Dec 10 1969
From The Space Library
NASA announced it was proceeding with plans and preparations for launch of Apollo 13 manned lunar landing mission to Fra Mauro on March 12, 1970. Decision was based on review of photos taken of Fra Mauro area and successful demonstration of pinpoint landing techniques by Apollo 12. Fra Mauro was flat, vast highland area about 110 mi east of Apollo 12 landing point on Ocean of Storms. (NASA. Release 69-162)
Apollo 12 Astronauts Charles P. Conrad, Jr." Richard F. Gordon, Jr." and Alan L. Bean and 25 other persons quarantined in Lunar Receiving Laboratory were released one day ahead of schedule. Dr. Charles A. Berry, Director of Medical Research and Operations at MSC, said astronauts were in good physical condition. (B Sun, 12/11/69, Al)
Electrical fire damaged GSFC offices, laboratories, and equipment including 150-lb Small Scientific Satellite scheduled for 1970 launch in Explorer series. Damage to satellite and laboratory facility was estimated at $400,000. There were no injuries. Origin of fire was being investigated. (W Star, 12/10/69, Bl; GSFC Historian)
End of era in satellite watching would come with discontinuation in June 1970 of Smithsonian Institution's optical tracking program, John Lannan said in Washington Evening Star. NASA already was terminating 10-yr support of Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory's efforts at Cambridge, Mass. Optical tracking had cost $4 million annually since 1958, first through NSF, then NASA. Program had led to nation. wide "Dial-A-Satellite, telephone net by which tape-recorded messages told callers where satellites could be seen in sky. Service had become "Dial-A-Phenomenon" to note ecological, geophysical, and astronomical events, since decay of only visible satellites, Echo I and Echo II. Smithsonian Observatory had watched satellites with worldwide battery of Baker-Nunn cameras, which had been phased out except for observing maneuvers in major space flights. Observatory's geodetic program was being expanded, with two lasers operational, one on Mount -Hopkins, Ariz." the other in Athens, Greece, but financial support had been halved for current fiscal year and would be cut to $1.3 million in 1971. (W Star, 12/10/69, A26; Smithsonian PAO)
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