Jan 13 1967
From The Space Library
Lunar Orbiter news briefing was held at NASA Hq. Dr. Leonard Reiffel, Apollo Program, OMSF, said that 635 Lunar Orbiter I and II photos of the 1,000-mi Apollo strip near moon's equator had "removed any doubt that there are numbers of suitable places for Apollo to land satisfactorily." Of the regions photographed, 10 sites appeared to have smooth areas; detailed analysis of three of these had revealed two areas that were only about 6% crater-marked. Dr. Reiffel said Apollo landing site should be 3- to 5-mi-dia oval area, relatively free of craters and boulders, with 30 mi of smooth terrain approaching it and no more than 7° slope. In addition, since moon's optimum light ranged from 7° to 20° and sun moved across moon 13° per day, landing sites ideally should be spaced 26° apart at this longitude to allow for launch delays. "We . . . need not one site or a couple of sites ideally, but we would like, in order to make life as simple as possible, to have a number of sites. Then at the specific time of the launch . . . we will pick a set of three. . . ." Dr. Lawrence Rowan, US. Geological Survey, said Lunar Orbiter photos had shown that moon's dark mare was smoothest terrain; bright rays had variable roughness and upland plains appeared very rough. He said photos indicated that mass movement on the moon modified both mare and upland. LaRC Lunar Orbiter Project Manager Dr. Clifford H. Nelson, discussing future Lunar Orbiter missions, said Lunar Orbiter 3 would be "site confirmation" flight to photograph areas already determined by Lunar Orbiter I and II as promising for Apollo landings. Spacecraft 4 and 5 might be used to photograph 400 lunar sites of primary scientific interest. Capt. Lee R. Scherer, Lunar Orbiter Project Manager, OSSA, noted that one Lunar Orbiter in polar orbit around the moon could survey 80% of moon's front face with 10 times resolution of earth-based photos. "These types of missions would provide a framework upon which to base major decisions concerning our total lunar exploration program after these initial manned landings," Scherer said. Display of one Lunar Orbiter I photo-first ever taken of earth from interplanetary distances-reopened discussion about possibility of life on Venus. Dr. Homer E. Newell, NASA Associate Administrator for Space Science and Applications, said that photo, which showed earth as an indistinctly detailed, cloud-shrouded crescent, bore striking resemblance to Venus as depicted in earth-based telescopic photos. If Venus could be photographed as clearly as earth, "We might see holes in the clouds," Newell suggested. Current prevailing scientific theory was that solid clouds surrounded Venus trapping infrared radiation and making planet too hot to support life. (Transcript; Clark, NYT, 1/14/67, 12)
Pilot Joseph Cotton (Col., USAF) and co-pilot Van Shepard, North American Aviation, Inc., flew XB-70 No. 1 research aircraft to mach 2.57 and 61,000-ft altitude in flight at Edwards AFB for national sonic boom program. (NASA Proj Off)
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