Oct 19 1970
From The Space Library
Dr. George M. Low, Acting NASA Administrator, addressed Inland Daily Press Assn. in Chicago on U.S. achievement and leadership in science and technology and "danger that exists today that we will soon lose the capability that gave us this achievement and leadership." Capability built by NASA m 1960s was rapidly diminishing. Recent study had shown 35 000 aerospace scientists and engineers unemployed "and this number could easily double next year." Major concern was "that in the future a new shortage of scientists and engineers will arise, based on the growing disenchantment with the unstable labor market for such skills." Implications were clear: "We are losing the capability to react to a national crisis, should the need arise; we are losing the capability to undertake an Apollo-like adventure, should we in the future desire to do so; and we are losing a capability that today provides an inflow of dollars that exceeds the net positive balance of payments." Cost of U.S. space program in 1970 was $3.4 billion-decrease of $2.5 billion since 1966. In terms of Federal budget, $3.4 billion represented 1.7% or $17 for every person in U.S. "At the same time we are spending $400 per person for our domestic programs.... In fact, this year's increase in our expenditures for domestic programs was more than twice the NASA budget." Cancellation of entire space program would not significantly affect Federal spending on domestic programs. "But without the space program, without the capabilities it represents, what would become of the 'scientific and technological lead' this generation of Americans gave so much of themselves and their resources to achieve?" (Text)
AT&T and ComSatCorp formally announced details of proposed satellite system under which ComSatCorp would furnish two 10 800-circuit satellites that would be leased entirely to AT&T for $205 million over seven years. ComSatCorp filed with FCC application to provide advanced high-capacity satellites for domestic communications that would double capacity by doubling use of limited frequency spectrum. ComSatCorp said it would file in near future for separate multiservice system to provide services to other customers. (AT&T Release; ComSatCorp Release 70-54)
Soyuz IX Cosmonauts Andrian G. Nikolayev and Vitaly I. Sevastyanov, on 10-day U.S. visit, toured Washington, D.C., and placed wreaths on graves of Astronauts Virgil I. Grissom and Roger B. Chaffee in Arlington National Cemetery. At NASA Hq. press conference they said U.S.S.R. did not plan to put man on moon and had disbanded training program for female cosmonauts. (Valentine, W Post, 10/20/70, A2)
MSFC engineer Hans F. Wuenscher was awarded U.S. patent 3 534 926 for machine to manufacture materials and articles in space. Cylindrical tank would be used in space station to produce new metal alloys and glasses, metal membranes, metal foam, high-precision ball bearings of hollow steel, and optical components in zero-g condition, where heavy materials did not settle out because of lack of buoyancy. Astronaut outside tank would control admission of liquid metal, gases, and other materials, and regulate heat, ventilation pressure, spinning, and agitation. (Jones, NYT, 10/23/70, 43)
Secretary of Transportation John A. Volpe announced appointment of William M. Huey, special consultant to FAA Administrator and Deputy Administrator, to fill new position of FAA Deputy Assistant Administrator for General Aviation Affairs. (FAA Release 70-89)
October 19-22: AIAA Seventh Annual Meeting and Technical Display was held in Houston, Tex., under theme "Aerospace for Man's Needs." Display included Space Shuttle and Skylab mockup. Soyuz IX Cosmonauts Andrian G. Nikolayev and Vitaly I. Sevastyanov toured exhibits as AIAA guests and delivered same paper they had presented at Oct. 4-10 IAF Congress in Constance, Germany. Cosmonauts said in Houston that U.S.S.R. would attempt longer missions in space before beginning to build orbiting space station. Soyuz IX mission had ended after completion of scheduled experiments but spacecraft was capable of flight longer than 18 days. Both cosmonauts said they had been ill for days after return to earth. U.S. scientists said later that Astronauts Frank Borman and James A. Lovell, Jr., had suffered similar disorientation after 14-day Gemini VII mission Dec. 4-18, 1965. (AIAA Release; AP, W Star, 10/23/ 70, A7; Reuters, B Sun, 10/23/70, A5)
Dr. George M. Low, Acting NASA Administrator, said in speech at meeting: "NASA and the aerospace industry are not uniquely qualified to solve our domestic problems. The domestic problems, including those of the physical environment, are largely social, economical, and political. The need for new technology, for research and development, does exist in some areas, but certainly is not the driving force in obtaining solutions." Solutions "must come from sociologists, economists, and politicians-not engineers and scientists. We in aerospace should. . .assist wherever and whenever we can: We have developed techniques of management that may apply; there are technological problems that we are qualified to tackle; and there are areas where space technology, and the applications of space technology, apply directly. We should assist, but we should not think or encourage others to believe that we can solve all of our domestic problems." Space program had "one major deficiency-a gap in manned space flight after Skylab, a hiatus of four years or more when no American will be in earth orbit, or anywhere to space." Gap had to be accepted because of lack of funding. Decision to cancel Viking or delay Space Shuttle would be wrong. "Viking is the major scientific experiment of the decade, and a delay in starting the shuttle would only delay the hiatus, not eliminate it." If shuttle development was advancing when gap occurred, Dr. Low believed gap would not be "unacceptable." NASA was building "the next generation of space vehicles, a generation that will far surpass existing capabilities to explore space, to use space, to live and work in space." (Text)
Sen. Mike Gravel (D-Alaska) told meeting: "Our space program is being viewed with increasing skepticism. Future historians will smile at the irony of our situation. Immediately following the fantastic feat of sending men to the surface of the Moon and back in safety, our national resolve in expanding this effort faced a mounting wave of domestic criticism. The irony of homo sapiens for the first time standing upright on his planet and not availing himself of his full ability to explore and experiment in the universe. The irony of not moving forward as aggressively as possible from a new beginning almost as fundamental as the beginning of life itself." (SBD, 10/23/70,23)
Work of DOT Transportation Systems Center, formerly NASA ERC, was described by Secretary of Transportation John A. Volpe: Center was "already working on harbor advisory radars for the Coast Guard, phased array radars for the FAA, crash sensors for the Federal Highway Administration, and alcohol detectors for the National Highway Safety Bureau. In communications we are studying wayside systems for tracked air-cushion vehicles and data links from ground controllers to cockpit displays. Computer systems are being adapted to automated scanning of highway traffic films and simulation of ground and air traffic patterns controllers must learn. The architecture of large, real-time computers for air traffic control systems is also under study." (Text)
JPL engineers Ronald F. Draper and Thomas R. Gavin said technology for long-lived, unmanned spacecraft for Grand Tour flybys and separate orbiting missions to Jupiter and outer planets was well advanced for 1977 and 1979 missions. Thermoelectric outer planet spacecraft (TOPS) under development at JPL would use radioisotope thermoelectric generators, with nuclear energy supplying power beyond range where solar panels and batteries were effective. Scientific experiments and spacecraft control problems would be handled by self-test and repair (STAR) computer with sufficient backup units for 10 to 15 yrs operation. (JPL Release 564)
Richard S. Johnston, MSC Deputy Director for Biomedical Engineering, announced that final two Apollo missions would land at Descartes: upland valley surrounded by craters, and Marius Hills, near Imbrium Basin. Sites had been selected because material there would furnish new data on age and origin of moon. (AP, W Star, 10/ 20/70, A4)
Christopher C. Kraft, Jr., MSC Deputy Director, received $5000 AIAA Louis W. Hill Space Transportation Award for "outstanding management and leadership in directing the planning and operation 341 al control of all United States manned space flight missions from the first Mercury suborbital mission through the first Apollo lunar landing." Dr. Maxime A. Faget, MSC Director of Engineering and Development, received $500 Spacecraft Design award for "outstanding leadership and technical ability which resulted in the conception and design of this nation's first manned spacecraft, the Mercury capsule system." Glynn S. Lunney, Chief of MSC Flight Director's Office, received $500 Lawrence Sperry Award for "outstanding performance as a flight director during the Gemini and Apollo manned space flight missions; for exceptional leadership, professional skill and personal dedication which contributed to the success of this Nation's first manned lunar mission, and particularly during the flight of Apollo 13." Dr. Walton L. Jones, Director of Biotechnology and Human Research Div. Of NASA DART, received John Jefferies Award of $500 and certificate for "outstanding contributions to the advancement of aerospace medical research." Von Karman Lecture award of $1000 and travel allowance of $1500 was awarded to Dr. Erik L. Mollo-Christensen, MIT meteorologist. (AIAA Release; MSC Roundup, 9/25/70, 1)
NASA and DOT sponsored session on national aeronautical programs, with Charles J. Donlan of NASA OMSF as theme chairman. Exhibit was prepared by LaRC, LeRC, and ARC. Dr. Alfred J. Eggers, Jr., NASA Assistant Administrator for Policy, chaired panel discussion on problems facing aeronautics in U.S., including vehicles, airport systems, and airway systems. Historical session, "American Advancement into Space," was chaired by Royal D. Frey of USAF Museum at Wright-Patterson AFB and Dr. Loyd Swenson of Univ. of Houston. Organized by Dr. Eugene M. Emme, NASA Historian, session heard description by Col. John A. MacReady (USAF, Ret.) and Sally MacReady Liston of early experiments to combat known and unknown hazards of first attempts to climb into space, narrative by L/C William E. Kempner (USAF, Ret.) of flight of Explorer I into stratosphere, description by Cdr. George W. Hoover (USN, Ret.) of USN developments leading to space, and story by Col. Joseph F. Cotton (USAF, Ret.) of XB-70. (Program; NASA Hist Off)
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