Feb 12 1970
From The Space Library
ESRO's Boreas satellite (launched by NASA Oct. 1, 1969) was adjudged successful by NASA. Satellite had entered lower than planned orbit and had reentered Nov. 23, 1969, but all experiments functioned satisfactorily. ESRO had obtained large quantity of scientific data and considered mission a success. (NASA Proj Off)
Japanese scientists reported loss of signals from Ohsumi satellite (launched Feb. 11) during eighth orbit. Scientists discontinued tracking on ninth orbit; they said mission had provided valuable data for development of Japan's Mu rocket, scheduled for launch in autumn of 1970. (SBD, 2/13/79, 201)
House Committee on Science and Astronautics' Subcommittee on NASA Oversight released Manned Space Flight: Present and Future. Staff study concluded that growth of national space program in decade had "provided major national technological and scientific resource of personnel and facilities." Decline in resource could increase risk in accomplishing current programs and was causing "dislocations in affected communities throughout the United States." With termination of Apollo fabrication, 8 Saturn Vs and 6 Saturn IBs, 12 CMs and SMs, and 1 or 2 LMs would be available for manned flight. After 1974, U.S. would have no capability for lifting manned payloads over 27 200 kg (60 000 lbs) into space and would have only three vehicles that could lift 27 200-kg payloads unless Saturn V production was resumed or substitute was developed. Launch rate of less than two manned vehicles per year could materially increase risk of manned launch and spaceflight operations; production rate of two or more Apollo spacecraft and launch vehicles per year would minimize annual cost without inordinate increases in total vehicle cost over current costs, while maintaining critical skills of major subcontractors. U.S. would have no long-duration manned earth-orbital capability after 1973 without extension of orbital workshop program or initiation of development of space station. Early development of low cost earth-to-orbit transportation system appeared to offer greatest opportunity for reducing space flight costs while increasing flexibility and variety of missions in near-earth orbit. For increased flexibility in low-cost earth-to-orbit recoverable transportation system, development of chemical space tug was advised. Report noted that NASA maintained the only U.S. manned space flight capability and advised major decisions on manned space flight program to prolong capability beyond 1974. (Text)
USAF Chief of Staff, Gen. John D. Ryan, approved flights of seven heavily instrumented F-111s needed in R&D programs. Remaining 226 F-111's continued to be grounded pending final determination of test and inspection procedures to ensure against repetition of manufacturing defect that led to fatal Dec. 22, 1969, crash. (AP, NYT. 2/12/70, C9)
Christian Science Monitor editorial said NASA had postponed manned Mars mission because of budget cutback but "it is keeping its Space Shuttle program pretty much on schedule." Reusable space vehicle was "guarantee that space progress won't be wholly shunted aside by budget stringencies." It would "help to keep alive the interest of the big rocket and airframe contractors, and the enthusiasm of the thousands of researchers and scientists who have hoped to make space exploration their life work." (CSM, 2/12/70)
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