Sep 26 1973
From The Space Library
Newspapers commented on the successful Sept. 25 splash. down of Skylab 3 [see July 28-Sept. 25]. New York Times: "The word 'triumphant' is entirely appropriate because even at this early point it is evident that 'their 59-day stay in orbit was not only the longest manned space flight in history but also the most productive." Skylab results to date had made two conclusions incontrovertible: "First, man can live and work effectively for long periods in space, a point particularly emphasized by the astronauts' pleas in the last days of their journey to be allowed to remain longer in orbit. Second, stations in space are potentially as productive of scientific and technological benefits as the most optimistic predictions had suggested. There is every reason now to suppose that these benefits will range from the discovery of new mineral deposits on earth and early warnings about the formation and movement of storms to new and more effective methods of predicting the turbulence on the sun that interferes seriously with electronic communications on earth." It could be taken for granted that "orbiting laboratories will become permanent fixtures in the heavens before too many years have passed. (NYT, 9/26/73, 38)
Chicago Daily News: The Skylab 3 astronauts had "earned their keep-and a place in the history of man's conquest of the universe." (C Daily News, 9/26/73)
Alloys and crystals formed in weightlessness during Skylab 3 (launched July 28 to crew the Skylab 1 Orbital Workshop launched May 14) might temporarily be the world's most precious metals, the Wall Street Journal reported. They were mixtures of elemental metals that could not be combined on the earth because gravity would make them separate as they cooled or melted. The metals included three alloys and several semiconductor crystals used to make transistors and other electronic devices. Twelve industrial and university scientists were waiting to determine from them whether manufacturing in space could produce stronger, purer, and more reliable, or even new materials. (WSJ, 9/26/73)
Award of a $7.3-million contract to Rockwell International Corp. Space Div. to provide a site for the final assembly and checkout of the space shuttle orbiter was announced by NASA. The contract included modifications and additions to facilities at Air Force Plant 42, Palmdale, Calif. (NASA Release 73-196)
Concorde 02, reproduction model of the Anglo-French supersonic trans-port, flew from Washington, D.C., Dulles Airport to Paris' Orly Field in 3 hrs 33 min. The aircraft had participated in dedication of the Dallas-Fort Worth airport Sept. 21. (Concorde Bull 12, 1/1/74)
September 26-27: Sen. Warren G. Magnuson (D-Wash.) explained S. 2495, a bill to apply NASA'S expertise to solving domestic problems, during the first day of two-day hearings on the state of the aerospace industry by the Senate Committee on Aeronautical and Space Sciences. Sen. Magnuson, with Sen. Frank E. Moss (D-Utah) and Sen. John V. Tunney (D-Calif.), introduced the bill Sept. 27. The bill, the Technology Resources Survey and Applications Act, would amend the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958 to provide "an organization within NASA to carry out programs . . to resolve critical national problems. This would expand an activity already underway within NASA and enable us to better utilize a capability which has already exhibited an impressive record of success." The programs would be determined by a National Technology Resource Council of Cabinet members and heads of technological agencies, which would make its recommendations to the President. Sen. Magnuson suggested changing NASA'S name to the National Applications of Science Administration. "I do believe the name . . . would accurately reflect the new role which my bill attempts to create for NASA."
Dr. Karl G. Harr, Jr., President of the Aerospace Industries Assn. of America, Inc., testified that foreign competition for U.S. and inter-national aerospace markets was currently "of a scope, determination, and quality that we have not had to face since World War II. The underpinning of strong research and development programs-vital to our technological advance-is being downgraded to a serious degree. There is an alarming scarcity of private sources of financing for the development and production of new commercial aircraft. As a low-profit industry, traditionally averaging a profit about half that of other manufacturing industries, we lack the resources for reinvestment, cushioning against risk, and attracting investors. Above all, there is uncertainty in this transitional period about future national goals which might utilize our capabilities. Will we continue to contribute primarily to space exploration, defense, and long-range air travel, or will we next find ourselves emphasizing such efforts as environmental control, law enforcement, health delivery services, housing, and urban mass transit?"
Dr. Wernher von Braun-Vice President, Engineering and Development, Fairchild Industries, Inc., and former NASA Deputy Associate Administrator for Planning-testified on the future of satellite communications: "There is no field in which the goals of space applications are expanding at a faster rate." Ever since NASA demonstrated "that radio signals bounced off passive reflection satellites such as the Echo balloon or rebroadcast by active repeater spacecraft such as Early Bird, worldwide communications by satellite have been growing. . . . Satellites, by providing international telephone and television service, are an important force in overcoming regional and national barriers. It is difficult to maintain hostility and isolation in the presence of free communications." Satellite communications would "soon be commonplace in our country." With the advent of the reusable space shuttle to service and repair satellites in the 1980s, "even nations with limited fiscal resources can put in a network of smaller, far less expensive ground stations." Thanks to NASA programs initiated a few years ago, "the United States is still quite active in the area of pioneering new technology for communications satellites." (Transcript)
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