Feb 22 1972
From The Space Library
Apollo 16 press conference was held at NASA Hq. Dr. Rocco A. Petrone, Apollo Program Manager, said Apollo 16 lunar landing site would consist of volcanic highland material. "The high- lands which we are landing on . . . are composed of two types of units. One type is material formed early in lunar history and subsequently fragmented and redistributed by the numerous meteorite impacts which have scarred the lunar highlands. These units are predominantly ejecta deposits now. And on Apollo 15 with the genesis rock we hopefully have sampled some of these early deposits. The second major unit . . . is materials which have modified these early deposits by flooding them or building up on top of them predominantly by volcanic processes. The primary objective of Apollo 16 is the exploration and sampling of this lighter type of highland terrain with hopefully a fragment or two of the old original stuff brought in by impact from . . the old original crust which is probably still exposed down in the lower southern hemisphere." Dr. M. E. Langseth of Lamont-Doherty Geological Observatory explained changes in drill design, with joints to permit core samples to be brought out more readily. Dr. H. J. Moore of U.S. Geological Survey described orbital science experiments, including photographic system to determine moon's geometric shape. Apollo 16 CM would also photograph floor of Alphonsus Crater-where Ranger 9 impacted March 24, 1965-to provide positive identification of Ranger 9's impact. Apollo 16 lunar module pilot Charles M. Duke, Jr., said astronauts would begin lunar surface extravehicular activity (EVA) as soon after landing on moon as they could complete postlanding checkout. They would conduct 7-hr EVA, and reenter LM about 17 hrs after previous sleep period. Crew would conduct three EvAS On first, primary objective was to deploy Apollo lunar surface experiments package; on second, to sample as high on Descartes and Stone Mountains as possible; and, on third, to reach North Ray Crater. (Transcript)
Dr. Rocco A. Petrone, Apollo Program Director, appraised scientific contributions of Apollo program in testimony during House Committee on Science and Astronautics' Subcommittee on Manned Space Flight hearings on NASA FY 1973 authorization bill. . . Apollo 11 crew crossed over four hundred thousand kilometers (250,000 miles) of space to touch another planetary body, Four teams of astronauts, from Apollos 11, 12, 14 and 15 ... have now made the epic journey and walked the lunar surface. They have returned some 176 kg (388 lbs.) of lunar rocks and soils for analysis in earth-based laboratories and have established scientific stations on the moon that are continuously transmitting scientific and engineering data back to earth." Apollo data, with information expected from continued sample analysis and lunar data analysis in the post-Apollo period, "surely will be of practical value to man, even helping him to cope with current environmental problems on earth." NASA sample analysis program had "required unprecedented advancement in instrumentation and techniques to perform multiple element and isotope analyses with extreme precision on minute amounts of sample." Improved high-resolution instruments made "detailed investigations of surface features and internal structure of materials." Other related important breakthroughs had been computer hardware and software for processing and reducing large amounts of analytical data in a very short time. "These advances, in large part stimulated by NASA-funded meteorite studies, were absolutely essential, because of the scientifically unique, but limited, lunar materials. . . these high precision research methods can now or will soon be routinely utilized in industrial processes and laboratories." They could also "be immediately applied to a variety of environmental and biomedical problems by providing the capability to check and monitor levels of pollutants and toxic elements in our atmosphere, water, and foods." Skylab Program Director William C. Schneider outlined program's progress: "During the coming fiscal year testing and checkout will be completed and operation of Skylab will have started.
Within 2 years, the first Skylab . will have become part of history, having contributed new knowledge in many fields." Skylab offered "an earth observation capability never before avail-able" to U.S. manned spacecraft. During eight-month mission, Skylab would fly over entire U.S. except Alaska, over much of Europe, all of Africa, Australia, China, and almost all of South America-covering 75% of earth's surface and passing over each point every five days. By end of 1971, 288 investigations requiring Skylab data had been submitted, 249 U.S. and 39 foreign. Of these, 164 had been identified for further study. Skylab was "first manned space flight program designed specifically to carry activities and equipment explicitly aimed at improving man's life on earth. It will contribute significantly to the increase of knowledge of pure science and is also an experimental space station; a forerunner of permanent space stations of the future." Earth- oriented sensors would test technology for synoptic surveys of many environmental and ecological systems. Solar and astronomical observations and other science experiments would expand knowledge of solar system, universe, and near-earth space. Biomedical experiments would inform how man's well-being and ability to function were affected by living in space.
Harry H. Gorman, Deputy Associate Administrator for Management in Office of Manned Space Flight, testified on $305- million FY 1973 budget request for development, test, and mission operations in manned space flight research and development program: "This is the first year in which this activity is presented as a separate item..." With near-completion of Apollo program, "we believe it important to separately identify and control this basic capability which has been built up. . . . This work is essential to the support of the Nation's space programs for the 1970's and beyond." Requested funding would provide for contractor support of in-house capabilities for Apollo and Skylab programs; for definition, design, development, and subsystem testing activities in shuttle program; and for pre-definition and definition of future programs, including High Energy Astronomy Observatory, Stratoscope 1 and 2, and Earth Observation Satellites. (Transcript)
National Academy of Sciences and National Research Council Space Science Board "unanimously and warmly" endorsed proposed NASA program to explore Jupiter and Saturn in late 1970s as "strong and flexible program which is a reasonable next step in planetary exploration." Endorsement was expressed in letter from Chairman, Dr. Charles H. Townes, to Dr. James C. Fletcher, NASA Administrator. Program had been presented by NASA to Space Science Board meeting Feb. 8-9 as possible alternative to canceled Grand Tour missions. (Text)
NASA announced selection of 13 scientists, including two from Europe, to participate in definition phase of proposed missions to Venus with Pioneer-class spacecraft beginning in late 1976. Scientists, selected from 109 scientists who had submitted proposals in response to NASA invitation in July 1971, would work closely with mission engineering team to define typical scientific payload and design features for initial missions and to make recommendations for subsequent missions. NASA planned to initiate funds for spacecraft development in FY 1974. (NASA Release 72-37)
Annual Dept. of Defense report to Congress, National Security Strategy of Realistic Deterrence, was presented by Secretary of Defense Melvin R. Laird to House Committee on Appropriations' Subcommittee on Dept. of Defense Appropriations during hearings on FY 1973 DOD budget and FY 1973-1977 program. U.S.S.R. had reached position "where-unless we take appropriate action- there could be new surprises and new `sputniks.' But they are less likely to be in areas such as the peaceful exploration of space; rather they are more likely to be a part of a major new Soviet military capability." (Text)
National Science Foundation published Federal Scientific, Technical, and Health Personnel in 1970 (NsF 71-47). Federal scientists, engineers, and related nonprofessional personnel numbered 271 000 in October 1970, 1% below 274 100 employed in October 1969. Figure for 1970 included 79 300 scientists and 83 000 engineers- about 10% of total scientists and engineers in national economy. Decline of professional and nonprofessional personnel in Federal Government in 1970 followed several years of relative stability. Decrease in Federal scientists and engineers between 1969 and 1970 centered in Dept. of Defense, largest employer of such personnel. In 1970 DoD employed 74 400 scientists and engineers, 3% below 76 000 in 1969. NASA decline was from 13 900 in 1969 to 13 400 in 1970. Engineers accounted for almost all of 1% decrease in Federal scientists and engineers from 1969 to 1970. Figures for engineers were 84 100 in 1969 and 83 000 in 1970. DOD engineers declined 3%-from 53 800 to 52 300. Largest decline among other agencies was at NASA and Dept. of Interior. DOD scientists declined from 22 200 in 1969 to 21 200 in 1970. NASA scientists declined from 5100 to 4800 (NSF Highlights, 2/22/72, 1)
Dept. of Defense was trying to develop nuclear warhead that could evade Soviet missile defenses, Wall Street Journal reported. DOD spokesman had said USAF had been working on "evasion technology" for several years but program-budgeted for $42.1 million over past two years-was in early R&D stages. (WSJ, 2/22/72, 7)
February 22-24, 29: Dr. John E. Naugle, NASA Associate Administrator for Space Science, continued testimony on FY 1973 authorization before House Committee on Science and Astronautics' Subcommittee on Space Science and Applications. He announced Feb. 24 NASA's decision to substitute two flybys of Jupiter and Saturn for Grand Tour of all five outer planets. New plan-necessitated by budgetary restrictions and congressional recommendation, and endorsed by National Academy of Sciences-National Research Council's Space Science Board-would launch two spacecraft in 1977 on trajectory that would carry them by Jupiter and then Saturn during rare alignment of planets. Spacecraft for mission would be based on Mariners developed to explore inner planets Mars, Venus, and Mercury. They would have large antennas for long-distance communication, be powered by radioisotope thermoelectric generators, carry more than 68 kg (153 lbs) of instrumentation including TV cameras, and be launched by Titan-Centaur-Burner III boosters and accelerated by Jupiter's gravity and orbital velocity for flight to Saturn. Possible Saturn encounters included flying close to planet's satellite Titan- larger than planet Mercury and only satellite known to have atmosphere. Spacecraft would encounter Jupiter in about 11/2 yrs and Saturn about 31/2 yrs after launch. Mission plan flexibility would permit selection of different flyby trajectory at Saturn for second spacecraft based on data from first. Plan would maintain option to use Pioneer-class spacecraft for Jupiter and Saturn orbiters in late 1970s. Project responsibility had been assigned to Jet Propulsion Laboratory. In other testimony, Dr. Naugle said NASA had developed heat sterilization techniques for Viking lander and new thermoradiation techniques expected to have future space and industrial applications. Program initiated measures to ensure that all planetary missions had "acceptably low probability of impacting or contaminating the target planets." (Transcript; NASA Release 72- 42)
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