Jul 8 1970
From The Space Library
Apollo 11 commander Neil A. Armstrong held press conference on his reactions to first anniversary of manned lunar landing July 20, 1969: "I really had hoped, I think, that the impact [of lunar landing] would be more far-reaching than it has [been]. I had hoped that it might take our minds away from some of the more mundane and tempura: problems that we as a society face.... I think if we could... direct our attention a little farther into the future, to try to foresee problems that are going to occur in the next years and decades, then perhaps we could be attacking these solutions from the front side when it's... more easy to provide a viable solution and a meaningful one." While scientific discoveries resulting from Apollo 11 had been numerous and were still continuing, Armstrong felt "actual discovery, or revelation, was that man could in fact live on the moon in a rather normal fashion." This was "necessary key to all future plans for the use of our natural satellite, whatever they may be and however they might develop." Armstrong described his feelings in looking at moon from earth: "I see the moon from the back yard as a friendly place. And I see a lot of landmarks. I can no longer look at it just as a spot in the sky; but, rather, I actually pick out, of course, the Sea of 'Tranquility, Clavius, Aristarchus, and places I know and have flown by." Asked if he expected to fly in space again, Armstrong said, "I'd be surprised if I don't have the option of buying a ticket." (Transcript)
Dr. Lee A. DuBridge, Director of OST and Presidential Science Adviser, testified before House Committee on Science and Astronautics' Subcommittee on Science, Research, and Development on need for adequate Federal science policy: "Science and technology policy. . must be formulated on an evolutionary basis, continuously under review and subject to change with changing conditions. It must be a policy that can be implemented both by the Administration and by Congress and one which will be supported by the public." Policy should provide "strong base of science" and "mechanisms for using science and technology to meet changing problems of national concern." It should "recognize that policies and events wholly outside the field of science and technology may strongly influence our R&D expenditure level." Dr. DuBridge told Subcommittee some of nation's "most valuable and productive research projects" had been lost because of FY 1970 amendment to DOD appropriation bill which banned defense financed studies unless they had direct relation to military missions. (Testimony; Cohn, W Post, 7/9/70, A7)
Dr. Robert C. Seamans, Jr., Secretary of the Air Force, announced selection of Boeing Co. as prime contractor for Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS). Boeing was issued $16 500 000 initial increment of $169 982 522 cost-plus-incentive-fee contract for Phase I, which required modification of Boeing 707 aircraft to accommodate 30-ft-wide, mushroom-shaped radome on top of fuselage aft of wings. (DOD Release 564-70)
Secretary of Transportation John A. Volpe announced award of $97 880 cost-sharing contract to Northern Research and Engineering Corp. to establish design criteria for control and reduction of oxides of nitrogen emitted from jet aircraft engines. (FAA Release 70-65)
Undersea nuclear probe to detect valuable minerals on ocean floor had been successfully tested at AEC's Pacific Northwest Laboratory in Richland, Wash., AEC announced. Device, designed to operate from surface ship or submersible vehicle, could identify 20 to 30 elements in mineral deposits in three to five minutes using ultra-low-level and rapid neutron-activation analysis as opposed to laboratory analysis. (AEC Release N-119)
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