Sep 4 1970
From The Space Library
MSC's cosmic ray emulsion plastic experiment-balloon 182.9 m (600 ft) long with 544.3-kg (1200-lb) instrument package was launched from Minneapolis, Minn., by Winzen Research Corp. in cooperation with National Center for Atmospheric Research. Payload of 6.1- by 3.7-m (20- by 12-ft) package housing 22.3 sq m (240 sq ft) of detectors would record intensity and direction of transiron [of particles heavier than iron] primary cosmic rays in upper atmosphere during 48-hr flight. (NASA Release 70-154)
Map of portion of Venus larger than Asiatic continent made by using 64.0-m (210-ft) dish antenna at Goldstone Tracking Station was described in Science by JPL astronomers Dr. Richard M. Goldstein and H. Rumsey, Jr.: Map covered planet from 90° west longitude to 30° east longitude and from 45° south latitude to 35° north latitude. Area extended 13 700 km (8500 mi) at Venus equator and was up to 7400 km (4600 mi) wide. Resolution was "about two times as good as the moon can be seen with the naked eye" and was "best definition of Venus yet obtained." (Science, 9/4/70, 975-7; JPL Release 561)
Venus radius controversy was discussed in Science by MIT scientist W. B. Smith: Scientists had finally arrived at a consensus in interpreting certain data from Mariner V and Venus IV after "ebb and flood of recent opinion about Venus's lower atmosphere as seen from a moderately invariant (and biased) point of view-that of the 'radar radius.' " Smith and associates had reported accurate determination of Venus's radius in mid-1966. Value, derived from earth based radar observations, was 6055.8 km (3762.9 mi). "In early 1967, two Mariner V experimenters visited us to ascertain our very latest value and our confidence in it, stressing the importance of the radius for the forthcoming Mariner 5 flyby." Earliest Mariner V reports had shown Venus IV data inconsistent by about 24 km (14.9 mi) and asymmetry between night and day refractivity profiles of Venus. "The central question was: are the surface pressure Ps and Temperature Ts 19 atm and 553 K [536°F] as derived from Venera 4 data, or about 100 atm and 700 K [800°F] as derived from Mariner 5 data plus the radar radius?" Soviet scientist V. R. Eshleman had suggested that 2:1 ambiguity had occurred in altimeter. After reexamination of time systems used by Mariner V experimenters, Venus-centered distance of ray path had been decreased by 8.85 km (5.49 mi), "confirming our independent estimate of 10' km [6.21 mi] for this displacement. As a result, the refractivity profiles became nearly symmetric." (Science, 9/4/70, 1001-2)
U.S.S.R. announced it had found Apollo experimental capsule (used for training and experiment) and would turn it over to USCG cutter Southwind at port of Murmansk. Cutter was on oceanographic expedition in area. U.S. Embassy sources in Moscow had said Soviet government had informed Embassy three weeks before that capsule had been found in Bay of Biscay, off France, by Murmansk fishermen. (NYT, 9/5/70, 5; NASA OMSF P10)
New York Times published comments of three lunar scientists on NASA's cancellation of Apollo 15 and 19: Dr. Thomas Gold, Cornell Univ. astronomer and member of President's Science Advisory Committee, had said, "It's like buying a Rolls-Royce and then not using it because you claim you can't afford the gas." Dr. Harold C. Urey, lunar expert and Nobel Prize winner, had said, "I think the American people and Congress should realize that the moon is an extremely old object. . . this gives scientists a way of studying an object that goes 'back to the very beginning of the solar system," Saving of $40 million by cancellation was "chicken feed" in view of $25 billion already spent on Apollo program. Former scientist-astronaut Dr. Brian T. O'Leary said, "The scientific community has become disenchanted with NASA. The present decision seems ridiculous." (NYT, 9/4/70,9)
Editorials on Apollo program cutback: New York Times: "Throughout the last decade this newspaper opposed the top priority then accorded Project Apollo on the ground that too much money was being diverted from urgent social needs. But now that these huge sums have been spent the need is to obtain the maximum yield, scientifically and otherwise, from that investment. Surely, NASA, which has been able to reach the moon, can find a better solution than the one now offered for adjusting to austerity in space research. One desirable alternative would be to enlist foreign resources in the exploitation of Apollo technology, perhaps by offering to send teams of British, French or Soviet astronauts on the journey pioneered by Apollo 11 ." (NYT, 9/4/70)
Baltimore Sun: ". . the thrust into space is the most open-ended of all human. enterprises and there is no cause for desperate hurry. So far as science goes, time is not a major factor. Money is, and when it comes to spending many billions consideration has to be given to other needs, many of them much more immediately urgent than any extraterrestrial venture. We have gone far and shall certainly go farther-more surely, in the long run, if we keep a sense of proportion and a wise balance among our choices." (B Sun, 9/4/70, A10)
President Nixon at San Clemente, Calif., signed E.O. 11556 establishing responsibilities and authority of new Office of Telecommunications Policy and announced intention to nominate Dr. George F. Mansur, Jr., as Deputy Director. Nomination was submitted to Senate Sept. 10. Dr. Clay T. Whitehead, whose nomination had been confirmed by Senate, would be sworn in after President returned from San Clemente. (PD, 9/7/70, 1147; 9/14/70, 1197)
Institute for Strategic Studies in London had released annual report, The Military Balance, 1970-71, Reuters said. July survey had shown U.S.S.R. could deploy 1300 ICBMs-246 more than U.S. But U.S. "promises to increase its warhead lead" with three-warhead system on Minuteman III rocket with 12 900-km (8000-mi) range. U.S. also was converting submarines to take 10-warhead Poseidon missile. U.S.S.R. had been testing three-warhead system. Report estimated that U.S. had more than 6000 nuclear warheads fitted to missiles capable in theory of reaching Soviet territory, while some 2000 Soviet warheads were fitted to missiles with range to hit continental U.S. U.S. had 656 submarine-launched ballistic missiles; U.S.S.R. 280. (Maynes, W Post, 9/4/70, A18)
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