satellite. The U.S. and the U.K. reached an 

agreement for a new follow-on Skynet I1 program. 

Skynet I1 will consist of two satellites, built by the 

U.K., to be launched by the U.S. in middle to late 

1973. A new agreement is being prepared for a joint 

US.-U.K. milistary communications satellite system 

employing either U.S. Phase I1 DSCS satellites or 

advanced Skynet I11 satellites. 

The NATO Phase I1 communications satellite system became operational in 1972 with the orbit of two 

satellites similar to the U.K. Skynet I. The equipment 

for the 12 Earth terminals is either operational or on 

site and in the final stage of acceptance testing. One 

of the NATO satellites has failed and the U.K. and 

NATO are now sharing the remaining NATO satellite. A new agreement between the U.S. and NATO 

has been approved to cover the development, procurement, and launch of two satellites in a NATO Phase 

I11 communications satellite program. A new agreement with NATO and the U.K. is 'being developed to 

cover use of NATO and U.K. earth terminals by the 
U.S. in return for NATO and U.K. use of U.S. military communications satellites to provide more effective use of the assets of both systems and as a 

contingency against the failure of the remaining 

satellites. 

The United States has continued to participate in 

NATO’s research and development program in tactical 

satellite communications. The effort is part of a cooperative test program using the synchronous Lincoln 

Experimental Satellite 6 and a network of small 

tactical terminals operated by Belgium, Canada, the 

Federal Republic of Germany, Istaly, the Netherlands, 

Norway, the United Kingdom, the United States, and 

the Technical Centre, Supreme Headquarters, Allied 

Powers Europe. 

Policy discussions were successfully concluded between U.S. and U.S.S.R. government representatives 

concerning the implementation of an improved Direct 

Communications Link (DCL) between the two governments. Both the Soviet Molniya I1 and the Intelsat systems will be used. Discussions regarding technical and operating procedures are in progress. Contracts 

for the construction and operation of the U.S. earth 

terminal for use via the Soviet Molniya system and 

for the telegraph coders to meet both US. and 

USSR requirements were awarded. 

Titan ZZZ.-The Titan I11 family of launch vehicles 

continues to serve for the bulk of DOD satellite 

launches. There has been a total of 64 Titan launches, 

and an additional 35 launch vehicles are on order to 

meet firm mission requirements. The first launch of a 

Titan I11 modified to launch a NASA Centaur upper 

stage (the “E” model) is scheduled for January 1974. 

Nauigation Satellite Activity.-The DOD continues 

to emphasize space technology as the means to provide 

precise, worldwide, three-dimensional position and 

velocity data in a common reference grid to passive 

users. 

The Defense Navigation Satellite System (DNSS) 

program represents a major, tri-service effort to develop an advanced navigation capability for the 1980’s. 

DNSS ground-based simulator testing was started at 

White Sands Missile Range in 1972 to confirm the 

attainable accuracies of such a system. Under Air 

Force lead, a major space experiment is planned for 

the late seventies. The Air Force will concentrate upon 

space segment design and cost evaluation and all three 

services will investigate user equipment design, cost, 

and operational value. Civil agency participation in 

the DNSS space experiment is being encouraged. 

In addition to this long-range effort, the Navy is 

investigating potential improvements to the Navy 

Navigation Satellite System (Transit) as an interim, 

near-term, DOD-wide, space-based navaid. Possible 

improvements to the Transit system include: (a) 

more satellites in orbit to improve fix-taking opportunities; (b) a new type of signal in addition to the 

existing doppler signal to reduce the time required to 

get a fix; and, (c) use of a special sensor, called Discos. 

The Discos will detect orbit disturbances caused by 

solar radiation pressure and atmospheric drag and 

compensation of these disturbances can improve system accuracy. The first experimental Discos sensor was 

launched for test in October 1972. 

Space Ground Support 

DOD National Range and Tracking Facilities.- 

Department of Defense space activities are principally 

supported by the Air Force’s Eastern Test Range, Western Test Range, and Satellite Control Facility, and by 

the Army’s White Sands Missile Range. These facilities 

are available to other government agencies that may 

require ‘this kind of support. 

Eastern Test Range (ETR).-The Air Force’s ETR 

provides launch range data ‘acquisition support and 

range safety for DOD space and missile operations 

originating from the Cape Kennedy area. Support is 

extended to other users on a reimbursable basis. 

The ETR is now in the early phases of modernization of the range instrumentation complex to achieve 

simpler operation, improve efficiency, and reduce costs. 

White Sands Missile Range (WSMR).-This range 

provides ground support to DOD and NASA Aeronautics and Space programs, including radar, photooptical, real-time trajectory, and telemetry services for 

a wide variety of programs. 

The programs supported include the NASA-WSMR 

Test Facility, the newly operational Tethered Balloon 

Facility, the Skylab Calisbration Rocket Program, 

the Rendezvous Radar Program, and the Viking 

Lander Deceleration System in a simulated Martian 

environment. A new 5-year agreement for support of 

NASA activities at WSMR was signed in June. 

Satellite Contro2 Facility.-During 1972, the increased 

complexity of satellite systems was reflected in a heavier 

workload. Studies, analysis and basic system design 

work were undertaken to increase the data handling 

and communications capability, the reliability, and the 

responsiveness of the overall satellite control system. 

The second of three new 46-foot antennas was completed at the Hawaiian Tracking Station, and facilities 

work for the third antenna began at (the Vandenberg 

Tracking Station. 

‘Western Test Range (WTR) .-Under the operational control of the Air Force’s Space and Missile Test 

Center (SAMTEC) , the WTR provides data acquisition and safety support for all space vehicles and bal33 
listic missiles launched from Vandenberg Air Force 

Base, Calif. 

Thc range’s instrumented ship fleet was further reduced by the deactivation of the general support ship, 

the USNS Watertowx, in early 1972, leaving only the 

USNS Huntsville Operational. Work is in progress to 

refine range instrumentation and to consolidate facilities and operational support functions. The range 

terminal site in the Phoenix Islands is essentially complete. The new midcourse radar at Kaena Pt., Oahu, 

Hawaii, will be operational in January 1973. 

Aeronautics Activities 

B-I Bomber Program.-The B-1 bomber program is 

on schedule. The first of the three prototype aircraft is 

in final assembly and the manufacture and testing of 

the static and fatigue components has begun. The prototype engine for the B-1 has accumulated over 300 

actual test hours completed towards flight certification 

and the initial four flight-test engines are being 

manufactured. 

As a result of a design change to the engine nacelles, 

total aircraft weight and manufacturing cats will be 

reduced. The design change improved the aircraft’s 

performance in its primary mission in the subsonic regime with a slight degradation of performance in the 

supersonic regime and is in keeping with the established philosophy of continuing to assess cost and 

performance trades throughout the development program. The planned flight test program has been extended to 15 months prior to a production commitment in order to accommodate increased testing of the 

offensive avionics subsystem. 

F/FB-111 Aircraft.-Development and production of 

the 550 currently authorized F/FB-111 aircraft are 

nearing completion with over 500 aircraft having been 

delivered. All of the F-111As and Es and all of the 

FB-111s have been delivered and are combat ready 

with the operational commands. The first squadron 

of F-11 1Ds achieved its initial operational capability 

in September 1972 and all of the D series will be delivered early in 1973. The F-l 11F wing became combat ready in November 1972. By September 1972, the 

F-111 force had amassed over 200,000 total flying 

hours with a lower accident rate than any other modem day Air Force fighter aircraft. 

A-7D Attack Airplane.-Production deliveries of the 

A-7D aircraft to the third wing at England AFB are 

continuing. The first operational wing deployed from 

Myrtle Beach AFB to the Pacific area in October 1972. 

The second wing achieved combat ready status at 

Davis Monthan AFB, where crews are receiving training in the A-7D. The highlight of this airplane’s oper34 

ational experience to date is the outstanding accuracy 

of weapons delivery. 

A-X Program.-The Air Force completed the competitive prototype development of the A-X, a spcialized aircraft to provide close air support for ground 

combatants. The A-X design requirements stress responsiveness, maneuverability, survivability, and simplicity combined with low cost. 

The development program is being conducted in 

accordance with the fly-before-buy and design-to-cost 

concepts to insure that the systems performance goals 

are demonstrated and that the cost goals are shown to 

be achievable before large sums of development and 

production money are invested. First fights d the A-9 

and A-10 prototype aircraft took place in May 1972 

at the Air Force Flight Test Center, Edwards AFB, 

Calif. Both contractor flight test programs progressed 

rapidly and satisfactorily and were completed in October and the prototype aircraft were delivered to the 

Air Force for the flight evaluation that was completed 

in December 1972. 

F-I4 Carrier-Based Tactical Fighter.-By November, 

the F-14, a new advanced carrier-based tactical fighter, 

had accumulated 860 flights and 1,700 flight hours 

among the 19 aircraft that are flying. In tests, the F-14 

has successfully fired Phoenix, Sparrow, and Sidewinder missiles and the installed 20mm guns. The 

F-14A, with its capability to simultaneously engage 

multiple targets, will fill the Fleet Air Defense role and 

carry out other fighter missions. The first two squadrons have been commissioned and are training in preparation for delivery of the aircraft. 

F-15 Advanced Tactical Fighter.-The F-15 is being 

developed as an air superiority fighter to counter the 

threat predicted for the late 1970’s and early 1980’s. 

The program continues to proceed on schedule and 

within planned costs. The first F-15 flight was on July 

27, 1972, at the Air Force Fight Test Center, Edwards 

AFB, Calif.; and the flight test program has progressed 

very well. Highlights include the achievement of the 

Initial Aircraft Performance Milestone 6 weeks ahead 

of schedule. 

Lightweight Fighter Prototype Program.-The Lightweight Fighter Prototype program is an Air Force 

advanced development in which the advantages of 

emerging technology are explored with a view to reducing the risks and uncertainties of full scale developments. This prototype program will determine the 

feasibility and operational practicality of low cost, high 

performance, relatively austere fighter aircraft that incorporate new aerodynamic concepts and design ideas. 

In April 1972, two contractors were selected to design, 

fabricate, and flight test two prototype fighter aircraft 
each. Design and performance goals were selected to 

emphasize the very high maneuverability required for 

close-in visual air combat. Configuration designs are 

nearly complete and fabrication of components has 

begun. 

S-3 Carrier Based Anti-Submarine Warfare Aircraft.-In 1972, the Navy executed a contract for the 

first 13 production S-3A aircraft. The S-3A, with its 

crew of four is equipped with the latest ASW sensors 

which are integrated for optimum effectiveness by a 

digital computer. The first aircraft made its maiden 

flight on January 21,1972,2 months ahead of schedule. 

At present there are four S-3A aircraft flying with an 

accumulated flight time of over 500 hours. So far all 

project milestones have been met and no major problems have been encountered. 

E-2C Airborne Early Warning Command and Control Aircraft.-The initial production model of the 

E-2C, the Navy's latest aircraft of this type, successfully completed its first flight on Septemlber 23, 1972, 

one full month ahead of schedule. This latest version 

d the 62 family incorporates an entirely new avionics 

system that uses the most recent technological advances. The major objectives of the E-2C program are 

to improve overall reliability; to increase operational 

utility and flexibility; and to improve radar performance. Two preproduction prototypes ,that have been 

flying since January 1971 have accumulated almost 

1,500 flight hours, and actual performance indicates 

that all specifications have been met or exceeded. 

E3A Airborne Warning and Control Systems 

(A WACS).-Two competing radars, designed to 

detect low-flying targets in the presence of severe 

ground clutter, were evaluated in 1972. One design was 

selected for further development. This radar, when 

mated with the other mission avionics, has demonstrated that it is capable of extended low-, medium-, 

and high-altitude surveillance over both land and 

water. Design of the total warning and control system 

will continue in 1973. 

Advanced Airborne Command Post (AA BNCP).- 

The AABNCP is planned to provide a significantly 

improved, survivable command and control facility 

to support the National Command Authorities (NCA) 

in the event of a general war. These aircrafit will 'accommodate larger battle staffs and the necessary data 

processing and communications equipment to enable 

the NCA to control our general war forces effectively 

and flexibly throughout international crisis situations. 

The procurement of three 747 aircraft and the start 

of the development of the advanced electronic configuration of the AABNCP were approved in October 

1972. Two of the 747s will be configured as interim 

National Emergency Airborne Command Posts 

(NEACP) by transferring the equipment from the 

EC-135s that they will replace. The third 747 will be 

used first as a test bed to support development of the 

advanced configuration and then will become the 

first operational Advanced NEACP. 

Heavy Lift Helicopter (HLH).-The goal of the 

HLH program is to develop a tandem rotor, cranetype helicopter designed to carry bulky cargo weighing 

22.5 tons, more than twice that of any current free 

world helicopter. With fuel and range tradeoffs, it 

will carry all tactical Land logistical cargo of the 1980's 

time frame except tanks. Development of advanced 

technology components for the HLH, such as the flight 

control system, rotor drive system, and cargo handling 

system, has been underway since 1971. Last year a program was approved to test these advanced technology 

components in a single austere prototype in order to 

verify that HLH technology is in hand and that mission requirements can be met. 

Utility Tactical Transport Aircraft System 

(UTTAS).-The UTTAS will be the first true infantry squad assault helicopter. This development will 

result in significant improvements in maintainability, 

reliability, survivability, and performance, enabling reductions in personnel and operating costs from those 

required for an equal capability UH-1 fleet. UTTAS 

will replace the UH-1 in assault helicopter, air cavalry, 

and aeromedical evacuation units. Contracts for engine and airframe development were awarded during 

1972. 

Advanced Attack Helicopter.-In November 1972 the 

Army solicited bids on a development program for an 

Advanced Attack Helicopter (AAH) . This new start 

program will respond to an updated requirement for 

a helicopter which is more agile, somewhat smaller, 

possesses good low speed and hover performance, is 

more survivable and less costly than Cheyenne (program terminated in August 1972). This competitive 

posture, technological 'and producibility advances in 

the helicopter industry, and prudent cost/performance 

goals will assure the most cost effective AAH for support of ground combat missions. 

Supporting Research and Development 

Space Vehicle Subsystems Technology Program.- 

The aim of this program is to develop and demonstrate 

satellite subsystems technology that will be essential 

to DOD space missions in the 1975-1985 time period. 

To meet advanced mission requirements, efforts are 

being made to reduce the volume and weight of satellite subsystems and to improve their performance and 

survivability, and lengthen their lifetime. 
A 1.5 kilowatt, flexible, roll-up type, solar array has 

been tested in earth orbit since 1971. This high performance array demonstrates that the technology is 

available to reduce weight and volume of existing solar 

cell array subsystems by one-half. 

Space Test Program.-On October 2, the Space Test 

Program successfully launched a satellite into earth 

orbit carrying 'the Defense Advanced Research Project 

Agency (DARPA) gamma ray spectrometer and four 

other experimental payloads. A refurbished Atlas F 

with a Burner I1 upper stage was the launch vehicle 

under this program. Advanced development payloads 

are tested in space orbit to evaluate their potential 

contribution to new or improved space systems. 

DARPASOl Space Experiment.-This experiment 

was designed to investigate the earth's radiation characteristics by means of a high-resolution gamma ray 

spectrometer on a satellite platform. These spectrometers, plus five charged particle detectors, were configured to measure the radiation background in space 

as seen in polar orbit at an altitude of 400 nautical 

miles. One spectrometer operated successfully foi 

10 days and obtained an excellent mapping of the 

radiation background over rhe entire earth. 

Remote Sensing Oceanography.-There is a continuing need for oceanographic information throughout 

the world, both to increase the effectiveness of military 

operations and to provide information for safe navigation. Remote sensing from aircraft and satellite platforms offers one means of obtaining oceanographic 

data over ocean areas in a timely and economical 

manner. 

The Navy is developing airborne and satellite oceanographic remote sensing techniques to aid in the collection of environmental data. Data from NASA, 

NOAA, and DOD satellite programs has been used 

to investigate the feasibility of interpreting and analyzing ocean and sea-ice features on a global scale. 

Studies of sea-ice features in polar regions for the 

purpose of long- and short-term ice forecasting were 

accompanied by pilot experiments in interpreting satellite infrared imagery in selected ocean areas for sea 

surface thermal pattern recognition as an aid to forecasting water mass identification. 

Advanced Control Rocket Technology.-The purpose 

of the Army program on advanced monopropellant 

control rockets is to develop and demonstrate the 

critical technology associated with exoatmospheric 

positioning of missiles and space vehicles. In 1972, this 

program emphasized experiments aimed at determining the ability of hydrazine monopropellant rockets to 

produce high thrust from a minimum rocket volume. 

A twofold increase in thrust/volume ratio was demonstrated in heavy weight hardware. In another series of 

experiments the performance of monopropellant 

blends designed to extend the operational temperature 

range of control rockets was characterized. This work 

is closely coordinated with NASA. 

Advanced Aircraft Propulsion.-The Air Force advanced development program in aircraft propulsion 

has the goal of demonstrating advanced propulsion 

system design concepts to insure their timely, low-risk 

application into future aircraft systems. This work was 

formerly done as the Aircraft Propulsion Subsystem 

Integration ( APSI) and Advanced Turbine Engine 

Gas Generator (ATEGG) programs, which are now 

separate projects under this program. The consolidated 

program now covers the advanced development of the 

entire propulsion system. In addition, this program 

is developing advanced technology directed toward reducing the cost of developing, acquiring, and operating future propulsion systems. 

Under the ATEGG project, the core of the engine 

is developed and tested in a realistic environment to 

demonstrate new technology and advanced design concepts. A secondary objective of this program-is to help 

maintain a solid competitive industrial base from which 

to procure advanced engines for future weapon systems. 

The APSI project encompasses the total propulsion 

system from the inlet through the nozzle. This includes 

developing the turbine-engine components for both 

isolated testing and testing with the ATEGG cores in a 

full demonstration of advanced engine technology. 

Current work on turbine-engine components includes the application of high-temperature and composite materials in advanced engine design. Advanced 

fan and control components also are being developed 

to be compatible with ATEGG hardware. 

These programs served as a base line for evaluation 

of the F-15 and E1 propulsion systems and, more 

recently, the propulsion systems for the Lightweight 

Fighter Prototype program. 

Navy effort in advanced aircraft propulsion is integrated with the ATEGG program and covers the 

development of components for high-temperature engines, advanced lift engines, composite engines for the 

high-speed flight regime, and advanced augmentation 

systems. 

A major goal is to increase gas turbine engine operating temperatures to gain maximum cycle efficiency. Such engines could produce optimum thrust for 

takeoff and high-speed flight and benefit from optimum fuel economy for cruise. In addition to their inherent operational flexibility, these high-temperature 

engines will be of minimum size and weight for a given 

output. 

Development of the technology required for lightweight, compact engines for vertical/short take-off 
and landing (V/STOL) aircraft is another major 

effort. Inlet ducting and exhaust nozzles based on 

advanced system analysis will be developed to achieve 

the technology for ultralight, reliable, high-performance lift and lift-cruise engines. 

The Army’s aeronautical propulsion research and 

technology program differs from that of the Air Force 

and the Navy in that it is aimed specifically at the lower 

power spectrum. The results of the Army’s componenttechnology work, in the form of small centrifugal compressors, combustors, axial turbines, accessories and 

integral inlet separators, resulted in significant reductions in engine weight, size, and specific fuel consumption. This technology is being applied to the T-700 

engine for the UTTAS. 

In the Small Turbine Advanced Gas Generator 

(STAGG) program, contracts were awarded in November 1971, with four contractors participating in a 

36-month core engine demonstration program. The 

configuration design phase was completed in October 

1972. This advanced development will include the 

integration of essential gas generator components for 

engine environment tests. STAGG technology will support future Army aircraft and auxiliary powerplants 

in the range of 200 to 1000 shp. 

Composite Materials for Military Aircraft. -A major 

portion of the Army’s materials research program addresses problems involved in improving the performance of rotary-wing aircraft. The use of manufacturing techniques for computerizing the production of 

fber-reinforced plastic composite rotor blades will 

result in advanced-geometry airfoils that have uniform properties as well as optimized aeroelastic 

characteristics. 

Materials processes, specifications and properties 

have been established so that fiberglass-reinforced composite rotor blades can be produced with confidence. 

Advantages include reduced weight, reduced corrosion 

problems, reduced operation and maintenance cost, 

longer structural life (3,000 +hours), and decreased 

vulnerability to ballistic damage. For example, both of 

the UTTAS designs will use fiberglass skin on the rotor 

blades and much of the secondary structures and fairing are either fiberglass or an organic fiber composite 

that result in significant weight savings. One of the 

UTTAS systems is using a fiberglass-elastic pitch beam 

rotor that not only saves weight but eliminates mechancial moving parts, thus reducing maintenance requirements and total system costs. 

The Navy will also acquire flight experience through 

service operational demonstrations of composite materials. A horizontal stabilizer and a flap for the A-4 

aircraft were built out of graphite epoxy and successfully tested in the laboratory. Their actual flight evaluation will include weathering properties, lightning protection, tolerance to battle damage and the repairability in the fleet environment. 

Advancing Blade Concept (ABC) Demonstrator 

Vehicle.-The ABC rotor system consists of two coaxial, contrarotating, rigid rotors that utilize the aerodynamic lift on the advancing side of each rotor disc to 

gain full lift capability without incurring penalties 

imposed by the retreating blade. A significant improvement in lift capability for a given size rotor system is 

expected. An additional advantage of this concept is 

the elimination of a conventional tail rotor and related 

components. The Army started a program in December 1971, to develop and flight demonstrate the ABC 

concept. Flight tests will investigate this rotor‘s highspeed and low vulnerability characteristics and its 

flight maneuverability without tail rotor. Preliminary 

and detail designs of the demonstrator vehicle were 

completed in April and November 1972, respectively. 

The ABC vehicle’s first hover flight is scheduled for 

August 1973. 

V/STOL Aircraft Operations.-The Navy has negotiated a Memorandum of Understanding with representatives of the Governments of Canada and the 

United Kingdom to investigate the potential of V/ 

STOL aircraft lto achieve an operational instrument 

flight capability. The memorandum covers the installation and flight evaluation of a British electronic display system in a Canadian CL-84 V/STOL aircraft. 

The program will include approximately 100 hours of 

flight test at the Naval Air Test Center, Patuxent River, 

Md. over a 12-month period, and is intended to provide 

essential data on display and control requirements 

for operating V/STOL aircraft in confined areas. 

Through this cooperative effort, the cost of the program to each participating government is minimized. 

Survivable Flight Control System (SFCS) .-The first 

flight-test activity in the SFCS program was SUCCSSfully completed on September 8, 1972. For the first 

time in the US., an all-electrical flight control system 

designed to function independently of a mechanical 

control system was flight tested in a high performance 

tactical fighter. This kind of system, commonly referred to as fly-by-wire, offers the advantages of more precise control of the aircraft’s flight path, lower system 

cost, and less weight and volume. 

In 25 flights on the F-4 test aircraft all the SFCS 

performance objectives have been met. The performance and reliability demonstrated by the SFCS through 

September were good enough to justify removing the 

backup mechanical flight control system from the aircraft. The first flight of the aircraft without the mechanical system took place in November 1972. 

37 
Remotely Piloted Vehicles (RPV).-The objective of 

this program is to develop small, lightweight, low-wt, 

remotely piloted vehicles, with appropriate day/night 

sensor combinations, to perform weapons and combat 

support functions for battlefield commanders. Selected 

vehicle and sensor combinations, including associated 

propulsion, command and control, and data transmission systems are being investigated. Specific tasks in 

the continuing program are investigations of fixed and 

rotary wing concepts, electric and gas-driven propulsion systems, new concepts in autopilots and stabilization systems, methods of tracking and accurately 

locating the RPVs in space, methods of reducing observables (Le., visual, aural, radar, and infrared), secure data link techniques, and the development of 

tactical mission scenarios. 

Relationship With Other Government Agencies 

The Department of Defense continued its close 

coordination and cooperation with other government 

agencies by means of interagency committees, joint use 

of facilities, and joint test programs. 

Aeronautics and Astronautics Coordinating Board 

(AACB).-The AACB, the principal formal coordinating body between rhe DOD and NASA, met three 

times during the year. Working principally through its 

five panels, the Board continued planning for large 

aeronautical facilities, examined ways to better correlate NASA and DOD aeronautical planning; approved the selection of Atlas/Centaur for launch of 

Navy Fleet Satellite Communication payloads; examined planned DOD and NASA facilities before inclusion in the President’s Budget; and devoted special 

effort to joint DOD and NASA studies and plans to 

reduce the cost of future space systems. 

Space Shuttle.-The Space Shuttle being developed 

by NASA offers the potential of improving the means 

of conducting space operations because of its flexibility, 

capability, and lower operational costs. During the past 

year, the DOD has continued to work closely with 

NASA to define our requirements and to conduct 

analyses and to make plans that will help assure that 

the Shuttle is developed to meet the needs of both 

NASA and the DOD. 

Studies so far indicate that the Shuttle’s capability to 

recover payloads and refurbish or repair them for reuse could represent a considerable economy in space 

activities. They also indicate that the system could add 

flexibility and capability in the performance of the 

DOD mission. As NASA’s design progresses and rhe 

operational concepts, capabilities and costs are better 

defined, the utility of the system to the DOD will be 

more fully explored. 

Rotor Systems Research Aircraft (RSRA) .-In 1971, 

the Army and NASA entered into a formal agreement 

to develop and test the RSRA for subsequent use in 

aeronautical research and development. The versatile 

RSRA design will permit timely and economical flight 

research on new rotor concepts, rotorcraft components 

and subsystems, and composite material structures in 

a common test bed. Predesign studies of the research 

aircraft were completed in August 1972 and feashility 

testing of critical components for the RSRA concept 

is continuing. 

Aerospace Feeding Systems.-The Army’s Natick 

Laboratories participated in the Skylab Food Evaluation Team’s final review of Skylab food specifications. Flight-qualification tests were completed on 

flexibly packaged, thermally stabilized meats that were 

furnished to NASA for use in the Apollo 16 mission. 

Samples of a nutritionally balanced, flexibly packaged 

fruitcake and two lots of irradiated ham have been 

produced, subjected to flight qualification tests, and 

furnished to NASA for screening for the Apollo 17 

flight. 

Medical Projects.-The Naval Aerospace Medical 

Research Laboratory at Pensacola, Fla., conducts a 

wide range of studies in aeronautics and space-related 

medicine. Vestibular studies deal with the calibration 

of susceptibility to motion sickness, adaptation and 

training at normal gravity to overcome motion sickness 

in the weightless condition, and the development of 

hardware to test vestibular function in flight. Study of 

methods for evaluating the vector cardiogram under 

weightless conditions for Skylab and the effects of enhancing tolerance to gravitational forces by the use 

of lower body negative pressure are continuing. 

Flight Test Support.-The Air Force Flight Test 

Center, Edwards AFB, Calif., supported NASA in the 

test of two supercritical-wing projects-the YF-12 and 

the X-24 lifting body. Planning has begun to test 

the NASA Viking (Mars Landing Vehicle), scale 

flying models for the F-15, and the X-24B advanced 

lifting body. 

38 
V Atomic Energy Commission 

Introduction 

Efforts continued during 1972 on the development of 

space nuclear power systems for future space applications. Highlight events include the following: 

Space Nuchar Power.-Last two SNAP-27 radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTG) placed in operation on the Moon by Apollo 16 and 17 astronauts, 

Four modified SNAP-19 RTG's launched on the 

Pioneer 10 spacecraft in March 1972. Transit RTG, 

developed for the Navy's Transit Improvement Program, successfully launched in September 1972, into 

orbit and providing stable power for navigation satellite. Multi Hundred Watt (MHW) Generator successfully demonstrated capability to withstand launch vibration levels associated with the Lincoln Experimental Satellite (LES) launch in 1974. AEC accepted commitment to provide MHW RTG for Mariner Jupiter/ 

Saturn outerplanet missions scheduled for 1977. Engineering design selected for the AEC/NASA long-lived 

5 KWe uranium-zirconium hydride reactor/thermoelectric power system. 

Space Nuclear Propulsion.-Completed first operation 

of Nuclear Furnace at 4400' R for 108 minutes. Successful first operation of high temperature, hydrogen 

gas, fission product cleaning system. Developed high 

fidelity manipulators approaching dexterity of man. 

Completed early preliminary design of small nuclear 

rocket engine. Completed mid-term report on advanced propulsion comparison study. 

Space Electric Power 

The objective of the joint AEC-NASA space electric 

power program is to provide operational systems and 

advanced technology development which will satisfy 

the needs for nuclear electric power in space applications. During 1972, the major emphasis was on operational isotope power systems for near-term NASA and 

DOD space applications. Some effort was also continued on isotope and reactor power system technology 

areas which are candidates for future space missions. 

Space Radioisotope Power Systems 

SNAP-27/ALSEP.-The Apollo 16 and 17 astronauts placed two additional SNAP-27 powered Apollo 

Lunar Surface Experiment Package (ALSEP) stations on the lunar surface in April and December of 

this year. They joined the three p;evious SNAP-27 

RTG's left on their respective missions, to complete 

the nuclear-powered ALSEP network which is expected 

to transmit data from the lunar surface for many years 

to come. All five SNAP-27 RTG's continue to operate extremely well, including the first unit deployed 

during the Apollo 12 mission in November, 1969, which 

has operated over three times its design lifetime requirement. The long lifetime capability of the RTG's is 

allowing the network of experiment packages to pre 

vide compounded scientific data about the moon which 

would not have been possible without the RTG's and 

which will extend the benefits of the Apollo program 

well beyond rhe last planned lunar landing of Apollo 

17. 

SNAP-lS/Pioneer.-The use of nuclear energy to 

enhance the exploration of space passed another milestone with the launch of Pioneer 10 in March 1972. 

This spacecraft, which is scheduled to pass by Jupiter 

in December 1973, receives its electricity for data collection and transmission from four modified SNAP-19 

RTG's. Each Plutonium-238 fueled generator is designed to provide at least 30 watts of electrical power 

at the time the spacecraft completes its 21-month 

journey to the nearest of the outer planets. The spacecraft has successfully traversed most of its path through 

the unknown hazards of the asteroid belt with all systems, especially the RTG's, functioning as well or 

better than expected. The nuclear-powered Pioneer 10 

is expected to continue to transmit information well 

beyond Jupiter as it follows a course of escape from 

the solar system. Four additional RTG's have been 

fabricated and delivered to NASA for use on a similar 

Jupiter fly-by mission of Pioneer G scheduled for 

launch in April 1973. 

Transit RTG.-A 5-year, 30-watt RTG is the electrical power supply for an experimental Transit navigation satellite which was launched on September 2, 

1972, as a part of the Navy's continuing Transit Improvement Program. The RTG continues to operate as 

expected in space. Preliminary discussions on providing RTG's to the Navy for their follow-on Satellite 

program were initiated. 

39 
MHW/LES 8 AND 9.-In 1971, the AEC accepted 

a requirement to provide modular Multi-Hundred 

Watt (MHW) RTGs which were currently under development for use on the DOD’s Lincoln Experimental 

Satellites (LES 8 and 9) to be launched in 1974. The 

final design of the SiGe generator was selected and 

verified by dynamic testing during 1972. Extensive 

analysis and testing was conducted to support the design and safety of the high temperature heat source. 

Each satellite will carry two RTG’s designed to produce 

125 watts each after 5 years of operation. These MHW 

RTG’s are designed to improve the performance, safety 

and versatility of Plutonium-238 fueled generators at 

a power level twice that of previously launched generators. 

MHW/M]S-77.-The versatility of the MHW RTG 

will be demonstrated by its use on the NASA Mariner 

JupiterJSaturn (MJS-77) fly-by missions in 1977. 

These outerplanet missions, which have been substituted for the previously planned Grand Tour missions, 

will require three MHW RTGs per spacecraft with 

mission lifetimes of 5-9 years. 

SNAP-I9/Viking.-Minor design modifications and 

environmental testing of the SNAP-19 RTG’s were 

continued to meet the requirements of the NASA Viking Mars Lander missions scheduled for launch in 

1975. Two 35 watt RTG’s will provide the electrical 

power required to operate the Lander on the surface 

of Mars for an extended period of time. 

Low Cost RTG Studies.-Studies were conducted in 

cooperation with the U.S. Air Force to define an RTG 

power system for operational military communication satellites which provides the reliability, compactness, and environmental insensitivity of RTGs at a 

lower cost. Increased emphasis is being placed on lessexpensive, more available space fuels, such as Curium244, and on lower-cost power conversion systems. 

Standardized Nuclear Powered Spacecraft.-A preliminary study was completed which demonstrated 

the feasibility of satisfying practically all NASA and 

DOD earth orbital missions planned for the 1979- 

1990 time period, when the space shuttle is expected to 

be available, with a few standardized, modularized, 

isotope or reactor powered spacecraft. The versatility 

of a nuclear-powered spacecraft for missions to be 

flown at any orbit altitude or inclination is permitted 

by the insensitivity of the design to its location in orbit 

with respect to the Sun, the Earth, and the radiation 

belts. This is not possible with a solar dependent spacecraft design. The extension of the standardization and 

multiple use of space equipment to a step beyond the 

launch vehicle (shuttle) to include the spacecraft, on 

which the mission dependent equipment is carried, is 

40 

expected to derive significant cost-savings in the area 

of design, test and qualification of tailor-made spacecraft designs. These systems traditionally have been a 

major fraction of space program costs, so that more 

space missions could be accomplished within the same 

funding availability. Further studies are continuing to 

build upon this standard nuclear spacecraft approach. 

Space Reactor Power Systems 

UZrH Reactor/Thermoelectric Technology.-The 

AEC and NASA are jointly developing the technology 

for a long-lived, uranium zirconium hydride reactor 

heat source coupled with a compact thermoelectric 

power conversion system to provide from five to twenty 

KW of electrical power for space applications. The 

reactor/thermoelectric power system would be a low 

cost candidate for high-powered unmanned military 

and communication satellites. Air Force studies have 

selected this type of power system for possible use in 

a future military satellite program which is still undergoing review in the DOD. A similar, but heavier, 

shielded version of the reactor/thermoelectric system 

has been extensively studied and could be used in 

manned space missions of the future. A high-powered 

version of a standard nuclear spacecraft is being studied 

which employs the reactor/thermoelectric system. The 

joint NASA/AEC technology program uses the AEC 

developed reactor technology and the compact tubular 

thermoelectric technology which has been under development for many years. The program is aimed at 

demonstrating, in a ground test, the 5-year life capability of such a system. During 1972, components were 

tested and the design of the five KW system to be 

tested at the Santa Susana Reactor Test Facility in 

1977 was selected. AEC is responsible for the nuclear 

components while NASA is responsible for the nonnuclear components and the overall system engineering. 

Thermionic Reactor/Nuclear Electric Propulsion.- 

The in-core thermionic reactor power system is under 

development for applications which require more than 

a few 10’s of KW, such as in high performance nuclear 

electric propulsion missions to the outer planets or to 

perform comet rendezvous missions, such as with Halley’s Comet in the mid-eighties. The key component 

of such a power system is the thermionic fuel element. 

Therefore, current emphasis in the program has been 

toward developing this thermionic fuel element for 

long lifetimes. During 1972, a milestone was achieved 

by passing the 5,000-hour life tests of a full scale 

thermionic fuel element. Useful lifetimes of 10,000 to 

20,000 hours are required for most of the high performance nuclear electric propulsion missions being 

contemplated. An example of a possible application of 

thermionic power for electric propulsion is to propel 

an unmanned spacecraft to rendezvous in 1985 with 
Halley's Comet, which passes near the earth every 76 

years. This would be a mission of unique scientific 

interest, and it would require the high energy propulsion capabilities offered by the nuclear electric propulsion system. When developed, the thermionic fuel 

element may also provide a useful power capability for 

underwater or special terrestrial applications. 

Space Nuclear Propulsion 

For several years, and through the start of 1972, the 

major objective of the joint AEC-NASA space nuclear 

propulsion program was the development of a 75,000- 

pound thrust NERVA engine for a variety of space 

flight missions. The program also included a variety of 

advanced research and technology activities designed 

to support NERVA development, to extend the performance of the solid-core nuclear rocket reactor and 

to explore novel concepts for applying fusion and fission to propulsion. 

In February, 1972, as a result of a reassessment of the 

national space program, the planned missions for which 

the NERVA engine was intended were deferred and 

the decision was made to cancel the NERVA program. 

During 1972, a comprehensive comparison study 

was initiated, and is now in progress, of the various 

competitive candidate systems for a variety of future 

potential missions of the 1980's and 1990's, including 

the outerplanet exploration missions. These studies involve not only performance comparisons but also technological status, development and recurring costs and 

mission and spacecraft considerations. The studies will 

permit the evaluation of relative merit of the various 

systems based on a consistent set of data and will determine both the long and short range benefits of the 

introduction of advanced propulsion into the space 

flight programs. 

In addition to the advanced propulsion comparison 

studies, work continued at the Los Alamos Scientific 

Laboratory to define the design of a small nuclear 

rocket engine. This engine design will incorporate the 

same basic technology that the NERVA engine used 

and will also draw upon the Los Alamos experience 

with the small Pewee reactors that they have designed 

and tested in the past few years. This successful Pewee 

experience has demonstrated that engines of this 

smaller size are feasible and that for the missions of the 

early 1980's very high performance can be achieved. 

Advanced Research and Technology Activities.-The 

Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory (LASL) has been 

conducting a broad range of research and technology 

activities on solid-core reactors for propulsion. Fuel 

element and materials technology represent the key 

pacing activities in this program. The reactor core 

materials goal is operation at 2700 K in a hydrogen 

atmosphere and ability to withstand large temperature gradients and many thermal cycles. 

Two principal efforts are underway at LASL to 

upgrade reactor performance and improve relidbility 

of the fuel elements. These have to do with test techniques to improve fuel-element performance and the 

development of new fuel-element concepts for higher 

temperature capability. Initial tests of new fuel element 

design innovations are generally conducted in the laboratory in electrically-heated corrosion furnaces. Tests 

conducted during the year in these furnaces indicate 

major gains in time and temperature were possible 

with composite fuel materials. In May, June, and July 

of this year, the first test series utilizing the Lus Alamos 

Nuclear Furnace design was conducted at the Nuclear 

Rocket Development Station in Nevada. The nuclear 

furnace gives a capability of testing a relatively small 

number of fuel elements in a nuclear reactor environment and provides an improved simulation of the reactor environment as compared to electric furnace 

testing. The NF-1 contained 49 fuel elements of the 

graphite/carbide composite variety. Because this test 

was the first test of the nuclear furnace, its purpose 

was primarily to explore the furnace operating 

characteristics. 

Test results demonstrated the Nuclear Furnace design was suitable for the evaluation of reactor fuel elements and related hardware and provided good test 

data (108 minutes at MOO Rankine) of the composite 

test components. The test also demonstrated the successful operation of a new exhaust effluent cleanup system for both particulate and gaseous fission products. 

The next step in the program to advance solid-core 

reactor technology is to fabricate and test Nuclear 

Furnace No. 2 (NF-2). The test goals for this experiment are ambitious and include test operation of up to 

two hours at fuel element exit gas temperatures of 

4.900' Rankine. 

In addition to the work on composite fuel materials 

and hardware, research also continued at Los Alamos 

on the solid-solution uranium carbide-zirconium carbides which exhibit little or no free carbon. This material continues to show great promise for large increases 

in nuclear rocket performance, beyond that of presently available technology. Various candidate fabrication processes have been evaluated at Los Alamos and 

many prototype fuel elements have been fabricated. 

Testing of prototypes in hot hydrogen resulted in low 

weight loss at temperatures up to 2700" K. There appears to be potential for very high temperature operation with very long lifetimes. Some tests have achieved 

up to 30 hours of successful operation. Research will 

continue to improve methods of fabrication and 

evaluate the performance of these materials. 

41 
Department of State 

Introduction 

Expansion of international space cooperation in support of foreign policy objectives and the National 

Aeronautics and Space Act was again a matter df 

high priority to the Department of State during 1972. 

Attention continued to be focused during the year 

both on expanded cooperation with individual countries and on space endeavors with multilateral and international organizations. 

Progress in international space &airs during 1972 

included discussions with foreign officials on participation in major new US. space programs in the 1970’s 

and 1980’s, increased cooperative activities with the 

Soviet Union, increased international cooperation in 

communications satellite systems, several new bilateral 

space cooperation agreements, and a very definite expansion of interest and activities in earth resources 

satellite programs. 

On October 9 the President announced a policy for 

launch assistance to other countries and international 

organizations. Under the terms of this new policy, 

reimbursable launch services will be provided for satellites which are for peaceful purposes and are consistent 

with obligations under relevant international arrangements. The availability of these services makes it pasible for all nations to have access under equal conditions to the advantages of space applications. 

Activities within the United Nations.-On July 23, 

1972 the United States successfully launched ERTS-1, 

the first experimental satellite designed to survey earth 

resources and environment. In addition to the extensive international participation in experimental use of 

data obtained from ERTS-1, the U.N. Working Group 

on Remote Sensing of the Earth by Satellites will draw 

upon results of the satellite’s operation in preparing its 

report to the Outer Space Committee on international 

aspects of earth resource survey technology. 

The United States continued to support U.N. informational and promotional activities concerning 

potential benefits to the international community deriving from space applications. It participated in an 

ongoing program of experts’ panel meetings under the 

auspices of the U.N. Export on Space Applications. 

On October 6 the US. Senate by a 67-0 vote gave 

its advice and consent to ratification of the Outer Space 

Liability Convention, which had entered into force 

September 1. 

In the principal U.N. negotiating body for outer 

space legal matters, the Legal Subcommittee of the 

Outer Space Committee, considerable progress was 

made toward agreement on a treaty governing activities in the exploration and use of the Moon. Several 

important issues, however, remained unresolved. These 

included the question whether (as advocated by the 

United States) the treaty’s scope should be expanded 

to cover other celestial bodies besides the Moon; 

whether advance notification to the international community of planned missions to the Moon (and other 

celestial bodies) should be required; and whether provisions should be included governing the exploitation 

of natural resources of the moon (and other celestial 

bodies). 

Less progress was achieved in the Legal Subcommittee on a possible convention on the registration of 

objects launched into outer space. The United States 

indicated that it could not accept reporting requirements as extensive as those proposed by Canada and 

France, the cosponsors of the draft convention; we did 

indicate that we could envisage a mandatory system 

to replace the present arrangements of voluntary 

launch reports to the U.N. Secretary General. 

A controversial outer space legal issue was raised 

in two forums-UNESCO and the General Assemblyconcerning possible restrictions on direct broadcasting 

by satellites from transmitters in one country to individual receivers in another. The United States indicated that it could not accept provisions embodying the principle of prior consent to such broadcasts by 

the receiving State, because of the implications this 

would have for our traditional support for the free 

exchange of information and ideas. Nevertheless, the 

UNESCO General Conference adopted a declaration 

of principles containing such a provision. 

In the General Assembly the U.S.S.R. sought to have 

a highly restrictive draft convention made the primary 

basis for negotiation of rules governing direct television broadcasting by satellites. The Assembly instead 

adopted a resolution calling more broadly upon the 

Outer Space Committee to work out principles with 

the eventual aim of reaching “an international agreement or agreements.” Alrhough this resolution rep42 
resented a substantial improvement over the original 

Soviet proposal, the United States could not accept 

it because it prejudged the need for international rules 

governing satellite direct broadcasts; in our view 

such a judgment is premature since the technology is 

still in an early developmental stage. 

Cooperation wtai~ Europe.-Discussions undertaken in 

1970 with the European Space Conference (ESC) 

concerning the possible participation of Europe in the 

post-Apollo program were continued in 1972. A meeting of U.S. officials with the ESC Committee of Alternates, hosted by the State Department in June 1972, 

laid the groundwork for European consideration of 

undertaking the task of developing and manufacturing 

the Sortie Module, a key element in the post-Apollo 

program, the first element of which, the space transportation system which is scheduled to start operation in 

1979. A major step forward was achieved on November 9 with the unanimous endorsement by the ESC 

Ministers of a proposal which would permit interested 

European governments to proceed with Phase B (project definition) studies of the Sortie Module. Funding 

of this work will be undertaken by the German, Italian, 

Spanish, and Belgian Governments. 

If Europe subsequently undertakes full responsibility 

for development and manufacture of the Sortie Module, representing an investment of about $250 million, 

this will assure that the post-Apollo program becomes 

one of the most important cooperative projects of the 

decade. 

During 1972, NASA launched on a reimbursable 

basis two European scientific satellites designed and 

manufactured under ESRO auspices, the TD-1 and 

the HEOS A-2. In an interesting reversal of roles, an 

Italian launch crew launched NASA’s SAS-B satellite 

from the equatorial San Marco launch facilities in 

Kenya. 

Cooperative sounding rocket activities with European countries continued in 1972. The Department 

provided assistance as NASA concluded four arrangements with Norway, Sweden, Germany, and France 

for sounding rocket projects. 

Cooperation with Japan.-Space cooperation between 

the United States and Japan during 1972 was dominated by an increased flow of space technology to 

Japan, as authorized under terms of the 1969 United 

States/ Japanese Space Cooperation Agreement. This 

technology being transferred under United States/ 

Japanese industry arrangements subject to the approval 

of the Department’s Office of Munitions Control, is to 

be used in Japanese efforts to develop a space launch 

vehicle and a number of scientific and practical applications satellites for launch starting in 1975. 

The Department has in 1972 explored other areas 

of cooperation wth Japanese officials to enhance their 

space efforts. Cost estimates were furnished to the 

Japanese for launch vehicle and launch services costs 

associated with the possible use of uprated Thor Delta 

to place Japan’s Meteorological Satellite contribution 

to GARP into geostationary orbit. In addition, the Department has been exploring with other agencies the 

possibility of assisting the Japanese with the establishment of a downrange tracking site. Resolution of this 

latter question is expected early in 1973. 

Cooperation with the Soviet Union.-On May 14, the 

President signed in Moscow a pioneering Space Cooperation Agreement which featured plans for a joint 

docking mission of United States and Soviet-manned 

spaceships in 1975. The Agreement also endorsed at 

the highest level a variety of on-going cooperative programs in such areas as space meteorology, space biology and medicine, space science and exploration, and 

the use of space for studies of the natural environment. 

Until two years ago, space cooperation between the two 

leading space powers had been a frail and inconsequential affair. It is now a strong and growing phenomenon which, in the words of last May’s agreement, 

is dedicated to making the results of space exploration 

“available for the benefit of the peoples of the two 

countries and of all the peoples of the world.” 

Communications Satellites.-The Definitive Agreements for the International Telecommunications Satellite organization “INl’ELSAT” will enter into force 

in early 1973. They will replace Interim Arrangements 

negotiated in 1964 by 11 countries, including the 

United States, and in which 83 countries now participate as members. The United States actively encouraged acceptance of the new agreements which are 

intended to provide the permanent basis for the global 

commercial telecommunications system utilizing satellite technology. INTELSAT has already deployed 

satellites over the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. 

As of December 31, 1972 there were 64 Earth stations 

with access to these satellites, thereby handling telephone, telegraph, television and data communications 

directly for 49 countries. 

The International Telecommunication Union, the 

specialized agency of the United Nations with responsibility for maintaining and extending international 

cooperation for the improvement and rational use of 

telecommunications of all kinds, will convene a Plenipotentiary Conference in September 1973. Preparations 

have begun for that meeting which will determine the 

general policies for fulfilling the ITU’s purposes, and 

establish a budget and elect a Secretary General and 

Deputy Secretary General for the next plenary period. 

Cross utilization of satellite facilities was a subject of discussion during 1972. The United States and 

Canada formally recognized that there were certain 

43 

490-495 0 - 73 - 4 
special circumstances where it would be in the interest of both countries to permit our domestic satellite 

telecommunications systems to provide assistance to 

one another. One such case would be the provision of 

support and assistance, subject to the availability of 

facilities and to the extent it is technically feasible, in 

the case of catastrophic failure of either system. 

In November NASA launched ANIK-1, the first 

Canadian domestic communications satellite. This 

launch was conducted pursuant to the bilateral United 

States-Canadian agreement of 1969. 

VI1 

Apollo Program Support.-The Department and its 

posts overseas continued their support during 1972 

of the Apollo program by arranging for the basing of 

recovery, tracking and other support forces at foreign 

installations for Apollo 16 and 17 missions. Apollo contingency recovery procedures in the event of an emergency landing were rewritten and activated for the 

two missions. 

Facilities of the Department and its overseas posts 

continued to support NASA’s lunar sample investigation program by transporting and handling lunar samples consigned for foreign scientists and lunar material 

being returned to NASA after completion of analysis 

abroad. 

C Department of Transportation 

b %TES d 

Earth Resources Survey Program.-ERTS-1, the first 

satellite dedicated entirely to the survey of ea& resources from space, was launched on July 23. The initial results from the ERTS experiment are encouraging, and the reports on its performance before various 

U.N. committees have been well received. 

The President specifically cited remote sensing of 

earth by satellite in his speech before the UNGA on 

September 18,1969 when he spoke of our wish to share 

the adventures and benefits of space. Experiments from 

38 foreign nations and two international organizations 

are included in ERTS, and Canada has established its 

own receiving station for ERTS data. NASA has also 

accepted a large number of foreign earth resources experiment proposals for Skylab, the manned space laboratory which is scheduled for launch in April 1973. 

Extension of a bilateral remote sensing agreement 

with Mexico until June 30, 1974 was accomplished this 

year. 

Technology Transfer.-The Department of State’s 

Office of Munitions Control continued its efforts aimed 

at reducing the number of space-related items covered 

by export controls under the International Traffic in 

Arms Regulations. In 1972, the bulk of license requests 

for export of space-related hardware and technology 

processed by the Office of Munitions Control involved 

transfers under the United States/Japanese Space Cooperation Agreement and exports to the European 

area. Greater stress is being given to exporting hardware rather than the technology necessary to produce 

the hardware. 

Cooperation with the Department of Defense.-During 1972 the Department of State continued to work 

closely with the Department of Defense on various military space issues having international implications. 

I 1 

Introduction 

The Department of Transportation has made substantial progress during 1972 in its program of operational and developmental application of aeronautics 

and space technology to the solution of many transportation problems. While most of the advancements 

are understandably directly associated with air transportation, it is particularly gratifying that some major 

advances have been achieved in the translation of the 

aeronautical skills to non-aeronautical services. The 

44 

San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) has 

become operational this year utilizing many aerospace 

skills from information processing, automation and 

flow control, to equipment and structural designs 

which have been proven in the aerospace industry. An 

experimental traffic flow control system has been put 

into operation in the District of Columbia utilizing 

aerospace developed system capabilities for information processing, signal conditioning, and flow control. 

TRANSPO ’72 provided an opportunity to show the 

public preliminary design and test configurations of 
innovative Personal Rapid Transit Systems (PRTS) . Following the evaluation of public reaction and the 

technical demonstration at the TRANSPO site, test 

installations are being prepared by UMTA for major 

metropolitan areas. The first space age PRT system 

is now operating at the test site on the campus of the 

University of West Virginia and its home city of Morgantown. Testing and evaluation of this advanced 

demonstration program has begun. The Tracked Air 

Cushion Research Vehicle, designed and built by an 

aerospace company for the Federal Railroad Administration, was delivered to the test site in Pueblo, Colo. 

this year and is currently being readied for extensive 

tests and operational development. 

Aeronautics.-In the field of safety in transportation 

there have been some notable developmental successes 

which have been palled by the continuation of the skyjacking threat to the world’s, as well as our own domestic, air system. This one subject area has been the 

center of an intensive interagency and international 

development and test activity. Our objective is to 

eliminate the threat. Our success to date has been disappointing. Priorities will not be relaxed until an 

acceptable level of air passenger and air cargo security 

has been assured. The anti-hijacking programs that 

were begun in 1971 and continued into 1972 have primarily addressed the problem of detecting weapons 

carried by boarding passenger selectees. The basic 

technology has been demonstrated to provide for 

highly effective screening systems that will prevent 

travelers from boarding aircraft carrying weapons such 

as guns and knives. Weapon detection devices have 

been bought by DOT/FAA, using general funds, and 

provided to the airlines. The key to effectiveness now 

lies with the consistent use of systems that are available. 

Notable progress has been achieved in improGng 

the effectiveness of the air transportation system 

through the acceleration of the operational deployment of the new terminal radar system (ARTS 111). 

Following the first two operational facilities accomplished late last year (Chicago, O’Hare Field (September 1971) and Denver’s Stapleton Airport 

(December 1971) ), 41 new installations have been 

completed, tested, and certified as Operational this 

year and the pace will continue in the remainder of 

fiscal year 1973. This acceleration and associated airport improvements have been made possible through 

the effective application of funds derived from the 

Airports and Airways Trust Fund. Development of 

improved flow control, surveillance, and conflict prediction capabilities are being accelerated in a similar 

fashion. 

Efforts to provide for substantially improved quality 

of air transportation have centered on the actions and 

developments required to reduce noise and other pollution from air transportation. Major successes have 

been achieved with the certification of three new aircraft models to the FAA’s FAR-36 noise rule and the 

recent development of a new model of a current production design which will similarly meet the new 

tougher standards. Major attention is being given to 

means for reducing the noise exposure from existing 

aircraft through potential retrofit modifications, as 

well as improved operational procedures. 

Substantial progress has been made in reducing solid 

particle pollutants by engine improvements and current development activity is aimed at reducing the 

remaining emissions. In some cases, we do not fully 

understand the interaction of various chemical compounds in the atmosphere. An aggressive program, 

which is international in scope, has been initiated to 

obtain information on the existence, pyistence, and 

impact of emissions at high altitude. This Climatic Impact Assessment Program (CIAP) is a major activity 

involving interdepartmental, Government, industry, 

and academic institutions in a very thorough worldwide program. 

Continued improvement was achieved in the effectiveness with which research and engineering activities 

sponsored, coordinated, and conducted by the various 

elements of the Department are combined in a cohesive effort toward solution of transportation problems. 

This advance is represented by the development of a 

new DOT-R. & D. Management System which addresses fully the planning, budgeting, and monitoring 

phases of the activities. Major accomplishments have 

been: the preparation of guidelines for the first set of 

Administrations’ 5-year R. & D. plans; the establishment of R. & D. objectives and the identification of 

issues for budgetary analysis and management review; 

the Transportation, Research Activity Information 

System (TRAIS) was put “on line” containing past 

and current DOT-R. & D. contracts and will be expected to facilitate the process of data retrieval in the 

future. 

Major Emphasis of Civil Aviation R. e) D.-The 

Civil Aviation . Research and Development Policy 

Study (CARD) mentioned in last year’s report (sponsored jointly by the Office of the Secretary of Transportation, the National Aeronautics and Space 

Administration, and the Federal Aviation Administration and completed in March 197 1 ) and the Northeast 

Corridor Transportation Project (NECTP) , have 

been used as the basis for continued planning and 

evaluation of technical developments and evaluation 

of new air system options. 

Both studies concluded that substantial effort was 

required in the air and ground systems to improve the 

environmental quality of transportation, to relieve congestion, and to improve short-haul efficiency. More 

specifically, it was clear that there were many more 

factors than just the development of new operating 

45 
systems which should be accomplished. Finally, subsequent events and pragmatic consideration of budgetary constraints have generated some detailed redirection of effort in consideration of a more balanced 

program. 

A Civil Aviation R. & D. Review Group has been 

established which includes the Executive Secretary of 

the National Aeronautics and Space Council, the 

NASA Associate Administrator for Aeronautics and 

Space Technology, and the DOT Assistant Secretary 

for Systems Development and Technology. Also, a Joint 

DOT/NASA CARD Policy Implementation Office 

has been established within DOT. This office reports 

to the CARD Review Group and its mission is to assist 

both DOT and NASA in planning programs of action 

which are coordinated and consistent with the recammendations of various policy studies, and to assist in 

the performance of future policy studies. 

The ultimate technological products of the research 

and development activities and plans are expected to 

be readily applicable to the needs of general aviation, 

the air transportation system, and of all other elements 

of civil aviation. Furthermore, it is clear from what 

has already occurred that the products of this effort 

will be readily applicable to other modes, as well, 

through transfer of technology and hardware develop 

ments. 

The most effective result to date has been the improved focus on the most urgent needs for civil aviation R. & D., providing a roadmap for their satisfaction, and establishing relative priorities in a broader 

format than have other studies. In a large number of 

situations within both DOT and NASA, fundamental 

approaches were already at work which had been identified as being required and desirable. The CARD 

study results have led to support for some of these approaches as well as to the establishment of some new 

approaches and to increasing support for some programs which were already in being. A few of the accomplishments which have resulted from the influence 

of the CARD study are illustrated by the following 

actions. 

CARD recommendation.--"Aircraft noise is the 

largest single impediment to the orderly growth of air 

commerce, and should be minimized by a vigorous 

industry/Government noise-reduction program. * * *" 

Resultant Actions. The Joint DOT/NASA Noise 

Abatement Office was initiated last year. Significant 

progress has been made this year toward the development of an environmentally acceptable air transportation system. Type certificates were issued for compliance with noise standards by the Lockheed L-1011, the 

Boeing 747-200B, and the latest models of the Boeing 

727 and 737 transport aircraft. These aircraft join the 

Douglas DC-10 in meeting and/or bettering the noise 

emission standards of Federal Aviation Regulations, 

Part 36. Changes in flight operational procedures were 

developed, adopted, and implemented nationally to 

achieve immediate noise reduction near airpovts. 

NASA has initiated a developmental program aimed 

at a whole new family of quiet engines which should 

be available by the 1980's. Ground and flight tests 

were completed for the three-engine turbofan transport aircraft and ground tests for the four-engine aircraft, to demonstrate the effectiveness of noise suppression nacelle hardware. These milestones are part 

of an overall program to show economical and technical feasibility of engine retrofits of currently used 

commercial airliners in order to reduce noise impact 

around airports. 

The Federal Aviation Administration published a 

notice of proposed rule making which will require: 

Newly produced aircraft of models with type 

certification prior to December 1, 1969 (the effective date of FAR Part 36 noise standards) must 

comply with the Part 36 requirements after July 1, 

1973, for aircraft with maximum weights of more 

than 75,000 pounds, and after July 1, 1974, for 

aircraft with maximum weights of 75,000 pounds 

or less. 

Air pollution caused by aircraft is of increasing concern. The objective of the Environmental Protection 

programs is to reduce aircraft noise and air pollution 

to levels which will be acceptable to the communities 

effected while maintaining safe, economical, and convenient air transportation service. The efforts related 

to pollution control follow two paths--one to determine 

the extent and influence of aircraft pollutants and the 

other to provide technology for reducing pollutant 

emissions. As a part of the quiet engine programs already mentioned, NASA has implemented clean combustor research to provide low engine pollution technology. The DOT has initiated a significant effort 

intended to provide an understanding of the character of aircraft emissions and their effects on meteorology and the structure of the earth's atmosphere, particularly at very high altitudes. 

The Climatic Impact Assessment Program, established in the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Systems Development and Technology, provides overall 

management to a program to assess, by mid-1974, the 

effects upon the climate of high altitude subsonic and 

supersonic aircraft projected in the time period 1985- 

1990. The action in 1972 has been formulating required 

research effort and identifying related on-going research throughout the Government agencies, universities, and industry. Approximately 65 contracts have 

been initiated during this period. A general survey conference was held at the Transportation Systems Center, 

Cambridge, Massachusetts, in early February, to explore the objectives of CIAP with leading scientists 

throughout the world and to solicit their proposals and 
contributions to CIAP. The interest and response of the 

attendees was enthusiastic in approval and support of 

the program. 

A second CIAP Program review and survey confercence was held Nqvember 14-17, 1972, at the 

Transportation Systems Center. The purpose of this 

conference was primarily to allow the participating 

scientists to present the results of their effort to date as 

well as to identify any missing links in the overall CIAP 

Program effort. These accomplishments fall into the 

broad categories of : developing laboratory prototype 

instruments to measure atmospheric nitric oxide concentrations ; correlating particulate measurements as 

determined by in-situ observation and ground-based 

detectors; and fundamental measurements of atmospheric chemistry and emission characteristics. 

CARD recommendation.--“A new short-haul system, separate as much as possible from the long-haul 

system, would help. * * * Research and technology 

related to STOL aircraft is needed to develop this 

system and to assist the FAA in establishing 

criteria. * * *” 

Resultant Actions.-Brought focus to alternative solutions for the short-haul air transportation problems ; 

influenced the decision to expand the area of concern 

of the FAA Special V/STOL Project Office to include 

the total subject of short-haul transportation and 

change in the name of the office to Quiet Short-Haul 

Air Transportation Systems Office; led to initiation of 

system studies intended to define the critical factors in 

short-haul system effectiveness. 

The V/STOL project office, initiated last year, was 

reoriented and its view extended to include all types 

of short-haul air service in the transportation system. 

Its name was changed to the Quiet Short-Haul Air 

Transportation (QSATS) Office and it was charged 

to foster “the development of a QSAT system that is 

safe and convenient for rhe passenger, economically 

profitable to operate, compatible with other segments 

of aviation, and acceptable to the public * * 9’’ One 

of the first actions by this office was to organize interagency coordination, with the objective of assuring 

totally responsive complementary Federal programs. 

Initially, this ad-hoc group is focussing on the identification and evaluation of airports to be so functionally designated in the National Aviation System as 

short haul airports. They are expected to reach maximum effectiveness when new technologies of aircraft 

and ATC are available. 

This effort has been supported by a rapidly increasing capability at the Transportation Systems Center 

(TSC) in Cambridge, Mass. The Office of the Secretary is also assuring an integrated effort of the Federal 

Railroad Administration, Federal Highway Administration, and the Urban Mass Transportation Administration in support of aviation interests. 

Systems studies are being conducted in order to 

evaluate the characteristics of short-haul markets, to 

define desirdble aircraft characteristics as well as to 

evaluate possible changes to airports and the air traffic control system which will permit improvement of 

short-haul service. As an example of these activities, 

the FAA has just given notice rhrough a notification of 

proposed policy that it is its intention to designate and 

procure an interim Standard Micro-wave Landing 

System (ISMLS) for use and implementation in designated short-haul airports. The CARD Study and subsequent analyses have pointed out that the economics 

of low-density short-haul are such that this mode of 

air transportation is not serving the Nation’s needs, 

in spite of being financially supported, for the most 

part, by Federal subsidy. The broad objective of activities in this area is to identify and foster the technology 

which will permit improvement of short-haul economics and to evaluate the alternatives of utilizing the 

special aspects of integrated multi-modal short-haul 

transportation to enhance the total air system. 

CARD Recommendation.--“To the user of civil aviation, service is of prime concern. The tremendous 

growth of the commercial airlines and the user demand 

for services have produced serious congestion in and 

around airports-an undesirable by-product of 

success * * *”. 

Resultant Actions.-Added emphasis on the need for 

the DOT/FAA microwave landing system; contributed to formulation of a long-range program to define an advanced air traffic management system concept for greater capacity development; led to increased 

attention to terminal area operations for all types of 

operations. 

Increased emphasis has been added to the FAA’s 

system engineering and development activities. A major 

reorganization of the activity under the Associate Administrator for Engineering and Development has 

been accomplished. The general effect is to increase 

the focus on systematic development of the air traffic 

control process to enhance the total effectiveness in the 

most expeditious manner. Those efforts associated with 

detailed support of initial installations of NAS Stage 

A En route and ARTS I1 & 111 systems have been 

transferred into the Airway Facilities Service organization allowing greater concentration within the development organization on system optimization. 

The upgraded Third Generation System includes 

development of a Discrete Address Beacon System 

(DABS) for ground and aircraft installation which 

will function integrally with the Automated Radar 

Terminal System (ARTS). A major element of the 

upgraded system is the Microwave Landing System 

( MLS) development which completed the preliminary 

design Phase I this year and for which Phase I1 proposals have been received. The full upgraded system 

is planned to be in operation by the early 1980’s. 

47 
The Advanced Air Traffic Management System 

(AATMS) Study is investigating new concepts for 

air traffic management for application in the pst-1985 

period that will, with a high degree of assurance, meet 

the air traffic demands of that era. The study builds 

upon the work of the DOT Air TrafKc Control Advisory Committee in 1969. During 1972, the concept 

formulation phase was completed wherein candidate 

system concepts were described and future research 

needs were identified. This work was based upon a preliminary cost/performance/feasibility evaluation of alternative system concepts synthesized to satisfy an 

initial definition of future air traffic management 

requirements. Surviving candidate concepts include : 

satellites for surveillance, communication and navigation; greatly expanded use of automation in the ground 

control function ; utilization of integrated waveform 

techniques for signal transmission and means to minimize the complexity and cost of on-board equipment. 

A direct tie-in with the FAA work on the upgraded 

system provides definitions of its further capabilities 

(1985 and beyond) as a part of the AATMS study. 

The results of these studies are expected to be a basis 

for FAA Air Traffic Control R. & D. Planning for fiscal 

year 1975 and beyond. 

Another important aspect of system capacity, which 

significantly effects the system safety as well, is associated with wake turbulence requirements to avoid 

potential high energy vortices which increases spacing 

between aircraft resulting in a decrease in system capacity. Some interesting concepts for reducing the severity 

of this problem have been advanced. However we continue to be constrained by a fundamental lack of 

ability to qualify the vortex energy over an extended 

period of persistence. DOT has expanded its program 

in this area in cooperation with the NASA, USAF 

and industry. In order to better avoid the problem, 

we are continuing the development of detectors to locate and track the hazard. The field tests mentioned 

last year have been completed as have some others 

using lasers. We have initiated the definition of a 

system which is concerned to provide avoidance guidance. 

Congestion is experienced not only in the air and 

in the aircraft landing areas, but, for the passenger, it 

is also experienced in the terminal building as well 

as to and from the airport. Plans have been laid for 

an increased emphasis in this developmental activity 

in the next few years with the Office of the Secretary 

taking rhe responsibility to affect improvements in 

total service connectivity. 

Aviation Safety.-Safety is of vital concern to civil 

aviation and in fact all of the R. & D. activities are 

directly related in one way or another either to design 

or operational safety. The particular activities discussed here are those which are motivated by safety 

alone rather than by economic or utility needs. Because of the continuing importance of safety, these activities tend to be continuous and place emphasis on 

both accident prevention and crash survival. 

The accident prevention activities include continuing efforts by the FAA to update and improve aircraft 

design and operations airworthiness criteria and regulation. An extensive program involving personnel permanently assigned to NASA‘s Ames Research Laboratory has been initiated using the simulation capability 

that exists there. Pilot proficiency is a most important 

factor in accident prevention and both NASA and 

DOT are conducting activities intended to improve 

pilot proficiency. Flight simulators are a key element 

in pilot training and proficiency evaluation. 

Another important aspect of accident prevention, 

which actually affects the system capability- as well, is 

associated with wake turbulence. Some interesting concepts for reducing the severity of this problem have 

been advanced. However, we continue to be constrained by a fundamental lack of ability to quantify 

the vortex energy over a period of persistence approaching two minutes. We are pressing for more activity in this area. In order to better manage the problem, we are continuing the development of detectors 

to locate and track the hazard. The field tests mentioned last year have been completed as have some 

others using lasers. We are continuing this activity 

and we have initiated the definition of a system which 

is conceived to provide avoidance guidance. 

In the area of post crash safety, significant results 

were obtained in the testing of “modified” fuels to 

reduce post crash fire hazards. Previously reported results have shown that a number of gelled fuels have 

excellent fire-reducing qualities, but the high viscosity 

of these fuels makes them incompatible with the fuel 

systems of modern jets. A new fuel stabilizing ingredient, that does not appear to have the disadvantages of 

gelled fuels, has shown very good results in preliminary 

tests. Full scale demonstrations and flight tests are expected to take place early next year. The FAA continues to maintain a strong program of man/machine 

experimentation in passenger crash survival with particular emphasis on general aviation aircraft. 

Civil Aviation Security.-The most intense effort in 

the field of safety is addressed to solution of the hijacking problem. Significant contributions to transportation security systems development have been accomplished in fiscal year 1972. FAA has completed initial 

test and development work in improving behavioral 

passenger screening techniques, developing aviation security regulations and standards, testing and improving 

the passenger screening system, and assessing new technological potentials for detecting weapons. 

However, the users needed information on the qualification and availability of metal detectors for pas- 
senger screening. Elaborate laboratory tests were designed, developed, and implemented. The results were 

distributed to representatives of 76 governments and 

eight international organizations as well as officials of 

the major US. airlines and airport managers. The 

equipment investigated covered the gamut from inexpensive, simple, hand-held devices to the highly sophisticated weapon detectors capable of discriminating 

guns, including “Saturday Night Specials” from other 

metal objects. Exotic detection techniques such as infrared, radar and even electroluminescence were explored for potential advantages. 

Hijacking incidents in the United States and abroad 

were carefully analyzed to identify any new threats. Explosives detection has been emphasized as a consequence of these recent episodes. All of the commercial 

“sniffers” were researched and tested. A successful technique was developed to calibrate these systems for sensitivity. Initial experimentation is being conducted with 

a novel sensitive “sniffer” which has a potential of 

breaking the cost barrier of the existing systems because 

of the simplicity of its design. 

As an alternative countermeasure to the increasing 

threat of terrorism, a pair of specially trained bomb 

detection dogs were tested in an airport environment 

to evaluate environmental and operational effects. The 

assistance of dogs revealed a significant advantage in 

time of discovery. Regardless of distractions, the targets were generally found within 3 minutes and often in 

seconds. 

Long Haul Technology.-Although the SST prototype development effort was terminated as a result 

of Congressional action in March 1971, certain key 

technology efforts were continued. These advanced 

technology projects were identified by a multi-agency 

review panel and represented carefully selected R. & D. 

projects. The initial phases of this effort were completed this year. Passage of enabling legislation by 

Congress last year continues this vital effort, and contracts have been awarded. Test and evaluation effort 

will continue into 1973. 

The broad objective of activities in this subject area 

is to provide a technology base for future decisions and 

development programs which will permit a broad latitude of long-haul aircraft options. The technology 

areas being addressed are engine noise, emissions, and 

efficiency; flutter; stability augmentation systems; cockpit display systems; and materials development. 

Aeronautical Satellite Activities.-The joint international Aerosat program proposed in early 1972 was 

not approved and efforts to develop a new approach 

were undertaken. In early October a new U.S. position 

resulted in a renewal of negotiations with participating 

foreign governments in late November, with promising 

results. In a parallel action, development of space segment capability requirements was undertaken and 

agreement in substance was reached in December with 

final approval anticipated at the next Aerosat meeting 

scheduled to be held in Ottawa, Canada, in January 

1973. At that time agreement is also expected on the 

final draft of the Memorandum of Understanding relating to the Joint Intermodal Test and Evaluation Program. In addition to AEROSAT activities, extensive 

planning and intention of procurement of equipment 

was accomplished to prepare for a joint DOT/NASA 

test program utilizing the ATS-F satellite scheduled 

to be launched in April 1974. 

MARSAT.-Activity Within the Zntergovernmental 

Maritime Consultative Organization (IMCO).-At 

the January 1972 meeting of IMCO’s subcommittee 

on radio communications (RCS) a plan for initiating 

action to develop a worldwide Maritime Satellite System (MARSATS) was proposed by the USSR. Action 

was taken at the March meeting of the Intergovernmental Maritime Consultative Organization’s Maritime Safety Committee to establish a Panel of Experts 

to meet in July in conjunction with a RCS subcommittee meeting. This was followed by a second Panel of 

Experts meeting in November 1972. The thrust of these 

activities is directed toward developing the foundation 

for a series of international conferences of Maritime 

States in 1973 and 1974 to act on recommendations 

of plans to establish a worldwide MARSAT system. 

49 
VI11 

Introduction 

Arms Control and 

Disarmament Agency 

The Arms Control and Disarmament Agency continues to have a strong interest in space programs, both 

international and national. ACDA has consistently 

supported international space programs, seeking to 

insure that these programs are directed towards peaceful rather than military purposes. The agency has also 

long been investigating means of providing for highconfidence, non;intrusive verification of arms control 

agreements. Advanced space technology is monitored 

for possible verification use, such as in the case of the 

DOD’s VELA system that is used for verification of 

the Limited Test Ban Treaty. In addition to these 

purely space-related ACDA activities, the SALT negotiations also have a significant impact on world space 

activities. SALT ONE provided that neither side 

would interfere with national technical means of verification and established an improved, space-based “hot 

line” system. 

SALT.-The ABM treaty and the interim executive 

agreement limiting offensive strategic arms, signed on 

May 26 in MOSCOW, specifically provide that neither 

the United States nor the U.S.S.R. will interfere with 

legitimate national technical means of verification of 

these arms control measures or employ deliberate concealment measures to impede such verification. 

The non-interference provision is relevant to space 

activities since this provision would, for example, prohibit interference with a satellite in orbit used for verification of the Treaty. Thus, SALT reinforced the 

Outer Space Treaty that, in Article 111, states that 

“Parties to the Treaty shall carry on activities in the 

--- use of outer space - - - in the interest of 

maintaining international peace and security and promoting international cooperation and understanding.” 

The improved “hot line” agreement, negotiated during 

SALT ONE and signed in Washington on September 

30, 1971 provides for a secure, spacebased, communications link between the national command authorities of the United States and the U.S.S.R. 

Znternational Space Programs.-Space programs can 

provide outlets in many countries for national ambitions that might otherwise be channeled into the development of sophisticated weapons. When carried out 

on a bilateral or a multilateral basis such programs can 

also set useful precedents for cooperation between nations in other constructive areas employing high technology. ACDA has long recognized the significant overlap between nonweapon launch vehicle technology and 

the technology for strategic ballistic missiles. The 

agency believes, however, that space programs cam 

result in minimal risk of proliferation if hardware 

design and application are carefully controlled. ACDA 

is an active participant in this control process. Besides 

helping to prepare US. positions on general issues of 

international space policy, ACDA cooperates with 

other agencies at a detailed technical level in formulating and implementing international space agreements. 

The agency has participated this year in the effort to 

involve other nations in the US. Post-Apollo Space 

program and with implementing the Japanese-American Space Cooperation Program. 

The Outer Space Treaty.-The Outer Space Treaty 

serves two major purposes. First, it seeks to insure that 

space exploration and development will be carried out 

in accordance with international law and for peaceful purposes only. By banning the emplacement of 

“weapons of mass destruction” in space, on celestial 

bodies or in earth orbit, it closes off the largest of 

man’s new environments to the strategic arms race. 

Second, the treaty establishes a desirable precedent for 

generality in arms control agreements by banning all 

such weapqns, not just nuclear weapons. Along with 

the Antarctica Treaty and the Seabed Arms Control 

Treaty it has provided impetus for closing off other 

frontiers on earth to the arms race. 

In 1972 Cyprus and Italy ratified the treaty, bringing to 67 the number of states that are parties. 
IX Department of the Interior 

Introduction 

The Department of the Interior has used aircraft on 

an operational basis for a long time to meet its needs 

both for transport and for data collection. The types of 

data have increased as technology has provided new 

tools for natural and cultural resources data collection. 

Iit was in anticipation of the benefits to resources management and in a desire to assist in the development of 

new remote-sensing systems that the Department 

created the Earth Resources Observation Systems 

(EROS) Program. The EROS Program office cooperates with NASA and other agencies in research and 

developmenit pertaining to remote sensing of earth 

resources. Departmental activities include international 

cooperation in wildlife regulatory administration, scientific research projects, technical training programs, 

and technical assistance. The Department has also contributed to astronaut training and provided scientific 

analysis of lunar and Martian data. 

Aeronautics 

Operations.-During 1972 aircraft were used operationally by the Bureaus of the Department in the 

following ways: 

The Bonneville Power Administration owns and 

operates both helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft. The 

small fleet of helicopters is used for the aerial patrol 

of {transmission lines, transportation of personnel to 

remote microwave stations, for the movement of men, 

tools, and equipment in restoration of interrupted 

transmission service, and for line location investigations 

and construction of new lines. Two fixed-wing twinengine aircraft are used for transport of personnel to 

remote locations not served by commercial airlines or 

when commercial flight schedules are inadequate. 

Primarily high-altitude photography was obtained 

by contract aircraft and NASA aircraft over the 

Quinault, Colville, Oneida, Salt River, Gila River, and 

Pine Ridge Indian Reservations for use in preparing 

orthophoto base maps or in preparing resource inventories and land use maps of these areas. 

The Bureau of Land Management continues to operate and contract for both helicopters and fixed-wing 

aircraft in cadastral surveys, fire suppression, weather 

modification, and forest, range, and soils inventory 

work. High-altitude photography was obtained over 

areas in Oregon from which orthophoto maps were 

made and timber resources were evaluated as part of 

the development of a resource management tool. In 

New Mexico high-altitude photography was used in 

soil identification and inventory programs. 

The Bureau of Mines had regular flights flown over 

Hurricane Agnes flood trash dump sites (old surface 

pit mines, filled and covered with dirt) in the vicinity 

of Wilkes-Barre, Pa., to obtain thermal imagery for use 

in assessing their burning or nonburning status and to 

determine potential hazard to underlying coalbeds. 

The National Park Service u'tilized aerial photography for land acquisition, park planning, and road 

site selection. Aerial coverage of the Cape Hatteras, 

Cape Lookout, and Assateague National Seashores, obtained cooperatively from NASA Wallops Station on a 

regular basis, is being used in making operating management decisions. A significant amount of the coverage is now provided by ERTS-1 imagery. Aerial census of large ungulate populations in various national 

parks is continuing with activity in Yellowstone National Park, Grand Canyon and many others. 

The Bureau of Reclamation utilized their own and 

contract helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft for investigations and inspections required for project operation 

and mainltenance, for transportation of control survey 

parties and equipment, and in the collection of photography and scanner imagery used in planning, development, and management of multipurpose water resource 

projects. 

The Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife operates 

a fleet of approximately 45 aircraft for use in aerial 

surveys. The data collected are for research purposes 

and development of regulatory authority. The surveys 

cover parts of the United States, Canada, and Mexico. 

The Geological Survey obtained standard aerial 

mapping photography for 188,000 square miles of the 

United States. Of this total, 27,000 square miles were 

from high altitude, up #to 36,000 ft. This reflects the 

trend toward acquisition of quad-centered high-altitude photography, in which one photograph covers an 

entire 71h-minute quadrangle area. U-2 photographs 

taken at 21 km (70,000 ft.) altitude were converted 

into orthophotoquads at 1 : 24,000, 1 : 50,000, and 

1 : 250,000 scales. These quads were lithographed utilizing a newly developed random dot process which in51 
creases the resolution of the final product. The first 

series of 1 : 24,000-scale orthophotoquads, designed for 

publication and sale to the public, involved 49 quadrangles in the Phoenix area. 

The Geological Survey utilized its own, contract, 

and other Federal aircraft to acquire photographic and 

other remote-sensor data for the support of geological 

and geophysical investigations. These include reconnaissance and detailed geological mapping, monitoring 

volcanic activities, evaluation of mineral and geothermal resources, appraisal of wildlife areas, and environmental studies. Helicopters and other aircraft were 

used routinely in Alaskan field studies and for additional environmental studies along the route of the proposed oil pipeline. Airborne sensors were used to produce aeromagnetic, gravity, radioactivity, gamma-ray, 

INPUT, Very Low Frequency (VLF) , and geochemical surveys. Other sensors, used singly or in combination, included cameras for conventional, high-altitude 

and multiband photography, thermal infrared scanners, and radiometers. Contract helicopters are used in 

the management of Federal Outer Continental Shelf 

mineral resources, mostly in the Gulf of Mexico, and to 

a very limited degree in the management of Federal 

onshore mineral resources. Contract fixed-wing aircraft 

are used along the coast of California off Santa Barbara on a regular basis to locate and monitor sources 

of oil spills. 

Research.-Many Bureaus of the Department have 

used aircraft as platforms for obtaining data as part of 

a continuing effort to improve their operational techniques and management. 

The Bureau of Mines supported the preparation of 

three experimental compendia using thermal infrared 

aerial imagery for use by Bureau field personnel in 

monitoring fire projects. Two compendia are of burning coal refuse banks in an anthracite mining area and a 

bituminious mining area, and the third is of mine fires 

in the Anthracite Region of Pennsylvania. They are 

being evaluated to establish the operational potential 

of airborne thermal imagery in fire control. Hand-held 

aerial photography was used in Pennsylvania in an attempt to discriminate damages to Christmas tree 

plantations caused by SO, from damages from lophodermium fungus and other blights. Although only 

partially successful, the technique was demonstrated 

to be a useful, low-cost method of rapidly determining 

vegetation damages around powerplants. The Bureau 

is also studying a method for determining volumes of 

material removed from a mine and for monitoring the 

results of seeding on waste banks using aerial color and 

color infrared photography of the Black Mesa mine in 

A' rizona. 

The National Park Service, in cooperation with the 

Geological Survey, is assembling orthophotographic 

map coverage of the Everglades National Park. These 

maps are to form the base for vegetation and other 

subject maps of the National Park. In cooperation with 

NASA's John F. Kennedy Space Center, aerial multispectral coverage of Virgin Islands National Park 

has been obtained in order to map underwater features 

of coral reefs and to provide the basis for vegetation 

and natural resource mapping of the National Park. 

Archeological prospecting is continuing after several 

successful attempts at locating shipwrecks of historical 

interest in Florida Bay, using contract acquired imagery. Continuing aerial surveillance of the volcanic 

activity in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is being 

carried out in cooperation with the Geological Survey 

and the County of Hawaii. 

The Bureau of Reclamation, in an effort to broaden 

its use of aircraft remote sensing in water and land resource development has undertaken the following 

studies : to detect, by means of aerial color-infrared 

photography and thermal infrared imagery, sedimentladen waters of the Clarks Fork of the Yellowstone 

River of Montana and Wyoming; to detect with multiband thermal infrared imagery near-surface ground 

water in irrigated agricultural land ; to evaluate the 

impact of a pump storage powerplant on the hydrologic and biologic conditions of a reservoir using infrared photography and imagery; to evaluate the use of 

aircraft remote sensing as a possi'ble means of detecting 

the locations of plant infestations on water storage and 

distribution systems and for evaluating the effects of 

weed control eradication measures; to determine the 

feasibility and utility of employing thermal infrared 

imagery to identify cold air drainage patterns which 

would result in frost damage in orchard areas and to 

determine the value of such techniques for classification of land for irrigation; and to develop a mobile 

short pulse radar system to measure the depth to shallow ground water on irrigated land. The Bureau continued to use aircraft as platforms for cloud seed 

generators, air sampling, air motion studies, observations of cloud forms and behavior, and placement of 

instruments in remote locations. 

The Office of Water Resources Research supported 

research utilizing infrared photography and botanical 

land surveys to establish mean high water lines in 

Florida's lakes; using aerial photography and thermal 

infrared imagery to explain biological and chemical 

phenomena observed in the Medicine Lake area, 

South Dakota; using radar imagery to explain how 

summertime lake conditions influence precipitation 

patterns over southern Lake Michigan; on the use of 

aerial remote-sensing techniques for siting sampling 

locations on streams and Iakes; on the use of aerial 

photography in determining hydrological effects of 

manmade changes in watersheds; and on the determination of snow depth and water equivalent volume 

by remote sensing. 

The Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife ob52 
tained multispectral aerial data over the Chesapeake 

Bay in an effort to measure the quantity and quality 

of submerged vegetation. They also conducted research on differentiation of waterfowl species using 

aerial multispectral photography. 

The Geological Survey is applying the interdisciplinary approach of physics and geology in the development of remote-sensing techniques as a part of 

geologic analysis by identifying the parameters by 

which rocks and soils can be remotely discriminated 

and developing the methods to display and analyze 

remote-sensor data. The feasibility of mapping bedrock in hard rock areas is being tested using the VLF 

system. Prospecting for mineral deposits through the 

determination of geochemical plant stress is being investigated by studying spectral reflectance and the use 

of multiband photography. 

Space 

Research.-The EROS (Earth Resources Observation Systems) Program is responsible for the development of programs to apply aircraft and spacecraft data 

to Department of the Interior functions. This includes 

acquisition, processing, utilization, and dissemination 

of remotely sensed data concerning natural and cultural resources. A major event in the activities of the 

EROS Program was the launch of the first Earth Resources Technology Satellite (ERTS) on July 23, 

1972. Imagery obtained by and data relayed through 

the satellite has permitted, for the first time, an evaluation of what has been envisioned as a mutually complementary three part data collection system (satellite, 

aircraft, and ground) to provide the input to resource 

management information systems. Although many experiments are in progress and the emphasis is currently 

on use of satellite-acquired data, there is a substantial 

research effort in the development of instruments and 

methodology using aircraft. . 

EROS Data Center has functioned as the primary 

public sales outlet for ERTS imagery since the launch 

of the satellite in July 1972. The Data Center also provides access to NASA aircraft photography and imagery, and aerial mapping photography flown for the 

Geological Survey. To supplement these products an 

Autographic Theme Extraction system (ATE) was defined and developed to depict in binary mode such 

themes as snow, water, infrared reflective vegetation, 

and the massed works of man. The system is designed 

to use ERTS data and thus provide periodic representations of these subjects. The ATE system is scheduled 

to commence operations at the EROS Data Center at 

Sioux Falls, S. Dak., early in 1973. 

The Data Center also has facilities for data manipulation and training. The first training course in applications of remote-sensor systems to resources analysis 

and management was Conducted from October 26 to 

November 21, 1972. The purpose of the course was 

to provide personnel of the US. Department of the 

Interior with information that would enable them to 

employ data that are available from satellite and airborne remote-sensing systems including satellite photography, aerial photography, airborne mapping radar, 

and airborne thermal mapping imagery to support 

their own activities. Twenty-six scientists from 10 Bureaus and Offices of the Department participated in 

the course. Instructional staff included EROS Program 

personnel and experts in the field of remote sensing 

drawn from the Departments of Interior, Agriculture, 

and Commer.ce, Corps of Engineers, from universities, 

and industry. The course included workshop experience in multidisciplinary approaches to the solution of 

environmental problems and planning, and the presentation of information on research in the field of remote 

sensing, the significance of that research, and the identities of the organizations conducting such research. 

Regional research activities, established to consolidate remote-sensing data collection and encourage 

multidiscipline interpretation and cooperative investigations continued in the Central Atlantic, Arizona, 

the Pacific Islands, and beginning this year, in the Gulf 

Coast region. The Central Atlantic Regional Ecological Test Site (CARETS) embraces the Chesapeake 

and Delaware Bays and ther urbanized hinterlands. 

This demonstration project is being developed to serve 

as a model of an integrated regional land use information system encompassing inventory of the land 

resource base, monitoring changes and the effect of 

these changes on the quality of the environment. Data 

on land use and land use changes are derived from 

high-altitude aircraft and satellite imagery. Land use 

mapping and a photo-mosaic base map at a scale of 

1 : 100,000, with a l-km grid overlay, have been completed. Procedures for the analysis of change and 

environmental impact have been developed using the 

Norfolk-Portsmouth area, where an assessment of land 

use change over the decade corresponding to the decennial census has been made and a preliminary land use/ 

environmental impact model has been developed. 

The Arizona Regional Ecological Test Site 

(ARETS) project continued to coordinate research in 

air and spaceborne remote-sensor methods and their 

application to environmental and resource problems. 

The results of these efforts are practically displayed in 

the initiation of the cooperative Arizona Land Use 

Experiment in which the State of Arizona, NASA, and 

the U.S. Geological Survey are partners in the experiment. Acquisition of high-altitude photographic COVerage of the entire State for preparation of orthophoto 

base maps is in progress. 

The ARETS Office was able to respond to specific 

project needs by obtaining color, infrared aerial photography for use in a preliminary flood report, in an 

investigation of cotton bollworm infestations, and to 

53 
complete a crop inventory of the Salt River and Gila 

River Indian Reservations. 

The EROS Program through its Experiments and 

Evaluation Office at the NASA Mississippi Test Facility cooperated with the State of Louisiana and other 

Federal agencies in the acquisition of remotely sensed 

data on which to base planning decisions for the Atchafalayan Basin; assisted the Mississippi Department 

of Archives and History in planning an aerial survey, 

data acquisition, field inspection and interpretation of 

data for 15 archeological sites near Natchez; and is 

participating in the Mississippi State-wide Land Use 

Inventory Project to compile a 1 : 24,000 land use map 

of the State using high-altitude photography. 

The EROS Program coordinated preparation of 

project proposals and prepared the Department of the 

Interior response to the National Aeronautics and 

Space Administration’s request for Earth Resources 

Technology Satellite-A ( ERTS-A) and Skylab Earth 

Resources Experiments Package ( EREP) proposals. 

At the end of 1972,42 ERTS-A proposals were under 

contract and 22 EREP Skylab proposals were approved. The experiments are representative of the 

wide range of interests within the Department, covering such subjects as: evaluation of range land quality 

and quantity, evaluation of cartographic applications, 

study of coastal and estuarine dynamics, land use 

mapping, timber resources inventory, volcano monitoring, urban change detection, and watershed management studies. 

The Bonneville Power Administration is a participant with the EROS Program and the Bureau of Reclamation in a continuing research program to use satellite meteorological data for input to water resources 

programs, such as the operation of hydroelectric systems. The project now involves testing previously 

established techniques on independent data and on independent watersheds. 

The Bureau of Indian Affairs is continuing a study 

of the use of remote sensing in making a soil and range 

inventory of Indian lands in South Dakota using aerial 

multispectral imagery. The results of the first year’s 

study show remote-sensing techniques can be applied 

to making, updating, and revising soil and range inventories. Improved soil and range maps were produced utilizing film optical density and slope gradient 

data derived from aerial photographs. These inventories and maps will be used to help make land management decisions. The Bureau of Indian Affairs and the 

Salt River Indian Community, adjacent to Phoenix, 

Ariz., are continuing a remote-sensing project for 

regional planning and monitoring. This project has an 

Indian project manager working under contract to the 

Federal Government. The basis of the Indian community project is an orthophotoquad base map prepared by the US. Geological Survey. 

The Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Bureau of 

Land Management are furthering the design of a natural resources information system which includes 

graphic input and display, the use of remote sensing as 

a data source, and is useful at multiple management 

levels. This effort has been expanded to provide additional demonstrations to the Bureau of Mines, Bureau of Outdoor Recreation, Bureau of Reclamation, 

Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife, National Park 

Service, and the Geological Survey, and includes many 

sections of the country. 

The Bureau of Land Management is actively engaged in research using aerial photography and 

ERTS-1 imagery. Several on-going projects include : 

study of the recreational impact along the lower Colorado River, study of ephemeral and perennial range 

quantity and quality during normal grazing season, 

study of conflicting land uses, erosion and soils inventory, an experiment to determine seasonal changes 

in the Rocky Mountain Front Range, and a study of 

land ownership patterns in the Powder River Basin 

surface coal mining area. 

The Bureau of Mines has sponsored research on 

earth fracture systems as they are interpreted from 

aerial infrared photographs, thermal infrared imagery, 

ERTS-1 imagery, and panchromatic aerial photographs. The earth fractures were studied to determine 

their possible contribution to the hazard of vertical 

migration of waste chemical liquids from subsurface 

storage wells in West Virginia and to the hazard of 

roof fall in coal mines; and to aid in the selection of the 

location for an experimental gas well which was drilled 

in a nonproductive area in West Virginia. The well produced 103,000 cubic feet of gas daily after stimulation 

by explosive fracturing. Similar research was conducted 

to evaluate two energy research test sites in Kansas and 

Wyoming. The Bureau is also using aerial and space 

photography to monitor the environmental effect of an 

operating powerplant in the four corners area of the 

Southwest. 

Bureau of Mines research has indicated a probable 

correlation between underground fires and early vegetation bloom with certain types of fires and vegetation. 

To further test this thesis, aerial color-infrared photography of areas in Wyoming containing known and suspected coal fires was acquired and areas of anomalous 

vegetation were checked on the ground for possible 

coal fires. The project was of only limited success due 

to weather conditions which prohibited flying all of 

the area during the critical period of premature vegetation bloom. In western Colorado, thermal imagery 

was obtained over an area of known fires, and all 

known fires, even small ones, were easily detected and 

other fires were indicated. 

The National Park Service’s New Mexico Archeological Center continued to use aircraft and spacecraft 

imagery to ascertain patterns of irrigation works and 

many other works of man in the Southwest desert. 
Under contract, a preliminary study was made of the 

conterminous uses of land in the Redwood National 

Park, that indicated that spaceflight imagery provides 

an excellent means of determining conflicting land 

uses in these west coast watersheds. A successful training program for introducing 18 resources managers to 

remote sensing and photogrammetry was conducted for 

Park Service personnel. .4 similar course is planned 

for 1973. 

The Bureau of Outdoor Recreation is evaluating 

various sensors and interpretation techniques for their 

potential value for the inventory of urban and rural 

recreation lands and waters and areas of critical environmental concern. A second objective is to predict 

the impact of proposed key facilities and to monitor 

developments and other land use changes upon existing and potential recreation and related environmental 

resources. 

Research and development programs of the Bureau 

of Reclamation continue to make use of aeronautics 

and space technology. Research programs were 

initiated to test ERTS-1 data relay capability under a 

severe environment in the San Juan Mountains of 

southwestern Colorado, and to observe and monitor 

with ERTS imagery the hydrology, agricultural development, environment, and geology of three major 

Reclamation projects on the Front Range of eastern 

Colorado. 

The Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife initiated 

an ERTS experiment to test the utility of spacecraft 

remote sensors in measuring biological parameters in 

the State of Alaska. Of specific interest are phenological 

records, occurrence of ice leads, upwelling currents, 

and snow and ice runoff. Supporting the ERTS experiment were aircraft flights throughout the State to acquire imagery replicating the spectral bands of ERTS. 

A second ERTS-1 experiment involves remote sensing 

of waterfowl production areas in the northern United 

States and Canada. This effort was supported by contract aircraft flights. 

The Geological Survey’s research to develop techniques to augment conventional geologic exploration 

methodology was directed along the following lines: 

determining physical property variations (spectral reflectance, thermal inertia, etc.) which can be used to 

discriminate and describe geologic materials ; evaluating the synoptic overview of imagery acquired from 

satellites to observe tectonic and geomorphic relationships of regional and continental significance; and 

identifying and repeatedly observing active timevariant phenomena using imagery and satellite telemetry techniques. 

Results of investigations include: Compilation of a 

thermal inertia map for the Oman region of Saudi 

Arabia from Nimbus I11 reflectances and Nimbus IV 

thermal emission data showing the distribution of 

major geologic units; development of visible and nearinfrared imaging technique with applications to differentiation of iron-rich and iron-poor surface units including metallic mineralogical zones ; mapping of 

major structural features in Alaska through analysis 

of cloud-free Nimbus I11 imagery; compilation of geologic-terrain factors maps of the Tucson-Ajo, Ariz., 

area for land use analysis; further development and 

demonstration of a thermal infrared ratioing technique 

for discriminating among silicate rocks and between 

silicate and nonsilicate rocks; also, fabrication of a 

trielement thermal infrared detector for ratioing; development of two mutually supportive volcano surveillance systems using satellite data collection, the 

seismic event counter network and thermal infrared 

monitoring; application of high-altitude thermal infrared images to analysis of structural zones in the 

Denver Urban Area and the Geysers, Calif.; use of 

thermal infrared images for stream curvature and 

orientation analysis in tree-covered granitic terrain 

near Mill Creek, Okla.; definition of a previously 

unmapped contact between two granites as a result of 

this analysis; use of high-altitude color and color-infrared photographs for monitoring flood-related erosion and sedimentation in northern California and the 

impact of this dynamic redistribution on land use practices; analysis of high-altitude multiband photographs 

of the San Francisco Bay suggests a correlation between 

film density and water temperature, salinity, and light 

transmission characteristics ; and analysis of Cosmos 49 

and OGO 6 satellite magnetometer data to determine 

crustal anomalies. 

The Geological Survey continues to analyze ERTS 

image simulations and real images using edge gradient 

analysis to estimate image quality and resolution values, 

and continues to support a study to determine the 

metric quality of Return Beam Vidicon (RBV) 

cameras and methods and procedures that might be 

employed to attain the best possible geometric fidelity 

in the data obtained by them. This project has resulted 

in computer programs for in-flight calibration of RBV 

systems using ground control points. The reseau coordinates of all ERTS RBV cameras have now been 

measured for use in the NASA Data Processing Facility 

precision processor. These data are alvo used to evaluate 

the distortions inherent in ERTS RBV imagery and 

have influenced the design of new reseau patterns for 

future ERTS satellites. A data bank of photoidentifiable ground image points of the United States has 

been compiled to relate ERTS and other remote-sensor 

images to a specified earth reference system. The 

NASA Data Processing Facility is using these data in 

their precision processor for producing scene-corrected 

(precision processed) images. This data bank is now 

being refined and improved using actual ERTS 

images. The Geological Survey has also sponsored development of a dynamic method for correcting geo490-495 0 - 73 - 5 
metric and photometric errors in a television display 

system. 

In the process of developing useful cartographic 

products from space and high-altitude aircraft remotesensor data, objective tests have been conducted and experimental products have been produced from ERTS 

images. Six ERTS experiments are being conducted 

to study cartographic applications of ERTS data. In 

addition, five proposals for investigations with Skylab 

EREP data have been tentatively accepted by NASA 

to study cartographic applications of data from the 

multispectral scanner, multispectral camera, and an 

18-inch focal length frame camera to be carried on 

bod. 

Remote-sensing studies in the Chesapeake Bay region 

have included projects relating runoff to spatial drainage basins characteristics that may be readily extracted 

from multispectral data; for delineation of wetlands 

based on determination of spectral reflectance curves 

for major species identification, plant succession, 

seasonal changes in individual species, and unusual 

events; and for analysis of urbanization effects on sediment and stream discharge. Coastal wetlands research 

and mapping continues as a contract study, utilizing 

data from selected areas along the Atlantic Coast, in 

an etFort to improve the capability of remote-sensing 

technology to rapidly identify, delineate, and map 

coastal wetlands for management purposes. The 

dynamics of species boundaries with season and time 

are also being analyzed. 

Work continues on the development of techniques 

to determine quantities of soil moisture, the delineation of areas of ground-water occurrence, the location 

of flowing artesian wells, and the interpretation of 

hydrologic anomalies from snowmelt patterns using 

remote sensors. Film densities have been correlated to 

the volume of plant canopy and quantities of evapotranspiration from phreatophytes in a continuing study 

in Arizona. Ecological predictive models are being developed for conservation, wildlife, and harbor management in Florida. A network of data platforms are being 

installed in southern Florida as a part of the Data Collection System (NS) for relay via ERTS-1 for near 

real-time water management. ERTS-1 is equipped 

with DCS relay equipment. Data obtained by platforms 

at gaged points are transmitted to the satellite for relay 

to ground receiving stations, and the data are then 

telemetered to the appropriate center for computer 

processing. Within a total time of 2 hours the data 

are available for use in decisionmaking. A network of 

platforms for monitoring water quantity and quality 

has been implemented in the Delaware River Estuary 

in cooperation with the Delaware River Basin Commission. The system is working as intended and should be 

invaluable for early waning of potential hazardous 

conditions such as chemical spills and floods. 

Passive microwave research is underway to develop 

the technology to make quantitative estimates of runoff expected from an areal snowpack. Three avenues 

of research in pollution detection are being followed. 

These are laser-stimulated Raman scatter, which 

shows promise for the detection of diatomic and polyatomic molecules; infrared specular reflectance or 

emittance, which is based on the nature of aqueous 

solutions of different chemical composition to reflect 

or emit electromagnetic radiant energy in its own 

characteristic spectral signature ; and remote sensing 

solar-stimulated fluorescence, which is limited to relatively few constituents of natural waters such as oil, 

and some industrial and pesticide pollutants, ‘but has 

potential as a dye tracer to determine circulation patterns. These studies should lead to the design of airborne sensors. 

Data for the Phoenix quadrangle have been obtained from both high-altitude aircraft and satellite 

photos for a project to test the feasibility of mapping 

land use at a scale of 1 : 250,000, to use computerized 

techniques for updating the information, and to relate land use data to other environmental and socioeconomic factors. Thus far the land-use interpretation 

together with data on land ownership, soils, drainage, 

census tracts, and various locational codes have been 

computerized, and a map of detected land use changes 

for the period from November 1970 to February 1972 

has been produced. The work on urban change detection continued with analysis of land use from highaltitude photography taken at the time of the 1970 

census, and was completed for Boston, Cedar Rapids, 

New Haven, Washington, D.C., and San Francisco. 

Land use changes between 1970 and 1972 are being 

analyzed, some from ERTS-1 imagery. There is great 

promise for a multistage, multidate land use monitoring system which combines remote sensors aboard aircraft and satellites with integrated sample mound 

surveys. 

Operations.-The Geological Survey supported NASA 

in the conduct of Apollo 16 and 17 lunar exploration 

missions. The Survey provides the chairman and members on the Apollo Orbital Science Photo Team. The 

team prepares the photographic flight plan for both 

command module and service module photography, 

trains the astronauts in photographic operations and 

geologic observations, provides real-time support during the flight through the Mission Control Center, 

monitors the processing and distribution of the flight 

film, and recommends the cartographic utilization of 

the photography. The Center of Astrogeology prepares 

the large topographic maps required for selecting sites 

and planning surface operations. Geologic analysis of 

photographs taken by orbital cameras during Apollo 

15 and 16 was started, and geologic mapping of Mars 

continued making use of the more than 7,000 pictures transmitted by Manner 9. 
International Cooperation 

Early in the year, the U.S. Geological Survey conducted a 3-month training course in remote sensing in 

Indonesia as part of an on-going geological assistance 

project sponsored by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) . Ten scientists representing several Indonesian agencies participated. Plans 

also were formulated for a remote-sensing applications 

project in Indonesia, using multispectral photography 

in multidisciplinary studies, principally on the island 

of Bali. This project, which includes training and acquisition and interpretation of data, is an attempt to 

apply remote-sensing techniques to the solution of 

varied problems in a wet tropical environment in a developing country. 

Planning was completed for a remote-sensing training and consultation program in Thailand to begin in 

January 1973. This project, which is directly related 

to a Natural Resources Program of the National Research Council of Thailand involves the use of ERTS 

imagery in multidisciplinary studies by six agencies of 

the Thai Government. 

The EROS Program arranged and participated in a 

3-week course in applications of remote-sensing systems to earth resources analysis and management presented for 13 experts from Iran, 6 from Pakistan, and 

11 from Turkey, in the fields of geology, water resources, topographic mapping, forestry, agriculture, 

oceanography, geography, and land use planning. The 

course, held in Tehran, Iran, September 15 to October 

7, 1972, was sponsored by the CENTO (Central 

Treaty Organization) Secretariat and the Office of the 

USAID Economic Coordinator for CENTO Affairs. 

The Government of Iran was host country, providing 

the facility and services of the Geological Survey of 

Iran for presentation of the program. Objectives of 

the course were to apprise scientists of the CENTO 

countries of the status and methods of using satellite 

and aerial remote-sensing systems to obtain information in support of programs for research and management of earth resources and for land use planning. 

The InterAmerican Geodetic Survey (IAGS) with 

EROS Program support began to serve as a remotesensing training center for Latin America. Using the 

facilities of their cartographic school, IAGS presented 

a 12-week course, “Orientation and Application in Remote Sensing,” to a class of 36 Latin American students from February 28 to May 20, 1972. A second 

course, accommodating 25 students was completed in 

November 1972, and a third course is scheduled for 

February 1973. IAGS is acquiring Gemini, Apollo, 

and ERTS data as well as a bibliography of remotesensing reports on microfiche. These materials are 

available for use in the Canal Zone, and facilities have 

been developed to assist interested people in ordering 

duplicates. 

At the request of the Brazilian Ministry of Mines and 

Energy, the EROS Program is providing assistance in 

carrying out a three-phase training program in the 

application of remote sensing for Brazilian earth scientists. The basic course was given in Brazil, with emphasis on geologic and hydrologic applications. Advanced training is to be given in the United States at the 

EROS Data Center. Manipulation, interpretation, and 

application of ERTS data are to be a significant part 

of this phase. A scientist-to-scientist technical information exchange program is the third phase and is envisioned as a continuing follow-on activilty to the 

training. 

A study is underway to develop techniques for using 

remote-sensor data to estimate seasonal hydrologic 

changes and annual departures from average conditions in arid basins where hydrologic and meteorologic 

data now permit only estimates of long-term average 

conditions. The study involves analysis of ERTS 

images of salars (salt-encrusted playas) within the region of interior drainage in South America (Chile, 

Bolivia, and Argentina). The second objective is to develop a better understanding of the factors controlling 

the distribution of these continental saline deposits. 

A cooperative remote sensing effort by NASA, the 

U.S. Geological Survey, and Canadian scientists on 

Lake Ontario has been incorporated into the International Field Year for the Great Lakes. Several sets 

of aircraft data have been obtained over a simulation 

test site, equivalent in size to an ERTS frame. The 

basic goals of the remote-sensing studies are to study 

sediment and thermal discharges from contributory 

rivers, flow dynamics dthin the lake, factors of water 

quality, the hydrology of surficial deposits in the drainage basin, and ERTS simulation studies. Preliminary 

evaluation of ERTS data shows plumes of water discharging into Lake Ontario and factors relating to 

circulation dynamics that will be useful for the development of dispersion models. Geological Survey scientists 

have also been cooperating with Canadian scientists 

in applying remote-sensing techniques to snow and ice 

studies. Data from aircraft and spacecraft platforms 

have been used to evaluate the hydrologic significance 

of the snowline ; to evaluate the circulation patterns, 

heat exchange, and ice dynamics of the Arctic Ocean; 

and to analyze the location, extent, thickness, and condition of the ice on Lake Ontario and the Gulf of St. 

Lawrence. 

The use of fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters for 

logistical support of field operations continued, particularly in Saudi Arabia where the U.S. Geological 

Survey is involved in a geological mapping and mineral 

appraisal program. Aeromagnetic and radiometric data 

also were obtained through contracts with private companies during the year. 

57 
X Department of Agriculture 

Introduction 

Among the program responsibilities of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is that of participation in 

establishing policy decisions on the sound use of agricultural and wildland resources, while also providing 

information and assistance to farmers, processors, 

homemakers, and consumers of agricultural commodities. As one of the steps in fulfilling these responsibilities, the Department during 1972 continued its research 

on (the timely application of ground, aircraft, and satellite remote sensing data to the solution of major agricultural, forestry, range, and environmental problems. 

One of the objectives of this Earth Resources Survey 

Program is to develop methods for the comprehensive 

and timely collection of data from earth orbit and to 

disseminate these data for rapid interpretation into 

meaningful information for the user community. 

USDA is working closely with other Federal agencies 

for this purpose. 

Remote Sensing Activities 

The Department recognizes the need for a remote 

sensing program that is technically feasible and economically sound. Such a program would utilize aerospace technology in collecting near real-time earth 

resources data to ( 1) inventory and evaluate for pmductivity the food, fiber, and other natural resources of 

the United States and the world, and (2) assess 

environmental and ecological conditions, as well as 

man-environment interactions. 

Early in the Earth Resources Survey Program, 

USDA recognized the possibilities for using aerospace 

remote sensing methods in making timely and accurate 

crop and forest surveys, in determining soil types and 

moisture conditions, in detecting stress conditions in 

agriculture and timber crops, and in other similar efforts. The Department, under a NASA funding agreement, contracted with the Infrared and Optical Sensor 

Laboratory of the University of Michigan in 1966 to 

conduct a feasibility design study for developing a 

multispectral scanning device. This device was intended as a research tool for developing and evaluating automatic, spectral pattern techniques. A multichannel optical-mechanical scanning instrument was 

developed that would (1) provide for finer spectral 

resolutions than could be obtained via photographic 

systems, (2) provide for rapid automatic spectral discrimination of crops, and (3) provide a method that 

could be readily adapted in automatic data processing 

techniques. 

It was also recognized that data in photographic 

form are not as readily adaptable for automatic processing as are data in electronic form. Since large quantities of data were to be expected from aircraft and 

spacecraft experimental multispectral scanner flights, 

the USDA with NASA funds contracted in 1966 with 

the Laboratory for Agricultural Remote Sensing at 

Purdue University to design and develop a flexible 

and automatic computerized data handling system. 

Such a system could supply scanner data, as well as 

data from other sources, to researchers rapidly and conveniently. This data handling capability would permit 

rapid data manipulation, i.e., analog-to-digital converson, calibration, formating, editing, etc. This, in turn, 

would create a capability for rapid data analysis, 

thereby permitting further reduction of the data to 

such useful information as automatic pattern recognition, image enhancement, statistical analysis, etc. 

Success in the use of multispectral scanners and automated data processing techniques has been well documented. It is the basis for establishing similar systems 

to meet current and future ERTS data handling 

requirements. 

During 1972, USDA extended its capability for collecting, analyzing, and utilizing the synoptic and sequential data obtained from the ERTS-I experimental 

satellite. It is continuing to identify the kinds of data 

and instrumentation required for more effective use 

of future satellite systems. Currently six USDA-NASA 

ERTS-I research investigations are in progress. These 

are : 

1. Spectral reflection studies on vegetation, soil, 

2. Utilization of ERTS data for determining 

3. Investigation of the use of space data in 

4. Spectral bands determination for recording 

5. Investigation of crop identification and acreand water utilizing space data. 

wind soil erosion in the High Plains of Texas. 

watershed hydrology studies. 

gypsy moth defoliation. 

age measurement utilizing ERTS imagery. 

58 
6. Evaluation of ERTS multispectral scanner 

imagery for identifying forest, rangeland, new forest, and water resources, and forest stress. 

USDA is also preparing for five research investigations involving data to be acquired from the EREP 

package aboard Skylab scheduled for launch in 1973. 

These investigations will involve : 

1. Early detection of insect infestation in agricultural crops. 

2. The use of space observations to determine 

the need for crop irrigations, the distribution of 

saline soil, and temperature distributions associated with freezes. 

3. An ecosystem study in a Colorado Basin area. 

4. Use of space imagery in developing a timber 

5. Detection of disturbances caused by mounA number of studies conducted in 1972 involved 

aerial remote sensing techniques. Among the advances 

made were : 

1. Determination of the significance of temporal analysis of crops utilizing aerial multispectral scanner data. 

2. Development of an ongoing operational survey method for using aerial color infrared photography in detecting citrus blackfly. This method 

has considerably reduced survey costs, while providing a faster and better means of surveillance. 

3. Two remote sensing studies have been completed by the Forest Service at its Pacific Southwest Range and Experiment Station at Berkeley, 

Calif. One study in southern California attempted 

to assess oxidant injury to Ponderosa pine in the 

mountains. Successful results were obtained with 

large-scale ( 1 : 1,600) color aerial photography; 

multispectral scanner imagery yielded negative 

results. 

4. A second experiment, carried out in cooperavolume estimate capability. 

tain pine beetles. 

tion with TVA and EPA, attempted to identify 

damage from the SO2 emitted by a large coalburning power plant. This experiment showed 

that damage could be detected in the 1 : 1,600 color 

aerial photographs when such damage exceeded 

20 percent. 

5. Also developed was a wildland resources information system using aerial photography and 

digital computers. This system was first developed 

for the Stanislaus National Forest and is being 

further adapted for other California national 

forests. 

6. Identification of Poria weirii root rot in 

Oregon forests, with 80 percent success, utilizing 

aerial photography up to the scale of 1 : 32,000. 

7. Very small aerial color transparencies (scale 

1 :420,000) have been used with better than 90 

percent accuracy in estimating forest areas by 

separating nonforest from forest areas. 

Other Activities 

U.S. policy encourages international cooperation in 

remote sensing activities. USDA, in 1972, cooperated 

with U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (Rome) 

in developing a several-month training course for Thai 

and Philippine personnel. These advanced students attended an academic-type, 6-week course at the 

Laboratory for Applications of Remote Sensing at Purdue University, and were then given field training at 

various USDA research centers in the United States. 

USDA personnel participated in a remote sensing 

training program in Tehran and are preparing for an 

AID-sponsored program on remote sensing to be given 

in Bangkok. 

The Department also presented papers at the Eighth 

International Symposium on Remote Sensing of Environment held at the University of Michigan in October 1972. 

Introduction of Standards, the Maritime Administration, and the 

Office of Telecommunications. Indirect contributions 

are made by the US. Patent Office and the National 

Technical Information Service. The goals of these 

organizations include improvement of man’s comprehension and uses of the physical environment and its 

The Department of Commerce programs contributing directly to the national aeronautics and space effort 

are administered and operated by the National Oceanic 

and Atmospheric Administration, the National Bureau 
oceanic life, and strengthening and advancing the Nation’s science and technology to facilitate their application for public benefit. 

Satellite Programs 

Environmental Satellite Operations.-A major improvement in the national operational environmental 

satellite system occurred October 15 with the launch 

of the NOAA 2 spacecraft. NOAA 2, commanded and 

controlled by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration’s (NOAA) National Environmental 

Satellite Service (NESS), is the first in a new series of 

operational environmental satellites. Although similar 

in appearance to previous satellites in the Improved 

TIROS Operational Satellite (ITOS) series, NOAA 2 

is the first operational spacecraft to rely entirely orl 

scanning radiometers for imagery, and the first to carry 

a sensor capable of obtaining vertical temperature profiles of the atmosphere on a near-global basis. NOAA 2 

carries two sets of primary sensors : Scanning Radiometers (SR’s) , Very High Resolution Radiometers 

(VHRR’s) , and Vertical Temperature Profile Radiometers (VTPR‘s) ; the second set is for back up in 

case of failure. The spacecraft also carries a single 

Solar Proton Monitor (SPM) as a secondary sensor. 

The SR subsystem, which replaces the Automatic 

Picture Transmission and Advanced Vidicon Camera 

Systems carried by earlier NOAA satellites, gathers 

data in the visible and infrared spectrum bth day and 

night. Global cloud cover imagery is stored for later 

readout to US. Command and Data Acquisition stations; direct readout of local cloud cover imagery is 

available to all nations. 

The operational VTPR is a major step toward abtaining the quantitative global measurements needed 

for numerical weather forecasting. The VTPR measures infrared energy radiated from six levels of the 

atmosphere and from the Earth’s surface or cloud tops. 

These data are used to calculate the vertical temperature distribution in the atmosphere. 

The VHRR obtains data similar to that of the SR 

but at a resolution of one-half nautical mile rather 

than the two-to-four nautical mile resolution of the 

SR. Measurements from these instruments can be used 

to obtain cloud top temperatures, and, in clear areas, 

sea surface temperatures. 

Development and Application of Environmental 

Satellite Technology.-An improved technique for 

analysis of tropical cyclone intensities from satellite pictures was developed and used by the NESS in 1972. 

Its use resulted in better tracking and forecasting of 

hurricanes and lesser intensity storms. 

A computer technique for the derivation of low-level 

( 1.5 kilometers) winds from Applications Technology 

Satellite ( ATS) pictures, was developed and used 

60 

Operationally. About 250 winds were computed daily, 

125 each from ATS 1 and ATS 3 pictures. After October, ATS 1 picture capability was lost. Approximately 

80 winds at the lOKm level also are derived daily by 

manual techniques. All wind information derived from 

satellite pictures is used operationally by the National 

Meteorological Center. 

Wind data derived from ATS pictures have been 

important in the derivation of a 4-year circulation 

climatology of the tropics. This climatology has revealed details of long-period mean circulations in large 

areas of the tropics where data were not previously 

available. Sun reflection patterns visible in ATS photographs were used to detect the areal extent of a localized wind and wave pattern affecting shipping along 

the west coast of Mexico and Central America. 

Real-time use of the ATS 1 and 3 cloud cover photographs continued at the National Weather Service’s 

National Severe Storms Forecast Center, the National 

Hurricane Center, and the National Meteorological 

Center. Real-time service was extended to the San 

Francisco Weather Forecast Office but was terminated 

in October following the loss of ATS 1 picture 

capzibility. 

NESS has made preparations to obtain vertical 

temperature profiles in the atmosphere using information expected from new instrumentation on NASA’s 

Nimbus E satellite. Global data from Nimbus E and 

NOA.4 2 will be used to test and improve numerical 

weather predication models. NESS is developing a 

sophisticated Earth Radiation Budget (ERB) radiometer for test on Nimbus E. The ERB will provide 

accurate long-term measurements of radiation-induced 

heating or cooling of the Earth’s surface and atmosphere both synoptically and globally. These measurements will provide bench mark data that should permit 

diagnosis of future climatic change from satellite 

radiation observations. 

Detection and tracking of large eddies of cool water 

that break off from loop patterns of the Gulf Stream 

was resumed following launch of the NOAA 2 satellite. 

The eddies, representing enormous pools of stored energy, have been detected in the VHRR visible and infrared imagery. 

NESS studies of satellite infrared and visible imagery 

of the Beaufort Sea show the characteristic seasonal 

changes in ice cover. These changes range from long 

north-south leads in spring, to giant floes in early summer, and finally to increasingly smaller floes at the 

autumn freeze-up. Some ice areas appear significantly 

warmer than others, thus suggesting consistently thinner ice in those areas. In spring, the 24-hr range of 

temperature was significantly larger for areas with high 

ice concentration than for areas with low concentrations of thin ice. Other studies demonstrated the use of 

satellite infrared imagery for ice mapping during the 

polar night. 
Preliminary NESS studies show that imagery from 

the Earth Resources Technology Satellite (ERTS) is 

valuable in certain oceanographic research. Circulation patterns are revealed by sediment distributions in 

coastal areas; shore-line details, shoals, and shallow 

water bathymetry are delineated by light penetration 

into shoal water. Delineation is limited only by the degree to which light from the several spectral bands 

available on ERTS can penetrate the water surfaces. 

ERTS data confirmed an earlier finding that melting 

ice could be detected by noting the difference in near 

infrared and visible reflectance measurements. Atlantic 

Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (A0 

ML) scientists have found ERTS imagery useful for 

detecting acid wastes outside of designated dumping 

are? off New York harbor. AOML and NASA are 

working together to obtain sub-ohital path, groundtruth oceanographic data to evaluate the ERTS observations; the data are being gathered by AOML research ships. 

Other studies of satellite remote-sensing capabilities 

have identified the potential for measuring chlorophyll 

and ocean color from space, and improved methods 

and materials for studying coastal and estuarine circulations by dye dispersal and tracing. 

Hydrologic studies conducted by NESS demonstrated the usefulness of satellite thermal infrared imagery 

in mapping the extent of snow cover, particularly in 

flat terrain. Snow covered areas have radiation temperatures 5 to 10' Celsius lower than the surrounding 

snow free areas. 

NOAA's Weather Modification Program Office is 

correlating visible and infrared satellite imagery with 

quantitative radar measurements of precipitation. Preliminary results for the, tropics suggest that the brightest and coldest cloud masses viewed from the satellite 

are the regions of active precipitation. When correlation and calibration are completed, it will be possible 

to use the satellite-rainfall relationship to make more 

accurate estimates of rainfall in remote regions than 

is now possible. 

A little know facet of the space program is the full 

range of weather forecasting and observing services required. During the past year the National Weather 

Service provided : 

Forecasts and briefings for the Apollo 16 and 17 

missions. 

Daily forecasts of cloud cover along the global 

ERTS track to assist in determining where useful 

observations could be obtained. 

Almost daily weather forecasts for aircraft in 

the NASA Earth Resources Aircraft Program. 

Meteorological support to the NAVY Pacific 

Missile Range stations at San Nicolas Island, 

Calif., and Barking Sands, Hawaii, and to the 

Army Missile Range on Kwajalein Island. 

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) investigated application of remote sensing technology to 

improving fisheries research and management. With 

NASA cooperation, NMFS acquired aircraft and 

ERTS earth resources data to show correlations between remotely sensed environmental parameters and 

living resources. NMFS and NOAA's Environmental 

Research Laboratories conducted other experiments to 

evaluate the usefulness of ERTS data for detecting 

currents around islands. The Fisheries Service and the 

U.S. Coast Guard used data from Airborne Radiation 

Thermometer flights in determining currents and temperature structure along U.S. coastal areas. 

Environmental satellite data are incorporated in 

weather forecasts and charts of sea surface temperatures routinely transmitted to the U.S. tuna fleet in the 

tropical eastern Pacific. In return, the fleet sends the 

Fisheries Service detailed oceanographic and meteorological reports for fishery prediction projects. NMFS 

receives much of their environmental data via the 

Automatic Picture Transmission system, and prediction products are prepared in cooperation with the National Weather Service. 

The protototype hardware for the National Data 

Buoy Project (NDBP) was delivered for test and 

evaluation. This hardware included two experimental 

buoys (one now deployed in the Gulf of Alaska, the 

other in the Gulf of Mexico) ; position location devices 

for drifting buoys (using Omega and navigation satellite systems) ; drifting, moored, and deep keel hull 

buoys ; and experimental polar application buoys which 

use the Nimbus IV satpll;+- for data relay and position 

location. 

Znternational Cooperation.-Direct exchange of environmental satellite data continued between the 

United States and the U.S.S.R. over the direct Washington-Moscow circuiit. The data exchanged included 

television and infrared photographs of cloud cover and 

analyses of meteorological information. Data flow in 

both directions has been uninterrupted except during 

short-period circuit outages. The U.S.S.R. discontinued 

transmission of television photographs in March but 

resumed on a sporadic basis in July. At the close of the 

year the exchange consisted of data from the U.S. 

NOAA 2 and the U.S.S.R. Meteor 10, 11, 12, and 13 

satellites. The Meteor satellites have an experimental 

direct readout capability similar to the U.S. Automatic 

Picture Transmission system. However. this is only 

available over U.S.S.R. territory. 

Under the World Meteorological Organization Voluntary Assistance Program, NOAA's National Weather 

Service completed installation of Automatic Picture 

Transmission ground stations in three countries and 

procured stations for installation in four others. Bilingual NWS and NESS instructors conducted classes 

61 
and training seminars in satellite picture interpretation 

in six Central and South American countries. 

Representatives of the United States, the European 

Space Research Organization (ESRO) , Japan, and 

observers from the World Meteorological Organization 

met in Washington in September to discuss coordination of efforts for establishing geostationary environmental satellite systems. Two ad-hoc working groups 

were established to study engineering aspects and user 

requirements. 

Satellite ground stations in over 100 countries and 

trust territories around the world continued to receive 

spacecraft imagery by direct readouit from polarorbiting Automatic Picture Transmission satellites and 

by relay through the geostationary ATS satellites. 

Navigation/Communication Satellites.-The Maritime Administration completed the development phase 

of the Navigation/Communication Satellite Program. 

Unique ground station and shipboard hardware were 

procured, and prototype models successfully tested. A 

Maritime Coordination Center, the focal point of the 

system, is located at Kings Point, N.Y. The Center 

functions as an earth station, communications interface, 

and computation center for computing ship positions 

from ranging data obtained through the NASA ATS 

3 and 5 satellites. 

The US. maritime industry and the Maritime Administration are closely coordinating definition of 

future experimental subsystems to improve fleet management, to provide more reliable telecommunication 

services, and to improve operational economics. Programs are underway on improved shipboard antennas, 

collision-avoidance equipment, and more precise position detemnination methods. 

Geometric Satellite Triangulation.-Data processing 

and analysis for the Worldwide Geometric Satellite 

Triangulation Program was completed. Geometric data 

are being used, independently and in combination with 

Doppler data, to determine a world ellipsoid of best fit 

to the geoid. 

The National Ocean Survey (NOS) cooperated with 

the Department of Defense in satellite positioning experiments using the Doppler method. In cooperation 

with NASA, NOS studied the magnitude of gravity 

gradients that would be sensed by a satellite-borne 

gravity gradiometer. 

Satellite Tracking and Communications.-The Department of Commerce Office of Telecommunications 

studied problems related to satellite communications, 

including precipitation effects and propagation at 

many frequencies through the extremely high frequency 

bands. Results of the research supported the manned 

spaceflight program, the ATS F program, and the 

Synchronous Meteorological Satellite/Geostationary 

Operational Environmental Satellite program. A technique for precise synchronization of widely separated 

time bases was studied using satellite communications. 

This will be important for future communications, 

navigation, and positioning systems. A study of technical considerations in domestic satellite communications policy for the President’s Office of Telecommunications Policy led to the conclusion that there is 

sufficient electromagnetic frequency spectrum available in synchronous satellite orbits to accommodate all 

initial applicants for proposed multiple domestic systems with minimum regulatory control. 

Upper Atmosphere and Space Technology 

Astrophysics.-The National Bureau of Standards 

(NBS) studies the kinetic and photochemical behavior 

of planetary atmospheres. Of particular interest is the 

nature of the Martian atmosphere, and the puzzle of 

the presence of undissociated carbon dioxide and water 

molecules with liittle evidence of molecular oxygen. 

NBS spectroscopic studies on hydrogen bonding may be 

important in understanding the atmospheres of the 

outer planets. Recent NBS measurements of the infrared spectra of cyanogen-halide and ammonia-like molecules are important in interpreting recent observations 

of Jupiter. 

Theoretical studies of stellar atmospheres, complemented by a University of Colorado obseravtional 

program, provided useful information abut the sun. 

Observations made of strong Fraunhofer lines in plages 

and sunspots have suggested several new techniques 

for determining the properties of the solar chromosphere. 

Solar Physics.-The NOAA Environmental Research 

Laboratories’ Space Environment Laboratory (SEL) 

provided solar-observing and forecasting services for 

NASA and other government agencies. Foremost 

among these was the operation of the Solar Proton 

Alert Network (SPAN), which consists of four stations spaced around the world to permit continuous 

solar observations. Solar disturbances are forecast and 

monitored as part of the environmental warning service 

provided to programs such as the Apollo 16 and 17 

missions. The SPAN had an intense period of activity 

in August 1972 during the Occurrence of the largest 

solar flare events of the current solar cycle. Geophysical 

effects of these flares were felt as disturbances in 

ground power distribution systems, in long-distance 

communications lines, and in high frequency and very 

high frequency radio propagation. 

Studies of the magnetic field configuration of the 

solar disk and active solar regions resulted in successful tracing of the solar proton streams to the solar disk. 

These studies were done using interpretative analysis 
of hydrogen-alpha photographs correlated with observed solar proton streams near Earth. 

Upper Atmosphere Physics.-NASA’s Small Scientific 

Satellite, for which NOAA’s Space Environment Laboratory provided instrumentation, has obtained a variety 

of data on the magnetosphere. Among these were the 

first observations of the equatorial pitch-angle distribution of alpha particles and heavy ions. These data 

should provide a unique clue to the source of particles 

found in the Earth’s near-space environment. Observations by this satellite of the evolution of plasma instabilities in the magnetosphere proton population provide a unique insight as to how such instabilities may 

evolve in a naturally occurring geophysical plasma. 

NOAA’s Aeronomy Laboratory continued research 

on optical emissions sensitive to abnormal heating of 

ionospheric electrons produced naturally during magnetic storms and artificially lby a high-powered transmitter. The data obtained will clarify the source of the 

energy and the basic collision processes that occur during heating. High-powered radio transmitters also were 

used to produce artificial irregularities similar to the 

natural irregularities of equatorial and auroral regions 

that cause severe perturbations to communications relying on satellite relay. 

A global model of the ionosphere is being produced 

by the SEL. The model incorporates useful features 

from studies made over the past half century and includes data on atmospheric densities, solar flux, and 

electron and ion densities. The Aeronomy Laboratory 

continued investigations of D-region ion composition 

using numerical modeling and laboratory controlled 

chemical reaction rates. Emphasis was on the composition changes likely to occur during periods of intense 

particle influx. The study has a direct bearing on the 

effects of high-altitude nuclear explosions. 

Radar studies of the small-scale structure of the 

auroral ionosphere were made during periods of 

moderate geomagnetic activity. The studies show a 

correlation between some radar echoes and the edges of 

visual auroral forms, and an association of other radar 

echoes with the auroral electrojet current system. This 

information will provide a better understanding of 

communications in polar regions. 

Analysis of Apollo Lunar Samples.-NBS is determining the chemical composition of lunar samples 

collected on the various Apollo missions. Analysis of 

the Apollo 14 and 15 samples is complete and work 

is underway on the Apollo 16 samples. The high precision techniques being used include electron probe 

analysis for accurate information about the identity and 

distribution of mineral phases in the samples; polarographic measurement of iron, titanium, and nickel concentrations; mass spectrometer determinations of the 

absolute abundance ratios of some 30 elements; and 

enhanced spark-source methods to determine the presence of various less-abundant elements in the samples. 

To date, very little difference has been found in the 

relative isotopic composition of Iunar specimens and 

terrestrial matter. 

Znstrumentation for Mars Viking Mission.-NBS 

facilities were used to determine the frost-pint of 

carbon-dioxide and to provide calibrations for the 

humidity sensors on the Mars Viking Mission. Ionprobe instrumentation is being designed for in-situ 

chemical analysis of microscopic particles on the Martian surface. 

Cryogenic Engineering Support.-NBS is making a 

concentrated effort to provide NASA with basic data 

and engineering information on cryogenic systems used 

in spacecraft fuel cells and fuel storage. Work included 

thermodynamic, transport, and thermochemical prop 

erties of cryogenic fluids, mechanical properties of 

material at low temperatures, measurement methods, 

and safety procedures and standards. Technically important data have been published on oxygen, hydrogen, 

and helium. Special studies included the detection and 

prediction of liquid oxygen tank failures. 

Space Vehicle Studies.-Precision measurements were 

made of the thermophysical properties of molecular 

fluorine to assess its potential for rocket propulsion. 

Design and evaluation of re-entry heat shields will be 

affected by the NBS studies of the oxide distribution 

in metallic alloys (titanium diff used-nickel-chmmium 

materials). 

Radiation Effects Studies.-NBS assisted NASA’s 

Goddard Space Flight Center in testing and evaluating 

semiconductor nuclear radiation detectors and dosimeters. NBS provides information on the behavior of 

solid-state materials in radiation environments. Improved methods of predicting the long-term performance of semiconductor radiation detectors are important in the selection of instrumentation for future 

NASA interplanetary missions. 

A number of theoretical and experimental investigations on the effects of different forms of radiation on 

materials and electronic components were completed 

by NBS. These studies will aid in the design of shielding to prevent undesirable exposure of instrumentation 

and personnel to space radiation. Calculations were 

made of the energy transported and deposited by 

charged particles impacting on various materials, the 

effectiveness of multilayer shielding, and the influence 

of radiation on electronic and communications elements. Evaluation of data gathered by sodium-iodide 

detectors used on Apollo missions has begun. The detectors determined the angular distribution of gamma 

radiation on the lunar surface. 

63 
Time Service.-Precise time information is essential 

to satellite tracking and space vehicle navigation and 

maneuvering. The NBS provides accurate time frequency signals through its radio broadcast stations and 

has completed a one year experiment in which time 

signals were disseminated through the ATS 3 satellite. 

A newly designed system, which integrates commercial 

television, satellites, and the Department of Defense 

Omega Navigational System, will make the time signals more widely available. The NOAA Earth Sciences 

Laboratories are cooperating with NBS in developing 

a system to telemeter timing information to and from 

remote observing platforms using NOAA’s Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES). 

Precise Geodetic Measurements and Lunar Ranging.-Retro-reflector packages placed on the moon 

during previous Apollo missions have been used to 

determine rotational and polar motions of the Earth, 

and variations in the lunar orbit. The NBS, using improved calculations of laser signals sent and received 

through the McDonald Observatory telescope, established the distance to the lunar surface to an accuracy 

of about 30 centimeters over a distance of 400 million 

meters. 

Aeronautical Programs 

Communications for Aeronautics.-Despite a temporary slowdown in the rate of growth of aviation, available air-to-ground communications resources are near 

saturation. The Office of Telecommunications (OT) 

investigated means to improve the efficiency of present 

facilities, and analyzed fundamental characteristics 

critical to the introduction of digital communications. 

Digital communication should have the effect of expanding available air-to-ground communications resources and should permit the introduction of extended 

automation in the Air Traffic Control system. The ultimate result should be an increase in the useability of 

air space and greater flight safety. This research has 

improved understanding of the communications medium, and has contributed to improved design and 

management for 1972 and the future. 

Improvements in ground communications to support modernization and automation of the Air Traffic 

Control system have resulted from OT research, particularly in the design of microwave systems to assure 

reliable connections between remote radars and central computer control facilities. 

Safety Services for Aeronautics.-Congressional concern over the midair collision problem has resulted 

in a program to establish a national standard for collision avoidance systems. An interdepartmental group 

is vigorously studying this subject to meet very short 

deadlines established by the Congress. The Office of 

Telecommunications has performed intensive research 

64 

to establish the relationships between the existing prototype system and other electronic systems which potentially limit its effectivness-a critical issue in the 

planning for this safety service. 

The National Severe Storms Laboratory has conducted studies to improve aircraft flight safety in the 

vicinity of thunderstorms. As part of this program, a 

dual-Doppler radar network is being constructed to 

map the horizontal wind within thunderstorms. Direct 

observations of thunderstorm turbulence obtained by 

aircraft have been correlated with measurements made 

indirectly by Doppler radar. Satellite data are used 

in these studies to correlate radar echoes and weather 

characteristics, to identify cloud and storm systems in 

their incipient phases, and to estimate the role of 

meteorological parameters in storm development. 

The National Weather Service continued to provide 

a wide variety of services essential to safe and efficient 

aircraft operations. Observations, forecasts, warnings, 

pilot briefings, and in-flight advisory services were provided to domestc and international aviation interests. 

Aeronautical Charts.-Evaluation of remote sensors 

for use in cartography was begun by the NOS. Emphasis was on small-scale aeronautical charts for use under 

visual flight rules. Two new series of charts were issued. 

One depicts the Standard Terminal Arrival Route 

(STAR) procedures, previously published in textual 

form in the Airman’s Information Manual (AIM) ; 

the other, Airport Taxi Charts (published for selected 

airports), provides details on items such as airport 

buildings, service areas, runways, and taxi ramps. 

The World Aeronautical Chart series covering the 

contiguous United States and Alaska was completed. 

These charts meet the Inter-Agency Air Cartographic 

Committee specifications for common use by civil and 

military aviation. 

Support to Environmental Programs.-Techniques 

for obtaining measurements of the water equivalent of 

snow by remote sensing from aircraft have been developed and refined over the past three years. Operational testing of the technique in suport of flood forecasting was initiated in the north-central plains region 

and around Lake Ontario, the latter in support of the 

International Field Year of the Great Lakes. 

Environmental Data Programs 

NOAA’s Environmental Data Service, (EDS) 

working with the National Environmental Satellite 

Service, established a program to provide NASA earth 

resources data to users. Photographic products acquired by NASA from airborne and spaceborne platforms in the NASA Earth Resources Survey Program 

are available for purchase through the EDS National 

Climatic Center (NCC), Asheville, N.C. As part of 
this effort the NESS established an Earth Resources 

Survey (ERS) Data Center at Suitland, Md. The 

ERS Data Center has distributed more than 7,000 

photographic products to government and non-government scientific investigators since the launch of ERTS 

I on July 23. EDS coordinated the establishment of 

earth resources imagery “browse files” for local users 

at 22 NOAA locations throughout the United States. 

High altitude meteorological data received from 

cooperating foreign countries, the Meteorologkal 

Rocket Network, and the Inter-American Meteorological Rocket Network were processed and published. 

Data for March 1970 through March 1971 were published in the High Altitude Meteorological Data 

series. 

Monitoring-type solar-terrestrial data recorded by 

satellites and space probes are archived by the National Geophysical and Solar-Terrestrial Data Center 

(NGSDC) . NGSDC is the primary sources for the 

ionograms taken by the topside ionosonde satellites. 

Solar parameters (protons, X-rays, and solar wind) 

measured by satellites and space probes are published 

monthly in Solar-Geophysical Data-a primary reference for the international scientific and technical community. During 1972, new data on interplanetary electric- and magnetic-field measurements obtained by the 

PIONEER space probes were added. Similar monitoring-type solar-terrestrial data recorded by satellites 

and space probes are included in the Special Data 

Compilations in the World Data Center A for SolarTerrestrial Physics UAG-Report series. 

During 1972, the National Oceanographic Data 

Center continued to process aircraft expendable 

bathythermograms, and prepared to assess sea surface 

temperature data remotely sensed by aircraft and 

satellites. 

Climatological applicatons of meteorological satellite data were explored by the Lzdboratory for Environmental Data Research. Monthly cloud cover 

amounts were estimated from meteorological satellite 

data for tropical areas of the Pacific and Atlantic 

Oceans. Long period variations in cloud amount in 

these ccean areas, and interocean cloud cover variations, are being studied because the amount of cloud 

cover is closely related to characteristics of the general 

atmospheric circulation. 

XI1 United States Information Agency 

Introduction 

Although activities related to Apollo 16 and 17 highlighted the US. Information Agency’s space programming in 1972, the Mariner and Pioneer planetary 

probes, Earth Resources Technology Satellite and 

future U.S. space projects all received considerable attention. As NASA’s public information arm overseas, 

USIA devoted substantial programming to Skylab and 

the space shuttle, the practical benefits of space research and international cooperation in outer space. 

Foreign audiences maintained a high level of interest 

in U.S. space activities, and the Agency enjoyed the 

cooperation of NASA and the Smithsonian Institution 

in a number of successful projects. The Agency provided three multilingual escort officers for the NASA 

International Youth Science Tour in December, and 

USIA officers at Cape Kennedy assisted the foreign 

press covering the launches of Apollo 16 and 17. 

USIA initiated a Presidential good-will visit to Poland and Yugoslavia by the Apollo 15 crew in January. 

Focusing on scientific results of their mission, the astronauts held round-table discussions with scientists from 

the disciplines supporting lunar exploration in Warsaw and Torun, the birthplace of Copernicus, in Poland and in Belgrade, Zagreb, and Lju’bljana in Yugoslavia. The crew also addressed universi,ty audiences, 

held press conferences and appeared on television in 

both countries. The highly successful visit opened 

doors to increased exchange of space information with 

East European scientists. 

Radio 

The Voice of America broadcast detailed reports of 

Apollo 16 and 17 in 35 languages around the world. 

Coverage included interviews with the astronauts and 

key members of mission control, and extensive followup on the scientific achievements of the missions. 

Special broadcasts in English, Chinese, Russian, Span65 
ish, French, and Portuguese reported live on flight 

progress along with on-the-scene news from VOA’s 

multilingual correspondent teams at Cape Kennedy 

and Houston. 

In addition to coverage of the two Apollo flights 

during 1972, VOA carried a constant flow of news 

reports on other U.S. space projects and developments. 

These included reports on Skylab, the space shuttle, 

the Mariner 9 and Pioneer 10 planetary probes, the 

Earth Resources Technology Satellite, Viking and the 

U.S./U.S.S.R. joint docking mission planned for 

1975. VOA reporters interviewed scientists involved 

in the projects in English and the vernaculars, promoted space exhibits overseas and good-will visits of 

the astronauts and stressed the scientific gains of 

American space efforts. The U.S.S.R. division gave 

special attention to developments in United StatesSoviet space cooperation. 

Press and Publications 

Continuing a service on which foreign editors, science 

writers and radio and television space specialists have 

come to rely, USIA produced special Apollo 16 and 

17 feature packets of articles on the scientific importance of the missions, backgrounders on the astronauts, 

explanations of new scientific experiments and appropriate photographs and drawings. During the flights 

USIA reporters filed daily wireless stories from Cape 

Kennedy and Houston and followed up with analyses 

of data obtained by the missions. 

Another space story receiving special attention from 

the Agency’s press and publications service was the 

Earth Resources Technology Satellite, which was the 

subject of a series of four special wireless articles. 

Mariner 9, Pioneer 10, and the Orbiting Astronomical 

Observatory were covered in wire stories and mailed 

features. Several feature articles on the increasing 

space cooperation between the United States and the 

Soviet Union were sent to all posts. Major photo subjects were Apollo, Mariner, Skylab, and the space 

shuttle. 

USIA’s magazine in Russian and Polish, America 

Illustrated, carried a variety of articles and photographs on space, including, “Orbiting the Red Planet,” 

“What’s New in Space?,” “What the Moon Is Telling 

US,” “The Computer and Space” and “Soviet-U.S. 

Space Docking Test.” 

Topic, the Agency’s magazine for readers in Africa, 

featured stories on satellite communications, lunar 

geology and the space shuttle. The Arabic-language 

magazine A1 Majal carried articles on the benefits of 

space research, the U.S./U.S.S.R. joint docking mission and a feature on Egyptian-born lunar geologist 

Faxouk El Baz. 

Motion Pictures and Television 

The number of prints and foreign language versions of 

space films ordered by USIS posts was evidence of 

continuing interest in space by viewers abroad. When 

the Agency’s motion picture and television service announced the availability of NASA’s color documentary “Promise of the Moon: Apollo 16,” 93 posts 

ordered 269 prints in 14 language versions. USIA’s 

own television program “Windfall From Space,” which 

contains new information on the benefits space exploration has brought to other activities of mankind, 

received an equally favorable response-200 prints 

ordered in 12 languages. Five language versions and 

121 prints of the NASA documentary “A Man’s Reach 

Should Exceed His Grasp,” covering aeronautical 

and space history from the Wright Brothers to Apollo 

11, were ordered, and four prints of the NASA feature 

documentary “Moonwalk One” were acquired for 

theatrical distribution in Yugoslavia. USIA’s Science 

Report, sent monthly to 70 countries for use on television and in schools, featured Mariner 9, the Third 

Lunar Science Conference, Apollo 16 and 17 and 

Skylab. 

Excellent usage reports were also received on USIA 

space news clips, especially during the flights of Apollo 

16 and 17, and older space documentaries are reused 

repeatedly. An estimated 150 countries have some 

USIA space films or television programs, which during 1972 were seen by millions of people. Of the 10 

films most used in direct projection during the year, 

four were NASA color documentaries and one was 

USIA’s feature documentary “The Infinite Journey,” 

released in 1971 to commemorate the first landing on 

the moon. 

Satellite television programming included the visits 

of Presidents Tito of Yugoslavia and Medici of Brazil, 

a program inaugurating color telecasting in Brazil, 

and American participation in the opening of satellite 

ground receiving stations in Jordan, Israel, and 

Ecuador. 

Representatives of the Agency’s motion picture and 

television service assisted and arranged interviews for 

foreign television producers at Cape Kennedy during 

Apollo 16 and 17. Foreign correspondent’s one-to-two 

minute reports were filmed at the launch site and sped 

by air to their home stations for telecast. USIA provided special coverage of the launch of the Orbiting 

Astronomical Satellite “Copernicus” for use by Polish 

television. 

Information Centers and Exhibits 

Fascination with U.S. space achievements was evident 

in visitor reaction to space exhibits and artifacts included in major U.S. exhibitions overseas. The 

Apollo 10 Command Module, which accompanied the 

66 
large “Research and Development-USA” exhibition 

on a six-city tour of the Soviet Union was one of rhe 

chief attractions for the approximately 2 million visitors. A full-scale mock-up of the Skylab living quarters, 

with its many examples of how ingenious scientists and 

designers had solved the problems of living and working in space, intrigued 386,000 Polish visitors to the 

US. exhibition on “Industrial Design at the Poznan 

International Trade Fair. The model later drew an 

estimated one million visitors in a tour of several Japanese cities. 

Another highly successful space exhibition was the 

“Moonrock Express,” which began a series of showings in the Netherlands in 1971, and continued in West 

Germany throughout most of 1972. This educational 

exhibit traveled from city-to-city by train and truck, 

featuring a lunar rock sample and various space artifacts, all with explanatory captions and textual materials. In a year and a half some 5 million viewers visited 

the exhibition in the two countries. 

Sixteen other traveling space exhibits toured East 

and West Europe, Latin America, Africa, and 

Australia. Among them was an unusually interesting 

collection of space artifacts including Astronaut Bean’s 

spacesuit and helmet, “BUZZ” Aldrin’s glove, a Hasselblad space camera, a space sextant and an Apollo 11 

navigational star chart displayed in Zagreb, Yugoslavia, and Warsaw to large, receptive crowds. 

The six moon rocks on loan to the Agency from 

NASA were displayed in 16 countries. The most unusual exhibit was in Mecca, Islam’s holiest city, which 

is closed to non-Muslims. Here the rock was viewed by 

1,800 university students, city administrators, educators 

and the judiciary during a space film and lecture program at the College of Education. Some Meccans 

XI11 

Introduction 

National 

As an independent’ agency established to promote the 

progress of science, the National Science Foundation 

supports scientific research in all fields of science. Research related to aeronautics and space science can be 

found throughout many of the Foundation’s programs. 

Most of the research project support is provided to investigators based at colleges and universities. An imdoubted the authenticity of the rock and of the manned 

lunar landings. A professor of Islamic jurisprudence, 

overhearing the whispers of disbelievers, gave a brief 

impromput speech asserting as fact that man had 

landed on the Moon and that nothing in Koranic 

teachings contradicted that fact. USIS Jidda called 

the event a historic first and an auspicious precedent 

for future cooperative programs with Islamic 

educators. 

USIA published translations of five books on space 

in Thai, Arabic, Korean, Chinese, and Burmese for a 

total of 39,000 copies and sent numerous documents 

and pamphlets on space to USIS libraries throughout 

the world for reference use. 

Summary 

Using all effective communications media at its disposal, the U.S. Information Agency told the story of 

U.S. space accomplishments during 1972 to foreign 

audiences around the world. While Apollo 16 and 17 

were the highlights of the year in space, considerable 

coverage was also given to ERTS, Mariner and Pioneer, Skylab and the space shuttle, as well as the US./ 

U.S.S.R. joint docking mission planned for 1975 and 

the benefits of space research. Major exhibits included 

a six-city tour of the Apollo 10 Command Module in 

the Soviet Union and a full-scale mock-up of the Skylxb living quarters in Poznan, Poland. A historic first 

was achieved when a moon rock was displayed in 

Mecca, Islam’s holy city. The Agency initiated a highly 

successful Presidential good-will tour to Poland and 

Yugoslavia by the Apollo 15 crew in January, which 

opened the doors to increased exchange of space information with East European scientists. 

Science Foundation 

portant segment of this support is provided through a 

number of national research centers administered by 

contract for the National Science Foundation. 

Astronomy.-A variety of theoretical investigations 

focusing on understanding the sources of celestial Xrays were pursued at universities. Many of the X-ray 

sources in our Milky Way are binary stars with one of 

the components suspected of being a black hole. The 

67 
extremely strong gravitational field of the black hole 

may suck clouds from the more ordinary member of 

the pair onto the surface of the very condensed, dark 

companion. X-rays are given off as the infalling material accelerates and impacts onto the black hole. 

Cosmic X-rays are also generated in hot gas filling the 

space between galaxies in some of the rich clusters. The 

gas is very rarified but may be as hot as tens of millions 

of degrees. Theoretical studies are in progress to determine the source, extent, and heating mechanism for 

this gas. 

National Radio Astronomy Observatory (West Virginia and Arizona) .-The National Radio Astronomy 

Observatory (NRAO) maintains three major radio 

telescope facilities at Green Bank, W. Va. and one at 

Kitt Peak, Ariz. Two new receivers were developed 

during fiscal year 1972, a dual-channel, cooled 1350- 

1430 MHz receiver for the 140- and 300-foot telescopes and a 33-50 GHz mixer receiver for the 36-foot 

telescope. The 140-foot telescope drive and control 

system was modernized and placed under computer 

control. During the year, radio radiation was discovered from the eclipsing binary star Algol, and the 

spectacular radio explosion in the X-ray source Cygnus 

X-3 was monitomd Iby all telescopes at Green Bank. 

Initial funding was received for the Very Large Array 

project and a site for the array was chosen in the 

Plains of San Augustin, 50 miles west of Socorro, 

N. Mex. 

Kitt Peak National Observatory (Arizona).-The 

national center for optical astronomy provides frontier 

research support facilities for American astronomers. 

More than 200 visiting astronomers used the KPNO 

facilities during 1972 and represented more than 50 

different institutions active in astronomical research. 

The year 1972 marked the tenth anniversary of the McMath Solar Telescope, the most powerful and versatile 

solar instrument in existence. This 63-inch aperture 

telescope has provided fundamental data on the solar 

magnetic and velocity fields, and on the chemical composition and physical condition of the solar atmosphere. 

Six other stellar telescopes were also in operation; the 

largest of these is the 84-inch telescope which was used 

this year for a number of exciting studies of the quasars 

and peculiar galaxies, old and young stars of our 

Milky Way System, and the tenuous stratum of dust 

and gas lying between the stars of our galaxy. Kitt Peak 

National Observatory has maintained a small sounding rocket program in support of astronomical and 

aeronomical studies. Two groups of visitors flew experiments on KPNO rockets during 1972, one payload 

was an ultraviolet spectrometer which obtained excellent data on the X-ray source Sco X-1. The second 

flight carried infrared detectors which surveyed the 

central regions of our galaxy. 

Cerro Tolo20 Znter-American Observatory (Chile) .- 

The Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory, with 

its administrative headquarters in the city of La Serena, 

is located at a superb site in the Chilean Andes. The 

facilities include six stellar telescopes which provide 

unique opportunities for American astronomers to 

study celestial objects visible from the Southern Hemisphere. Excellent observing conditions prevail at both 

infrared and visible wavelengths. More than 70 astronomers from 35 institutions made observations at CTIO 

during 1972. During the year, several new pieces of 

auxiliary instrumentation were introduced into use with 

the CTIO telescopes. These included a photoelectric 

scanner operated under computer control with the 

CTIO data system. A faint star photometer is also now 

in use. This instrument promises to be especially valuable for research programs in the Magellanic Clouds. 

Recent studies by CTIO astronomers have led to the 

identification of many pulsating variable stars in the 

Magellanic Clouds and these objects will enable astronomers to learn more about the distance, age, and evolution of these neighboring galaxies. 

National Astronomy and Ionosphere Center (Puerto 

Rico) .-This unique facility makes available to scientists and students throughout the United States a 

1,000-foot-diameter radio telescope, by far the largest 

of its kind in the world. The observatory has contributed to space science through its radar studies of the 

moon and planets, providing orbital information necessary for the successful guidance of spacecraft, topographical information, and the terrain elevations which 

are essenltial to the success of the Viking landers on 

Mars. Through conventional radio astronomy techniques, information on the radiation belts and temperatures in the lower atmospheres of the planets have 

been obtained. 

Solar Terrestrial Research Program.-The role of 

photosynthesis in the biosphere is well known. Less 

well known is the solar influence in determining the 

physical nature of the Earth‘s outermost environment. 

The Earth actually resides in the upper atmosphere of 

the Sun, an incessant stream of hot plasma carrying 

along with it magnetic fields rooted at the Sun. As this 

“solar wind” sweeps past Earth it interacts strongly 

with the terrestrial magnetic field, and this interaction 

is responsible for the structure and dynamics of the 

charged-particle populations trapped therein. The 

presence of solar plasma and fields in interplanetary 

space also affects the intensity of galactic cosmic rays 

reaching earth, and the sun itself occasionally emits 

large number of particles of cosmic ray energy. This 

program supports a wide variety of observational and 

theoretical projects concerned with understanding the 

solar atmosphere and how it determines the behavior 
of particles and fields in interplanetary space and at 

earth and the nearby planets. A major accomplishment 

of the past year has been the progress made in learning 

how the large-scale electric fields and the associated 

plasma motions within the magnetosphere depend on 

solar-interplanetary parameters. 

Aeronomy Program.-The Aeronomy Program encompasses the physics and chemistry of the atmosphere 

from the stratosphere to the magnetosphere of the earth 

and the other planets. Laboratory investigations of 

reaction rates and cross sections of both neutral and 

ionized atmospheric constituents provide vital information to the modeling efforts carried out by theorists. 

These models, which represent our understanding of 

the high atmosphere, must in turn be checked by observation. Incoherent scatter radar continues to be the 

premier tool for field observations. During 1972, studies 

of the auroral region ionosphere with the incoherent 

scatter radar at Chatanika began to bear fruit. First 

results were obtained on ,the relationship of the spatial 

distribution of ionospheric ionization to the position 

of the aurora. Incoherent scatter radar measurements 

at several latitudes have revealed a need for information on neutral winds at high altitudes. Such winds are 

now being inferred from a combination of radar and 

optical studies of the behavior of the ionosphere both 

at Arecibo, Puerto Rico and at Chatanika, Alaska. All 

of these observations are important to the understanding of the ionosphere for its use in radio communication. Recently, it has been shown that the neutral stratosphere can be studied with the incoherent scatter 

radar at Jicamarca, Peru. This opens another method 

of stratospheric investigation to scientists from the 

United States. 

Meteorology Program.-The National Science Foundation supports a wide range of meteorological investigations of importance to aeronautics, including the 

dynamics and energetics of extra-tropical storm systems, the modeling of isolated cloud systems, the role 

of gravity waves in transferring momentum and energy 

from the lower atmosphere to the upper atmosphere, 

fundamental studies of the behavior of rotating convecting fluids which form the basis of all dynamical 

understanding of the motion of planetary atmospheres 

and the development of Raman scattering techniques 

for the measurement of atmospheric water vapor concentration. Fund transfers by the Department of Transportation to the National Science Foundation supported work on modeling of radiative effects using a 

general circulation model at the National Center for 

Atmospheric Research, the construction of airborne 

sensing equipment to measure the constituents of the 

stratospheric atmosphere, modeling studies of stratospheric photochemistry, laboratory studies of the formation of stratospheric aerosol, and balloon measurements of nitric acid in the stratosphere. 

National Center for Atmospheric Research.-During 

1972, the National Center for Atmospheric Research 

(NCAR) High Altitude Observatory (HAO) has developed some new concepts concerning relationships 

between periodic changes in the terrestrial upper atmosphere and the Sun’s 27-day rotation period. These 

magnetic disturbances have been widely attributed 

either to particles from long-lived solar sources, or to 

solar activity regions. By combining detailed theoretical 

models of the solar wind in the presence of coronal 

magnetic fields, spiral beam paths deduced from particle speeds, and the magnetic characteristics of the 

beam, a tentative conclusion has been reached that 

geomagnetic activity is related to the flowing of coronal 

plasma and not to solar activity. HA0 scientists have 

also developed a geometrical model to explain how 

ejecta from a solar flare moves in a distinct “blob” 

through space. These results help to better define the 

nature of solar particles, magnetic activity and energy 

from the Sun which men in space will encounter outside the earth’s atmosphere. The Apollo Telescope 

Mount (ATM) coronograph, developed by HAO, has 

undergone final testing and has been delivered to 

NASA. This instrument, which will provide continuous 

observations of the Sun’s corona from changes in the 

Earth’s atmosphere, is to be mounted in the SKvr AB 

now scheduled for launch in April 1973. 

Working with colleagues from the University of 

Michigan, NCAR scientists, using stellar occultation 

measurements from the OAO-2 satellite, have determined the nighttime molecular oxygen and ozone number density distribution in the lower thermosphere and 

mesosphere. Theoretical studies at NCAR have led to 

the development of an automated meteorological analysis technique which will enable meteorologists to 

pinpoint locations of probable clear air turbulence, a 

forecasting technique of importance to commercial airlines, The computer program will be available by the 

beginning of 1973 for airline meteorologists to use in 

planning flight paths to avoid major turbulence as 

well as some other weather hazards. 

An instrument to detect and measure clear air turbulence has been designed and is presently being fabricated. Several of these instruments will be flown on 

commercial 747 aircraft. Isotopic studies of sulfate and 

nitric acid vapor in the stratosphere have shown a similar composition in both hemispheres. This tentatively 

rules out manmade pollution as the prime source of 

atmospheric sulfur and points to natural phenomena 

(e.g. volcanoes) as the prime causes for this contamination. Isotopic studies of nitrogen are underway to 

discover if the source of nitric acid vapor is the photodissociation of molecular nitrogen at very high altitudes or the oxidation of nitrous oxide. These studies 

69 
are important in determining the impact of supersonic 

aircraft on the stratosphere. 

Engineering.-The majority of research support in 

Engineering is provided for the understanding of basic 

phenomena, including work in such problem areas as 

unsteady boundary-layers, separation and nonlinear 

wave propagation, However, organized areas with application to more immediate goals have also received 

serious attention during the past year. An example of 

the latter, is wind engineering research where numerical techniques and experimental procedures deweloped for aerospace related problems are being 

adopted to study the wind and tornado induced loads 

on engineered structures. Joint projects were funded 

where structural and aeronautical engineers jointly 

examined such diverse but fundamentally related topics 

as suspension bridge aerodynamics response, surface 

roughness effects on the wind loading of hyperbolic 

cooling towers, wind tunnel studies of interference 

and interaction of adjacent structures and studies on 

the turbulence structure in the lower reaches of the 

atmospheric boundary-layer. A feasibility study is underway to examine the design details for a new type 

of meteorological wind tunnel. This type of facility 

will be necessary in the simulation of turbulent shear 

flow found in the lower regions of the atmospheric 

boundary-layer and would be invaluable to wind engineering activities 

Materials Research.-Although much materials research is fundamental and general in character, the 

results can often be relevant, either directly or indirectly, to materials-related space and ,aeronautical 

applications. Three examples of ongoing programs having particular implications for space technology are 

research on solid state electrolytes and novel cathode 

structures for all solid state batteries, liquid epitaxial 

growth of compound semiconductor heterojunctions 

for potential application to solar energy conversion, 

and the study of shape-memory effects associated 

with structural phase transitions in alloys. Research is 

also carried out on a wide variety of structural materials ranging through metals, alloys, composites, and 

polymers, as well as on basic phenomena related to the 

mechanical, processing and environmental properties 

of such materials. The broad area of electronic and 

optical materials continues to be one in which there is 

a clear relationship to aerospace requirements. Significant work is being carried out on the nonlinear optical 

properties of materials. 

Chemistry.-As interest in stratospheric air transport 

has grown, and as astronomers discover the existence 

of certain chemical compounds in interstellar space, it 

has become apparent that understanding the photochemistry and rates of reactions of small molecules and 

molecular fragments, such as water, ozone, nitrogen 

oxides and hydroxyl radicals, is a crucial part of the 

technology of flight. Chemists have long been interested 

in such reactions. Foundation grantees have worked 

out theory and experiments which show that the vibrational energy state of the molecules may determine 

what reactions occur and how fast. It has become clear 

that simply shining ultraviolet light on moist carbon 

dioxide vapor generates a complex mixture whose reactions can only be sorted out with a computer. Another reaction with new facets is that between ozone 

and hydrocarbons. The current mechanism for this 

reaction is being reexamined. 

Mathematics.-A broad spectrum of mathematics research supports aeronautics and space activities. Algebra, analysis, and topology programs provide a base for 

techniques used to formulate and solve problems arising in applications. Research in dynamical systems, 

control and optimization, both deterministic and stochastic, are pertinent to these activities. Specific projects in the mathematical theories of dynamics, wave 

motion, thermodynamics, magneto fluids dynamics, 

stellar dynamics, coding, mathematical programming 

and celestial mechanics, all of which may contribute 

directly to the aeronautics and space program, are 

under way. 

US. Polar Research Programs.-The NSF Office of 

Polar Programs supports a solar-terrestrial research 

effort using ground-based stations and balloon-borne 

instrumentation. At several locations unique to the 

Antarctic, observations are made of auroral events, 

interactions between solar particles and the earth’s 

magnetosphere and ionosphere, and other upper atmosphere phenomena. An unmanned geophysical observatory (UGO) , similar in concept to the Lunar ALSEP, 

was developed by NSF and placed in operation in Antarctica during 1972. The UGO transmits data from 

solar terrestrial and meteorological instruments to the 

United States in real time via an INTELSAT satellite. 

Data buoys placed in the Arctic Ocean during the Arctic Ice Dynamics Joint Experiment (AIDJEX) in 

spring 1972 are transmitting meteorological data via 

Numbus D. Satellite images continue to be used for 

studies of meteorology and sea ice extent in the remote 

polar regions. Moreover, recent ERTS-1 images are 

enabling significant new and varied investigations of 

sea ice properties. 

Educational Activities.-In fiscal year 1972, approximately $1.3 million was obligated by the Foundation’s 

three Education Divisions for activities which were related to the aeronautic and space sciences. The great- 
est proportion of these funds supported the training of 

graduate students through fellowships and traineeships. These funds also provide for upgrading the aeronautic and space sciences subject matter background of 

teachers in secondary schools, colleges and universities, 

unusual independent study and research experiences 

for students and the improvement of instructional programs in these disciplines at all levels of education. 

National Academy 

XIV National Academy 

National Research 

Introduction 

The National Academy of Sciences and the National 

Academy of Engineering are private organizations of 

scientists and engineers that serve as official advisors 

to the Federal Government under a Congressional act 

of incorporation. These advisory services are carried 

out largely by the National Research Council, which 

was established by the Academy to act as an operating 

agency. 

Highlights of the work of the Academies-Research 

Council during 1972 in aeronautics and space include 

special studies by the Space Science Board in planetary 

and astronomical research and in space biomedicine ; 

the Aeronautics and Space Engineering Board‘s counselling on aircraft noise abatement and the space shuttle ; establishment of the Space Applications Board 

and the Climatic Impact Committee; advice on remote sensing programs by the Committee on Remote 

Sensing Programs for Earth Resource Surveys and on 

aerospace materials by the National Materials Advisory Board ; the Committee on Atmospheric Sciences’ 

review of weather and climate modification; evaluation of the Sanguine communications system by the 

Committee on Solar-Terrestrial Research ; administration of NASA fellowships; and review and advisory work in aeronautics and aerospace science and 

applications. 

Space Science Board 

The Space Science Board is a consultative group concerned with shaping the most effective national program in space research. On behalf of the National 

Academy of Sciences, it advises the Government on 

scientific aspects of the space program and represents 

the U.S. scientific community internationally on the 

Committee on Space Research (COSPAR) of the 

International Council of Scientific Unions. 

The Board met five times during 1972 to discuss 

outstanding matters in space science with NASA manof Sciences 

of Engineering 

Council 

agement and senior staff of the President’s Science Advisory Committee, National Science Foundation, 

National Aeronautics and Space Council, and other 

interested agencies. Close liaison is maintained with the 

National Academy of Engineering’s Aeronautics and 

Space Engineering Board and its newly established 

Space Applications Board (see below). As is customary, sessions were scheduled to take into account critical times in budget planning and formulation; thus 

the Board’s views have been available to prqram 

planners for consideration. Briefings and discussions 

gave particular attention to major thrusts in space 

science for the 198Os, plans for scientific utilization 

of the space shuttle, scientific and biomedical results 

of Apollo, increased international cooperation, and 

Department of Defense space technology programs. In 

addition, special studies were conducted on planetary 

quarantine policy, space astronomy, exploration of 

Venus, and solar cell efficiency. 

The Board’s ad hoc Committee for Review of Planetary Quarantine Policy met in Denver in February 

1972 to review proposed changes in the NASA quarantine policy for the moon and planets. Particular attention was directed to the sterilization procedure for the 

Viking 1975 spacecraft and its probable effect on preserving the quarantine of the Martian planetary surface 

and atmosphere. In April, the Board, augmented by six 

invited astronomers, reviewed the NASA program in 

space astronomy. The recommendations of the Board’s 

1970 study, Venus: Strategy for Exploration, were reviewed by an ad hoc panel in the light of results from 

the 1971 Soviet spacecraft Venera 7 and reaffirmed. 

The conclusions and recommendations of the above 

studies were transmitted to NASA. 

The report of a study conducted by the Board in 

cooperation with the Academy’s Solid State Sciences 

Committee, Solar Cells: Outlook for Improved E$- 

ciency, was published by the Academy in June 1972. 

The study, made at the request of NASA, concluded 

71 

490-495 0 - 13 - 6 
that, with sufficient effort, increased solar cell efficiencies up to 20 percent (from the present 11 to 16 

percent) are probable with reasonable improvement 

in materials. 

The Board has several standing committees which 

maintain a continuing overview in major fields of space 

science. Among these are space biology and medicine, 

international relations, and rocket research. Toward 

the end of the year, the Board established a new Committee on Space Astronomy to advise on the broad 

range of astronomical questions and potential missions 

being considered in the space program. Particular interest in the immediate future will focus on the high 

energy astronomical observatories and large space telescope. 

Space Biology and Medicine.-An ad hoc group of 

the Committee on Space Biology and Medicine reviewed cardiovascular and metabolic effects of manned 

spaceflight in December 1971 and January 1972 with 

special attention to biomedical results of the Apollo 

15 mission. The group’s recommendations, which centered on the cardiac disturbances experienced in Apollo 

15, were implemented in time for the Apollo 16 mission in April 1972. No biomedical difficulties occurred 

during that flight. The group met agah in August to 

review and advise on medical procedures planned for 

Apollo 17. 

The Committee’s Radiobiological Advisory Panel 

during 1972 conducted a review of NASA’s radiobiology program and facilities. The Panel’s report, 

transmitted to the agency in August, offers guidelines 

for focusing NASA’s radiobiological effort onto investigations that will be most likely to fill the anticipated needs of manned spaceflight in this area. 

Consideration is given to the extensive research in 

radiobiology supported by other sources. The Panel 

is currently completing a report responsive to the second area of advice requested by NASA, the biological 

effects of hmigh-energy heavy (HZE) particles. 

Hutnan Factors in Manned Spaceflight, the results 

of a special Space Science Board study, was published 

as an Academy report in the spring of 1972. Prepared 

at the request of NASA, the volume analyzes behavioral, psychological, and medical factors of manned 

spaceflights of up to two years’ duration and recommends research that will be most useful in dealing with 

problems of long-duration missions. 

The final report of the ad hoc Panel on Desynchronosis was forwarded to NASA early in the year. 

Its charge was to examine the likely effects on man of 

rapid time zone changes, as in jet air flight, and to 

offer guidelines for further investigations and research. 

International Relations.-The formal international 

activities of the Space Science Board are centered in 

the Committee on Space Research (COSPAR) . 

COSPAR, an inter-Union organization of ICSU, 

fosters fundamental research in space science through 

the use of space vehicles. Data and significant results 

are exchanged on a cooperative basis through the 

World Data Center system. COSPAR accepted the invitation of the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones 

Cientificas de Espaiia to host the 1972 Annual Meeting in Madrid, Spain, May 10-24, 1972. Symposia included : Planetary Atmospheres and Surfaces, Critical 

Problems of Magnetosphere Physics, and X-Ray and 

Gamma-Ray Astronomy (nonsolar) . As in past years, 

the Board’s Committee on International Relations organized US. participation in the meeting, reviewed 

U.S. contributed papers, and prepared ‘the annual report to COSPAR on U.S. space research during 1971. 

A preliminary report of the meeting has been completed and distributed. 

Aeronautics and Space Engineering Board 

The Aeronautics and Space Engineering Board 

( ASEB) of the National Academy of Engineering provides advisory services to government agencies interested in aeronautical and space engineering. 

In aeronautics ,the ASEB continued its review of 

current and proposed NASA research and development programs. Special emphasis was placed on studying the relative merits of conventional, short, and vertical take-off -and-landing aircraft ( CTOL, STOL, 

and VTOL, respectively) for use during the 1980’s 

and beyond. A recent Board meeting was held at the 

Lewis Research Center where prdblems of aircraft 

noise in the airport community are being studied in 

some detail; the on-going and planned programs at 

Lewis for aircraft engine noise abatement and related 

projects were reviewed. Other problems associated 

with the future of Civil Aviation Research and Development (CARD), as identified by the Joint NASADOT Policy Study Group on the subject, remained 

high on the Board’s agenda of matters requiring and 

receiving continual engineering consideration. 

In space engineering the ASEB has continued its 

review of progress and future plans in the NASA space 

shuttle program. Ways and means of reducing costs 

of future spaceflight and experimentation are under 

study. It is anticipated that this work will increase 

in volume and intensity. 

The Board’s conclusions and recommendations have 

been transmitted informally by its Chairman to the 

Administrator of NASA. Emphasis was placed on 

those areas of research and development which the 

Board believed should receive special attention during 

in the years ahead. 

Space Applications Board 

The National Academy of Engineering is establishing 

a Space Applications Board whose function will be to 
provide advice and recommendations from a national 

viewpoint to all elements of the Federal Government, 

including Congress, on the application of space techniques and capabilities to benefit the nation and mankind. Through continuing review and analysis of the 

need and capabilities of present and projected space 

applications programs, the SAB will stimulate active 

collaboration among the various components of the 

government and industrial communities whose combined interests and resources will ‘be required to meet 

the needs of and achieve the maximum benefits from 

space applications. By broad dissemination of its findings through multiple mechanisms, the SAB will assist 

in informing industrial segments of new space applications ,that offer potential benefits to industry and the 

pu’blic welfare. 

In view of the broad range of activities to which 

space systems may $be applied, it was anticipated that 

a wide variety of expertise, drawn mainly from the 

industrial and academic communities, would be 

needed on the SAB. Therefore, the NAE elected ‘to 

approach the organization of the Board through an 

initial six-month planning activity which was scheduled for completion early in 1973. The Organizing 

Committee’s report to the President of the NAE will 

recommend a charter for the Board, suggest a mode of 

operation for consideration by the Board for the initial 

phases of its work, and recommend candidates for its 

chairman and members. The Board is to ,begin functioning early in 1973. 

Division of Behavioral Sciences 

Committee on Vision.-During 1972, a working group 

on Visual Elements in Flight Simulation surveyed 

research activities and technical developments at a 

number of government and private lalboratories around 

the country. A final report summarizing the group’s 

findings will soon be published. 

A working group on Effects of Drugs on Vision 

has listed tests of visual function that it considers most 

likely to show drug effects. Another working group on 

Air-to-Air and Air-to-Ground Visual Detection has 

made a preliminary analysis of visual tests that are 

most likely to predict superior search performance and 

has outlined the types of information needed by a 

visual scientist for research that will yield results valid 

for a particular search task. 

The ‘Committee’s general meeting in 1972 featured 

review papers on pattern recognition, eye movements, 

and effects of drugs on vision. 

Division of Earth Sciences 

Committee on Remote Sensing Programs for Earth 

Resource Survey (CORSPERS) .-In recognition of 

the broad spectrum of potential users of remotely 

sensed data from both spacecraft and aircraft platforms, the Committee on Space Programs for Earth 

Observations, Advisory to the Department of the Interior, was re-named as the Committee on Remote 

Sensing Programs for Earth Resource Surveys and was 

reorganized to include both aircraft and spacecraft 

platforms in its range of interests. It was also made 

advisory to all Federal agencies having a potential 

user interest in remotely sensed data. This includes the 

Departments of the Interior (USGS) , Commerce 

(NOAA) , Agriculture, Navy, Army (Civil Works, US. 

Army Engineers), and the Environmental Protection 

Agency. In order to cover this range of interests, the 

CORPSERS organized itself into seven standing application panels : Geology : Mineral and Land Resources; 

Geography : Land Use; Nydrology : Water Resources ; 

Oceanography : Marine Resources ; Cartography : 

Mapping and Charting; Biology: Agriculture, Forestry, Range, and Wildlife ; and Environmental Measurements. In addition, CORSPERS may establish ad 

hoc panels to conduct specific one-time interdiscriplinary studies of interest to the remote sensing program. 

Such an ad hoc panel was convened during the year to 

review the information management considerations of 

the Earth Resource Survey Program. 

The Committee has initiated a broad review of the 

usefulness of remotely sensed data based on the experimental results obtained by the ERTS-1 experiments. This review, with conclusions and recommendations, should assist federal agencies in formulating a 

responsive national program in remote sensing. 

Division of Engineering 

National Materials Advisory Board.-The National 

Materials Advisory Board (NMAB) is composed of 

about 25 specialists in the science and technology of 

materials, chosen from industry, universities, research 

institutes, and government. The general purposes of the 

Board is to foster the advancement of materials science 

and engineering in the national interest. Since aeronautical and space projects require the most advanced 

materials technology, NMAl3 devotes a significant part 

of its activities to defining technical problems in aerospace materials and furnishing advice to the government, and indirectly to industry and academe, on research and development in aerospace materials. 

Several studies completed in 1972 relate to materials 

in aerospace applications. An NMAB ad hoc committee has made a selective survey of the needs for new 

and improved accelerated testing techniques and predictive methods for forecasting the performance of materials in structures and components under combined 

stresses in service. The Committee’s report (NMAB288) provides suggestions for establishing a policy for 

government/industry interaction and recommends 

mechanisms for implementing this policy. In the area 

of nonstructural materials, the report “Materials and 

73 
Processes for Electron Devices” (NMAB-289) identifies needs and deficiencies in electronic materials and 

suggests technical appmaches ‘for alleviating these deficiencies. A study on high-power infrared laser 

windows (NMAB-292) assesses loss mechanisms associated with the transmission of high-power infrared 

laser energy through solid materials. It makes recommendations on experimental methods to evaluate these 

effects and on classes of solid material that have potential as high-power laser windows. 

Several studies in aerospace materials initiated in 

1971 and 1972 are continuing. Among them are: a 

study of materials for radiation detection; a study to 

define the technical potential of high-performance castings and the problems of producing them in both ferrous and nonferrous materials; a study of problems 

involved in producing high-temperature-resisting 

metallic composites by directional solidification and, 

specifically, a survey of adhesives for structural use in 

aeronautical and space vehicles, with the objective of 

accelerating applications where advantage would accrue in performance or economy. 

Division of Physical Sciences 

Astronomy Survey Committee.-Volume I of the report of the Astronomy Survey Committee, Astronomy 

and Astrophysics for the 1970’s, was published by the 

Academy in midyear. The comprehensive survey outlines a 10-year program for gound- and space-based 

research. In its major space-related recommendation, 

the Committee calls for a series of high-energy astronomical observatories to be launched in the latter half 

of this decade. The compilation of the reports of the 

Committee’s specialized panels will be published early 

in 1973. 

Climatic Impact Committee.-The Climatic Impact 

Committee was esta’blished under the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy d Engineering in 1972. Its purpose is to advise the Department of Transportation ((DOT) and other interested 

government agencies on the planning of, and the interpretation of results from, a research program to assess 

the climatic impact of high-altitude aircraft, including 

the supersonic transport, and of other activities of man 

which can affect the atmosphere and particularly the 

stratosphere. 

For several years scientists in various countries have 

been studying the composition, chemistry, and dynamics of the stratosphere and have greatly increased 

man’s knowledge of the role of the stratosphere in 

atmospheric processes. Recently, however, discussions 

of the potential atmospheric effects from the large-scale 

operation of supersonic transports (SST) in the stratosphere have delineated specific areas where uncertainties exist in present knowledge. For example, the 

74 

natural concentrations, variability in time and space, 

sources, sinks, and removal rates of such gases as NOx, 

H,O, and CO suggest that these substances may influence ozone depletion processes. There are, as yet, inadequate data on the ambient concentrations of these 

constituents or on the injection rates from high-altitude 

aircraft. In 1971 a Climatic Impact Assessment Program (CIAP) was initiated by DOT to support research in meteorology, climatology, chemistry, biology, 

engineering, medicine, economics, and related areas. 

In response to the DOT request to the Academies, the 

multidisciplinary Climatic Impact Committee will 

carry out the following tasks: (1 ) advise on research 

priorities; (2) follow the progress of research sponsored by CIAP, and others as it may bear on the CIAP, 

review the results, and advise on the significance of 

the investigations; and (3) consider a possible summer 

study in 1974 that would assess the state of knowledge 

developed by the CIAP, as well as the other knowledge 

available at that time, and arrive at a set of conclusions 

regarding the likely effects of a fleet of SST’s on the 

earth‘s climate and the biosphere. 

Committee on Atmospheric Sciences.-The Committee reviews in broad perspective the current status of 

research activities, education, and exchange of information as they may affect progress in the atmospheric 

sciences. The Committee encourages those activities 

that will foster a balanced national scientific program 

and seeks to stimulate U.S. participation in pertinent 

international programs. 

The review by the Committee’s Panel on Weather 

and Climate Modification has been completed and is 

to be published in 1973. It points out progress made in 

the United States since the Committee’s earlier study 

in 1965 and the continuing problems that exist in this 

field. 

It is becoming possible to specify those atmospheric 

circumstances during which seeding may produce no 

significant changes or may result in a decrease of precipitation. The Committee recommends that a national 

goal in this field should be to specify by the year 1980 

the meteorological conditions under which precipitation can be increased, decreased, or redistributed in 

representative meteorological regimes. The development within the next decade of the technology to mitigate the effects of severe weather hazards is advanced 

as an additional goal for a national program in weather 

modification. The polar-orbiting and geostionary 

satellites of NOAA and NASA are foreseen by rhe 

Committee as major components for monitoring atmospheric concentrations of trace gases and particulates. 

Using a variety of remote sensing techniques, these 

platforms can provide basic and continuing observations on water vapor, ozone, CO,, and SO,, and can 

measure atmospheric cloud cover, albedo, and heat 

budgets. These capabilities, in conjunction with 
ground-based remote sensing devices such as acoustic 

and optical radar, should be exploited as part of a national monitoring system to investigate the effect of 

man’s activities on the composition of the atmosphere 

and on climate. 

A similar conclusion has been reached by an additional study by the Committee on current activities 

in atmospheric chemistry. This study notes that present 

knowledge of the causes of climate and climatic 

change is incomplete. The sources, transport, and sink 

of trace atmospheric constituents must be monitored 

on a continuing basis to develop a physical explanation 

for the variation in climate, and to evaluate the impact 

man is now having, or is likely to have, on short- and 

long-term variations in climate. 

With man’s continuing need for natural resources 

to meet the growing requirements for energy and for 

the production of adequate supplies of food, regional 

and global climate and climatic change must be a priority environmental problem whose physical processes 

must be fully understood well in advance of the development of significant climatic trends. 

US. Committee for the Global Atmospheric Research 

Program-The Global Atmospheric Research Program (GARP) is an international scientific and technical program having as its primary objectives the improvement of knowledge of the dynamic processes of 

the general circulation and the development of a 

physical basis for understanding climate and climatic 

change. This undertaking is being developed by many 

cooperating nations working through the International 

Council of Scientific Unions (ICSU) and the World 

Meteorological Organization (WMO) . The U.S. Committee for GARP is the principal scientific mechanism 

for development of the United States program and its 

coordination with international activities. 

The first major field experiment to be undertaken 

by GARP is the GARP Atlantic Tropical Experiment 

(GATE) to be conducted in June-September 1974. 

Designed to study the interaction of atmospheric motions with the general circulations, the experiment will 

mount coordinated observations of the tropical atmosphere from ships, satellites, aircraft, buoys, balloons, 

and land stations. 

The First GARP Global Experiment (FGGE) will 

be undertaken in 1977 and last for a year. In addition 

to observations from land stations, ships, buoys, and 

aircraft in both hemispheres, primary observational 

data will be secured from five geostationary satellites 

to be launched and operated by the U.S.S.R., Japan, 

Europe (ESRO) , and the United States (2). Complemenltary programs to the FGGE that are presently 

under consideration and being planned are: the Air 

Mass Transformation Experiment ( AMTEX) ; the 

Monsoon Experiment (MONEX) ; the Radiation Subprogram, and the Polar Experiment (POLEX). In 

addition, proposals have been made for regional programs in the Mediterranean and Saharan areas. 

Committee on Solar-Terrestrial Research.-The 

Committee on Solar-Terrestrial Research (CSTR) of 

the Geophysics Research Board is the National Academy of Sciences’ affiliate to the ICSU Inter-Union 

Commission on Solar-Terrestrial Physics (IUCSTP) , which has recently been converted to an ICSU Special 

Committee. The Committee reviews the status of U.S. 

research in solar-terrestrial problems, assists in coordinating this research with that of other countries, and 

provides advisory services to the Federal government. 

The Committee’s studies, although dealing principally with ground-based research, are directly relevant 

to the space program because these ground-based observations are used in support of, and in some cases in 

lieu of, observations with space vehicles. An ad hoc 

Panel convened to consider current and future requirements for ground-based cosmic ray observations using 

neu’tron monitors transmitted its findings to the National Science Foundation in March 1972. At the request of the Department of the Navy, a study panel 

was appointed in 1971 to evaluate the technical feasibility of an ELF communications system known as 

Sanguine. This system is based on propagating signals 

from a buried antenna to submerged submarines via a 

spherical “duct’’ defined by the ionosphere and the 

earth’s surface. The panel’s report was issued in May. 

A part of the IUCSTP program is the International 

Magnetospheric Study 1976-1978, which is aimed at 

international coordination of long-term magnetospheric experiments including space, ground-based, 

balloon and rocket measurements. CSTR is to conduct 

in January 1973, in cooperation with the Space Science 

Board, a study to identify the fundamental unanswered 

scientific questions regarding the earth’s magnetosphere 

and to appraise opportunities for U.S. participation in 

the IMS. 

Committee on Radio Frequencies.-The Committees 

on Radio Frequencies (CORF) and its subcommittee 

on Space Science, Radio Astronomy, and Earth and 

Life Sciences, serve as a channel for coordinating the 

knowledge and views of the U.S. scientific and engineering communities regarding the radio frequencies 

needed for research. CORF is currently concerned 

about the possible interference by broadcast satellites 

in the 2500-2690-MHz band to radio astronomy observations in the 2690-2700-MHz band. Working with 

representatives of 1 ederal agencies, CORF has arranged 

for tests using transmissions in the 2500-2690-MHz 

band from the ATS satellites to determine what measures can be taken to protect the radio astronomy ob75 
servatories from interference in frequency bands allocated to radio astronomy. 

Office of Scientific Personnel 

Two postgraduate programs are administered for 

NASA by the Office of Scientific Personnel. The NASA 

International University Fellowships in Space Science 

provide opportunities to young scientists from other 

countries for study and research at 39 leading universities in the United States. During 1972, 85 Fellows 

were on tenure. From the start of the program in 1961 

through 1972, 354 graduate and postdoctoral Fellows 

from 20 countries have held appointments at 34 US. 

universities. This fellowship program, which is a part 

of NASA’s international cooperative effort, is jointly 

financed by NASA and the space agencies or other scientific organizations of the cooperating countries. 

The NRC-NASA Resident Research Associateship 

program (postdoctoral and senior postdoctoral) provides research opportunities in space-related sciences 

to investigators of unusual competence from the United 

States and other countries. By their presence at NASA 

Centers, the Associates provide a powerful impulse to 

important research in the United States. In addition, 

the program provides a method for dissemination of 

space knowledge from NASA laboratories to universities and other research centers throughoult the world. 

There were 195 Associates on tenure on August 31, 

1972. Of these 100 were from the United States, and 

95 were from 17 other countries. 

xv The Smithsonian Institution 

Introduction 

The Smithsonian Institution continues to play an active role in national aeronautics and space programs 

through the activities of its bureaus: The Smithsonian 

Astrophysical Observatory (SAO) , the National Museum of Natural History (NMNH) , and the National 

Air and Space Museum (NASM) ; and its Center for 

Short-Lived Phenomena, a facility of the Office of 

Environmental Sciences. 

In the past year, geophysical and astrophysical data 

were gathered by Smithsonian observing stations 

around the world, while Smithsonian experiments, including high-altitude balloons, observed other energy 

sources normally screened from ground-based facilities 

by the earth’s atmosphere. At Smithsonian laboratories, 

both in Washington and in Cambridge, Mass., scientists analyzed lunar material returned by the Apollo 

astronauts and meteoritical material recovered on 

Earth. While these laboratory investigations were designed to provide new knowledge about the creation 

and evolution of the solar system, the Smithsonian’s 

museums attempted to increase man’s understanding 

of these new discoveries through exhibits, displays, and 

special programs. 

Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory 

The space research of the Smithsonian Astrophysical 

Observatory (SAO) continues to make fundamental 

contributions to man’s understanding of the solar system and the universe beyond. Its programs include 

satellite tracking for earth-physics research and other 

purposes, study of extraterrestrial material, and active 

participation in ‘balloon and space missions. 

Earth Dynamics.-Both nationally and internationally, 

the Observatory’s satellite-tracking program has made 

substantial progress this year. The SAO-organized 

Earth Physics Satellite Observing Campaign (EPSOC) 

continues, with participating camera and laser stations 

located in 25 countries. 

At the same time, data previously gathered by the 

International Geodetic Satellite Experiment 

(ISAGEX) , coordinated by France, have been used 

to compute the Smithsonian Standard Earth (111), 

which represents a considerable refinement of the 

earth‘s figure and gravity field. For this calculation, 

SA0 greatly extended those computer programs treating lunar and solar perturbations, air drag and radiation pressure, and other effects. 

Satellite-tracking data are also used by the Observatory to develop models of the earth‘s atmosphere. The 

most important recent result is the finding of a variation, as a function of solar activity, in the coefficients 

relating the 27-day variation in the atmosphere to 

those in the decimetric solar flux. 

During the year, the Observatory also expended considerable effort on the development of investigation 

76 
techniques designed to support planned national earthand ocean-physics applications programs. For example, 

laser ranging to artificial satellites offers the prospect 

of precision far beyond that from photographic tracking. Indeed, one SA0 goal is to obtain satellite range 

observations to an accuracy of -t-2 cm and orbits to 

an accuray of k5 cm. Already five of the SA0 stations are equipped with laser ranging systems, and 

SA0 scientists have been investigating sources of errors in laser ranging to satellites for very high-accuracy 

orbit determination. 

Extraterrestrial Materials.-The Observatory continues its analysis of lunar samples and of meteors and 

meteorites. 

One group conducted petrographic surveys of samples returned by both the Apollo and the Soviet Luna 

missions, singling out for special study several materials, including types of rock found at considerable depth 

under the lunar terrae; a variety of green glass containing quenched crystallites of a type not yet identified 

among other lunar rock fragments; and a heretofore 

unrecognized iron-rich basalt that apparently forms in 

the final stages of crystallization of certain lunar magmas. A second group is making isotopic analyses of 

lunar samples to learn about recent and ancient solar 

flares. Solar flares occurring within months of the Apollo missions were determined from the 35-day Ar 37 

activity, and the values agree with satellite measures. 

Solar flares averaged over the past thousand years were 

determined from the 300-year Ar 39 activity. A third 

group is studying the distribution of gases in lunar 

samples to gain an understanding of how, when, and 

why these constituents were implanted in the surface 

layers. 

By applying similar analysis techniques to meteorites, the presence of microscopic diamond material was 

detected in thin sections of the Haver0 meteorite, a ureilite that fell in Finland in August 197 1. 

Statistical studies of fireball trajectories done in collaboration with the Ondfejov Observatory in Czechoslovakia and based on data obtained by SAO’s Prairie 

Network have led to better observational distinctions 

between ordinary stony meteorites and other types that 

seldom, if ever, survive atmospheric entry. As a result 

of these studies, it now seems likely that at least three, 

and possibly five, types of material are represented in 

the fireballs, with each type differing in both ablation 

rate and orbit. 

Sgace Observations.-SA0 is compiling and analyzing 

data from several satellite experiments, flying an infrared telescope in a balloon, and designing and constructing a rocket experiment to provide a new test of 

the theory of relativity. 

The results from SAO’s Celescope experiment 

aboard the Orbiting Astronomical Observatory 

(OAO-2) were published as the Celescope Catalog 

of Ultraviolet Stellar Observations. The catalog is 

based on more than 8,000 ultraviolet television pictures taken by Special Uvicon cameras and represents 

observations of approximately 10 percent of the entire 

sky, including 20 percent of the region near the Milky 

Way, where the majority of ultraviolet stars are found. 

The final catalog lists for each of 5068 stars the magnitude, position, spectral type, and other statistical information, including cross references to ground-based 

catalogs. 

A companion volume, Blanketed Model Atmospheres for Early-Type Stars, representing an analysis 

of the Celescope data as applied to stellar theory, is in 

publication as well. Both volumes are milestones in 

space science and should become valuable reference 

works for observational astronomers as well as for 

theoreticians. 

The Celescope experiment-launched December 7, 

1968-has proved to be remarkably durable. It was 

turned on better than two years after it had last been 

operated, in an attempt to observe the pulsating X-ray 

source Centaurus X-3. The equipment worked perfectly, and a number of frames of the area containing 

the pulsar were obtained. Although the X-ray source 

was not detected, the ultraviolet fluxes of a number of 

stars in the area were measured. 

Using OS0 data, SA0 scientists showed that solar 

flares have in the EUV an impulsive component correlated with hard X-rays and microwave bursts, both in 

chromospheric and in coronal lines, followed by a slower component that parallels the soft X-ray component 

of flares. A study of the chromospheric Lyman-continuum emission of the quiet sun was also completed, 

resulting in an improved model of the chromosphere 

and a thorough investigation of variations in chromospheric density from equator to pole. 

In collaboration with Harvard University and the 

University of Arizona, SA0 built a 40-inch-aperture 

balloon-borne telescope, designed to obtain far-infrared (100 micron) data fmm altitudes high above the 

obscuring effect of the earth’s atmosphere. The resultant data are expected to give new insights into the 

structure and energetics of our own Milky Way Galaxy, the processes of birth of stars and planetary 

systems, and the structure of planetary atmospheres. 

During the first engineering flight in October 1972, the 

telescope was successfully floated at 95,000 feet for 10 

hours; a second flight, scheduled for year’s end, was 

expected to produce the first scientific data. 

Work has begun on an experiment to test the equivalence principle-the cornerstone of Einstein’s General 

Theory of Relativity-by employing a maser clock 

77 
in a rocket probe. This 3.5-hour experiment will use 

the stabilsity of the hydrogen maser to measure the 

expected gravitational redshift to an accuracy of about 

20 parts per million. The NASA supported experiment 

employs a two-way doppler cancellation system that 

may be useful for further experiments of this type. 

Studies of the application of this technique to a probe 

approaching the sun have begun, with an expectation 

of redshift measurement to an accuracy of 1 part in 

10 million-in other words, to the level of second-order 

contributions of the gravitational potential difference 

between the Earth and the solar probe. 

Using imagery of the African rift system provided 

by the Earth Resources Technology Satellite (ERTS) , one scientist has detected new structural features as 

well as new properties of known features not previously observed by ground-based surveys. These features, particularly along the Red Sea margin of Yemen 

and the northern end of the Western Rift and in the 

Nandi Fault of Western Kenya, indicate there is a 

direct relation between the degree of obliquity in the 

pattern of recent faulting and the older and underlying Precambrian structures. These results could have 

important implications for mining interests throughout East Africa. 

National Museum of Natural History 

During the past year the National Museum of Natural 

History has continued its program of research on returned lunar samples, especially their chemical and 

mineralogical composition. Much evidence has been 

derived bearing on the origin and evolution of the 

Moon, and the importance of meteorite impact in 

affecting surface topography and the composition of 

the lunar soil. Comparative studies on different types 

of meteorites have further supported the belief that 

meteorites, while having some compositional analogies 

with lunar rocks, cannot have come from the Moon, 

but must have a different source in the Solar System, 

probably the asteroidal belt between Mars and Jupiter. Field studies of Gosse’s Bluff (Australia), Lonar 

Crater (India), and Bukkaros (Southwest Africa) 

have added significantly to our knowledge of large 

meteorite impacts on Earth. The work at Lonar Crater 

was conducted in cooperation with the Geological 

Survey of India. 

National Air and Space Museum 

The Smithsonian Institution’s cluster of museums on 

the Mall in Washington attracted nearly 15 million 

visitors in 1972, with the artifacts of manned space 

flight continuing as a prime attraction. 

Construction began this fall on the latest addition 

to this museum group-the building to house the National Air and Space Museum. The new museum is 

scheduled to open July 4, 1976, as a national center for 

education about the science and technology of space 

flight and its social, cultural, and political meaning. 

The $40-million facility, designed by St. Louis 

architect Gyo Obata, will include an auditorium/film 

theater and a 350-seat “Spacearium” that can be used 

both to project conventional planetarium star shows 

and to serve as a showcase for unusual audiovisual 

presentations of air and space flight. 

The Smithsonian Center for Short-Lived 

Phenomena 

The Smithsonian Center for Short-Lived Phenomena 

of the Office of Environmental Sciences serves as an 

international alert system for the rapid receipt and dissemination of information concerning transient geophysical, biological ,and astrophysical events of major 

scientific importance. 

The Center’s participation in astrophysical events 

during 1972 included the investigation reports of six 

large fireballs seen over various parts of the world. In 

one such event, the widely observed Alberta Fireball 

of August, the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory 

assisted the Center in its efforts to obtain visual and 

photographic documentation, including rare motionpicture footage, of the meteor’s trajectory. In addition, the Air Force assisted SA0 by dispatching aircraft 

on flights through the meteor’s suspected path to collect airborne samples of ablation products remaining 

in the upper atmosphere. 

In another joint project, SA0 scientists coordinated 

efforts by the Center to provide “ground truth” data 

concerning large-scale events observable from the 

Earth Resources Technology Satellite launched by 

the National Aeronautics and Space Administration 

in August. 

Center personnel also participated in the planning 

of similar observation pragrams to be conducted by 

astronauts aboard the orbiting Skylab. 

78 
XVI Office of Telecommunications 

Policy 

Introduction 

The Office of Telecommunications Policy (OTP) 

carries out delegated functions on behalf of the President relating to oversight and facilitation of the development of communication services via satellite. 

OTP’s authority is set forth in Reorganization Plan 

No. 1 of 1970 and Executive Order No. 11556, September 4, 1970. Participating in interagency and government/industry telecommunications activities, OTP 

works primarily on programs involving space communications applications rather than research and development of space techniques. 

Aerosat 

The Office of Telecommunications Policy has concentrated on developing a US. Government position 

toward arrangements with Europe to evaluate the use 

of satellite communications in improving air traffic 

control over the high seas. Negotiations with the European Space Research Organization on a coordinated 

evaluation program continued during 1972. It is expected that the satellite channels required for the 

evaluation will be provided by a new entity to be 

owned jointly by ESRO and a private U.S. company. 

The State Department, FCC and DOT/FAA have 

closely coordinated their interests in this area with 

OTP throughout this year. 

Marsat 

The Office of Telecommunications Policy has actively 

participated in intra-governmental policy discussions 

aimed at providing satellite communications to civilian 

ships on the high seas. Current international discussion 

of this subject is taking place in the International 

Maritime Consultative Organization. The US. Government is participating in the necessary preparatory 

work of defining the maritime requirements for satellite services without prejudging operational or organizational aspects of how the required services will be 

provided. Coordination with all agencies interested in 

this field is continuing. 

Direct Broadcast Satellites 

In coordination with the State Department, USIA, 

KC, and other agencies concerned, OTP has participated in the formulation and presentation in international forums of U.S. Government positions on the 

use and regulation of satellites for broadcasting. Activities at the United Nations and in UNESCO have 

increased on this subject during 1972, and new international legal regimes have been proposed. Study of 

these proposals continues. 

XVII 

Introduction 

Federal Communications 

Commission 

Ocean. The Commission issued its Second Report and 

Order on domestic satellite facilities on June 16, 1972, 

During 1972 considerable progress in the development of satellite communications took place. Membership in INTELSAT increased to 83 countries, and 

two INTELSAT IV satellites were launched, one 

for service over the Pacific and one over the Indian 

setting forth the guidelines upon which it will consider 

applications for the ownership and operation of domestic communications satellites. During 1972, the 

Commission also released its Notice of Proposed Rule 

Making relating to the availability of frequency bands 

79 
for domestic satellite use, these bands having been previously agreed upon at the World Administrative 

Radio Conference for Space Tele-communications 

(WARC-ST) . 

Communications Satellites 

During 1972, with the inclusion of Barbados, INTEL 

SAT membership has grown to a total of 83 countries. On January 22, 1972, the first INTELSAT IV 

satellite for service in the Pacific was launched and on 

February 14, 1972 it 'became operational, The first 

INTELSAT IV for Indian Ocean commercial service 

was launched on June 13, 1972 and became operational on July 30, 1972. Another INTELSAT IV satellite, an operational spare for the Pacific INTELSAT 

IV, will be launched in early 1973 and is planned to 

become operational shortly thereafter. After this 

launch the operational configuration of the INTEL 

SAT IV space segment will consist of two INTELSAT 

IV satellites in both the Atlantic and the Pacific Ocean 

regions, and one INTELSAT IV in the Indian Ocean 

region. 

At the end of 1972, 78 Earth stations with 86 antennas operating in 54 countries were providing satellite communications in the INTELSAT system. The 

eight U.S. Earth stations are located at Andover, 

Maine; Cayey, P.R.; Etam, W. Va.; Brewster Flat, 

Wash. ; Bartlett, Alaska; Paumalu, Hawaii; Jamesburg, Calif.; and Guam. Two standard communications antennas are operating at the Paumalu earth 

station. In addition a US. Earth station in the Antarctic Region received approval to operate for the 

collection of scientific data via the Pacific Region 

INTELSAT satellites. 

In June 1972, the Commission adopted its Second 

Report and Order concerning the establishment of 

domestic communications-satellite facilities by nongovernmental entities. The Commission indicated that 

all qualified applicants, acting either independently or 

in coalitions, will be authorized to operate domestic 

satellites and that it will place special restrictions on 

some of the applicants. Service from the U.S. mainland 

to Hawaii, Alaska and Puerto Rico is to be integrated 

into the domestic satellite system and the Commission 

indicated that distinctions with respect to the level 

of charges and rate patterns applicable to such service 

should be eliminated. Because of a requested reconsideration of the Commission domestic satellite decision 

final resolution of the matter has been delayed until 

early 1973. 

International Telecommunication Union 

The International Telegraph and Telephone Consultative Committee (CCITT) and the International Radio 

Consultative Committee (CCIR) are permanent 

80 

organs of the International Telecommunication 

Union (ITU), conducted under Article 14 of the 

International Telecommunication Convention ( Montreux, 1965) to study technical and operating questions on telegraphy and telephony, and radio, respectively, and to issue recommendations on such questions. 

Many of these questions deal directly or indirectly with 

space communications. 

The World Plan Committee is a joint CCITT/ 

CCIR study group administered by the CCITT and is 

the parent body of the four Regional Plan Committees 

for Africa, Asia and Oceania, Eumpe and the Mediterranean Basin, and Latin America. 

The work of the Plan Committees involves the development of telecommunications traffic and circuit 

forecasts, the compilation of data on major arteries 

and routing, and deals with technical and economic 

matters of interest regarding telecommunications. 

During 1972, several Commission engineering experts participated in an interim CCIR meeting in 

Geneva on matters relating to space communication 

and broadcasting. In addition, several XC members 

in December attended the Fifth Plenary Session of 

the CCITT. Preparations are under way for the ITU 

Plenipotentiary Conference to be held in September 

1973 in Spain. 

New international Radio Regulations, which were 

adopted in 1971 by the ITU World Administrative 

Radio Conference on Space Telecommunications 

(WARC-ST) , were signed by the President and ratified with the advice and consent of the Senate in July 

1972. To provide frequency bands for domestic use in 

accord with these new international regulations, the 

Commission, on July 26, 1972 released its Notice of 

Proposed Rule Making in Docket 19547. The provisions of the regulations adopted by the WARC-ST are 

scheduled to become effective on January 1, 1973. 

The implementation of frequency bands for domestic use is a two-step process in which frequency allocations are first listed in Part 2 of the Commission's Rules 

and Regulations and then listed as being available for 

assignment in the various radio services. Frequency 

bands will be allocated by the Commission to the 

Amateur-satellite, Broadcasting-satellite, Fixed-satellite, Aeronautical-satellite, Maritime Mobile-satellite 

and Radio Navigation-satellite services. 

Aeronautical Services 

The Commission staff is developing amendments to 

the FCaC rules which will provide expanded and more 

suitable frequencies for allocation to satellite systems 

designed to serve aeronautical requirements with the 

aim of satisfying short-term needs through the decade 

of the 1970's. Newly allocated frequencies will make 

it possible to pursue more satisfactory and comprehensive system development. 
In this regard, the Commission staff has continued 

to work with the Federal Aviation Administration 

(FAA) and the Office of Telecommunications Policy 

(OTP) in current program planning, particularly regarding the use of frequencies in the 1535-1660-MHz 

band. Further programs involving the 1535-1660- 

MHz band include studies of the feasibility of joint 

aviation and marine use. The Commission staff is presently studying the comparative requirements in that 

band for air traffic control and marine operational control purposes. 

The Commission is continuing studies of presently 

developing systems designed to solve other airspace 

problems which may be solved by means other than the 

use of satellites. These systems include aircraft midair 

collision and terrain avoidance equipment. While the 

Commission has outstanding developmental authorizations for the systems, it has not yet determined which 

system can be authorized on a regular basis. Further 

study as well as further development of candidate systems is required. 

Normal Commission rulemaking procedures are 

being implemented to provide additional channels for 

aircraft operational control purposes by means of channel splitting of the available band. 

Maritime Mobile Service 

The Commission staff is continuing to work both nationally and internationally in forums which are planning for the development of satellite systems which 

will be used by the Maritime Mobile Service. Activity 

toward the development of such systems is being pursued by the Martime Administration nationally and the 

IMCO internationally. Normal rulemaking will provide, in the Commission’s Rules, the newly allocated 

frequencies previously approved by the ITU WARCST for maritime satellite service. 

The staff continues to place emphasis on the safety 

and search and rescue features of satellite systems used 

for maritime mobile purposes. 

Amateur Radio Service 

On October 15, 1972, the OSCAR 6 satellite, sixth in 

the “Orbiting Satellite Carrying Amateur Radio” 

series, was placed into a 900-mile polar orbit by a 

NASA Delta vehicle launched from the Western Test 

Range, as a secondary payload. Designed and built by 

amateur radio operators, this satellite represents several 

innovations in space telecommunications. A two-to-ten 

meter linear translator for multichannel communications by amateur radio operators anywhere in the world 

is in operation for the first time. It is also the first time 

telemetry has been transmitted from a satellite in 

Morse code enabling any amateur radio operator to 

receive and interpret the data. 

It is the first time a beacon has operated in space in 

the seventy-centimeter band allocated to the Amateur 

Satellite Service at the 1971 ITU World Administrative Radio Conference for Space Telecommunications. 

Moreover, OSCAR 6 has a digital memory system 

capable of store-and-forward of Morse code and teleprinter communication. It also has a twenty-one function command system operated by amateur radio stations. OSCAR 6 is expected to be operational for at 

least one year. It is being used by amateur radio operators world-wide in conducting multiple-access communication experiments, in educational instructional 

programs to demonstrate physical concepts, in providing communication with remote areas and for emergency communication. In addition to voice and telegraphy messages, slow-scan television pictures have 

been successfully transmitted through OSCAR 6 by 

amateur radio operators. In addition, experiments for 

the exchange of medical data are being planned. 

Another OSCAR satellite is under construction, 

looking toward launch soon after the end of life for 

OSCAR 6. 

81 
ADD endixes 

Earth orbit Earth escape 

Success Failure Success Failure 

Year 

1957 ........... 0 1 0 0 

1958 ........... 5 a 0 4 

1959 ........... 9 9 1 2 

1960 ........... 16 12 1 2 

1961 ........... 35 12 0 0 

1962 ........... 54 12 4 1 

1963 ........... 60 11 0 0 

1964 ........... 69 a 4 0 

1965 ........... 94 a 3 0 

APPENDIX A-1 

Earth orbit Earth escape 

Success Failure Success Failure 

Year 

1966 ........... 95 12 5 11 

1967 ........... 77 4 10 0 

1968 ........... 61 15 3 0 

1969 ........... 58 1 a 1 

1970 ........... 36 1 3 0 

1971 ........... 45 2 a 1 

1972 ........... 32 2 8 0 

Total.. ... 746 118 58 12 

US. Spacecraft Record 

1 This earth escape failure did attain earth orbit and there- ment of earth orbit or earth escape rather than a judgment of 

This tabulation includes spacecraft from cooperating 

fore is included in the earth-orbit success totals. mission success. 

Notes: The criterion of success or failure used is the attain- countries which were launched by U.S. launch vehicles. 

APPENDIX A-2 

World Record of Space Launchings Successful in Attaining Earth Orbit or Beyond 

Year 

United Chinese United 

States U.S.S.R. France Italy .Tapan Peoples Australia Kinadom 

1958 ........................ 1959 ........................ 1960.. ... 1961 ........................ 1962 ........................ 

1967 ........... 

1969 ........... 

1971 ........................ 

.... 

5 

10 

16 

29 

52 

38 

57 

63 

73 

57 

45 

40 

28 

30 

30 

2 ................................................................ 1 ................................................................ 3 ............................................................ 

............ 

......... 

66 2 1 .................... 1 ........ 

................................ 1 ........................ 83 1 12 2 1 ............ 1 

74 11 1 ..................... 

Total. ................. 573 622 7 5 4 2 1 1 

1 Includes foreign launchings of U.S. spacecraft. spacecraft. Some launches did successfully orbit multiple 

Note: This tabulation enumerates launchings rather than spacecraft. 

82 
APPENDIX A-3 

Successf u I U . S. Lau nches-1972 

Launch date (G.m.t.) 

Spacecraft name 

Cospar designation 

Launch vehicle 

Spacecraft data 

Apogee and 

Perigee (in 

statute miles)- 

Period 

(minutes)- 

Inclination to 

Equator 

(degrees) 

Remarks 

Objective: Development of space flight techniques 21 1 

2A 89. 3 

Titan IIID Spacecraft: Not announced. 96. 9 

Jan. 20 Objective: Development of space flight techniques 342 

Defense and technology. 292 

2D 94. 8 

Titan IIID ' Spacecraft: Not announced. 96. 5 

Jan. 23 22,238 

Intelsat IV (F-4) 22, 137 

3A channels or a combination of telephone, TV, and 1,432.0 

Atlas-Centaur other forms of communications traffic. 0. 7 

h;m'S"C and technology. 93 

Objective: To provide equivalent of 3,000 to 9,000 

telephone circuits simultaneously or 12 color TV 

Spacecraft: Cylindrical 93.7-in. diameter and 

17.3-ft. high; spin stabilized; 12 communications 

repeaters (transponders); 6 antennas; 45,012 

solar cells. Weight after apogee motor fire: 1,587 

lbs. 

Jan. 31 

HEOS 2 

5A 

Thorad-Delta 

Mar. 1 

Defense 

1 OA 

Titan IIIC 

Mar. 3 

Pioneer 10 

12A 

Atlas-Centaur 

Objective: To investigate interplanetary space and 

high latitude magnetosphere and its boundary in 

the region around the northern neutral point. 

diameter and 27, 6-in. high, having a 24-in. axial 

tripod-type boom and an experiment BLF loop 

antenna at the top. Overall length is 94.3-in. 

About 70 percent of outer surface covered with 

solar cells. A central octagonal tube holds most of 

the spacecraft's experiment instrumentation, 

electronic controls, batteries, telemetry, and 

command equipment. Contains seven experiments. Weight: 257 lbs. 

and technology. 22,008 

Spacecraft: Not announced. 1,429. 9 

0. 2 

Objective: To obtain, during the 1972 Jovian op- Heliocentric, 

portunity, precursory scientific information be- later to become 

yond the orbit of Mars with the following empha- solar escape 

sis: (a) investigation of the interplanetary trajectory. 

medium; (b) investigation of the nature of the 

asteroid belt; (c) exploration of Jupiter and its 

environment. 

Spacecraft : Hexagon-shaped spacecraft with an auxiliary offset hexagonal compartment for 

scientific instruments and 9-ft. dia. parabolic 

antenna reflector; four radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTG) on trusses 120' apart 

extend 1.9-ft. radially beyond periphery of an- tenna reflector. A four-segment folding magnetometer boom extends radially 5.2-ft. beyond the 

reflector and 120° from the RTG's; from the top 

of the high-gain antenna feed to the bottom of the 

low-gain antenna, measures 3.2-ft. Eleven scientific instruments will measure magnetic fields, 

plasma, cosmic rays and charged particles, the 

electromagnetic radiation in the ultraviolet, 

visible and infrared ranges, and the asteroid/ 

meteoroid population. Six thrusters; spin stabilized. Weight: 569 lbs. 

154,207 

273 

7,835.4 

Spacecraft: 16-sided cylindrical polyhedron 5 1,2-in. 90. 2 

Objective: Development of space flight techniques 22,347 

Decayed Feb. 29, 1972. 

Still in orbit. 

Launched by NASA for Comsat 

Gorp., manager of Intelsat. Third 

satellite in improved Intelsat IV 

series. Stationed at 174O east 

longitude over Pacific. Used 

during President Nixon's China 

trip. Spacecraft operating 

normally. 

ESRO-built satellite launched into 

highly eccentric orbit by NASA. 

All experiments turned on and 

spacecraft fully operational. 

Still in orbit. 

First of a new generation Pioneer 

series. Reached highest launch 

velocity ever attained (32,000 

mph) with first use of 

Atlas-Centaur as a 3-stage 

vehicle. First NASA spacecraft 

powered entirely by nuclear 

energy and first intended to 

ultimately escape solar system 

into interstellar space. By Oct. 

31, 1972, spacecraft had crossed 

half of the Asteroid Belt without incident and was 270 

million miles from the Sun. 

Jupiter encounter planned 

Dec. 3, 1973. Spacecraft operating 

normally and all instruments 

functioning properly. 

83 
APPENDIX A-3-Continued 

Successful U.S. Launches-1972 

Launch date (G.m.t.) 

Spacecraft name Cospar designation 

Launch vehicle 

Spacecraft data 

Apogee and 

Perigee (in 

statute miles)- 

(minutes)- 

Inclination to 

Equator 

(degrees) 

Period Remarks 

Mar. 12 

TD-1A 

Objective: To make UV spectrometer measure- menu of the celestial sphere on an approximate .. 

14A 180 day cycle. 

Thorad-Delta SDacecraft: Box-like structure. 38.6-in. by 85-in., 

'resembles a large refrigerator. Divided into two 

sections, the smaller bottom section contains all 

of the spacecraft electronics and other subsystems, 

and the top section contains the experiment com- plement. Two large solar panels attached to the 

sides deploy when orbit is achieved. Fixed to the 

bottom of the spacecraft is a 106.3-in. omindirectional antenna which deploys after orbital insertion. Spacecraft is 3-axis stabilized and contains 

seven experiments. Weight: 1,038 lbs. 

Mar. 17 Objective: Development of space flight techniques 

Defense and technology. 

16A 

Titan IIIB-Agena Spacecraft: Not announced. 

Mar. 24 

Defense and technology. 

18A Spacecraft: Not announced. 

Thor-Burner 2 

Apr. 16 Objective : To perform selenological inspection, 

Apollo 16 (CSM-113) survey, and sampling of materials and surface 

31A features in a preselected area of the Descartes 

Saturn V region; to emplace and activate surface experiments; to conduct in-flight experiments and 

photographic tasks. 

Spacecraft: Carried full lunar landing configuration, including command module, service module, 

and lunar module; also lunar roving vehicle, 

added lunar module consumables, and Scientific 

Instrument Module (subsatellite) for extensive 

lunar-orbital scientific investigation. Total weight 

at initial Earth orbit insertion: 308,750 lbs; at 

translunar injection: 144,500 lbs; CSM: 66,858 

lbs; 34-ft. long, 12.8-ft. diameter. 

Objective: Development of space flight techniques 

Apr. 16 

Saturn IVB (SA-51 1) 

31B 

Saturn V 

Objective: To bring payload to lunar transfer injection; then to fly independently to impact the moon in further seismic tests to be detected by 

Apollo 12, 14, and 15 ALSEP instruments. 

Spacecraft: A cylinder about 62.3-ft. long by 21.7- 

ft. in diameter;. Total weight at impact, about 

30,805 Ibs. 

Apr. 16 Objective: To support lunar landing and takeoff 

Lunar Excursion for return to lunar orbit in support of tasks named 

Module (LM-11) above. 

31C Spacecraft: Combined descent and ascent stages 

Saturn V about 13.5-ft. high, 12.3-ft. wide, and 10.3-ft. 

deep. Total weight 36,241 lbs. 

scientific studies from lunar orbit. 

Apr. 16 Objective: To pursue extensive, continuing lunar 

Subsatellite 

31D Spacecraft: Hexagonal 31-in. long and 14-in. 

Saturn V diameter with three 5-ft. booms extended; 

carried magnetometer and charged particle sensor. Weight: 80 lbs. 

339 ESRO-built satellite launched 

327 into sun-synchronous orbit by 

95. 3 NASA. Largest and most 

97. 5 advanced scientific satellite ever built in Western Europe. 

Spacecraft 3-axis stabilized 

and fully operational; all 

experiments turned on. 

246 

88 

89. 8 

110.9 

549 

498 

101.7 

98. 7 

N. A. 

Lunar strike. 

Decayed April 11, 1972. 

Still in orbit. 

Crew consisted of John W. Young, 

commander; Thomas K. Mattingly, command module pilot ; 

Charles M. Duke, Jr., lunar 

module pilot. Fifth successful 

lunar landing mission. Extensive 

geology traverses with lunar 

roving vehicle. Lunar module 

landed at 02:23 (G.m.t.) on Apr. 21 and lifted off at 01 :26 

(G.m.t.) on Apr. 25. Total 

lunar sta time 71 hours, 14 

minutes. Fhree dual EVA'S 

totaling 20 hours, 15 minutes. 

Total flight time 265 hours, 5 1 

minutes. 

Impacted Moon April 19, 1972. 

N. A. Lunar ascent module abandoned in 

lunar orbit after rendezvous and 

docking with CSM. 

Lunar orbit. Shaping burn to optimize orbit not 

81 performed because of problems 

57 with CM engine. Subsatellite 

119.0 lifetime decreased, and impacted 

169.3 the moon May 29, 1972, after 425 

revolutions. 
APPENDIX A-3-Continued 

Successful U.S. Launches-1972 

Launch date (G.m.t.) 

Spacecraft name 

Cospar designation 

Launch vehicle 

Spacecraft data 

Apogee and 

Perigee (in 

statute miles)- 

(mi.nutes)- 

Inclination to 

Equator 

(degrees) 

Period Remarks 

Apr. 19 

Defense 

32A 

Thorad- Agena 

May 25 

Defense 

39A 

Thorad-Agena 

i ntelsat IV(F-5) 

41A 

Atlas-Centaur 

une 13 

EXse 

52A 

Titan IIID 

July 7 

Defense 

52C 

Titan IIID 

JE”Rg3, 

58A 

Thorad-Delta 

Aug. 13 

Explorer 46(MTS) 

61A 

Scout 

Objective: Development of space flight techniques 

Spacecraft : Not announced. 

and technology. 

Objective: Development of space flight techniques 

Spacecraft: Not announced. 

and technology. 

Objective: To provide equivalent of 3,000 to 9,000 

telephone circuits simultaneously or 12 color TV 

channels or a combination of telephone, TV, and 

other forms of communications traffic. 

Spacecraft : Cylindrical 93.7-in. diameter and 

17.3-ft. high; spin stabilized; 12 communications 

repeaters (transponders) ; 6 antennas; 45,012 

solar cells. Weight after apogee motor fire: 1,587 

lbs. 

Objective: Development of space flight techniques 

Spacecraft: Not announced. 

and technology. 

Objective: Development of space flight techniques 

Spacecraft : Not announced. 

and technology. 

Objective: To acquire synoptic, multispectral repetitive images for a period of three months from 

which useful data can be obtained for investigations in such disciplines as agriculture and forestry 

resources, mineral and land resources, land use, 

water resources, marine resources, mapping and 

charting, and the environment. 

Spacecraft: Shares same basic structure and design as Nimbus satellites. 120-in. high and 132-in. wide 

spacecraft consists of three major elements: 56-in. 

torus ring forms base; smaller hexagon-shaped 

housing, connected to ring by truss, houses attitude stabilization and control system; two 3-ft. by 

5-ft. canted solar paddles. Active 3-axis stabilization. Carries two multispectral sensors, a multispectral scanner subsystem (MSS), a return beam 

vidicon (RBV) camera subsystem, a data collection system (DCS), and two wide band video 

tape recorders (WBVTR). Weight: 2,075 lbs. 

Objective: To measure the meteoroid penetration 

rates in a bumper-protected target in the near 

earth environment in order to evaluate the 

effectiveness of the bumpers. 

Spacecraft: Cylindrical spacecraft 10.5-ft. long. 

Four bumper wings measure 23-ft. tip-to-tip when 

deployed; wings covered with two thin stainless 

steel bumper sheets separated by >&in. Spin 

stabilized; three scientific ex eriments; two 

telemetry systems. Weight: 386 lgs. 

153 

96 

88. 4 

81. 4 

161 

96 

89. 2 

96. 4 

22,347 

22,232 

1440.4 

0.4 

160 

108 

88. 7 

96. 8 

31 1 

310 

94. 5 

96.1 

569 

558 

103.1 

99. 1 

Decayed May 12, 1972. 

Decayed June 4, 1972. 

Launched by NASA for Comsat 

Corp., manager of Intelsat. 

Fourth satellite in improved 

Intelsat IV series. Stationed at 

61.4O east longitude over the 

Indian Ocean. Used during 

Olympic games held in Munich, 

West Germany. Spacecraft 

operating normally. 

Decayed Sept. 13, 1972. 

Still in orbit. 

Successful launch into polar orbit 

allows spacecraft to photo nearly 

entire planet during an 18-day 

period. Three co-aligned RBV 

cameras each photo identical 

scene (13,000 sq. ft.), but each in 

a different spectral band. Also 

provides near-real-time envkonmental information. Spacecraft 

operating normally and returning 

over 9,000 pictures a week. 

504 Spacecraft launched into proper 

305 orbit, but only two of four bumper 

97. 7 wings deployed. No data received 

37.6 from secondary experiments, but 

primary experiment functioning 

properly and returning good data. 

85 
APPENDIX A-3-Continued 

Successful U .S. Launc hes--1972 

Launch date (G.m.t.) 

Spacecraft name 

Cospar designation 

Launch vehicle 

Spacecraft data 

Apogee and 

Perigee (in 

statute miles)- 

(minutes)- 

Inclination to 

Equator 

(degrees) 

Period Remarks 

Aug. 21 

OAO 3 (Copernkus) 

65A 

Atlas-Centaur 

Sep. 1 

Defense 

68A 

Titan IIIB-Agena 

Sep. 2 

Triad 01-1 

69A 

scout 

~~ 

Objective: To obtain high-resolution spectra of a number of stars in the ultraviolet range between 

1000 and 3000 to investigate the composition, 

density, and physical state of matter in interstellar space and stellar sources. Spacecraft: eight-sided structure with a central tube 

which carries astronomical observing equipment; 

sunbaffle mounted on viewing end of spacecraft; 

solar cell arrays, containing about 55,500 cells, 

and inertial balance booms, folded flat against 

sides during launch, are deplo ed in orbit. Spacecraft measures 10-ft. long by ?-ft. wide in space; 

central tube is 4-ft. in diameter. Carries two 

experiments : Princeton Experiment Package 

(PEP) is 32-in. dia. reflecting telesco e housed in 

the 10-ft. central tube; University Colege London 

(UCL) experiment consists of three small X-ray 

telescopes and a collimated proportional counter. 

Attitude control system; two transmitters, four 

receivers; thermal control system. Weight: 4,900 

lbs. 

Objective: Development of space flight techniques 

Spacecraft: Not announced. 

and technology. 

Objective: To correct long term drift of satellite, 

forcing it to fly a highly predictable orbit; and 

to test environmental and component quality 

factors in perfofmance. Also,. to provide for 

general navigation support in the Transit 

system. 

Spacecraft: Three gravity-stabilized components 

separated by 10-foot booms. The Earth-facing 

body contains the Doppler system, computer 

system, and directional antenna. The central 

body contains the DISCOS (disturbance com- pensation system) for station-keeping. The spacefacing body is the radioisotope thermal generator 

system, experimental solar cells. The spacecraft 

generates 30 watts of power, transmits on 400 

and 150 MHz. Overall length is 24 feet: Weight 

is 207 lbs. 

462 

457 

99. 6 

35.0 

Heaviest scientific satellite ever launched by the United States; 

contains largest telescope ever orbited. Spacecraft fully operational and pointing accuracy 

three times better than planned; 

also spacecraft far more stable 

than expected. 

237 

aa 

89. 7 

110.4 

52 1 

462 

100.6 

90. 1 

Decayed Sep. 30, 1972. 

Still in orbit. 

86 
APPENDIX A-3-Continued 

Successf u I U. S. Laun ches-1972 

Launch date (G.m.t.) 

Spacecraft name 

Cospar designation 

Launch vehicle 

Spacecraft data 

Apogee and 

Perigee (in 

statute miles)- 

Period 

(minuta)- 

Inclination to 

Equator 

(degrees) 

Remarks 

Sept. 23 

Explorer 47 (IMP) 

73A 

Thorad-Delta 

Oct. 2 

STP 72-1 

76A 

Atlas-Burner 2 

Oct. 2 

Radcat 

76B 

Atlas-Burner 2 

Oct. 10 

Defense 

79A 

Titan IIID 

Objective: To perform detailed and near contin- uous studies of the interplanetary environment 

for orbital periods comparable to several rotations 

of active solar regions; and to study particle and 

field interactions in the distant magnetotail normally; 12 of 13 experiments 

including cross sectional mapping of the tail and 

neutral sheet. 

Spacecraft: 16-sided drum-shaped structure 62-in. 

high and 53-in. diameter. Upper portion of spacecraft contains an aluenum honeycomb shelf 

which supports experlments and spacecraft 

electronics. The lower portion has an 18-in. 

thrust tube to accommodate solid propellant kick 

motor. Spacecraft structure consists of aluminum 

honeycomb RF shield panels and three bands of 

solar panels (16 panels per band) mounted on an aluminum honeycomb substrate. Two diametrically opposed experiment booms (each 10-ft. long) 

and two attitude control system booms (each 4- 

ft. long) spaced 90° from experiment booms, are appended to spacecraft exterior and deployed 

after launch. The spacecraft is fitted with eight 

equally spaced, RF antennas (four active, four 

passive turnstile type) which extend radially. 

Spacecraft is spin stabilized and contains 13 experiments. Weight: 833 lbs. 

146,426 Spacecraft launched into nearly 

125,274 circular earth orbit approxi17, 702. 1 mately half the distance to the 

17.2 moon. Spacecraft functioning 

operating properly. 

Objective: To measure background gamma radiation over whole Earth in 100-300 Kv and over 700 Kv ranges; to measure fluxes and spectra of 

low altitude charged particles as a function of 

time and magnetospheric position; to determine 

effects of space environment on various thermal 

control coatings; to measure UV radiation which 

generate and maintain the nighttime ionosphere, 

and to measure H and He atoms and ions, and to 

observe extreme and far UV originating in interaction of solar wind with interplanetary medium or from galactic sources. Spacecraft: Gamma ray spectrometer; low altitude 

particle measuring sensor. Satellite is cylinder 7 ft. 

long, 4.5 ft. in diameter. Antenna booms extend 

9 ft. from each end coincident with the spin axis. 

Weight: 1,248 lbs. 

Objective: To provide a passive optical and radar 

calibration target of about 5 square meters cross section. 

Spacecraft: Cylinder 10 ft. in length, 4 ft. in 

diameter. Weight: 485 lbs. 

and technology. 

Objective : Development of space flight techniques 

Spacecraft: Not announced. 

465 Still in orbit. 

453 

99. 5 

98.4 

467 Still in orbit. 

453 

99. 5 

98.4 

167 Still in orbit. 

99 

88. 7 

96.4 

87 

490-495 0 - 73 - 7 
APPENDIX A-3-Continued 

Successf u I U . S. La u n c hes-1972 

Launch date (G.m.t.) 

Spacecraft name 

Cospar designation 

Launch vehicle 

Spacecraft data 

Apogee and 

Perigee (in 

statute miles)- 

Period 

(minutes)- 

Inclination to 

Equator 

(degrees) 

Remarks 

Oct. 15 

NOAA 2(ITOS D) 

82A 

Thorad-Delta 

Oct. 15 

Oscar 6 

82B 

Thorad-Del ta 

Nov. 9 

Defense 

89A 

Thor-Burner 2 

Nov. 10 

Anik 1 

90A 

Thorad-Delta 

Objective: To place spacecraft in a sun-synchronous 

orbit having a local equator crossing time between 

9am and 9:20am, and conduct in-orbit engineering evaluation so that daytime and nighttime 

meteorological observations can be obtained 

regulariy and dependably in both direct readout 

and stored modes of operation. 

Spacecraft: Rectangular, box-shaped spacecraft 

with a deployable 3-panel solar array. The base 

of the main body is about 40-in. by 40-in. and the 

overall height is about 48-in. The total area of the 

array is 48-sq. ft. with each of the three panels 

measuring 36.4-in. by 63.8-in. Three-axis stabilized, earth-oriented satellite carries two Very 

High Resolution Radiometer (VHRR) instruments and two Scanning Radiometer (SR) sen- sors for daytime and nighttime coverage, and two 

Vertical Temperature Profile Radiometers 

(VTPR) which permit determination of the 

earth’s atmospheric vertical temperature profile over every part of the earth’s surface at least twice 

daily. Thermal control system; four antennas. 

Weight: 760 lbs. 

Objective: To conduct an experimental program of 

multiple-access communication techniques usin 

a large number of relatively low-powered earti 

terminals. 

Spacecraft: Powered by solar cells and a battery, 

spacecraft carries a 2- to 10-meter linear translator with a bandwidth of 100 kHz; input frequencyis centered on 145.95 MHz and the output 

centered at 29.5 MHz. Peak wer output of 

transmitter is about one watt; carries a mes- sage storage device. Weight: 41 lbs. 

and technology. 

Objective: Development of space flight techniques 

Spacecraft : Not announced. 

Objective: To provide transmission of television, 

voice, and other data throughout Canada. 

Spacecraft: Cylindrical 6-ft. diameter and 1 1-ft. 

high ; spin stabilized; 60-in. optically transparent 

antenna weighing 9-lbs. affixed to top of spacecraft remains stationary, pointed toward Canada, as satellite revolves. Provides 10 color TV channels or up to 9,600 telephone circuits ; 23,000 solar 

cells. Weight at launch: 1,200 lbs; in orbit: 600 

lbs. 

906 

902 

114.9 

101.7 

905 

902 

114.9 

101.7 

546 

512 

101.5 

98.6 

22,241 

22,234 

1.436. 0 

0. 1 

First operational spacecraft to provide temperature soundings of the 

earth’s atmosphere as well as direct readout and globally re- corded cloud-cover data. Spacecraft functioning normally and 

turned over to NOAA Nov. 8, 

1972, for operational use. 

Built by American, Australian, and 

German amateur groups working 

through the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT). 

Launched by NASA as secondary 

payload. Spacecraft is functioning 

normally. 

Still in orbit. 

Launched by NASA for Canadian 

Domestic Communications Satellite System into stationary 

transfer orbit. Apogee kick 

motor fired by Canada Nov. 14 

and spacecraft placed in stationary equatorial orbit off the 

west coast of South America. 

Spacecraft able to “see’’ and 

service all of Canada. Western 

world’s first operational domcstic communications satellite. 
APPENDIX A-3-Continued 

Successful U .S. Launc hes-1972 

Launch date (G.m.t.) 

Spacecraft name 

Cospar designation 

Launch vehicle 

Nov. 15 

ExDlorer 48(SAS) .. 91.4 

scout 

Nov. 22 

ESRO 4 

92A 

scout 

Dec. 7 

96A 

Saturn V 

Apollo 17 (CSM-114) 

~ Dec. 7 

Saturn IVB (SA-512) 

96B 

Saturn V 

Apogee and 

Perigee (in 

statute miles)- 

(minutes)- 

Inclination to 

Equator 

(degrees) 

Spacecraft data Period Remarks 

Objective: To measure the spatial and energy distribution of primary galactic and extra-galactic 

gamma radiation. 95.4 range by an Italian launch crew. 

20.1-in. high. Four solar addles 10.6-in. wide and 

wide and 53.2-111. long [inged to outer shell are folded downward against cylinder during launch 

and upon deployment are canted 30' from the 

two axis and perpendicular to the cylinder surface; 

command and telemetry antennas are attached to 

tips of paddles; s acecraft measures 156-in. tipto-tip with pad& deployed. Inside spacecraft 

shell, honeycomb deck contains basic spacecraft 

systems; nickeltadmium battery, command re- ceivers and decoders, telemetry system, and spin 

control system. Spacecraft experiment consists of a 32-level digitized spark chamber gamma-ray 

telescope which will detect rare celetial gamma 

rays and determine their intensity, energy, and 

direction of arrival. Weight: 410 lbs. 

392 NASA-built satellite launched into 

276 equatorial orbit from San Marco 

Spacecraft : Dome-shaped cylinder 23.2-in. dia and 1.9 

Objective: To investigate and measure several 

phenomena in the polar ionosphere, a region of 

high intensity that begins in the upper atmosphere and extends to an indefinite height in space. 

Spacecraft: Cylindrical spacecraft about 54-in. 

high and 30-in. in diameter with 6,990 bodymounted solar cells. Three radial booms, hinged 

at the bottom of the craft, are folded along its 

sides during launch and deployed in orbit; a fourth boom, mounted on the spacecraft's bottom, 

is stowed inside the center of the craft during 

launch and is deployed immediately after the 

radial booms. The radial booms contain sensors for part of the ionospheric experiment. S ace- craft carries six experiments and is spin stabiEzed. 

Weight: 286 Ibs. 

Objective : To perform selenological inspection, 

survey, and sampling of materials and surface 

features in a preselected area of the TaurusLittrow region; to emplace and activate surface 

experiments ; to conduct in-flight experiments 

and photo aphic tasks. 

Spacecraft : Earried full lunar landing configuration, including command module, service module, 

and lunar module; also lunar roving vehicle, 

added lunar module consumables, and Scientific 

Instrument Module (SIM) for extensive lunar 

orbital scientific investigations. Total weight at 

initial earth orbit insertion: 311,151 lbs; at 

translunar injection: 144,929 lbs; CSM: 66,953 

lbs, 34-ft long, 12.8-ft diameter. 

Objective: To bring payload to lunar transfer 

injection; then to fly independently to impact 

the moon in further seismic tests to be detected 

by Apollo 12, 14, 15, and 16 ALSEP instruments. 

SDacecraft: A cvlinder about 62.3-ft. long bv 21.7- 

721 ESRO-built spacecraft launched 

152 

98. 8 

91. 1 orbit. 

successfully by NASA into near- polar elliptical orbit. Still in 

N.A. Crew consisted of Eugene A. 

Cernan, commander; Ronald E. 

Evans, command module pilot; 

Harrison H. Schmitt, lunar 

module pilot. Sixth successful 

lunar landing mission. Extensive 

geology traverses with lunar 

roving vehicle. Lunar module 

landed at 19:55 (G.m.t.) on 

December 11 and lifted off at 

22:55 (G.m.t.) on December 14. 

Total lunar stay time 75 hours. 

Three dual EVA'S totaling 22 

hours, 5 minutes. Total flight 

time 301 hours, 52 minutes. 

Lunar strike Impacted Moon December 10, 

1972. 

'ft. in diameth. Total weight at imp&t,'about 

30,712 lbs. 

89 
APPENDIX A-3-Continued 

Successf u I U .S. La u n c hes-1972 

Launch date (G.m.t.) 

Spacecraft name Cospar designation 

Launch vehicle 

Dec. 7 

Lunar Excursion 

Module (LM-12) 

96C 

Saturn V 

Dec. 11 

Nimbus 5 

97A 

Thorad-Delta 

Dec. 16 

Aeros 

1 OOA 

scout 

Dec. 20 

Defense 

101 A 

Atlas-Agena 

Dec. 21 

Defense 

103A 

Titan IIIB-Agena 

Spacecraft data 

Apogee and 

Perigee (in 

statute miles)- 

(minutes)- 

Inclination to 

Equator 

(degrees) 

Period Remarks 

Objective: To support lunar landing and takeoff 

for return to lunar orbit in support of tasks 

named above. 

Spacecraft: Combined descent and ascent stages 

about 13.5-ft. high, 12.3-ft. wide, and 10.3-ft. 

deep. Total weight 36,278 lbs. 

Objective: To improve and extend the capability 

for vertical sounding of temperatures and mois- 677 orbit, and sensors were ture in the atmosphere, particularly with regard 107. 2 activated successfully. Still 

to altitude coverage, and with regard to the interfering effects of clouds, by the acquistion of 

synoptic data for a period of 10 weeks from 

either the Infrared Temperature Profile Radiometer (ITPR), or the Nimbus E Microwave 

Spectrometer (NEMS); to demonstrate improved thermal mapping of the earth by obtaining data for a period of 10 weeks from either the 

Electrically Scanning Microwave Radiometer 

(ESMR), or the Surface Composition Mapping 

Radiometer (SCMR). 

Spacecraft: Butterfly-shaped spacecraft 10-ft. high 

and 1 1-ft. wide consists of three major elements: a 5-ft. diameter torus ring forms the base and 

N.A. Lunar ascent module commanded 

to im act the moon on December 

14, zer rendezvous and 

docking with CSM. 

684 Nimbus 5 attained its planned 

99. 9 in orbit. 

houses the major spacecrafi. electronics; a smaller 

hexagon-shaped housing ; connected to the ring by a truss, houses the attitude stabilization and con- trol system; and two solar paddles about 3-ft. 

by 8-ft. Active 3-axis stabilization; carries six 

experiments. Solar cells provide 550 watts of 

power and eight nickel-cadmium batteries aver- age 277 watts. Weight: 1,695 lbs. 

Objective: To measure the main aeronomic parameters of the upper atmosphere and the solar ultraviolet radiation in the wavelength band of main 

absorption. 

Spacecraft: Circular cylindrical shell welded to a bottom conical shell to fofm a structural unit 

36-in. in diameter and 28-111. high. Flat honeycomb solar cell array lid is attached to spacecraft 

cylinder top. Carries five scientific instruments: 

Mass Spectrometer (MS), Retarding Potential 

Analyzer (RPA), Impedence Probe (IP), EUVSpectrometer (EUV), and Neutral Atmosphere 

Temperature Experiment (NATE). Spinstabilized ; four telemetry antennas ; two batteries. 

Weight: 277 Ibs. 

537 German-built satellite launched 

135 by N.A.S.A. 

95. 5 

96. 9 

Objective : Development of space flight techniques 40, 728 Still in orbit. 

and technology. 31,012 

9. 7 

Spacecraft: Not announced. 1440.4 

Objective: Development of space flight techniques 243 Still in orbit. 

and technology. 86 

90.0 

Spacecraft: Not announced. 110.5 

90 
APPENDIX B 

US. Applications Satellites 1958-1972 

Date Name Launch vehicle Remarks 

Oct. 31, 1962 

Jan. 11, 1964 

Oct. 10, 1964 

Mar. 9, 1965 

Mar. 11, 1965 

Apr. 3, 1965 

Apr. 29, 1965 

Aug. 10, 1965 

Nov. 6, 1965 

June 9, 1966 

June 23, 1966 

Aug. 19, 1966 

Oct. 5, 1966 

June 29, 1967 

Tan. 1 1. 1968 

Apr. 14, 1969 

Apr. 8, 1970 

Anna 1B 

Secor I 

Beacon-Explorer 

XXII 

Secor I11 

Secor I1 

Secor IV 

Beacon-Exdorer 

XXVII * 

Secor V 

GEOS-I Explorer 

XXIX 

Secor VI 

Pageos I 

Secor VI1 

Secor VI11 

Secor IX 

GEOS I1 

Secor XI11 

Top0 I 

GEODESY 

Thor-Able Star 

Thor-Agena D 

scout Conducted reflecting-light geodetic measurements. 

Thor-Agena D 

Thor-Able Star 

Atlas-Agena D 

scout 

Used 3 independent measuring techniques : Doppler frequency 

Uses radio triangulation and trilateration. 

shift, flashing lights, and radio triangulation. 

scout 

Thor-Delta 

Atlas-Agena D 

Thor-Agena D 

Atlas-Agena D 

Atlas-Agena D 

Thor-Burner I1 

Thor-Del ta 

Thor-Agena D 

Thor-Agena D 

Spacecraft is a 100-foot-diameter balloon used as a photographic 

target to make geodetic measurements. 

91 
APPENDIX B-Continued 

U.S. Applications Satellites 1958-1972-Continued 

Date Name Launch vehicle Remarks 

Dec. 18, 1958 

Aug. 12, 1960 

Oct. 4, 1960 

Mar. 30, 1961 

Oct. 21, 1961 

Dec. 12, 1961 

ec. 13, 1962 

Feb. 14, 1963 

May 7, 1963 

May 9, 1963 

July 26, 1963 

Jan. 21, 1964 

Jan. 25, 1964 

Aug. 19, 1964 

Feb. 11, 1965 

Mar. 9, 1965 

Apr. 6, 1965 

May 6, 1965 

Dec. 21, 1965 

June 16, 1966 

Oct. 26,1966 

Nov. 3, 1966 

Dec. 7, 1966 

Jan. 11, 1967 

Jan. 18, 1967 

Mar. 22, 1967 

Apr. 6, 1967 

July 1, 1967 

Sept. 27, 1967 

Nov. 5, 1967 

June 13, 1968 

Aug. 10, 1968 

Sept. 26, 1968 

Dec. 18, 1968 

b. 6, 1969 

.9, 1969 

Score 

Echo I 

Courier 1B 

Lofti I 

Westford I 

Oscar I 

Oscar I1 

Telstar I 

Relay I 

Syncom I 

Telstar I1 

Westford I1 

Syncom I1 

Relay I1 

Echo I1 

Syncom 111 

LES I 

Oscar I11 

Intelsat I (Early 

Bird) 

LES I1 

LES 111 

LES IV 

Oscar IV 

IDCSP 1-7 

Intelsat 11-Fl 

OV 4-IT 

OV GIR 

ATS I 

Intelsat 11-FP 

IDCSP 8-15 

Intelsat 11-F3 

ATS 11 

LES V 

IDCSP 16-18 

DATS 

DODGE 

Intelsat 11-F4 

ATS 111 

IDCSP 19-26 

ATS IV 

LES 6 

Intelsat I11 (F-2) 

lntelsat III(F-3) 

Tacsat I 

COMMUNICATIONS 

Atlas B 

Thor-Del ta 

Thor-Able Star 

Thor-Able Star 

Atlas-Agena B 

Thor-Agena B 

Thor-Agena B 

Thor-Del ta 

Thor-Del ta 

Thor-Del ta 

Thor-Delta 

Atlas-Agena B 

Thor-Delta 

Thor-Delta 

Thor-Agena B 

Thor-Delta 

Titan IIIA 

Thor-Agena D 

Thor-Delta 

Titan IIIA 

Titan IIIC 

Titan IIIC 

Thor-Delta(TAT) 

Titan IIIC 

Atlas-Agena D 

Thor-Delta(TAT) 

Titan lIlC 

Thor-Delta(TAT) 

Atlas-Agena D 

Titan IIIC 

Thor-Delta(TAT) 

Atlas-Agena D 

Titan IIIC 

Atlas-Centaur 

Titan IIIC 

Thor-Delta(TAT) 

Thor-Delta (TAT) 

Titan IIIC 

First Comsat, carried taped messages. 

100-foot ballon served as first passive Comsat, relayed voice and 

First active-repeater Comsat. 

Low-frequency experiment ; failed to separate from rest of 

First attempt to establish filament belt around earth; failed to 

First amateur radio “ham” satellite. 

Industry-furnished spacecraft in near-earth orbit. 

Activorepeater Comsat. 

Successfully injected into near-synchronous orbit but commuFilaments formed reflective belt around earth as planned for 

First successful synchronous orbit active-repeater Comsat. After 

135-foot ballon, assive Comsat, first joint use by United 

Synchronous-orbit Comsat; after experimental phase, used 

Experimental payload did not reach intended apogee. 

First Intelsat (Comsat Corporation) spacecraft, 240 2-way voice 

circuits ; commercial transatlantic communication service 

initiated June 28, 1965. 

All solid state advanced experiment. 

All solid state, UHF signal generator. 

All solid state SHF or X band experiment. 

Initial defense communication satellites program (1DCSP)- 

Active-repeater spacecraft in near-synchronous orbit, random 

spaced. 

First in Intelsat I1 series spacecraft; 240 2-way voice circuits or 1 color TV channel. Orbit achieved not adequate for com- mercial operation. 

Transmitter and receiver for low-power satellite-to-satellite F 

layer experiments. 

Multipurpose, including VHF exchange of signals with aircraft. 

Transpacific commercial communication service initiated 

Jan. 11, 1967. 

Positioned to carry transatlantic commercial communication 

traffic. 

Multipurpose, but did not attain planned orbit. 

Tactical military communications tests with aircraft, ships, and 

Electronically despun antenna experiment. 

Multipurpose, gravity stabilized. 

Positioned to carry commercial transpacific communication 

Multipurpose including communications. 

Multipurpose; failed to separate from Centaur, did not reach 

planned orbit. 

Continued military tactical communications experiments. 

First in lntelsat 111 series of spacecraft, 1,200 2-way voice 

circuits or 4 color TV channels. Positioned over Atlantic 

to carry traffic between North America, South America, 

Africa, and Europe. Entered commercial service on Dec. 24, 

1968. 

Stationed over Pacific to carry commercial traffic between the 

United States, Far East, and Australia. 

Demonstrated feasibility of using a spaceborne re ater to satsy 

TV signals. 

payload. 

disperse as planned. 

nication system failed at orbital injection. 

emergency communications experiment. 

experimental phase, used operationally by DOD. 

States and U.S.8.R. 

operationally by DOD. 

mobile land stations from near synchronous orbit. 

traffic. 

selected communications needs of DOD rnobi p“ e forccs 
A~PENDK B-Continued 

US. Applications Satellites 1958-1972-Continued 

Date Name Launch vehicle Remarks 

COMMUNICATIONS-Continued 

May 22, 1969 

July 26, 1969 

August 12, 1969 

Nov. 22, 1969 

Jan. 15, 1970 

Jan. 23, 1970 

Mar. 20, 1970 

Apr. 23, 1970 

Jul. 23, 1970 

Aug. 22, 1970 

Jan. 26, 1971 

Feb. 3, 1971 

Nov. 3, 1971 

Dec. 19, 1971 

Jan. 22, 1972 

June 13, 1972 

Apr. 13, 1960 

June 22, 1960 

Feb. 21, 196! 

June 29, 196 : 

Nov. 15, 1961 

Dec. 18, 1962 

June 15, 1963 

Sept. 28, 1963 

Dec. 5, 1963 

June 4, 1964 

Oct. 6, 1964 

Dec. 13, 1964 

Mar. 1 1, 1965 

June 24, 1965 

Aug. 13, 1965 

Dec. 22, 1965 

Jan. 28, 1966 

Mar. 25, 1966 

May 19, 1966 

Aug. 18, 1966 

Am. 13. 1967 

day 18: 1967 

Sept. 25, 1967 

Mar. 1, 1968 

Aug. 27, 1970 

Sept. 2, 1972 

In tels tat I11 (F-4) 

Intelsat III(F-5) 

ATS V 

Skynet I 

Intelsat III(F-6) 

Oscar V 

(IDCSP-A) 

(Australis) 

(NATO-A) 

Intelsat I11 (F-7) 

Intelsat I11 (F-8) 

Skynet I1 

Intelsat IV (F-2) 

N ATOSAT-I 

(IDCSP-B) 

NATOSAT-I1 

DSCS 2-1,.2 

(NATO-B) 

Intelsat IV (F-3) 

Intelsat IV (F-4) 

Intelsat IV (F-5) 

Transit 1B 

Transit 2A 

Transit 3B 

Transit 4A 

Transit 4B 

Transit 5A 

NavSat 

NavSat 

NavSat 

NavSat 

NavSat 

NavSat 

NavSat 

NavSat 

NavSat 

NavSat 

NavSat 

NavSat 

NavSat 

NavSat 

NavSat 

NavSat 

NavSat 

NavSat 

NavSat 

Triad 01-1 

Thor-Del ta (TAT) 

Thor-Del ta(TAT) 

Atlas Centaur 

Thor-Delta(TAT 

Thor-Delta(TAT) 

Thor-Delta(TAT) 

Thor-Delta (TAT) 

Thor-Delta (TAT) 

Thor-Delta (TAT) 

Thor-Delta (TAT) 

Atlas-Centaur 

Thor-Delta (TAT) 

Titan IIIC 

Atlas Centaur 

Atlas Centaur 

Atlas Centaur 

Stationed over Pacific to replace F-3 which was moved westwrad 

Spacecraft failed to achieve the proper orbit. Not usable. 

Multipurpose; for millimeter and L band communications; 

entered flat spin. 

Launched for the United Kingdom in response to an agreement 

to augment the IDCSP program. 

Stationed over Atlantic to carry commercial traffic between the 

United States, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East. 

Ham radio satellite built by amateur radio operators at Melbourne University, Melbourne, Australia. 

First NATO satellite, stationed over Atlantic to carry military 

traffic between the United Stateq and other NATO countries. 

Stationed over Atlantic to carry commercial traffic between the 

United States, Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East. 

Spacecraft failed to achieve the proper orbit. Nor usable. Last 

launch of Intelsat I11 series. 

Launched for the United Kingdom in response to an agreement 

to augment the IDCSP program. Spacecraft failed to achieve 

the proper orbit. 

First in Intelsat IV series of spacecraft; 3-9,oOO 2-way voice 

circuits or 12 color TV channels. Positioned over the Atlantic. 

Second NATO satellite, stationed over the Atlantic to carry 

military traffic. 

Operational defense communications satellites launched as a pair to 24-hour synchronous orbits to provide high capacity 

voice, digital, and secure voice communications for military 

networks. 

to the Indian Ocean. Completes global coverage. 

Second in new high-capacity series. 

Third in new high capacity series. 

Fourth in new high capacity series. 

NAVIGATION 

Thor-Able Star 

Thor-Able Star 

Thor-Able Star 

Thor-Able Star 

Thor-Able Star 

scout 

scout 

Thor-Able Star 

Thor-Able Star 

scout 

Thor-Able Star 

Thor-Able Star 

Thor-Able Star 

Thor-Able Star 

Thor-Able Star 

scout 

Scout 

Scout 

scout 

scout 

scout 

Scout 

scout 

Scout 

Scout 

scout 

First navigation satellite. Used Doppler frequency shift for 

position determination. 

Used the first spacecraft nuclear SNAP-3 as a secondary power 

Operational prototype, power failed during first day. Used gravity-gradient stabilization syste'm. 

Used first nuclear SNAP-SA as primary power supply. 

supply. 

First experimental station keeping Transit navigation satellite. 

93 
APPENDIX B-Continued 

U.S. Applications Satellites 1958-1972-Continued ~ ~~ ~ ~ 

Date Name Launch vehicle Remarks 

WEATHER OBSERVATION 

Apr. 1, 1960 

Nov. 23. 1960 uiy 12,’ 1961 4 eb. 8, 1962 

June 19, 1962 

SeDt. 18. 1962 

ec. 21, 1963 

Aug. 28, 1964 

& 3g 

Feb. 28, 1966 

May 15, 1966 

Oct. 2, 1966 

Dec. 6, 1966 

Jan. 26, 1967 

Apr. 20, 1967 

Nov. 5, 1967 

Nov. ~. .- 10. 1967 

Aug. 16: 1968 

Dec. 15, 1968 

Feb. 26, 1969 

Apr. 14, 1969 

Jan. 23, 1970 

Apr. 8. 1970 

Dec. 11, 1970 

Aug. 16, 1971 

Oct. 15, 1972 

Tiros I 

Tiros I1 

Tiros I11 

Tiros IV 

Tiros V 

Tiros VI 

Tiros VI1 

Tiros VI11 

Nimbus I 

Tiros IX 

Tiros X 

ESSA 1 

ESSA 2 

Nimbus I1 

ESSA 3 

ATS-1 

ESSA 4 

ESSA 5 

ATS-3 

ESSA 6 

ESSA 7 

ESSA 8 

ESSA 9 

Nimbus I11 

ITOS 1 

(Tiros M) 

Nimbus IV 

NOAA-1 

(ITOSA) 

Eole (CAS-1) 

Thor-Able 

Thor-Delta 

Thor-Del ta 

Thor-Delta 

Thor-Delta 

Thor-Delta 

Thor-Delta 

Thor-Delta 

Thor-Agena B 

Thor-Delta 

Thor-Delta 

Thor-Delta 

Thor-Delta 

Thor-Agena B 

Thor-Delta 

Atlas-Agena D 

Thora-Delta 

Thor-Delta 

Atlas-Agena 

Thor-Del ta 

Thor-Delta 

Thor-Delta 

Thor-Agena 

Thor-Del ta 

Thor-Agena 

Thor-Delta 

scout 

Thor-Delta 

NOAA-2 (ITOS D) Thor-Delta 

First weather satellite providing cloud-cover photography. 

First weather satellite designed to transmit continuously local 

cloud conditions to ground stations equipped with APT 

receivers. 

Carried advanced videcon camera system, APT, and a high 

resolution infrared radiometer for night pictures. 

First weather satellite in a sun-synchronous orbit. 

First operational weather satellite; carried 2 wide-angle TV 

Complemented ESSA I with 2 wide-angle APT cameras. 

Odd-number ESSA spacecraft carry 2 advanced videcon camera systems. Even-numbered spacecraft carry 2 automatic picture transmission camera systems. 

Provided continuous black-and-white cloudcover pictures from a synchronous orbit, using a Suomi camera system. 

camera systems. 

Provided continuous color cloud-cover pictures from a synchronous orbit, using 3 Suomi camera systems. 

Provided first vertical temperature profile on a global basis of the 

Second generation operational meteorological satellite. 

Fifth in a series of 7 advanced research and development weather 

Second generation operational meteorological satellite. 

French satellite to gather data from constant density surface 

ballons relaying meteorological data for the study of the 

characteristics and movements of air masses. New balloons are released daily from three sites in Argentian, for this 

cooperative French/U.S. project. 

atmosphere from-the spacecraft to the Earth’s surface. 

satellites. 

Second generation operational meteorological satellite. 

94 
A~PENDIX C 

History of U.S. and Soviet Manned Space Flights 

Spacecraft Launch date Crew Flight time Highlights 

Vostok 1 

MercuryMercuryVostok 2 

MercuryAtlas 6 

MercuryAtlas 7 

Vostok 3 

Vostok 4 

MercuryAtlas 8 

MercuryAtlas 9 

Vostok 5 

Vostok 6 

Voskhod 1 

Redstone 3 

Redstone 4 

Apr. 12, 1961 

May 5, 1961 

July 21, 1961 

Aug. 6, 1961 

Feb. 20, 1962 

May 24, 1962 

Aug. 1 1, 1962 

Aug. 12, 1962 

Oct. 3, 1962 

May 15, 1963 

June 14, 1963 

June 16, 1963 

Oct. 12, 1964 

Voskhod 2 

Gemini 3 

Gemini 4 

Gemini 5 

Gemini 7 

Gemini 6-A 

Gemini 8 

Gemini 9-A 

Gemini 10 

Gemini 11 

Gemini 12 

soyuz 1 

Apollo 7 

soyuz 3 

Mar. 18, 1965 

Mar. 23, 1965 

June 3,1965 

Aug. 21, 1965 

Dec. 4, 1965 

Dec. 15, 1965 

Mar. 16, 1966 

June 3,1966 

July 18, 1966 

Sept. 12, 1966 

Nov. 11, 1966 

Apr. 23, 1967 

Oct. 11, 1968 

Oct. 26, 1968 

Yuri A. Gagarin 

Alan N. Shepard, Jr. 

Virgil I. Grissom 

Gherman S. Titov 

John H. Glenn, Jr. 

M. Scott Carpenter 

Andrian G. Nikolayev 

Pavel R. Popovich 

Walter M. Schirra, Jr. 

L. Gordon Cooper, Jr. 

Valery F. Bykovsky 

Valentina V. Tereshkova 

Vladimir M. Komarov 

Konstantin P. Feoktistov 

Dr. Boris G. Yegorov 

Aleksei A. Leonov 

Pavel I. Belyayev 

Virgil I. Grissom 

John W. Young 

James A. McDivitt 

Edward H. White, 2d 

L. Gordon Cooper, Jr. 

Charles Conrad, Jr. 

Frank Borman 

James A. Lovell, Jr. 

Waiter M. Schirra, Jr. 

Thomas P. Stafford 

Neil A. Armstrong 

David R. Scott 

Thomas P. StaffordEugene A. Cernan 

John W. Young 

Michael Collins 

Charles Conrad, Jr. 

Richard F. Gordon, Jr. 

James A. Lovell, Jr. 

Edwin E. Aldrin, Jr. 

Vladimir M. Komarov 

Walter M. Schirra, Jr. 

Donn F. Eisele 

R. Walter Cunningham 

Georgi Beregovoy 

1 hr. 48 mins. 

15 mins. 

16 mins. 

25 hrs. 18 mins. 

4 hrs. 55 mins. 

4 hrs. 56 mins. 

94 hrs. 22 mins. 

70 hrs. 57 mins. 

9 hrs. 13 mins. 

34 hrs. 20 mins. 

119 hrs. 6 mins. 

70 hrs. 50 mins. 

24 hrs. 17 mins. 

26 hrs. 2 mins. 

4 hrs. 53 mins. 

97 hrs. 56 mins. 

190 hrs. 55 mins. 

330 hrs. 35 mins. 

25 hrs. 51 mins. 

10 hrs. 41 mins. 

72 hrs. 21 mins. 

70 hrs. 47 mins. 

71 hrs. 17 mins. 

94 hrs. 35 mins. 

26 hrs. 37 mins. 

260 hrs. 9 mins. 

94 hrs. 51 mins. 

First manned flight. 

First U.S. flight; suborbital. 

Suborbital; capsule sank after landing. 

First flight exceeding 24 hrs. 

First American to orbit. 

Landed 250 mi. from target. 

First dual mission (with Vostok 4) 

Came within 4 mi. of Vostok 3. 

Landed 5 mi. from target. 

First long U.S. flight. 

Second dual mission (with Vostok 6). 

First woman in space; within 3 mi. of Vostok 

First 3-man crew. 5. 

First extravehicular activity (Leonov, 10 

First U.S. 2-man flight; first manual maneu21-minute extravehicular activity (White). 

Longest-duration manned flight to date. 

Longest-duration manned flight. 

Rendezvous within 1 foot of Gemini 7. 

First docking of 2 orbiting space craft (Gemini 

Extravehicular activity ; rendezvous. 

First dual rendezvous (Gemini 10 with 

Agena 10, then Agena 8). 

First initial-orbit rendezvous; first tethered 

flight; highest Earth-orbit altitude (853 

miles). 

Longest extravehicular activity (Aldrin, 5 

hours 37 minutes). 

Cosmonaut killed in reentry accident. 

First U.S. 3-man mission. 

mins.). 

vers in orbit. 

8 with Agena target rocket). 

Maneuvered near unmanned Soyuz 2. 

95 
APPENDIX C-Continued 

History of U.S. and Soviet Manned Space Flights-Continued 

Spacecraft Launch date Crew Flight time Highlights 

Apollo 8 

soyuz 4 

soyuz 5 

Apollo 9 

Apollo 10 

Apollo 11 

Soyuz 6 

soyuz 7 

Soyuz 8 

Apollo 2 

Apollo 3 

soyuz 9 

Apollo 14 

soyuz 10 

soyuz 11 

Apollo 15 

Apollo 16 

ApoUo 17 

Dec. 21,1968 

Jan. 14, 1969 

Jan. 15,1969 

Mar. 3,1969 

May 18,1969 

July 16,1969 

Oct. 11,1969 

at. 12,1969 

Oct. 13,1969 

Nov. 14, 1969 

Apr. 11, 1970 

June 1, 1970 

Jan. 31, 1971 

Apr. 22, 1971 

June 6, 1971 

July 26, 1971 

Apr. 16, 1972 

Dec. 7, 1972 

Frank Borman 

James A. Lovell, Jr. 

William A. Anders 

Vladimir Shatalov 

Boris Volynov 

AleJLIey Yeliscyev 

Khrunov ames A. McDivitt 

avid R. Scott 

Russell L. Schweickart 

itZT. $27 

ugene A. Cernan 

Neil A. Armstrong 

Michael Collins 

Edwin E. Aldrin, Jr. 

Gmrgiy Shonin 

Valeriy Kubasov 

Anatoliy Filipchencko 

Vladislav Volkov 

Viktor Gorbatko 

Vladimir Shatalov 

Aleksey Yeliseyev 

Charles Conrad, Jr. 

Richard F. Gordon, Jr. 

Alan L. Bean 

ames A. Lovell, Jr. -E red W. Haise, Jr. 

John L. Swigert, Jr. 

Andrian G. Nikolayev 

Vitaliy I. Sevastianov 

Alan B. Shepard 

Stuart A. Roosa 

Edgar D. Mitchell 

Vladimir Shatalov 

Aleksey Yeliseyev 

Nikolai Rukavishnikov 

Georgiy Timofeyevich 

Dobrovolskiy 

Vladislov Nikolayevich 

Volkov 

Viktor Ivanovich Patsayev 

David R. Scott 

Alfred M. Worden 

James Bensen Irwin 

John W. Young 

Charles M. Duke, Jr. 

Thomas K. Mattingly, I1 

Eugene A. Cernan 

Harrison H. Schmitt 

Ronald E. Evans 

147 hrs. 1 min. 

71 hrs, 23 mins. 

72 hrs. 56 mins. 

241 hrs. 1 min. 

192 hrs. 3 mi^. 

195 hrs. 19 mins. 

118 hrs. 42 mins. 

118 hrs. 41 mins. 

1 18 hrs. 50 mins. 

244 hrs. 36 mins. 

142 hrs. 55 mins. 

424 hrs. 59 mins. 

216 hrs. 42 mins. 

47 hrs. 46 mins. 

570 hrs. 22 mins. 

295 hrs. 11 mins. 

53 secs. 

265 hrs. 51 mins. 

301 hrs. 52 mins. 

First manned orbit(s) of moon; first manned 

departure from earth’s sphere of influence; 

highest speed ever attained in manned 

flight. 

Soyuz 4 and 5 docked and transferred 2 

Cosmonauts from Soyuz 5 to Soyuz 4. 

Succasfully simulated in earth orbit operation 

of lunar module to landing and takeoff 

from lunar surface and rejoining with 

command module. 

Succasfully demonstrated complete system 

including lunar module descent to 47,000 

ft. from the lunar surface. 

First manned landing on lunar surface and 

safe return to earth. First return of rock and 

soil samples to earth, and manned deployment of experiments on lunar surface. 

Soyuz 6, 7 and 8 operated as a group flight 

without actually docking. Each conducted 

certain experiments, including welding and 

earth and celestial observations. 

Second manned lunar landing. Continued 

manned exploration and retrieved parts of 

Surveyor I11 spacecraft which landed in 

Ocean of Storms on Apr. 19, 1967. 

Mission aborted due to explosion in the 

service module. Ship circled pmn, with 

crew using LEM as “lifeboat” until just 

prior to reentry. 

Longest manned space flight lasting 17 days 

16 hrs. 59 mins. 

Thud manned lunar landing. Mission demonstrated pin-point landing capability and 

continued manned exploration. 

Docked with Salyut 1, but crew did not 

board space station launched April 19. 

Crew recovered Apr. 24, 1971. 

Docked with Salyut 1 and Soyuz 11 crew occu ied space station for 22 days. Crew 

p&ed during final phase of Soyuz 11 

capsule TCCOVQY on June 30, 1971. 

Fourth manned lunar landing and first 

Apollo “J” seria mission which carry the 

Lunar Roving Vehicle. Worden’a in-flight 

EVA of 38 min. 12 sax. was performed 

during return trip. 

Fifth manned lunar landing, with lunar 

roving vehicle. 

Sixth and final Apollo manned lunar landing, 

with roving vehicle. 

96 
APPENDIX D 

U.S. Space Launch Vehicles 

Thrust Payload (pounds) 6 

sands of dia. (feet) 100 NM Escape First 

pounds) (feet) orbit launch 

Vehicle Stages Propellant (in thou- Max. Height 3 

Scout.. ............ 1. Algol (IIB). ...... Solid.. ........ 2. Castor 11.. ....... Solid.. ............ 100.9 3.3 

60. 7 

20. 9 

5.9 

68. 3 

95 

110 

86 

100 

119 

108 

95 

128 

103 

142 

28 1 

520 

4,650 

3,500 

7,000 

8,500 

9,950 

29,000 

30,000 

34,000 

11,650 

50 1 1965(60) .~ 

3. Antares 11.. ...... Solid.. ............ 4. Altair I11 or FW4. Solid.. ............ Thrust-augmented 1. Thm (SLV-21) LOX/RP.. ........ Thor-Delta . 205 11 1, 150 

....... 

700 

1,430 

1,975 

6,000 

....... 

12,000 

2, 700 

1972(60) 

1966(60) 

1968 

1968(60) 

1966 

-. plus: 

nine TX 354-5. ... Solid. ............. 

Solid. ............. Nz04/Aerozine. .... 

LOX/RP. ......... 

2 57.3 

9. 2 

15 

2. Delta (DSV-3). ... 3. TE 364. ......... Thrust-augmented 1. Thor (SLV-2H). . Thor-Agena. 

Atlas-Burner 11. .. 

170 11 ... plus. 

three TX 354-5. ... 2. Agena. .......... 1. Atlas booster and 

sustainer 

(SLV-SA). 

2. Burner 11.. ...... 1. Atlas booster and 

(SLV-3A). 

sustainer 

2. Agena. .......... 1. LR-87.. ......... 

Solid. ............. IRFNAWDMH.. .. LOX/RP. ......... 

2 52 

16 

400 10 

Solid. ............. LOX/RP. ......... 10 

Atlas-Agena.. .... 400 10 

IRFNAWDMH. ... N,OJAerozine. .... 16 

464 10 

102 

16 

2,400 10x30 

523 

Titan IIIB-Agena. 

2. LR-91. .......... N;Oy/Aerozine. 

3. Agena.. ......... IRFNWDMH.. ... 

2. LR-87. .......... N204/Aerozine. .... 3. LR-91. .......... NaO;/Aerozine. ..... 4. Transtage ........ Nz04/Aerozine. .... 

2. LR-87. .......... N204/Aerozine. ..... 3. LR-91. .......... N104/Aerozine. ..... 

Titan IIIC.. ....... 1. TWO 5-segment Solid.. ............ 120" diameter. 

Titan IIID. ........ 1. TWO 5-segment Solid.. ............ 120" diameter. 

Titan IIID-Centaur. 1. TWO 5-segment Solid.. ............ 

2. LR-87. .......... Na04/Aerozine. ..... 3. LR-91. .......... N204/Aerozine. ..... 4. Centaur (Two LOX/LH.. ........ 

Atlas-Centaur. ..... 1. Atlas booster and LOX/RP.. ........ 

120" diameter. 

RL-10). 

sustainer . 

965 

97 1 

102 

16 

2,400 10x30 

523 

102 

2,400 10x30 

523 

102 

30 

400 10 

30 

1967(62) 

2. Centaur (Two LOX/LH .......... RL-10). 

Saturn IB.. ........ 1. S-iB-(Eight H-1). LOX/RP.. ........ 2. S-IVB (One 5-2). LOX/LH.. ........ Saturn V .......... 1. SIC (Five F-1). .. LOX/RP. ......... 

1, 640 21.6 

230 

7,570 33 

1.150 

40,000 .......... 

285,000 103,000 

1966 

. .~ 1967 

2. SI1 (Five 5-2):. .. LOX/LH.. ........ 3. S-IVB (One 5-2). . LOX/LH.. ........ 230 

'The date of first launch applies to this latest modification bining in a single mixture both fuel and oxidizerSolid; 

Inhibited Red Fuming Nitric Acid and Unsymmetrical Di- 

*Each motor. methylhydrazine-IRFN/UDMH ; Nitrogen Tetroxide and 

3 Height to spacecraft interfac .. 50y0 UDMH and 50y0 Hydrazine (NzH4)-N204/Aerozine ; 4 Propellant abbreviations used are as follows : Liquid Oxygen Liquid Oxygen and Liquid Hydrogen-LOX/LH. 

and a modified Kerosene-LOX/RP; Solid propellant comwith a date in parentheses for the initial version. 

.5 Due East Launch. 

97 
APPENDIX E 

Nuclear Power Systems for Space Application ~~ 

Designation Application Status 

SNAP-3 

SNAP-SA 

SNAP-I 9 

SNAP-27 

SNAP- 1 OA 

Transit 

Pioneer 

Viking 1 

Multi-Hundred 

Watt 1 

Navigation satcllites (DOD) 

Navigation satellites (DOD) 

Nimbus B weather satellite (NASA) 

Apollo lunar surface experiment 

package (NASA) 

Unmanned missions 

Navigation satellites (DOD) 

Jupiter flyby mission (NASA) 

Mars unmanned lander mission 

Outer planet missions (NASA) 

(NASA) 

Units launched in June and November 1961. Unit still operating at 

reduced power levels. Units launched in Se tember and December 1963. Units still operating 

at reduced power Lel. Third satellite failed to orbit in April 1964. 

First Nimbus B launch aborted; Pu-238 fuel recovered from offshore 

waters. Replacement unit launched in April 1969 and has operated 

continuously at gradually reducing power levels since that time. 

First SNAP-27 placed on lunar surface by Apollo 12 astronaut in 

November 1969. System is supplying total power for ALSEPS of 

Apollo 14 & 15. 

Tested in orbit in 1965. 

Development program underway. 

Modified SNAP-19 generator system. 

Modified SNAP-1 9 generator system. 

Development program underway. 

1 Planned missions. 

APPENDIX F-1 

Space Activities of the U.S. Government 

1 .%YEAR BUDGET SUMMARY-NEW OBLIGATIONAL AUTHORITY 

[In millions of dollars (may not add due to rounding)] 

NASA Department Total 

of Defense AEC Commerce Interior Agriculture NSF space 

Total Space 1 

1959. ............... 305.4 235.4 489.5 34.3 .......................................... 759.2 

1360.. 523.6 461.5 560.9 43.3 . 1 1,065.8 

1361.. 964.0 926.0 813.9 67.7 .................................. .6 1,808.2 .............. .................................. .............. 1962. ............... 1,824.9 1,796.8 1,298.2 147.8 50.7 ...................... 1.3 3,294.8 

1963. 43.2 ............... 3,673.0 3i626.0 1i549.9 213.9 ...................... 1.5 5;434.5 

1964. ............... 5,099.7 5,046.3 1,599.3 210.0 2.8 ...................... 3.0 6,861.4 

1965.. .............. 5,249.7 5, 167.6 1,573.9 228.6 12.2 ...................... 3.2 6,985.5 

1966. ............... 5, 174.9 5,094.5 1,688.8 186.8 26.5 ...................... 3.2 6,999.8 

1967. ............... 4, 967.6 4,862.2 1,663.6 183.6 29.3 2.8 6,741.5 

1968. ............... 4,588.8 4,452.5 1,921.8 145. 1 28. 1 0.2 0.5 3. 2 6, 551.4 

1969. ............... 3,990.9 3,822.0 2,013.0 118.0 20.0 0. 2 0. 7 1. 9 5, 975. 8 

1970.. .............. 3.745.8 3.547.0 1.678.4 102.8 8. 0 1. 1 0. 8 2. 4 5. 340. 5 

...................... 

.._ 

1971. ............... 31311.2 3: 101.3 11512.3 94.8 27. 4 1. 9 0. 8 2.4 4; 740. 9 

1972.. .............. 3,306.6 3,071.0 1,407.0 55.2 31. 3 5. 8 1.6 2. 8 4,574. 7 

1973.. .............. 3,406.5 3.092.6 1,623.0 58.9 39. 7 10.0 2. 3 2.8 4.829. 3 

1974.. .............. 3i015.0 2i734.2 1i827.0 41.3 54.4 8.4 3.0 2. 5 4; 670. 8 

1 Excludes amounts for aviation technology. 

98 

Source: Office of Management and Budget. 
APPENDIX F-2 

Space Activities Budget 

[In millions of dollars] 

New obligational authority Expenditures 

1972 1973 1974 1972 1973 1974 

actual actual estimate actual actual estimate 

Federal space programs: 

NASA' .............................. Defense. ............................. AEC ................................ Commerce ........................... Interior .............................. NSF ................................ Agriculture. ......................... 

3,071. 0 

1,407.0 

55.2 

31. 3 

-5.8 

2. 8 

1.6 

3,092. 6 

1, 623. 0 

58. 9 

39. 7 

10.0 

2.8 

2.3 

2, 734. 2 

1,827.0 

41. 3 

54.4 

8.4 

2.5 

3.0 

3, 194. 9 

1,470.0 

59.6 

37.4 

5.8 

2.5 

1.6 

2.811.6 

1; 557. 0 

54. 1 

29.4 

10.0 

2.5 

2.3 

2,865.6 

1, 767.0 

38. 5 

37.6 

8.4 

2.2 

3.0 ~ ~- 

Total .............................. 4,574.7 4,829.3 4,670.8 4,771.8 4,466.9 4,722.3 

Manned space flight.. ................. 1,639.3 1,520.8 1,385. 1 1,740.3 1,416.9 1,449. 7 

Space science and applications. ......... 900.4 1,098.3 898.9 889.8 942.7 965. 5 

Space technology. .................... 213.1 161.0 122.3 228.5 156. 1 138.7 

Aviation technology. .................. 235.6 313.9 280.8 226.8 249.4 269.4 

Supporting activities. .................. 331.3 323.5 328.9 349.4 306.9 312.7 

Less receipts.. ........................ -13. I -11.0 -1.0 -13.1 -11.0 -1.0 

NASA : 

TotalNASA.. ..................... 3,306.6 3,406.5 3,015.0 3,421.7 3,061.0 3, 135.0 

1 Excludes amounts for aviation technology. Source: Office of Management and Budget. 

Aeronautics Budget 

[In millions of dollars] 

New obligational authority 

1972 1973 1974 

actual actual estimate 

Federal aeronautics programs: 

NASA' .................................................................. 235.6 313.9 280.8 

Department of Transportation *. ............................................ 94.8 86. 3 88.0 

Total .................................................................. 2,294.4 2,202.2 2, 149. 1 

Department of Defense 2. .................................................. 1,964.0 1,802.0 1,780.3 

- -- 

1R. & D.,R. & P.M.,C.ofF. 2 R.D.T. & E. aircraft and related equipment. a Office of Sec. of Trans. and FAA. 

Source: Office of Management and Budget. 

99 

US. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : 1973-G-49W95