Feb 8 1971

From The Space Library

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Current revision

Apollo 14 Astronauts Alan B. Shepard, Jr., Edgar D. Mitchell, and Stuart A. Roosa held 25-rain press conference, televised from spacecraft during transearth coast. Mitchell called mission "quite a success" in spite of failure to reach Cone crater during second EVA: "I think the majority of the type rocks we would find at the rim were in the boulder field that we were working, although it was a disappointment, just as a matter of challenge, not to get up there. I think we accomplished the scientific objectives that we went for." Shepard explained major problem was "the undulating terrain where you simply couldn't see more than 100 to 150 yards [90 to 140 meters] away from you. Consequently, you were never quite sure what land-mark would appear when you topped the next ridge. We were very surprised when we . . approached the ridge which we thought to be the rim of Cone Crater, to find there was another one behind it. And that was the beginning of the real problem. As far as we were concerned, our only problem was the amount of time allotted for the excursion. To us it was just a matter of working against the clock. I don't believe that we were disoriented or lost any time. I think if we had wanted to reach the top of the crater and did nothing else, that we could have done that within the time period allotted. But I think the method to which we reverted . . of collecting rocks from a point not quite near the top of the crater provided a lot more geologically and gave us a better cross-section of the rocks in the area . . . than had we gone to the crater and back and not collected as many rocks." (NYT, 2/9/71, 26)

Natosat 2 military comsat, launched by NASA for USAF and NATO Feb. 2, was adjudged successful by NASA. Spacecraft was in satisfactory orbit and was functioning normally. (NASA Proj Off)

Aerobee 170 sounding rocket was launched by NASA from WSMR carrying Univ. of Michigan experiment to observe airglow. Rocket and instruments functioned satisfactorily. (SR list)

USN P-3C Orion turboprop antisubmarine aircraft, piloted by Cdr. Donald H. Lilienthal (USN), broke four "time-to-climb" records by climbing from brake release to 3000 m (9843 ft) in 2 min 59 sec, to 6000 m (19 685 ft) in 5 min 48 sec; to 9000 m (29 528 ft) in 10 min 31 sec, and to 12 000 m (39 370 ft) in 19 min 53 sec. Aircraft also posted new maximum altitude record for its class of 14 050 m (46 100 ft). (AF Mag, 7/71, 15)

Sen. Clinton P. Anderson (D-N. Mex.), Chairman of Senate Committee on Aeronautical and Space Sciences, said in Washington, D.C., that cutback in funding for NERVA development in NASA FY 1972 budget was gross error reflecting on management capability of NASA. Cutting program funding to $30 million would mean virtual halt in work on NERVA. (AP, Cleveland Plain Dealer, 2/9/71)

NASA announced it had awarded Bellcomm, Inc., 17-mo, $11.5- million extension to contract for systems analysis, study, planning, and technical support to manned space flight program. Extension, which would continue through May 1972, brought total value of contract since March 1962 to $91 million. (NASA Release 71-17)

President Nixon sent message to Congress outlining 1971 environmental program. Program included measures to strengthen pollution control, control emerging problems including noise pollution, promote environmental quality in land use decisions, further institutional improvement, expand international cooperation, and establish "World Heritage Trust to preserve parks and areas of unique cultural value throughout the world." (PD, 2/15/71, 187-204)

February 8-9: NASA Aerospace Advisory Panel met at MSFC to discuss safety aspects of LRV, Skylab spacecraft, and proposed space shuttle. (MSFC Release 71-23)

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