Feb 5 1971
From The Space Library
President Nixon telephoned MSC Director of Flight Crew Operations Donald K. Slayton and asked him to send President's congratulations to Apollo 14 astronauts and ground crew. Later President issued statement: "Apollo 14's successful landing on the moon was a thrilling event for humanity. I congratulate the astronauts and also the thousands of other dedicated people who helped make this awesome achievement possible." (PD, 2/8/71, 173)
USAF's X-24A lifting-body vehicle, piloted by Maj. Cecil Powell (USAF), successfully completed 22nd flight at FRC. Purpose of glide flight was to check out new pilot. (NASA Proj Off)
Government-industry program for development of experimental jet STOL aircraft was proposed by NASA and DOT at meeting of NAE Aeronautics and Space Engineering Board in Washington, D.C. Program would pool Government and industry funds in partnership to develop low noise-level jet STOL technology. Development of prototype and operational aircraft for commercial use would be left to competitive industry decision and financing. NASA later said development of experimental aircraft was necessary to complete technology and proof-of-concept work for production of economically and environmentally acceptable STOL air transport system. Roy P. Jackson, NASA Associate Administrator for Advanced Research and Technology, estimated that research aircraft could be flight-tested in approximately two years from inception of cooperative program. (NASA Release 71-20; NAE Fl0)
Collapsed craters formed in terrestrial basalt flows near Grants, N. Mex., exhibited size-frequency distributions similar to those for craters in terraces on inner walls of lunar crater Copernicus, ARC scientists Ronald Greeley and Donald E. Gault reported in Science. Similarities suggested Copernicus craters had origin similar to basalt collapse craters. Scientists suggested that interior terraces of Copernicus were lava flows through fractures during post impact adjustments after formation of Copernicus. (Science, 2/5/71, 477- 9)
Acid hydrolysis, vacuum crushing, and vacuum pyrolysis experiments to investigate amount, nature, and isotopic composition of carbon in Apollo 12 sample 12023 were described in Science by ARC exobiologists Sherwood Chang, Keith A. Kvenvolden, James G. Lawless, and Cyril A. Ponnamperuma and UCLA geologist I. R. Kaplan. Results indicated that sample contained indigenous carbide and methane in amounts comparable to those found in Apollo 11 fines. Hydrolyzable carbide in Apollo 12 sample was heavier, isotopically, than any known carbide phase in meteorites. Large difference between isotope values for lunar and meteorite carbide suggested "that the former was either native to the moon or deposited by meteorites and subsequently sub- jetted to isotope fractionation processes on the lunar surface." If meteorites were not source of lunar carbide, "then we are left with the possibilities that the carbides represent primordial indigenous lunar carbon, however formed, or the product of interaction between solar wind carbon and metals or metal oxides or minerals on the lunar surface." Evidence existed for presence of carbides in Apollo 11 rocks but amounts were too low for isotopic measurements. "If the carbon was indeed indigenous to the lunar rocks, the observed range of isotopic composition would be more representative of primordial lunar carbon." (Science, 2/5/71, 474-6)
President Nixon's FY 1972 science budget was analyzed in Science: Budget proposed selective increases for R&D which would "start the federal science budget upward again after several years of virtually static financing." Impact in FY 1972 spending would not be dramatic "since there is a lag of as much as 2 or 3 years between the obligation and actual spending" but budget served as "declaration of intentions." Nixon Administration showed "inclination to maintain high-quality capabilities for research but to restrain expansion of research and, particularly, of manpower training except in areas judged to contribute to the solution of major nation problems." Priorities were indicated by choices of agencies and programs for major increases: NSF budget would exceed $600 million for first time, with major portion of in-creases going to additional support of research grants. New cancer research program would receive $100 million. Substantial increases would provide funds for research on environmental problems, highway safety, air traffic control, and crime reduction. DOD R&D spending would be increased with additional funds split between work on strategic and tactical weapons. Obligational authority for total Federal science budget would rise to $16.7 billion from $15.6 billion in FY 1971, but estimated expenditures would rise only from $15.3 to $15.6 billion. NSF would get new obligational authority of $622 million in FY 1972 but would spend estimated $546 million. (Science, 2/5/71, 459-60)
Astronomers had asked Tucson, Ariz., to modify its outdoor lighting so their view of heavens would not be obstructed by nighttime glare, Science reported. Astronomers at Kitt Peak National Observatory, National Radio Astronomy Observatory, Steward Observatory, Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, and Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory had complained. (Bazell, Science, 2/5/71, 561) )
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