Mar 5 1972
From The Space Library
Apollo Program Director Rocco A. Petrone, in interview published by Washington Post, described Apollo 16 experiment to determine whether moon had its own magnetic field. Apollo 16 astronauts would carry to moon a magnetic rock collected by previous Apollo landing to see if it changed when returned to moon. "We want to see if the magnetism that we have found in moon rocks was not some-how picked up on the voyage back to earth. The whole purpose of this exercise is to prove the existence of a magnetic field on the moon, which in effect proves that the moon was once hot like the earth. Most scientists believe there will be no change, that the magnetism was locked forever into these rocks when they solidified in the moon's magnetic field." Astronauts would also set up magnetometer on moon and place a moon rock on head of instrument for instant reading of its magnetism. When rock was brought to earth, it would be read again for comparison with reading on moon. (O'Toole, W Post, 3/5/72, A3)
Columnist Hank Burchard criticized message on plaque launched on Pioneer 10 Jupiter probe March 2, in Washington Post: "The sup- plying of the map implies the invitation for a visit." Invitation was being made "on behalf of all men who may ever live, by a few men who happen to be living now and who happen to be Americans. Nobody asked the Russians or the Chinese or the Masai, or me, whether we wanted anybody from outer space dropping in for dinner." (W Post, 3/5/72)
New York Times editorial praised accomplishments of Atomic Energy Commission's new nuclear accelerator at Batavia, Ill. [see March 1] It was at accelerator "that some of the most illuminating experiments of the next decade are likely to be carried out. For this powerful instrument may have the resources-the penetrating power of its incredible proton beam-to answer some of the ultimate questions about the structure of nuclear particles. If so, man's understanding of the material universe and his powers over it may well be revolutionalized in the years immediately ahead." (NYT, 3/5/72, 4:12)
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