Sep 2 1970
From The Space Library
NASA FY 1971 interim operating plan news conference was held in Washington, D.C. Dr. Thomas O. Paine, NASA Administrator, said principal decision was "how best to carry out the Apollo and other existing programs to realize maximum benefits from them while preserving adequate resources for the future.... In our discussions, it became clear that the vitality of our national space program depends on a determined and vigorous continuation of plans for a reusable Space Shuttle followed by a space station in the manned flight program"; early development of ERTS, ATS, and HEAO; Grand Tour unmanned flights to distant planets; unmanned Viking Mars landers; Pioneer flights to Venus, Mercury, and Jupiter; and "a healthy aeronautical research program." "With all of these considerations in mind... actions have been taken that will effectively reduce NASA's FY 1971 budget request of $3.333 billion to an interim operating plan of $3.2687 billion... and to minimize NASA's budgetary requirements for future years." Budget request for Apollo was being reduced by $42.1 million to $914.4 million by canceling Apollo 15 and 19 lunar missions and by phasing down manpower levels at major Apollo facilities more rapidly. Although Lunar and Planetary Missions Board and NAS-NRC Space Science Board had strongly recommended, after special review, that NASA carry out all six remaining lunar landing missions, NASA had "most reluctantly concluded that a reduction... should be made." Remaining Apollo missions would be redesignated 14 through 17 and would be flown' before start of Skylab operations in November 1972. Schedule would allow additional flexibility by providing Apollo hardware for possible use in Skylab, space station, or other programs where manned operations or heavy boost capability would be required. Advanced mission studies would be reduced by $1 million. Tracking and data acquisition network operations would be reduced $8 million by reducing number of manned flights and by more rapid phase down in operating levels. Construction of facilities would be reduced to $25 million by deferring Polymer Research Laboratory at ARC; Calibration Laboratory at MSC, and Multispectral Photo Laboratory at MSFC and by rehabilitation and modification effort and facility planning and design. Research and program management minimum operating budget would be established at $678.7 million, amount included in previous appropriations bill and $13.6 million below NASA's FY 1971 request. Dr. Paine said NASA had concluded "that it is prudent and realistic... to make these decisions now.'. to avoid more drastic and disruptive actions which would result if the decisions were postponed until later in the fiscal year. We also no longer have the capability to prepare in parallel two Apollo spacecraft, as would be required to maintain an option to reach a later decision on the number of Apollo missions." Associate Administrator for Manned Space Flight Dale D. Myers explained.
Apollo schedule changes: Apollo 14 would be launched as planned Jan. 31, 1971, followed at six-month intervals by Apollo 16 (renamed Apollo 15) with advanced capability for greater exploitation of lunar exploration, Apollo 17 (renamed Apollo 16) and Apollo 18 (renamed 17), last launch in series. Beginning with Apollo 15 lunch in July, EVA would be increased from two periods to three and man-hours per mission, from 18 hrs to 40 hrs. Weight of landed scientific payload would be doubled, from 227 kg to 454 kg (500 lbs to 1000 lbs); SM experiment package would be added; and range and efficiency of surface operations would be increased by improved suit mobility, improved life support system, and addition of lunar roving vehicle. Crew for new Apollo 15 would be same as previously planned--Astronauts David R Scott, Alfred M. Worden, and James B. Irwin. Skylab core module would be launched by Saturn V in November 1972, as scheduled, and would be revisited by Saturn IBs and CSMs up through June 1973. Beyond that, activities would be "at a standstill as far as orbital operations are concerned until the shuttle comes on line, hopefully in. the 1976-77 time period." (Text; Transcript)
U.K.'s first attempt to launch satellite with own booster failed when pressurization system in three-stage Black Arrow booster malfunctioned. Booster was to have orbited 82-kg (180-lb) satellite to study upper atmosphere. Previous U.K. satellites had been orbited by NASA boosters. (Berger, B Sun, 9/3/70)
Recommendations on conduct of "comprehensive review and analysis of the complete NASA acquisition process from determination of requirements through final contract award" were requested by Dr. Thomas O. Paine, NASA Administrator, in memo to Daniel J. Harnett, Assistant Administrator for Industry Affairs. NASA procurement policies were "sound ones which have in general fairly treated our contractors while giving NASA excellent value for its money," Dr. Paine said. But NASA was now planning programs in "changed economic environment with more limited resources." (NASA Release 70-146)
Ion engine on board orbiting Sert II (launched Feb. 3) was returned to full thrust after two-day interruption and was operating satisfactorily. Engine had been turned off Aug. 31 about one hour before spacecraft passed through solar eclipse shadow over South Pacific. Four attempts during shutdown to restart ion engine No. 1, which had failed July 23, were unsuccessful. (NASA Release 70-149)
MSFC announced McDonnell Douglas Astronautics Co. had received $60 918 000 modification to $97 340 000 NASA contract for conversion of original orbital workshop to be launched by Saturn I$ booster to completely outfitted workshop for launch by Saturn V. (MSFC Release 70-178)
MSC awarded LTV Aerospace Corp. Missiles and Space Div. and McDonnell Douglas Astronautics Co. $215 000, fixed-price contracts to conduct six-month parallel development studies of radiative nonmetallics for high-temperature heat protection on Space Shuttle. (MSC Release 70-95)
NASA said it had confirmed Aug. 12 observation by astronomer V. E. Bell at Lodi (Calif.) Observatory of bright blue-white flare on lunar surface near Fra Mauro highland area, when moon was closest to earth. International astronomical group Astronet had reported similar sighting in crater Lassell K Sept. 1. Observation reports were in response to Aug. 10 alert by Dr. Gary V. Latham, Apollo program's principal seismic investigator, made through Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory. (W Star, 9/2/70, A6)
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