Dec 1 1970
From The Space Library
Francis B. Smith, NASA Assistant Administrator for University Affairs, began working with Commission on Government Procurement as Vice Chairman of Study Group on Major Systems Acquisition. During six months that Smith worked with group, Dr. Frank D. Hansing would be Actin Assistant Administrator for University Affairs. (NASA Ann, 12/1770)
James J. Harford, AIAA Executive Secretary, defended SST in New York Times article and urged Federal funding for its development: "...if I were a Senator or an editor I might think hard about approving the $290 million appropriation if I thought the money and the 20 000 engineers and technicians were transferable to 197 technological programs in pollution control, mass transit, housing, or another neglected problem. To our disgrace, there are no programs which have advanced to the point at which they can use those funds and engineers in 1971. If the $290 million is voted dawn, no one benefits." (NYT, 12/1/70, 47)
U.S. was continuing to survey Suez Canal area periodically by earth-orbiting satellites, New York Times sources said. Meanwhile U.S. was keeping two U-2 high-level reconnaissance aircraft at British base of Akrotiri in Cyprus after stopping their flights over Suez area. Sources thought flights had been ended because U.S. believed that Egypt had completed buildup of antiaircraft missiles and likelihood of renewed fighting between Israel and Egypt was diminishing. (Welles, NYT, 12/2/70,7)
Aviatrix Ruth Law Oliver, exhibition flyer who set speed record in 1916 by flying Curtiss biplane 1094 km (680 mi) from Chicago to Binghamton, N.Y., in 6 hrs 7 min, died at age 85. Mrs. Oliver had been co-owner of Ruth Law's Flying Circus and had become known for being first woman to loop-the-loop and fly at night and for piloting aircraft over Washington, D.C., in 1917 as part of Liberty Loan campaign during World War I. (Hoffman, W Post, 12/4/70, B18)
December 1-2: Principal investigators of candidate experiments for High Energy Astronomy Observatory (HERO) met with NASA officials and study contractors at MSFC. Meetings were part of preliminary design and definition study phase of program to prepare scientific carrier for astronomy experiments that would study universe from earth orbit after 1974 launch. (MSFC Release 70-248)
December l-3: Third annual Earth Resources Survey Program Review was held at MSC. A.M. Woll of Bureau of Indian Affairs said Indians looked to NASA for help in management of :their natural re sources. He described project in which geologists had located possible water or mineral source by examining feature 6.4 km (4 mi) in diameter on photo taken by Apollo 9 astronauts to assist Indians at San Carlos Reservation in eastern Arizona to plan water and mineral resources. Photo had shown strange circular formation. Indians also hoped to locate minerals from photos taken from NASA aircraft. NRL scientist N.W. Guinard described use of radar to detect and map oil spills. Tests could be accurate in seas experiencing high winds in which photos would not show oil traces. Radar also was more effective than photography at higher altitudes and could be used in all weather. During meeting LaRC scientists proposed that Army Corps of Engineers, Federal Water Quality Administration, and NASA combine forces in technological assault on pollution in James River in Virginia. Wallops officials described plans for regional workshop in March with Smithsonian Institution and states of Maryland and Virginia to discuss need for regionalized environmental information system. (H Chron, 12/3/70; H Post, 12/4/70; Lannan, W Star, 12/20/70, 2; MSC PAO)
December 1-11: Meetings at MSFC reviewed design approaches to Space Shuttle main engines taken by contractors, discussed potential problems in designs, and reviewed efforts to see that they were proceeding satisfactorily under same basic design requirements. (MSFC Release 70-249; MSFC PIO)
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