November 13, 1982

The space shuttle astronauts launched a second communications satellite from the Columbia's bay today, completing their primary objective. The satellite, Canada's Anik C-3, sprang free of the shuttle as the astronauts coasted over the Pacific Ocean on their 22d orbit. Spinning for the sake of stability and cloaked in a multitude of dark blue solar cells, the cylindrical satellite drifted miles away before its rocket fired to raise it toward a higher orbit over the Equator. Dr. Joseph P. Allen, who supervised the operation, reported its success in a voice rising with excitement.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission today ordered an Ohio utility to halt construction of its nearly completed atomic power plant until an independent review has found that the plant meets the Government's safety requirements. The subject of the commission's unusual order is the William H. Zimmer Nuclear Power Plant on the Ohio River near Cincinnati. The $1.6 billion plant has been under construction by the Cincinnati Gas and Electric Company since 1972. James G. Keppler, head of the Regulatory Commission's regional office that oversees the plant, estimated that the independent review could take at least six months.

Argentina's military rulers have asked the country's political leaders to agree to a pact, before a return to civilian rule, on how to deal with major issues facing the country. The issues include responsibility for the war with Britain over the Falkland Islands and the deaths and disappearances that took place during a guerrilla insurgency in the 1970's. The junta, in an announcement Thursday night on national radio and television, did not give its position on the 15 issues that it listed. Politicians Express Fear But many political leaders expressed fear today that unstated conditions lay behind the list and that the military might be backing off from its promise to restore civilian government by March 1984. The country has been under military rule since 1976.

Yuri V. Andropov, who surprised Washington by the speed with which he outmaneuvered rivals for the Soviet Communist Party leadership, is regarded here as a tougher, smarter, shrewder competitor for the United States than Leonid I. Brezhnev. His first speech, emphasizing Soviet military might, was read here as an expected show of forcefulness, an echo of Mr. Brezhnev's final theme, and a political bow to the important constituency of the armed forces at the vulnerable moment of succession. Washington is looking for a more definitive outline of policies in the coming days. On the record, the new Soviet leader is seen by American specialists as a man of contradictions, a cultivated and fairly well traveled party careerist personally fascinated by Western society but concerned that Soviet society has become too corrupt and consumerminded, a strong advocate of the Soviet military buildup but a backer of negotiations with the West who has warned on occasion that detente was in danger and required ''constant movement forward.''

Yuri V. Andropov was chosen by the Communist Party's Central Committee today to succeed Leonid I. Brezhnev as its General Secretary, making him the Soviet Union's principal political leader. Until six months ago, Mr. Andropov headed the K.G.B., the Committee for State Security, and was in charge of the internal security police and foreign espionage operations. His appointment today came barely 48 hours after Mr. Brezhnev's death. The selection was said to have been unanimously approved by the Central Committee. Mr. Andropov was nominated for the post by Konstantin U. Chernenko, a longtime lieutenant to Mr. Brezhnev who had been considered Mr. Andropov's principal rival for the top party job.