Nov 19 1970
From The Space Library
House Appropriations Committee favorably reported H.R. 19830, FY 1971 Independent Offices and HUD appropriations bill containing $3.269-billion NASA appropriation. Bill provided $2.565 billion for R&D, $25 million for construction of facilities, and $679 million for research and program management. It replaced H.R. 17548, vetoed by President Nixon Aug. 11. NASA appropriation was unchanged. (CR, 11/19/70, D1194; H Rpt 91-1616)
George M. Low, Acting NASA Administrator, addressed Eighth Annual Briefing on New Horizons in Science of Council for Advancement of Science Writing in Raleigh, N.C.: "While many of today's ills can be attributed to our use of modern technology, the long cure -and more important, the prevention of future ills-can only be based upon facts not now well established, and in many cases even unknown. That requires a search for knowledge. That is science, and the application of science, on earth and in space. That was NASA's mission before men began to state their ecological concerns in social, political, and economic terms. And it will be NASA's mission long after the air is clear again, and the lakes and rivers pure again, and the balance of man and nature restored more nearly to the conditions man's sense of values deems necessary," (Text)
SNAP-27 radioisotope thermoelectric generator carried to moon on board Apollo 12 (Nov. 14-24, 1969) completed one year of operation on lunar surface. SNAP-27 weighed 19.5 kg (43 lbs) and was de signed to provide 63.5 w electrical power for one year. Scientists now expected lifetime to be five or six years. (SBD, 11/18/70,68) U.S. laser reflector placed in moon's Sea of Tranquility by Apollo 11 crew was measuring variations in distance between site and McDonald Observatory in Texas with accuracy within less than 0.3 m (1 ft), New York Times quoted Univ. of Maryland scientist Dr. Carroll O. Alley as reporting. Accuracy was determined by shortness of pulses and accuracy with which travel time of pulses to moon and back could be measured. New lasers being developed might cut accuracy margin to less than 25 mm (1 in) and could produce reflections bright enough to be observed in telescopes of small observatories. Dr. Alley was chairman of committee of international specialists seeking to encourage widespread ranging of lunar reflectors such as French laser reflector landed on moon by Soviet Luna XVII (Sullivan, NYT, 11/19/70)
MSFC announced that Dr. Leslie W. Ball, formerly Director of Reliability and Director of Product Assurance for Boeing Co.'s Aerospace Group, had been appointed Assistant to MSFC Deputy Director, Technical. (MSFC Release 70-238)
MSFC awarded McDonnell Douglas Astronautics Co. $2-million, one year modification to Space Shuttle study contract. Under new agreement McDonnell Douglas would recommend program to test all structural components of proposed Space Shuttle's booster and orbiter craft, including verification of design and advanced state-of-the-art testing of materials, wing leading edges, and propellant tanks. MSC, which had companion Space Shuttle study under way, was negotiating similar amendment with NR. (MSFC Release 70-239)
Some 750 scientists-including six Nobel Prize winners-from 138 universities, medical schools, hospitals, and research institutes in 35 states and District of Columbia had signed petition against threat to their laboratory work in House-passed defense and industry security bill, Washington Post reported. Bill, which cleared House in January by 274-to-65 vote, would empower President to institute personnel security screening program to determine individual's eligibility for access to sensitive information. (W Post, 11/19/70, A27)
Philadelphia Inquirer editorial commented on Luna XVII: "It is a time for congratulations to the Soviet effort this time... and perhaps time to take a lesson. For future probable explorations to lethal Mars, Venus and other planets almost certainly cannot employ manned landings. All the same, there is no reason to abandon plans NASA has made to land men and a wheeled Rover vehicle they can drive on the moon. There is always the possibility that the man on the scene can pick up more than back-seat drivers 240,000 miles [386000 km] away." (P Inq, 11/19/70)
Marshal Nikolay Krylov, Commander of U.S.S.R.'s strategic rocket forces, said in Pravda that forces had carried out "exceptionally important" military construction "in the last few years." Equipment in all branches of service was being continuously improved for "final victory in contemporary war." Strategic rocket troops would become "main shock force" in nuclear war. (Start, C Trib, 11/20/70, 12)
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