Jul 13 1979
From The Space Library
Pioneer 10 had become the first U.S. craft to fly beyond Mars, Today reported. An Associated Press (AP) story said Pioneer 10, now 2 billion miles from home, had crossed the orbit of Uranus July 11 on its way out of the solar system. Launched in March 1972, Pioneer 10 sent back the first close-up views of Jupiter 21 months later and continued to transmit "valuable data about unexplored space and the outer solar system," said NASA spokesman Duke Reiber. A spokesman for TRW, which built both Pioneer 10 and Pioneer 11, said Pioneer 10 would cross Pluto's orbit in 1987. (Today, July 13/79, 10A; NASA Release 79-84)
The House Committee on Science and Technology announced that it would hold a joint hearing July 19-20 with the House Select Committee on Aging on space technology applications for the elderly and handicapped, to mark the 10th anniversary of the first Moon walk. Committee chairman Rep. Don Fuqua (D-Fla.) said that the hearings would emphasize the importance of space program spinoffs in solving problems here on Earth. NASA would release a report "Technologies for the Handicapped and Aged" on innovations such as a lunar-gravity simulator to speed rehabilitation therapy; a voice-controlled vehicle for paraplegics that could pick up packages, open doors, and handle eating utensils; a human-tissue stimulator to reduce chronic pain; health monitoring systems; and fabrics to prevent bedsores. (H Rept Release 96-60)
The Washington Star reported that DOD would begin next week a long awaited fly-off to see who would get a $2 billion contract to produce air launched cruise missiles. The U.S. Air Force said that the missile was "desperately needed" to fill a gap in the U.S. weapons system created by President Carter's decision to scrap the B-1 bomber. Launched from a B-52 flying off the coast of California, the missiles would fly to a target southwest of Salt Lake City, Utah. W Star, July 13/79, A-4)
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