astronautix.com | Chronology - 1970 - Quarter 1 |
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The original draft project anticipated use of a two-launch profile. On the first launch a Block R TB braking stage would be put on a translunar trajectory. The TB would place itself in lunar orbit. Next, the manned L3M lunar lander would be launched. This new spacecraft was much larger than the LK, with a mass of 21 tonnes landed on the lunar surface. The L3M would dock, tail-first, with the TB stage in lunar orbit. The RTB would act as a lunar crasher stage. The L3M would separate from the TB just over the lunar surface, then hover to a soft landing. The crew would spend up 16 days on the surface. Following completion of their work, the landing legs would be left behind, and the L3M would launch itself on a trans-earth trajectory. Just before arrival at earth, the crew would enter their Soyuz capsule, separate from the L3M, and make a lifting re-entry into the earth's atmosphere. It was felt that within the existing funding allocation of the original N1-L3 programme, enough N1's would be available to support a series of landings in 1978-1980.
Growth of the 12-man Saturn V-launched Space Station into a 50 man Space Base was a required capability in the Phase B NASA Space Station studies of 1969-1970. The original core Station Module was to be used in the Base build-up several years later or was to be used as a prototype of one of the Space Base modules. Space Base would serve as a major international facility for research, applications and for the support of other space operations such as servicing unmanned satellites.
Central Committee of the Communist Party and Council of Soviet Ministers Decree 'On the Creation of the Carrier-Rocket 11K68 on The Basis of 11K69 RN and S5M Stage for Launch of Space Apparatus 'Tselina' and .Meteor'--approval of work on the Tsiklon-3 RN References: 474 .
NASA had canceled the Apollo 20 mission and stretched out the remaining seven missions to six-month intervals, Deputy Administrator George M. Low told the press in an interview after dedication of the Lunar Science Institute (next to MSC in Houston). Budget restrictions had brought the decision to suspend Saturn V launch vehicle production after vehicle 515 and to use the Apollo 20 Saturn V to launch the first U.S. space station in 1972. References: 16 .
NASA issued instructions for deletion of the Apollo 20 mission from the program. MSC was directed to take immediate action to:
Dale D. Myers was appointed NASA Associate Administrator for Manned Space Flight with an effective date of 12 January. He succeeded George E. Mueller, who left NASA on 10 December 1969 to become a vice president of General Dynamics Corporation. Prior to his acceptance of the NASA position, Myers was Vice President and General Manager of the Space Shuttle Program at North American Rockwell.
Area survey photo reconnaissance satellite; returned film capsule. References: 1 , 2 , 6 .
Suborbital. References: 5 .
Dale D. Myers' appointment as NASA Associate Administrator for Manned Space Flight was announced effective January 12, to succeed Dr. George E. Mueller, who had joined General Dynamics Corp. in New York City as a Vice President. Before this appointment, Myers was Vice President and General Manager of the Space Shuttle Program, North American Rockwell Corp. References: 16 .
KH-8 type satellite. Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A). References: 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 .
Investigation of the upper atmosphere and outer space. References: 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 , 99 .
Stationed at 336 deg E. Spacecraft engaged in practical applications and uses of space technology such as weather or communication (US Cat C). References: 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 .
An MSC meeting to realign the Apollo 16-19 lunar orbital science experiments recommended that the Sounding Radar Experiment, S-167, be deleted and the Lunar Electromagnetic Sounder, S-168, should be developed and flown. Scientific-value for the experiments was ranked in the following descending priorities for the various scientific disciplines: geochemistry, particles and fields, imagery and geodesy, surface and subsurface profiles, and atmospheres. References: 16 .
Investigation of the upper atmosphere and outer space. References: 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 , 99 .
Maximum Speed - 1398 kph. Maximum Altitude - 26410 m. Flight Time - 410 sec. References: 49 , 97 .
Investigation of the upper atmosphere and outer space. References: 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 , 99 .
High resolution photo reconnaissance satellite; returned film capsule References: 1 , 2 , 6 .
Improved TIROS Operational Satellite. Spacecraft engaged in practical applications and uses of space technology such as weather or communication (US Cat C). References: 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 .
Australis-OSCAR 5 was launched piggyback with ITOS-1 (TIROS-M weather satellite. Weight 17.7 kg (9 kg of which was battery mass). Box shaped 304 x 431 x 152 mm. 2 meter monopole and 10 meter dipole antennas. It was the first amateur satellite to be remotely controlled. Built by students at The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Battery powered, Australis-OSCAR 5 transmitted telemetry on both 2 meter (144.050 MHz at 50 mW) and 10 meter (29.450 MHz at 250 mW) bands that operated for 23 and 46 days respectively. Passive magnetic attitude stabilization was performed by carrying two bar magnets to align with the Earth's magnetic field in order to provide a favorable antenna footprint. The University of Melbourne compiled tracking reports from hundreds of stations in 27 countries. References: 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 .
Maximum Speed - 1443 kph. Maximum Altitude - 26730 m. Flight Time - 411 sec. References: 49 , 97 .
First test of prototype DF-3 (perhaps same configuration as CZ-1); not deployed. References: 87 .
Brezhnev orders a cooperative crash program to build a civilian space station to beat Skylab into orbit. The civilian station (later named Salyut) will use the Almaz spaceframe fitted out with Soyuz functional equipment. Mishin's OIS military station was cancelled and Chelomei's Almaz would continue, but as second priority to the civilian station. The Soyuz 7K-S station ferry, the 7K-ST, would be revised to be a more conservative modification of the Soyuz 7K-OK. The OIS cosmonaut group was incorporated into the Almaz group. References: 76 .
Space Electric Rocket Test; electric ion engine tests. Two engines, operated until 1980 References: 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 .
A statement of agreements was reached between NASA Hq. and the Centers covering the requirements for a lunar roving vehicle (LRV). Appropriate portions of the agreements were being incorporated in a revised Apollo Program Specification and in Apollo Program Directive No. 4. References: 16 .
Robotic lunar soil return mission. Launch vehicle failure. References: 5 , 67 , 274 .
Ministry of General Machine Building (MOM) Decree 105-41 'On creation of the DOS using Almaz as a basis' was issued. References: 474 .
High resolution photo reconnaissance satellite; returned film capsule References: 1 , 2 , 6 .
Defense Meteorological Satellite Program. References: 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 .
Engineering tests. Engineering test for the launching of scientific satellites. Injection point 29.7 N, 145.8 E References: 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 .
Decree 57ss 'On creation of the DOS using Almaz as a basis' was issued. References: 474 .
NASA announced that the Apollo Applications Program had been redesignated the Skylab Program. The name Skylab, a contraction connoting a laboratory in the sky, was proposed by Donald L. Steelman, USAF, while assigned to NASA. The name was proposed following an announcement by NASA in 1968 that they were seeking a new name for AAP. Then NASA decided to postpone renaming the program because of budgetary restrictions. Skylab was later referred to the NASA Project Designation Committee and was approved 17 February 1970.
Maximum speed. Maximum Speed - 1976 kph. Maximum Altitude - 20520 m. Flight Time - 380 sec. References: 49 , 97 .
The first launch of the 8K78M vehicle from the Plesetsk launch site. Operation of a system of long range telephone-telegraph radiocommunication, and transmission of USSR Central Television programmes to the stations of the Orbita network. References: 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 , 64 .
Glide. Maximum Speed - 819 kph. Maximum Altitude - 14326 m. Flight Time - 258 sec. References: 49 , 97 .
Investigation of the upper atmosphere and outer space. References: 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 , 99 .
Maximum altitude. Maximum Speed - 1400 kph. Maximum Altitude - 27524 m. Flight Time - 416 sec. References: 49 , 97 .
Ministry of Defence Decree 'On formation of GUKOS on the basis of TsUKOS and subordinated to RVSN' was issued. References: 474 .
The active spacecraft in the second planned test of the Kontakt lunar rendezvous/docking system. References: 344 .
The passive spacecraft in the second planned test of the Kontakt lunar rendezvous/docking system. One or two of the crew would have spacewalked to the Soyuz 11 Kontakt and returned in the other spacecraft. References: 344 .
Wernher von Braun left MSFC to become NASA's Deputy Associate Administrator for Planning in Washington. Eberhard F. M. Rees, who had served as the MSFC Deputy Director Technical since 1963, became Director of MSFC.
Area survey photo reconnaissance satellite. References: 1 , 2 , 6 , 93 .
KH-4B. Cameras operated satisfactorily but the overall image quality of both the forward and aft records is variable. References: 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 .
Suborbital. References: 5 .
Radar monitoring; may or may not have existed!!! References: 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 , 172 .
In a White House release, President Nixon listed six specific objectives for the space program: continued exploration of the moon, exploration of the planets and the universe, substantial reductions in the cost of space operations, extension of man's capability to live and work in space, rapid expansion of the practical applications of space technology, and greater international cooperation in space. References: 16 .
Engineering package; monitored launch vehicle performance. References: 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 .
Engineering package. References: 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 .
Area survey photo reconnaissance satellite. References: 1 , 2 , 6 , 93 .
Wernher von Braun was sworn in as NASA Deputy Associate Administrator for Planning. He left MSFC on March 1 and was succeeded as MSFC Director by Eberhard F. M. Rees. References: 16 .
Definition studies for a second Orbital Workshop (Skylab II) were under study. Mission objectives would respond to the following major objectives: continued development and expansion of the ability to live, work, and operate effectively in space; exploitation of space for practical benefits through the observation of Earth and its environment; and the use of space for scientific research.
Acquisition of meteorological information needed for use by the weather service. References: 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 .
Investigation of the upper atmosphere and outer space. References: 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 , 99 .
First powered flight. Maximum Speed - 919 kph. Maximum Altitude - 13533 m. Flight Time - 424 sec. References: 49 , 97 .
Spacecraft engaged in practical applications and uses of space technology such as weather or communication (US Cat C). References: 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 .
High resolution photo reconnaissance satellite; returned film capsule; maneuverable. References: 1 , 2 , 6 .
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