May 20 1971
From The Space Library
NASA held Hq. news conference on Mariner status. Dr. George M. Low, NASA Deputy Administrator, reported on failure of May 8 Mariner-H launch. Review by JPL, LeRC, and General Dynamics Convair Div. personnel had isolated failure to integrated circuit in pitch channel of rate gyro preamplifier in Centaur stage autopilot. When Atlas-Centaur ignited, "amplifier output was . . . only 20 to 40 percent of what it should be." Second anomaly had been noted 25 sec after main engines started; "engines did not gimbal all the way to the stops. . At 1.2 degrees they stopped and hung up. So the signal for the first 20 or 25 seconds indicated that the engines oscillated with in- creasing amplitude in response to autopilot signals but the signals were at a lower gain than they should have been. . . . With the engine then thrusting at an angle, the vehicle wound up and started tumbling." Amplifier had functioned properly during checkout 40 min before liftoff, "so sometime between T-30 minutes and the Atlas sustainer engine shutdown ignition of the Centaur stage, this component failed." Investigators had assumed "that we had in the circuit a failed diode or a diode with a loose connection in it, that a voltage transient during powered flight . . . then got into the integrated circuit and caused all of the other events." To avoid repetition of anomaly, NASA was "subjecting the autopilot cans to additional temperature cycling and vibration tests" to ascertain they were operating within limits "under some off- nominal conditions." New test was being conducted on autopilots for Mariner-I Atlas-Centaur 23 "to make sure that the diodes are indeed there and properly functioning and properly protecting the integrated circuit ... before we fly again." Failure of three Atlas-Centaurs in 15 flights had led to appraisal of "general quality of the vehicle," Dr. Low said. Conclusion "was that, if anything, quality has improved. There is no trend away from improving quality. .."
Vincent L. Johnson, Deputy Associate Administrator, OSSA, described checkout problem with propellant utilization in Atlas-Centaur 23. Short had been discovered in system that measured amount of hydrogen and oxygen in tanks and controlled flow of each propellant to engine. "Therefore it became necessary to open the tank and get inside to locate the fault, find it and fix it." Reassembly was expected to be completed by weekend and five- to seven-day checkout on Mariner-I begun. Launch date could occur from May 28 until June 6 with good launch windows available. (Transcript)
Dr. James C. Fletcher, NASA Administrator, reviewed NASA program before 25th annual conference of AIAA Board of Governors in Williamsburg, Va.: "This country needs space programs that move out vigorously to create new technology. A space effort that limps along on yesterday's know how will not do much for the country. A slow program may cost less, but be worth nothing in terms of meeting the country's needs. And a slow program-or no program-is all we are going to have with-out the strong support of the public.... We should invent and fly more self-supporting satellites. We are seeking and getting valuable scientific knowledge from space we could not get in any other way . . about the Earth and its atmosphere, the sun and the planets, and the universe. And about man himself." National security was at stake. "It would not be safe for the United States, with its great responsibilities for world peace, to lag behind any other country in space technology. This is an axiom we did not quibble about in the '60s and should not quibble about in the '70s." Space program had proved "excellent hotbed for forcing new technology, which in turn raises our national productivity and prosperity and increases our ability to solve pressing social problems of today's urban society." Finally, space exploration was needed as inspiration for modern man. "I think we are inspired, and our children are inspired, to be living in an age when man first moved out into space and began the exploration of our solar system. I think we should be ashamed of ourselves, as a society, if we withdrew from space exploration now after such an auspicious beginning." (Text)
Astronaut James A. Lovell, Jr., was named Deputy Director of Science and Applications at MSC. Veteran of four space flights totaling nearly 30 days in space, Lovell would assist in overall management of Science and Applications Directorate. (NASA Special Release; MSC Release 71-34)
NASA-inspired Earth Awareness Foundation-nonprofit, educational and advisory body originated by NASA officials and Apollo astronauts-marked first anniversary. Group was chartered to develop community solutions to environmental problems using NASA- developed knowledge to maximum extent practicable. During first year group had established community chapters called "Earth I Care" clubs, mostly on school campuses; started "Summer Scientist" program to study pollution; established newsletter; presented awards for concern with environmental quality; and produced slides and films on environment from NASA photos taken in orbital flight. (MSC PAO)
President Nixon announced agreement between U.S. and U.S.S.R. "to concentrate this year on working out agreement for the limitation of the deployment of antiballistic missile systems (ABMs)" and to "agree on certain measures with respect to the limitation of offensive strategic weapons." Agreement had been made "in the conviction that it will create more favorable conditions for further negotiations to limit all strategic arms." President called agreement "major step in breaking the stalemate on nuclear arms talks." Agreement was announced simultaneously in Moscow. (PD, 5/24/71, 783)
House, by roll-call vote of 116 to 157, rejected entire sum of $155.8 million that had been approved by Senate May 19 for termination of SST program. Senate and House conferees then met in executive session to resolve differences between Senate and House versions of H.R. 8109, supplemental FY 1972 appropriations bill. At evening session, House agreed by voice vote to include in bill $97.3 million for SST termination costs, but rejected inclusion of $58.5 million for refunds to airlines. (CR, 5/20/71, D449; 5/21/71, S7594)
Plans for offshore airport in Atlantic Ocean off Long Beach, N.Y., were described by Lawrence Lerner of Litton Industries Environetics Div. at national convention of NOISE-organization to represent persons bothered by aircraft noise. Called "wetport," facility designed to handle jet aircraft would consist of 14-km (9-mi) platform 8 km (5 mi) offshore, constructed on reinforced concrete. Facility could be pre- fabricated on land and floated to its location. With nine runways in operation, wetport could serve 50% more air traffic than New York's airports combined. "Fingers" of structure would contain basins and harbors for 80 to 120 ships. (Carper, W Post, 5/21/71)
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