November 1969
From The Space Library
Click here to listen to the Apollo 12 Highlights VOA Coverage Part One
Click here to listen to the Apollo 12 Highlights VOA Coverage Part Two
It was "no government secret" that NASA, "preoccupied with putting men on the moon," had neglected aeronautics in favor of space, C. V. Glines said in Armed Forces Management. But pressures generated by "airways crisis of 1st year, an ever-growing divergence between civilian and military aeronautical R&D requirements and applications and concern for loss of U.S. preeminence in aeronautics are demanding that attention be given to national aeronautical research and development policies." Effects of Nixon Administration "study timetable" for long-range NASA-DOT civil R&D program would affect DOT-FAA 1972 budgets. Meanwhile, "quiet gains are being made in the aeronautics side of the NASA house." NASA aircraft technology budget would increase from $94.9 million in FY 1969 to over $100 million in FY 1970, with further increase in FY 1971 and new high in FY 1972, "when the long-range study gives new directions for aeronautical research." (Armed Forces Management, 11/69, 34-8)
Astronautics & Aeronautics magazine published special issue containing "1973 Viking Voyage to Mars" by NASA Viking project management. Two orbiters would release two softlanders to search for life, map Martian surface from orbit, monitor Martian weather, study atmosphere, and take three-dimensional color photos from ground. Flight directors on earth would probably choose landing site from orbiter reconnaissance photos taken at arrival. A science satellite in its own right, the orbiter would also relay a record volume of interplanetary data from the lander to earth. Nuclear-powered instrument platform based on Surveyor would push evolution of automation step further during mission. (A&A, 11/69, 30-59)
Army Digest published interview on space spinoffs with Harry N. Lowe, Jr." Chief of Extraterrestrial Research Agency of USA Office of Chief of Engineers: Space program should return profit to Nation. Tangible spinoff results were being observed in medicine, communications, engineering, and architecture. Savings in building industry and related engineering fields alone would eventually exceed present cost of entire space program. "We have seen the world's largest building put up at the Cape, and other scientific and engineering marvels at Huntsville and Houston. We have had to work with scientists and others to an extent never before necessary. We have had to develop and apply new concepts and standards of performance." Extraterrestrial Research Agency work included design and construction concept for semipermanent lunar base, definition of effort to develop lunar construction capability, and studies with NASA of lunar vehicles and mobility. Analyses of lunar samples indicated no need for change in concepts of lunar construction. With water source and cheaper transportation, "man can colonize the moon." (Army Digest, 11/69, 30-1)
NSF Reviews of Data on Science and Resources (NSF 69-36) reported nearly 13,000 scientists and engineers became immigrants into U.S. in FY 1968, less than 4% growth over 1967 level. U.K. and India were largest sources of immigrant scientists and engineers, with 2,400 coming from U.K. and 1,400 from India. (NSF 69-36, No. 18, 1)
- October 1969
- November
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
