Preparations to launch satellite

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32677, 5 August 1971, Page 1

Preparations to launch satellite

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter —Copyright) HOUSTON, August 4. The Apollo 15 astronauts will launch a baby satellite into lunar orbit today to complete their mammoth scientific mission then ignite their main engine to boost them homewards.

The satellite—technically a sub-satellite ’ —is designed to swing around the moon for at least a year, a legacy of man’s most compre- ] hensive probe yet of the moon.

; It may still be bleeping 1 back information on the < (moon’s mass, the earth’s, magnetism and the sun’s < , energy long after the last of i the Apollo expeditions in ■late 1972. < The astronauts. Colonel ! David Scott. Lieutenant- < Colonel James Irwin and Major Alfred Worden spent most of yesterday quietly operating the battery of sen- ’ sors and cameras housed in I the scientific instrument ’ i module in the side of their service module. , Cure attempt Before they started their sixth night’s sleep on or (round the moon, Major Worsen made final attempts to (cure some of the troubles afiflicting instruments. While Major Worden was 1 ■ busy with the instruments ’ (Colonel Irwin performed an- ’ 'other “light flash” experi- 1 rnent. Blindfolded, he coun- 1 ted and described flashes and ! spots before his eyes. They are thought to be • (caused by particles radiating (from the sun and passing 1 (through the eyeballs. AU [ .three astronauts performed (a similar experiment during ' (the cruise to the moon. 1 ! The flight director, Mr 1 Gerry Griffin, said that he 1 (thought Colonel Scott was (taking it easy today, tidying 1 .up the command ship which 1 . is now carrying moon rocks ' (equal in weight to a fourth ' .(astronaut. ( Ejection of the sub-satellite • —the first time men have , launched a satellite from a t spaceship—is due at 8.10 p.m.

New Zealand time on Thursday. The spacecraft Endeavour will first change its orbit slightly to ensure long life for its “offspring.” Then at 9.18 p.m. the main engine wil] be fired to hurtle the trio into a trajectory for earth. Space walk Some 18 hours later, Major Worden will climb.out of the, hatch and retrieve exposed!

film cassettes in the first space walk with a definite purpose. Previous walks, have, in effect, been demonstrations.