Nov 5 1969
From The Space Library
NASA announced decision to install color TV camera on Apollo 12 LM for operation on lunar surface. Decision had been made after three-hour test using unified S-band transmitter. Engineers had simulated varying return signal strengths to Manned Space Flight Network tracking antennas. Camera had been refurbished after flying in Apollo 10 CM. (MSC Release 69-75)
Apollo 11 Astronauts Neil A. Armstrong, Edwin E. Aldrin, Jr." and Michael Collins, with wives, were welcomed by President Nixon at White House ceremony on their return from 44,650-mi around-the world goodwill journey. President called 38-day, 29-stop tour of 22 countries "most successful goodwill trip in the history of the United States." First men on the moon had demonstrated they were "the best possible ambassadors America could have on this earth." Armstrong said astronauts had been received everywhere, "not just as individuals, but as representatives of the United States" and of "scientific and technological accomplishment .. . that serves as a symbol . . . of a willing and talented nation assembling its resources and firm in its will . . . to share for the benefits of all mankind." During journey, astronauts had given 22 news conferences, been received by 20 heads of state, and received decorations on nine occasions. (PD, 11/10/69, 1563; Robertson, NYT, 11/6/69, 22)
NASA had put into operation $2.6-million, six-story-high flight simulator for advanced aircraft (FSAA) at ARC, ARC announced. Largest piloted-aircraft simulator ever built would provide research data on handling characteristics of faster and larger jets to ensure safe control by their pilots. Designed by ARC engineers John C. Dusterberry, Maurice D. White, and Shizuo Doiguchi, simulator had motion-generator with 100 ft of lateral motion, 10 ft of vertical motion, and 8 ft of forward and backward motion, combined with pitch, roll, and yaw motions. It was operated by general-purpose, digital-analog computer, which could be programmed with flight characteristics of most aircraft. FSAA could simulate aerodynamics of hypersonic and supersonic flight by reentry vehicle- such as space shuttle. (ARC Release 69-13)
Research to improve materials and lubricants for aerospace might aid in replacement of human hip joint with prosthesis better than any yet developed, LeRC scientist Robert L. Johnson announced. Bearing properties of materials--like cobalt alloy-used in commercial hip joints could be improved by changing crystal structure of metal to hexagonal form, Johnson had found in NASA studies. Interest in these alloys had led to cooperative program with Cornell Medical Center in New York. (LeRC Release 69-66)
Dr. Raymond L. Bisplinghoff, Dean of MIT School of Engineering and former NASA Associate Administrator for Advanced Research and Technology, was among persons inside MIT Instrumentation Laboratory when students from MIT and other Boston, Mass." campuses demonstrated against laboratory's defense work and were confronted by police. Later Dr. Bisplinghoff said: "The university has set as policy a deliberate movement from Department of Defense and space research to a different mix: more and more research relevant to societal problems. It's going to take a considerable time to make the transition, however, and if we are going to continue on the same scale of operations . . . we're going to need lots of time and new money." It would be up to Congress to change emphasis, not MIT. Instrumentation Laboratory, meanwhile, would honor commitments to DOD, including work on Poseidon missile. (Nordheimer, NYT, 11/9/69, 61)
Giant $6-million solar furnace had been built by French National Center for Scientific Research at Odeillo in Pyrenees for tasks ranging from testing effects of atomic bomb flashes to production of exotic materials for electronic industries, New York Times reported. More than 20,000 mirrors focused sunlight on 1/2-in steel plate to melt hole through plate in seconds. Furnace also had 63 flat, mirrored panels holding 180 small mirrors to follow motion of sun and parabolic array of 9,000 mirrors, mounted to form north-facing wall of nine-story building. Movable panels on hillside reflected sunlight into paraboloid; tower held material to be exposed to extreme heat at focal point of paraboloid. (Sullivan, NYT, 11/5/69, 49)
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