Jun 2 1972
From The Space Library
General Accounting Office released Cost-Benefit Analysis Used in Support of the Space Shuttle Program (B-173677) . Review of analysis prepared for NASA by Mathematica, Inc., and used by NASA to justify shuttle development economics, had been requested by shuttle-foe Sen. Walter F. Mondale (D-Minn.). GAO said it had "worked with estimates received from Mathematica for two representative configurations of the space shuttle," solid-fuel and liquid-fuel reusable-booster shuttles; "made computations using NASA's cost model developed by Mathematica to show the effect of increasing or de-creasing selected critical areas within their plausible boundaries"; and "found that the two configurations were economically justified in terms of the 10-percent investment criterion proposed by Mathematica as the basis for evaluating the Space Shuttle Program." Investment criterion used was "space transportation system having the lowest total space program cost, considering the time value of money." Use of criterion required selection of discount rate to consider time value of money. Mathematica had proposed 10% discount rate. (Text)
Lunar Samples Analysis Planning Team, using information imparted at Third Lunar Science Conference [see Jan. 10-13], reported in Science on advances made and problems still outstanding in lunar science. Most important gain had been that "we now know there is a lunar crust." Primal igneous activity in outer layers of moon had generated feldspathic crust 40 km (25 mi) thick. Apollo 15 core samples had shown that material at all levels had resided within few centimeters (one inch or so) of lunar surface at some time, but gradient in some cosmic ray product allowed tentative conclusion that soil in lower half of core had been stratified for 0.5 billion yrs. Apollo 15 mission and Third Lunar Science Conference had answered many fundamental questions, but each answer raised new questions. "What are the nature and chronology of rock types in the lunar highlands? Answers to date have been indirect or broad brush. The most interesting epoch of lunar history, the first half-billion years, is recorded in highland rocks if it is preserved anywhere. Why is the occurrence of lunar norite or KREEP so sharply restricted to the northwest quadrant of the moon's nearside? Is an exceptionally mighty impact ... required to raise noritic rock to the surface? This would be inconsistent with the supposedly shallow depth of origin of the Fra Mauro Formation cratering debris." Last two Apollo missions were targeted to regions that offered prospect of answering these questions. Most "profound question of all" was origin of earth-moon system. Apollo science had eliminated once-popular hypothesis that moon had been captured 1 to 2 billion yrs ago, "but beyond this the question remains unanswered. If the nature of compositional heterogeneities in the moon at the time of its accretion can be inferred correctly from chemical and petrologic studies ... this information will go far toward answering the question." Goal of understanding moon would be furthered by international cooperation. Third Lunar Science Conference had been "minor land-mark" because of participation of Soviet scientists and exchange of samples between U.S. and U.S.S.R. (Science, 6/2/72, 975-81)
Protocol on U.S.-U.S.S.R. scientific and technological cooperation in meteorology was signed in Moscow by Director Ernest Ambler of U.S. National Bureau of Standards and Chairman Boris Isayev of Soviet Standards Committee. (Tass, FBIS-Sov, 6/5/72, Li)
NASA U-2 reconnaissance aircraft on loan to Virginia Institute of Marine Science would begin 45-day study of Chesapeake Bay area within two weeks to seek photographic evidence of path of Hurricane Agnes, VIMS Director, Dr. William J. Hargis, announced. Aircraft cameras, with high-resolution lenses, would photograph bay and adjacent continental shelf from 18 000-m (60 000-ft) altitude to trace flow of fresh water dumped over Chesapeake basin by storm, which Dr. Hargis described as "a once-in-200-years phenomenon." (Nunes, W Post, 7/6/72, B2)
Air Force Systems Command announced plans for summer launch of particle identifier developed by Air Force Cambridge Laboratories to measure energetic particles across polar regions and South Atlantic Anomaly over Brazil. Measurements would permit more accurate prediction of ionization buildup that interfered with communications systems. Experiment would be carried on satellite launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base into polar orbit with 740-km (460-mi) altitude. It would transmit data twice daily for at least one year. (AFSC Release 059.72)
NASA and Dept. of Interior dedicated Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge at Cape Kennedy. Under agreement signed by NASA Associate Deputy Administrator Willis H. Shapley and Assistant Secretary of the Interior Nathaniel P. Reed, all land not used for rocket launch and launch support at Cape Kennedy would be used for wildlife management. Citrus grove and fish camp leases formerly managed by NASA for Army Corps of Engineers would be administered by Interior Dept.'s Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife. Agreement added to existing refuge 16 200-hectare (40 000-acre) property at northern tip of Kennedy Space Center that included Indian burial ground, 1830 Army fort, and Civil War sugar mill. (Today, 6/3/72; M Her, 6/4/72)
Sen. John G. Tower (R-Tex.) introduced S.J.R. 238 requesting President Nixon to designate July 20, 1972, as "National Moon Walk Day." Resolution was referred to Senate Committee on the Judiciary. (CR, 6/2/72, S8712)
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