Apr 10 1973
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Skylab Astronauts Charles Conrad, Jr., Joseph P. Kerwin, and Paul J. Weitz completed training at Marshall Space Flight Center for a three-hour extravehicular activity scheduled for the Skylab 1-2 mission, set for May 14 and 15 launches. Although Conrad and Kerwin were to perform the EVA, all three crew members trained so that any combination of two could accomplish the activity. The training-begun in February 1972-took place in MSFC's Neutral Buoyancy Simulator, which held a full-scale mockup of a major portion of the Skylab cluster in a simulated weightless environment. (MSFC Release 73-55)
Apollo 17 astronaut-geologist Dr. Harrison H. Schmitt championed manned space flight in testimony before the Senate Committee on Aeronautical and Space Sciences during FY 1974 NASA authorization hearings: "Man's unique capabilities in space flight come into play in situations requiring special insight in dealing with complex processes or events occurring over relatively short timespans. This has been most obvious in space in the geological exploration of the Moon, for example, in the rapid and comprehensive collection of samples, photographs, and observational data in the valley of Taurus-Littrow last December. This capacity will also be clear in certain aspects of Earth and solar observation where short-term dynamic processes are involved and in many space laboratory situations where rapid adjustments to changing experimental conditions are necessary. The dynamic range of the human eye and the mind's capability for rapid visual integration of changing geometry, color, and lighting make up an extremely versatile sensor system. In addition, when combined with experience and training of the man, this system allows for the efficient selection of other sensors pertinent to the problem at hand. By such selection man can intelligently reduce the quantity of data which analytical systems on the ground will be required to sort and treat in detail. This capability for on-the-spot data selection is not a trivial aspect of man's presence at the data collection point. Probably one of man's most useful capabilities is the precision by which he can operate, adjust, modify, or repair equipment. There is as yet little competition for man in this area on Earth or in space flight.” (Transcript)
President Nixon issued Proclamation 4206 designating the week of April 23 as Nicolaus Copernicus Week in celebration of the 500th anniversary of the Polish astronomer's birth. He said, "This anniversary should also serve to remind us that the study of science is one of man's noblest pursuits.” (PD 4/16/73, 356)
President Nixon submitted to the Senate the nominations of Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs Jerry W. Friedheim to be Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs and of John 0. March to be Assistant Secretary of Defense for Legislative Affairs. Friedheim would succeed Daniel Z. Henkin, and March, Gardiner L. Tucker, both of whom had resigned. (PD, 4/16/73, 355, 365, 378)
A "quiet but intense" debate was developing in the Dept. of Defense over which service would "dominate America's nuclear arsenal and win the major share of appropriations," the New York Times reported. In "the most serious challenge of Air Force primacy since the start of the nuclear era," the Navy was pressing for construction of 12 Trident submarines with multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles (MIRVS). As a weapon system the Trident would be "more mobile and less vulnerable than ICBM's [intercontinental ballistic missiles] and more lethal than bombers." The debate had remained "in the house" to date, but few believed it could be kept from Congress and the media. "The amounts involved are too large and Congressional hostility to what is considered excessive spending too pronounced.” (Middleton, NYT, 4/10/73, 16)
Aviation pioneer Col. Clarence M. Young (USA, Ret.), holder of U.S. Civil Air License No. 2, died in Cottonwood, Ariz., at the age of 84. He had been appointed Director of Aeronautics in the Dept. of Commerce in 1927 and helped develop the Federal airways system. From 1929 to 1933 he was Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Aeronautics. Young joined Pan American World Airways, Inc., in 1934 to pioneer the first flying service across the Pacific. He was named to the Civil Aeronautics Board in 1946 and rejoined Pan Am in 1950 to direct its Pacific-Alaska Div. until his retirement. He learned to fly as a bomber pilot in World War I, was a member of the Aviation Hall of Fame, and had been named an Elder Statesman by the National Aeronautic Assn. (AP, NYT, 4/12/73, 44)
April 10-12: The Aerospace Industries Assn. of America's International Committee held its Spring National Meeting in San Francisco. Richard J. H. Barnes, Director of International Planning & Programs in NASA's Office of International Affairs„ discussed U.S.-European cooperation on the space shuttle sortie lab (designated Spacelab by the European Space Research Organization). ESRO was sponsoring a Phase B design competition between European industrial consortiums. Germany, Italy, Belgium, and Spain were participating, with other European countries expected to join. Germany had pledged to fund at least 40% of the program; Italy 20%. The program's hardware phase was expected to start in early 1974. ESRO would design, develop, and deliver one Spacelab flight unit to NASA. NASA would provide assistance and would purchase one or more production units. Participating European countries would receive preference over nonparticipating countries in future use of the Spacelab.
Ludwig Boelkow, President of the West German consortium Messerschmitt-Boelkow-Blohm GmbH, described the status of European civil aircraft production: "The resources which only the U.S. had in the early fifties are now also available in Europe. . . . Europe today enjoys a slight edge in SST [supersonic transport] technology, as evidenced by the Concorde, and I believe equality in subsonic jets, as evidenced by the excellent progress in terms of cost, schedule, and test performance of the A300 B [European airbus].” (AIA Memorandum GEN 73-43)
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