Oct 28 1970
From The Space Library
NASA delegation to Oct. 26-27 U.S.-U.S.S.R. space talks was taken by Soviet Academy of Sciences hosts to see Luna XVI lunar samples at Moscow geochemical institute before delegation departed for U.S. Academy President Mstislav V. Keldysh later said it was first time foreigners had seen samples of 100 grams (3.5 oz) of lunar soil picked up by unmanned Luna XVI during Sept. 1224 mission. At Moscow press conference on Luna XVI Academician Keldysh said Soviet scientists would continue to emphasize unmanned missions "in the near future." He said fact that U.S.-U.S.S.R. space talks took place "means that both sides think it advisable to make the docking units of manned spacecraft compatible;" but problem was "complex." It would require more research before countries could decide even to what degree they could cooperate. U.S. Embassy in Moscow issued statement describing space talks as "preliminary exchange of views and information." Both sides had agreed to continue discussions. (Mills, B Sun, 10/29/70, A4)
Edgar M. Cortright, LaRC Director, addressed National Space Club in Washington, D.C., on NASA's time for decision: "We in NASA recognize that our program no longer enjoys the number one priority but is now but one of a number of priority areas competing for scarce funds. But we also recognize that our program, in addition to its intrinsic value, sets the pace for much of the technological development of this country and promises to do so for the foreseeable future. . . . We do not believe that we could long survive and prosper without this preeminent technological position. Therefore, we have to stand and fight off the stampede by other groups to acquire funds now being channeled into our national technology through NASA and the Department of Defense. It is a veritable 'run on the bank.' The withdrawal slips carry such catch terms as relevancy, poverty, pollution, and housing, and are designed to shame us into sacrificing our space program and national technology in the name of 'humanity.' I would reverse the logic and say-in the name of humanity we should maintain our national technology." Cortright also described NASA-DOT-DOD experimental program to introduce V/STOL aircraft into commercial use: "We have chosen the externally blown flap and augmentor wing jet STOL airplanes for initial attention. Jet VTOL aircraft will come later.... We envision a combination of V/STOL and high-speed ground transportation as offering the best hope for continued mobility as the megalopolis continues to spread. We are also preparing a program to develop an Advanced Technology Experimental Transport using Whitcomb's [Dr. Richard T. Whitcomb, Jr., Head of LaRC's 8-Foot Tunnels Branch] supercritical aerodynamic concepts to explore the problems of efficient cruise at Mach numbers approaching one." (Text)
Aerobee 150 sounding rocket was launched by NASA from WSMR carrying NCAR experiment to collect air samples. Mission did not meet minimum scientific requirements. (SR list)
Motorized wheelchair controlled by sight-switch perfected by space engineers was delivered to Texas Medical Center in Houston by MSFC for evaluation. Second wheelchair would be delivered to Roncho Los Amigos Hospital in Downey, Calif., in November. Switch, worn on head, enabled user to open and close circuit controlling chair's wheel movement with his eyes and move easily without assistance. Switch had been developed to help astronauts in training operate essential equipment under extreme flight conditions. Manufacturer, Hayes International Corp., was extending application of switch as control device for handicapped. (MSFC Release 70-218)
Agreement under which NASA would provide FAA with bibliographies in aeronautical engineering and make searches for scientific technical reports required by FAA was announced by NASA. FAA-developed scientific and technical information would be processed into NASA's scientific and technical facility at College Park, Md., and be available to other users of NASA's retrieval services. Joint use of NASA information facility would save FAA expense of developing and operating retrieval system. (NASA Release 70-180)
U.K. Minister of Aviation Supply Frederick V. Corfield announced in House of Commons that Anglo-French supersonic transport Concorde would cost $1.98 billion to develop. Latest estimate increased cost by $280 million over previous $1.7 billion. Original estimate in 1962 had been $420 million. (AP, W Post, 10/29/70)
USAF investigating board had found that F-111 crash Oct. 7 at Carswell AFB, Tex., had not been caused by inflight structural failure, Wall Street Journal, reported. No malfunction was found that would require further inspection of F-111 fleet. USAF declined to disclose cause. (WSJ, 10/28/70, 25)
Ecuador became 77th member Of INTELSAT, formed in 1964 with 11 member countries. (INTELSAT PIO; SBD, 11/5/70, 22)
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