Jul 28 1970
From The Space Library
Click here to listen to Dr Gary V. Latham, Apollo seismologist, discuss Moonquakes July 28 1970
Dr. Thomas O. Paine, NASA Administrator, submitted his resignation, effective Sept. 15. In letter to President Nixon at Western White House, Dr. Paine said: "Now is an appropriate time for a change of command at NASA, and this coincides with my wish to return to private life. During my direction Americans orbited the moon and walked on its surface, achieving our boldest national goal on time and within budget. We have made the transition to the post Apollo internationally oriented space program of the 1970'x, and the Congress has approved the new direction and pace in the 1971 budget. We will shortly publish a prospectus for man's conquest of space through the year 2000 which charts a long-range plan for future progress. . . . It has been a privilege and honor to have led the nation's space program through critical times. . . . I am most grateful to you for having given me this unique opportunity to serve my country during mankind's first journey to another world." Dr. Paine later told press in San Clemente, Calif., he had accepted challenging position with former employer, General Electric Co., involving "important national problems and technical opportunities outside aerospace and defense" fields and assured them that resignation had "absolutely nothing" to do with budget cuts. President accepted resignation with deep regret and expressed gratitude for Dr. Paine's "outstanding leadership" of U.S. space program: "Your contribution to man's knowledge of the Earth as well as the heavens has been major, and the course you have done so much to set will help guide our efforts for years to come. . You have earned a unique and permanent place of honor in the history of man's exploration." (PD, 8/3/70, 997; Lyons, NYT, 7/29/70)
X-24A lifting-body vehicle, piloted by Maj. Jerauld R. Gentry (USAF), successfully completed 15th flight from FRC. Objectives were to obtain lateral directional derivatives at mach 0.85 to 0.9 and longitudinal trim and lift-to-drag data with 40° upper flap. (NASA Proj Off)
Rep. Joe L. Evins (D-Tenn.) submitted to House conference report on H.R. 17548, FY 1971 Independent Offices and HUD appropriations bill including $3.269-billion NASA appropriation. Report appropriated $2.565 billion to NASA for R&D instead of $2.500 billion proposed by House and $2.606 billion proposed by Senate. NASA appropriation for construction of facilities was $24.9 million instead of $18.2 million as proposed by House and $34.4 million as proposed by Senate. Research and program management remained at $678.7 million. Report also authorized $20.5 million for NSF program development and management as proposed by Senate instead of $19.5 million as proposed by House, in total $513 million NSF appropriation. (CR, 7/28/70, H7326-8; House Rpt 91-1345)
NASA announced selection of seven scientific investigations for Mariner-Venus-Mercury 1973 (MVM-73) mission to photograph the planets, measure particles and fields surrounding them, and study their atmospheres and ionospheres. Experiment package would weigh 51 kg (113 lbs) and would include imaging science, radio science, plasma science; magnetometer, UV spectrometer, infrared radiometer, and energetic particles experiments. The 400-kg (900-lb) spacecraft would be launched in fall 1973 and would make gravity-assist swing within 5300 km (3300 mi) of Venus in February 1974 and fly within 1000 km (625 mi) of Mercury in March 1974. (NASA Release 70-126)
Canada's plans to launch first comsat by end of 1972 had been set back because of controversy over who should build it, Peter Dempson reported in Christian Science Monitor. Hughes Aircraft Co. of California had bid $30 million for 12-channel comsat with 12% Canadian components. RCA Canada Ltd. of Montreal had bid $35 million for 8-channel comsat with 65% Canadian components and insisted on cost-plus contract that could raise cost to $100 million. Telesat, government agency formed in 1969 to develop Canada's comsat program, preferred Hughes because of lower bid and because Hughes was pioneer in spacecraft construction. RCA supporters argued that selection of RCA would enable Canada to build up competent scientific team, thus adding substantially to space know-how that constructed Alouette I and Alouette II, with extra cost well worth it. If kept in Canada, they argued, project would provide employment for up to 1200 skilled and semiskilled workers in Quebec, where unemployment was high. (CSM, 7/28/70)
Point-to-point second-generation Space Shuttle was possibility and could be "transportation system of the future as opposed to the hypersonic aircraft," Dale D. Myers, NASA Associate Administrator for Manned Space Flight, said in speech before Aero Club in Washington, D.C. (Text)
USAF-USN feasibility studies had proved that land-based ICBMs could easily be deployed on surface ships, Chicago Sun Times quoted DOD sources as saying. Sources said studies were basis of decision to propose missile and bomber freeze at Vienna SALT meetings. (Ross, C Sun Times, /28/70)
MSFC announced it had awarded $38 979 000 contract modification to McDonnell Douglas Astronautics Co. for additional work on Skylab airlock. (MSFC Release 70-147)
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