Aug 10 1975
From The Space Library
During a panel discussion at a 4-day meeting of the Astronomical Association of Northern California, scientists 'rejected the idea that inhabitants of other planets would send manned spacecraft or unidentified flying objects to establish contact with earth. Such a venture would require enormous expenditures of energy and funds. The Washington Star quoted Ames Research Center scientist John Billingham as saying, "The most logical way to establish contact is radio communication." Billingham was devoting 2 yr to the subject of intelligent extraterrestrial life, and how to reach it if it existed. He said that several persons around the globe had been constantly trying to make radio contact with outer space by aiming a radio telescope at a suitable star, `hoping that an inhabited planet might be orbiting. (UPI, W Star, 11 Aug 75, A16)
Contrary to the impression of peaceful cooperation created by the U.S.-U.S.S.R. Apollo-Soyuz Test Project docking mission [see 15-26 July], both countries had increasingly emphasized the military potential of manned space flight, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported the Center for Defense Information as saying. The Center, a private organization critical of defense spending, charged that the 1967 United Nations treaty which reserved outer space for peaceful uses had not prevented either country from exploiting space for military purposes. Although the Pentagon had listed its space spending at $2.25 billion, it had acknowledged the existence of another $667 million in Air Force "miscellaneous" requests for secret space programs. The Center said that, although the Soviet Union's space program was 15 yrs behind the U.S., frequent launches indicated that they were attempting to catch up. The Center concluded that, contrary to the spirit of the outer space treaty, space technology and systems were being developed that had the potential for new confrontations between the superpowers. (UPI, P Inq, 10 Aug 75)
Launch of the Viking-A spacecraft to Mars was postponed because of a faulty thrust-vector control valve found in the solid booster stage of the Titan-Centaur launch vehicle during countdown tests. The launch team decided to remove and replace the valve, rescheduling the launch for 14 Aug. (Viking Status Bulletin No 10, 20 Aug 75; O'Toole, W. Post, 12 Aug 75; McElheny, NYT, 12 Aug 75)
Dr. Harrison H. Schmitt, Assistant Administrator for Energy Programs since May 1974, would resign effective 30 August. Previously, Dr. Schmitt had been chief of the Astronaut Office, Science and Applications Directorate, at Johnson Space Center. Selected as a scientist astronaut by NASA in 1965, he had been the lunar module pilot on Apollo 17 (7-19 Dec. 1972) and the only civilian scientist to walk on the moon. Or. Schmitt planned to return to his home state of N. Mex. to pursue geological consulting and personal activities. (NASA anno, 11 Aug 75)
Westar I, first U.S. domestic commercial communications satellite (launched by NASA for Western Union Telegraph Co. 13 April 1974), had transmitted its first live sports event-the Milwaukee Brewers vs. Texas Rangers baseball game-within the 48 contiguous states, WU announced. WU Vice President Dow C. Pruitt noted that the low-cost transmission reflected "the power of technology to change basic living patterns." (Westar News, 11 Aug 75)
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