Mar 7 1970
From The Space Library
President Nixon issued statement from Key Biscayne, Fla., on future of U.S. space program: "Having completed that long stride into the future which has been our objective for the past decade, we must now define new goals which make sense for the seventies. We must build on the successes of the past, always reaching out for new achievements. But we must also recognize that many critical problems here on this planet make high priority demands on our attention and our resources. By no means should we allow our space program to stagnate. But-with the entire future and the entire universe before us-we should not try to do everything at once. Our approach to space must continue to be bold-but it must also be balanced." General purposes of space program should be exploration, acquisition of scientific knowledge, and use of practical applications to benefit life on earth. Six objectives of space program should be lunar exploration; planetary exploration, including eventual manned Mars exploration; reduction in cost of space operations; extension of man's capability to live and work in space; expansion of practical applications of space technology; and encouragement of greater international cooperation in space. "A program which achieves these goals will be a balanced space program. ..which will extend our capabilities and knowledge... and put our new learning to work for the immediate benefit of all people. As we enter a new decade, we are conscious... that man is also entering anew historic era. For the first time, he has reached beyond his planet; for the rest of time, we will think of ourselves as men from the planet Earth." President Nixon said NASA Administrator, Dr. Thomas O. Paine, had met recently with space authorities of Western Europe, Canada, Japan, and Australia to "find ways in which we can cooperate more effectively in space." (PD, 3/9/70, 328-31)
Dr. Thomas O. Paine, NASA Administrator, at Key Biscayne press conference following release of President's space message outlined NASA plans for "Grand Tour" missions in 1970s and space developments for next decade: "A strong effort in exploration, in science and in the practical application of space for the benefit of man here on Earth is laid out, with increasing emphasis on international cooperation." Space Shuttle and space station proposals contained reduction in cost of space activities and increase in man's capability to travel back and forth and to work in space for long periods. Space Shuttle would take off vertically; at 64-km (40-mi) altitude and 11 300 km per hr (7000 mph), 2nd stage would separate and carry 22.5-metric-ton (25-short-ton) payload of men, equipment, and supplies into earth orbit, with 1st stage returning to earth for horizontal landing. After mission of up to two weeks, 2nd stage would reenter atmosphere and land horizontally for reuse. President's program of planetary exploration would "provide man with a close hand look of every planet in the solar system." Administration placed "great emphasis... on the practical applications of space techniques, not only in communication satellites and weather satellites, but in new areas such as Earth resources satellites. Dr. Paine saw as "most statesmanlike portion" of President's statement "increasing recognition of the international participation of other nations in both the exploration and the utilization of space." It was too early to report specific results of Dr. Paine's visit to world's space capitals but "there certainly is a very substantial interest overseas in utilizing more fully the American program as a means of closing the technology gap on the part of other nations and, at the same time, allowing them to participate in both the exploration and the utilization of space in the decades to come." (Transcript)
Photo of eclipse taken by National Center for Atmospheric Research scientist Dr. Gordon A. Newkirk, Jr., at 2680-m (8800-ft) altitude in mountains 48 km (30 mi) southwest of San Carlos Yautepec, Mexico, showed more detail of solar corona than any picture ever taken, Center said. Dr. Newkirk used special filter installed on white-light telescope centered precisely on sun during brief period of totality, in experiment to compare structure of corona to measurements of sun's magnetic fields, (AP, B Sun, 5/21/70)
In NASA-sponsored solar eclipse project scientists used spacecraft in deep space, earth-orbiting satellites, instruments on ground, and sounding rockets to make intense study, concentrating on eclipse's effect on earth's atmosphere and ionosphere. In-space observations were conducted with four NASA spacecraft and three U.S.-Canada satellites. Radio signals from Mariner VI on far side of sun were measured to determine how eclipse affected signals and to study changes in charged particles in earth's atmosphere. OSO V and OSO VI, in earth orbit, pointed instruments at sun to gather data on sun and solar atmosphere, and ATS III photographed earth and its cloud-cover to show path of eclipse across northern hemisphere. American-Canadian satellites Alouette I, Alouette II, and Isis I investigated eclipse-caused changes in ionosphere. Ground observations were conducted by observers from three universities and four NASA centers at sites in Virginia and Mexico. At site near Sandbridge, Va., Univ. of Michigan team photographed solar corona and LaRC experimenter photographed solar flash spectrum that was too weak to be seen when sun was not obscured. LaRC, GSFC, and SAO scientists used four Super Schmidt Meteor Cameras at Wallops Island, Eastville; and Sandbridge, Va., to photograph faint comets believed to be near sun. At LaRC, Univ. of Colorado scientists used optical assembly for two Wallaston prisms on LaRC's 241-mm (9.5-in) Cassegrain telescope to investigate difference between color of tangentially and radially polarized radiation from solar K-corona. ARC scientists photographed full intermediate scale coronal structure, using special radial transmission filter in front of LaRC telescope's prime focus. In Mexico LaRC scientists used NASA's mobile Satellite Photometric Observatory in path of totality at Miahuatlan to determine intensity of coronal radiation to 1% accuracy. Simultaneous wide band monitor measurements of intensity and polarization of coronal radiation were made out to 3.2 million km (2 million mi) from sun to determine for first time fine structure of coronal electron density and temperature. Team of MSC and Univ. of Houston scientists made variety of observations near Miahuatlan in attempt to separate F- and K-coronas, determine structure of coronas, and study interplanetary dust and particles by measuring coronal intensity and radiation, recording flash chromosphere spectrum, and using photographic and photoelectric techniques to study shadow bands. Data from satellite and ground observations would be compared with data from barrage of sounding rockets launched March 6-8. (NASA Release 70-28; MSC Roundup, 3/27/70, 1)
AFCRL KC-135 research aircraft, carrying new infrared sensing system and multichannel tape recorders above moon's shadow, collected data on solar eclipse. Primary objective was to develop techniques for predicting wavelengths at which atmosphere would be most transparent under different conditions. Although eclipse lasted only 3 min 30 secs on earth, by chasing lunar shadow scientists prolonged effect to 5 min 38 secs. Abrupt switching off and switching on of sunlight provided ideal means of learning nature of airglow reaction, particularly in 80- to 100-km (50- to 60-mi) region. Aircraft flew from Kelly AFB, Tex., down eclipse path over Pacific four times-before eclipse, as sun became increasingly covered, during eclipse totality, and during final stages of partial eclipse. (Sullivan, NYT, 3/8/70, 60)
First total solar eclipse seen over heavily populated areas of U.S. since 1925 was greeted by millions of viewers who crowded beaches, towns, and islands where viewing was most favorable. Eclipse was total along path 137-161 km (85-100 m) wide through Mexico, Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas, Virginia, and Nantucket Island, Mass. It was 96% total in New York City and 95% in Washington, D.C. (Wilford, NYT, 3/8/70, 1)
Ivory Coast President Felix Houphouet-Boigny presented gold plaques to Apollo 12 astronauts, who had arrived in Abidjan March 6. They would leave for Tanzania March 8 during world tour. (Reuters, W Post, 3/8/70, A7)
Pravda published policy statement which said U.S.S.R. was not seeking nuclear superiority over U.S. Pravda said there were possibilities for reaching agreement on limiting strategic weapons at U.S. U.S.S.R. talks scheduled for April 16 in Vienna but questioned U.S. sincerity in wanting accord. (Gwertzman, NYT, 3/8/70, 1)
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