Jan 6 1969
From The Space Library
OAO II (launched Dec. 7, 1968) completed 30 days of flight operation and was adjudged successful by NASA. Experiments had obtained 65 hrs of scientific data over range of eight magnitudes and 4,200 A-1,100 A wavelengths. Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory telescope experiment made 18 mappings and Univ. of Wisconsin experiment made detailed observations of 100 stars. Some 40,000 separate commands had been sent to OAO II and more than 4 million pieces of information had been collected, with 20 times more uv information from stars in 30 days than in 15 yrs of sounding rocket launchings. Satellite's 11 telescopes were studying extremely young, hot stars which emitted most of their energy in uv portion of spectrum, not visible to ground observatories because of earth's atmosphere. (NASA Proj Off; NASA Release 69-7)
Budget squeeze had forced NASA to drop 16 institutions from its sustaining university program, Scientific Research said. Four others were dropped in 1968; 30 remained. Contracts of the 16 would not be renewed as they expired unless institutions devised exceptional research proposals. Then money would probably have to be taken from other universities. Grants had ranged from $75,000 to $300,000, with total saving of $4 million over FYs 1969, 1970, and 1971 expected from cancellation. Program funding had declined from $45 million in FYs 1965 and 1966 to $30 million in FY 1967, $10 million in FY 1968, and $9 million in 1969. FY 1970 budget level was expected to be $9 million. (Scientific Research, 1/6/69, 15-17; NASA FY 1970 Budget Briefing)
FAA announced it had moved to reverse "escalation of aircraft noise" around airports by proposing maximum noise standards and noise objectives for new subsonic transport aircraft, including those under development. Proposal was first regulatory action taken under P.L. 90-411, which granted FAA broad authority in noise control. Noise limits on approach would be 102 to 108 effective perceived noise decibels (epndb), depending on aircraft weight; sideline noise limits would be same; and takeoff limits would be in 93- to 108-epndb range. (FAA Release 69-1; Bisen, W Post, 1/7/69, A3; WSJ, 1/9/69, 4)
Defense Secretary-designate Melvin R. Laird announced at press conference that Stanley R. Resor would remain as Secretary of the Army, Rhode Island Gov. John H. Chafee would be nominated Secretary of the Navy, and former NASA Deputy Administrator, Dr. Robert C. Sea- mans, Jr." would be nominated Secretary of the Air Force in Nixon Administration. (Wilson, W Post, 1/7/69, 1)
January 6-8: Three-article series on "The Cost of Preparedness" by Orr Kelly in Washington Evening Star quoted interviews with outgoing Johnson Administration defense experts who agreed U.S. might be entering peaceful era in international relations though defense cost would remain high-at least $50 billion annually-in foreseeable future. Secretary of Defense Clark M. Clifford thought, "cautious and forceful steps" could be taken "to improve the lot of the people of the world." USN saw post-Vietnam war need for modernization, with emphasis on nuclear-powered escort ships; USAF wanted new fighter, manned bomber, deployment of interim bomber, and revamping of U.S. air defense force. Dr. John S. Foster, Director of Defense Research and Engineering, said: "The Soviets have four characteristics of special concern to the R&D community. They are technically advanced, they are strong economically, they have an aggressive military posture-and they work behind a veil of secrecy. The one that makes competition difficult is secrecy. To counter it, the United States must have technological superiority. We must have been there, technically, before them." (W Star, 1/6-8/69)
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