Jul 22 1969
From The Space Library
U.S.S.R. launched two unmanned satellites. Cosmos CCXC, launched from Plesetsk, entered orbit with 323-km (200.7-mi) apogee, 192-km (119.3-mi) perigee, 89.6-min period, and 65.4° inclination and reentered July 30. Molniya I-12 comsat, launched from Baikonur, entered orbit with 39,526-km (24,560.3-mi) apogee, 496-km (308.2mi) perigee, 711.0-min period, and 64.9° inclination. (GSFC SSR, 7/31/69; SBD, 7/28/69, 62; NYT, 7/23/69, 26)
Scientists at MSC, monitoring seismometers left on lunar surface by Apollo 11 astronauts, recorded five-minute tremor they said could have been internal activity-moonquake-or meteoroid strike on surface. Scientists expressed concern that seismometer was overheating, probably because of damage to protective cover from LM exhaust, and might not survive heat of lunar moon. (McGehan, B Sun, 7/23/69, Al; Cohn, W Post, 7/24/69, A15)
Scientists at Lick Observatory in California unsuccessfully tried for third consecutive night to bounce ruby laser beams off reflector left on lunar surface by Apollo 11 astronauts. They admitted difficulty in pinpointing reflector's exact location and speculated that it might have been knocked down by LM exhaust during ascent. (AP, W Star, 7/23/69, A7)
NASA announced revised plans for first orbital workshop, with 1972 launch using first two stages of Saturn V to launch workshop and Apollo Telescope Mount together. Workshop would be outfitted on ground and would arrive in 253-mi circular orbit equipped for immediate occupancy by astronauts and with ATM attached. Program objectives remained same as when NASA intended to use Saturn IB 2nd stage as 1971 workshop: to provide environment in which man could live and work for extended periods in space and to study man's physiological and psychological responses and capabilities in space. ATM would permit man to operate high-resolution astronomical telescopes in space, free from earth's atmosphere. Saturn V hardware from Apollo Program was available for revised plan. (NASA Release 69-105; Simons, W Post, 7/22/69, Al)
President Nixon addressed 2,000 American Field Service students from 60 countries on White House lawn: ". . . in the year 2000 we will, on this earth, have visited new worlds where there will be a form of life. I know this will happen, and I want to tell you as I look forward and dream about that future . . . this is the kind of world I would like to see and the kind of exploration of that new world that I know all Americans want. I hope that when the next great venture into space takes place that it will be one in which Americans will be joined by representatives of other countries." (PD, 7/28/69, 1016-7)
U.K. radioastronomer Sir Bernard Lovell told press at U.K.'s Jodrell Bank Experimental Station that Apollo 11 and Luna XV increased hopes for U.S.-U.S.S.R. space cooperation because "this is the first time the United States has been demonstratively superior in a vital part of the space program. American approaches for collaboration may be received with sympathy in the Soviet Union as they can no longer regard themselves as masters." (AP, B Sun, 7/23/69, A4)
Wall Street brokerage houses were watching effect of Apollo 11 success on stocks as market resumed trading after July 21 holiday. Some firms believed lunar landing would generate enthusiasm, although its impact would be restrained by uncertainties over surtax extension, House committee vote to cut oil depletion allowance (major tax benefit of petroleum industry), and apparent standoff at Vietnam peace conference. (UPI, W Star, 7/22/69, C7)
Washington Post said it found intellectuals "deeply divided" on implications of lunar landing. Univ. of California physicist Dr. Owen Chamberlain had said achievement showed "mankind can be in charge of his destiny. . . . We should now come back and put our emphasis on the surface of the globe" to achieve peace, lessen poverty, control overpopulation, and preserve our environment. Univ. of California chemist Dr. Harold C. Urey said if some of space effort reliability rubbed off on industry, "spin-off" would be enormous and space program would pay for itself. Less than of 1% of GNP was spent on space and if lessened there was no guarantee it would be spent on necessary domestic programs. Harvard Univ. biochemist Dr. George Wald had said: "What should have been a great flight of the human spirit comes to us heavy with threat. Those almost miraculous guidance systems that so uncannily find their targets, will they one day be guiding missiles to find us?" Dr. Wald wondered if Apollo 11 had opened new horizons for his students. "I am afraid that they see in this an exercise in great wealth and power, heavy with military and political overtones. I am afraid that they feel a little more trapped; a little more disillusioned, a little more desperate." Most overseas intellectuals tended, to concur with historian Prof. Arnold J. Toynbee's judgment, "If we are going to go on behaving on earth as we have behaved here so far, then a landing on the moon will have to be written off as just one more shocking misuse of mankind's slender surplus product." But Oxford Univ.'s Prof. A. J. Ayer had said, "I doubt if Prof. Toynbee has any evidence that men are being prevented in any large numbers from turning their minds to meaningful pursuits by the part which they play, or the interest which they take, in the exploration of space. . . . I think that these spatial explorations . . . are intellectually stimulating, especially to young people." (W Post, 7/22/69, A14)
Australian Civil Aviation Minister Reginald Swartz said passengers on transpacific Qantas Airlines flight would see Apollo 11 reentry July 24 when command module would parallel their aircraft for four minutes during descent near Gilbert and Ellice Islands. (Reuters, W Post, 7/23/69, Al2)
U.S. Patent Office issued patent No. 3,456,387 to Clyde A. Tolson, Associate Director of Federal Bureau of Investigation, for equipment to operate emergency windows and exits in aircraft and space vehicles. Without action of occupants, sensors would detect abnormal conditions and computer would weigh considerations before opening appropriate escape exits. Patent No. 3,456,445 was issued to Curtiss-Wright Corp. for improved version of astronaut maneuvering unit, Cap Pistol, intended to propel man outside space vehicle by capsules spaced along tape strip and fired by engine in pistol fashion. Inventors were Joseph F. Loprete, Max Beniele, and Richard E. Biehl. (Pat Off PIO; Jones, NYT, 7/26/69, 31)
Goodyear Aerospace Corp. had invented USAF Pilot Airborne Recovery Device (PARR) to keep ejecting jet fighter pilot aloft and out of range of enemy ground fire until his midair retrieval by rescue aircraft. Ballute (balloon-parachute) attached to main parachute had burner suspended below and fueled from propane tank on pilot's back. At 250°F, hot air kept parachute above ground for 30 min. System could be operated automatically to carry pilot 6,000 ft or manually to 10,000-ft hovering altitude. (NYT, 7/22/69, 58)
National and international press continued comment on Apollo 11 lunar landing. Philadelphia Inquirer: "Will this magnificent accomplishment serve as inspiration, urging Americans and all mankind on to a genuine `giant leap, forward, not merely into the infinite reaches of space but into the infinite possibilities of achievement on earth where the space age has recorded many more failures than successes? Or will the inspiration be abandoned before the veiled censure of those who seem to suggest the solution of all human dilemmas lies in turning away from space to other priorities?" Cutbacks at hour of triumph would be only waste of investment in technology which could be helped in solving earth problems. "This is no time to falter, our astronauts should come home to a world and nation determined to fulfill the prophecy in Commander Armstrong's words." (P Inq, 7/22/69)
Washington Post: It was foolish "to leap from this historic moment to eager expectations of the day when men will live and work in space, when colonies will be established, food raised and industrial products built on heavenly bodies other than the earth. These things will doubtless come in their own good time. But this is not the occasion on which to make a new national commitment in space that would keep NASA'S program going at the frantic pace which fulfilled President Kennedy's great promise for the moon. Now is the occasion, rather, to establish a steady program of space development, one removed from the political debate over national priorities, which will ensure that we establish a firm base for future generations to build upon while creating at home . . . a kind of society which will allow them to use fully the new opportunities opened up by the three new American heroes and thc tens of thousands of other people who made their flight possible." (W Post, 7/22/69, A24)
Handels Och Sjofartstidning, Goteborg, Sweden: "This is a small step for a man, but a great one for humanity. Neil Armstrong's commentary when he stepped down onto the surface of the moon has every prospect of becoming one of those winged expressions which generations of school children will commit to memory. . . . Now should be the time to replace the extraordinarily costly space race with cooperation between the Soviet and the U.S.A." (Am Embassy, Stockholm)
Stockholm Expressen: "The moonshot, . . . was imposing. But it also gives a horrible feeling to think that the U.S.A. can handle tremendous technical problems with such ease while it is considerably more difficult to cope with those of a complicated social, political and human nature." (Am Embassy, Stockholm)
Canadian Montreal Star: "The scientific information which results from Apollo 11 is an extra dividend from an enterprise which has produced its own benefits for the human spirit and, perhaps, for human solidarity." (Am Consul, Montreal)
VOA coverage of Apollo 11 Transearth Injection
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