Feb 1 1971
From The Space Library
Capt. Chester M. Lee (USN), Apollo Mission Director, discussed Apollo 14's docking problems with press at MSC and assured press mission would continue toward moon as planned: ". . first of all we did have a successful docking and every indication is that it was a normal docking." Engineers "have been making extensive analysis here and we can find nothing wrong with the probe. So far as we're concerned it's all operating. We do not fully understand why it did not operate or why the first attempts at docking were not successful. However, we are confident that the drogue . . is good. As to the cause, it could have been a foreign particle. . . . we did ask the crew to look diligently for any foreign particles and they didn't find any... We did ask them to inspect the probe head very carefully . . . to see if there were any foreign particles. We found none. If that were the problem, it apparently dislodged and is no longer there and is no longer causing a problem . . . and the probe certainly works now." (Transcript)
Newspaper editorials commented on Apollo 14 difficulties in docking CSM with LM [see Jan. 31-Feb. 9]. New York Times said that "as the world waited tensely for the out-come of the struggle to solve the problem, there was a deep sense of disappointment at the possibility that all the effort, training and planning that went into this mission have been imperiled." (NYT, 2/1/71, 30)
Washington Evening Star editorial called Apollo 14 "pressure mission." It had "already qualified for several entries in the record book. It is the first Apollo mission to be crewed entirely by men who have never before flown in earth orbit and commanded by a veteran whose total previous time in space was 15 minutes. The mission is led by the oldest man to go into space, the first American to ride a rocket, the only astronaut to return to active duty after a medically enforced period of idleness. It is the first Apollo shot to be delayed because of weather. It is the first to run into a major problem on its first day out. It is a mission that, in the opinion of many in the top ranks of the space agency, will decide the future of manned space flight." (W Star, 2/1/71)
Izvestia published Apollo 14 story filed by its New York correspondent claiming that cane presented as joke to Alan B. Shepard, Jr., before launch had become "symbolic" of entire mission. Report emphasized mission's technical difficulties. (AP, W Post, 2/2/71, A6)
NASA issued memorandum change to solicit proposals for participation in analysis of space flight data from photography and auxiliary records acquired on Apollo lunar exploration missions. Apollo 15, 16, and 17 would carry three orbital scientific instruments designed to provide photos and supporting data, panoramic camera, mapping camera system, and laser altimeter. Proposals also were solicited for analysis of lunar photography from Apollo 14 and for photos of astronomical objects from Apollo missions 14 through 17. (NASA Memo Change 36)
Lockheed Aircraft Corp. announced it would accept $200-million loss on C-5A transport imposed by DOD as price of resolving contract disputes [see Jan. 27]. Lockheed Board Chairman Daniel J. Haughton said in statement released to press that acceptance meant Lockheed would forfeit $100 million it had already provided toward GSA costs and would repay second $100 million by securing lien on its investment in Lockheed-Georgia plant. Lockheed said it expected to conclude re-structured credit arrangement successfully within a few weeks, providing additional financing for L-1011 TriStar transport and other programs. (Lockheed Release, 2/1/71)
President Nixon resubmitted to 92nd Congress proposals previously submitted to 91st Congress, including proposed legislation to increase air-line passenger ticket tax and departure tax on international flights to cover cost of civil air and ground security program, particularly sky marshals established by Federal Government to combat aerial hijacking. President noted "number of airline hijackings that seemed to be taking place almost daily months ago has been reduced." (PD, 2/1/71, 109-20)
Interpretation of Gum Nebula as fossil of super nova, or exploded star, was reported in Astrophysical Journal by GSFC astronomers Dr. John C. Brandt, Theodore P. Stecher, and Dr. Stephen P. Maran and Kitt Peak National Observatory astronomer David L. Crawford. Gum Nebula, largest known object within Milky Way Galaxy, extended 60° across southern sky. Light took some 3000 yrs to cross it at speed of 299 000 km (186 000 mi) per sec. Previous theory had been that nebula glowed visibly because it contained "hot" stars that ionized surrounding hydrogen gas cloud. New interpretation, based on more accurate information on nebula's distance from earth, indicated Gum Nebula was produced with pulsar during supernova explosion some 11 000 yrs ago when burst of radiation ionized surrounding hydrogen. (Astrophysical Journal, 2/1/71, L99-104)
Discovery of rarest nuclear particle anti-omega-minus baryon in photo of nuclear interaction was reported by physicist Dr. Gerson Goldhaber of Univ. of California at Berkeley at American Physical Society meeting in New York. Particle's track had been found in search of more than 500 000 photos and further confirmed that baryon particles had anti-particles. Photos of particle collisions were taken in heavy-hydrogen filled bubble chamber of particle accelerator at Stanford Linear Accelerator Center (AP, NYT, 2/2/71, 19)
Promotion of Thomas W. Morgan, Manager of KSC Apollo-Skylab Programs, to rank of permanent brigadier general in USAF was noted in Armed Forces Journal. (AFJ, 2/1/71, 45)
February 1-3: Joint U.S.-U.S.S.R. editorial board for preparation and publication of review of space biology and medicine held second meeting in Washington, D.C. Cochairmen were Professor Melvin Calvin of Univ. of California and Professor Oleg G. Gazenko, Director of Institute of Medical Biological Problems of Soviet Ministry of Health. (NASA Release 71-16)
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