Feb 24 1972

From The Space Library

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Current revision

Dr. Charles A. Berry, NASA Director for Life Sciences, discussed spinoff of NASA biomedical research in testimony before House Committee on Science and Astronautics' Subcommittee on Manned Space Flight during FY 1973 authorization hearings. Ames Research Center (ARC) was evaluating changes in lung tissue of coal miners in collaboration with Dept. of Health, Education, and Welfare to pinpoint possible damage to astronauts' lungs from particulate contaminants in atmosphere. Study results suggested "cell destruction can be induced by release of intracellular digestive enzymes into the cell cytoplasm following penetration of the cells by particles, in the case of coal miners, silicates." Joint NASA and U.S. Bureau of Mines program would develop carbon monoxide detecting system. ARC and U.S. Dept. of Agriculture would develop hydroponic system for spacecraft to accelerate plant growth under space flight conditions. "The medical information needed to assure man's safe journey into and return from space has led to the development of many items of information and equipment of great value to terrestrial medicine." NASA life sciences program "exemplifies the success which can be achieved by combining the special talents of Government, industry, and university scientists." Dr. Berry also reported there had been "no findings in the manned space flights to date by the United States or U.S.S.R. that would preclude the commitment of man to longer duration missions. Therefore ... we feel confident in committing man to a 28- .day mission." Apollo 16 and 17 and Skylab experiments would study physiological response of body before commitment to 56-day Skylab mission. Philip E. Culbertson, Director of Advanced Missions in OMSF, testified on space shuttle orbital systems and advanced missions definition and planning: In areas of payloads, research and applications modules (RANI), advanced missions, and advanced development, "principal effort is directed toward developing . . . understanding and planning the use of the shuttle." In RAM program, "we will be continuing the study of concepts of a family of payload carrier modules suitable for transport in the Shuttle Orbiter cargo bay." Modules would range from "austere shuttle `Sortie Can' with relatively simple laboratory equipment .. through more sophisticated, dedicated laboratory and observation facilities, including automated free-flyers serviced by the Shuttle." Sortie mission using orbiter as platform for short-duration experiments was among most promising shuttle operating modes. Mission would use advantages of shuttle in payload design, development, and operation, and, "for the first time, permit the investigator to accompany his experiment into space." Sortie missions would be modeled after ARC Airborne Research Program in which Convair 990 aircraft was used as airborne laboratory. "The goal in developing procedures for managing the Space Shuttle Sortie Missions will be to retain the relatively simple, flexible and highly responsive aspects of the `990' program." (Transcript)

Deployment tests of Skylab Workshop meteoroid shield were under way at Astronautics Laboratory, Marshall Space Flight Center announced. Shield, thin sheet of aluminum wrapped around outer wall, would protect Skylab crewmen from micrometeoroids and ensure comfortable temperature in space. (MSFC Release 72-19)

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