December 1969
From The Space Library
NASA issued Apollo 11 : Preliminary Science Report (NASA SP-214), summarizing scientific findings of first manned lunar landing mission July 16-24. In foreword Dr. Thomas O. Paine, NASA Administrator, said: "The concept of traveling across the vastness of space to new worlds has stirred the imagination of men everywhere.. . . The success of this mission has opened new fields of exploration and research . . . which will lead to a greater understanding of our planet and provide a new insight into the origin and history of the solar system." Report included photographic review of Apollo 11 mission with observations by crew-Astronauts Neil A. Armstrong, Edwin E. Aldrin, Jr." and Michael Collins. Descriptions of geologic setting of lunar material, soil mechanics investigation, passive seismic experiment, laser ranging retroreflector, and solar wind composition experiment were provided by principal investigators. In addition to major findings reported Sept 15 in summary by NASA Preliminary Examination Team (PET), SP-214 reported passive seismic experiment package deployed on moon had operated satisfactorily for 21 days and had detected seismic signals from astronaut activity or LM motions. Whether actual lunar seismic events had been detected was uncertain. Laser reflector deployed on moon had been used as target for earth-based lasers and distance to moon had been measured to within four-mile accuracy. Future studies would be made on distance variation to study motion of moon and earth. Preliminary analysis had been made on part of aluminum foil and showed helium, neon, and argon; isotopic composition of each element had been measured. (Text; NASA Release 69-160)
Dr. Robert R. Gilruth, MSC Director, was named to receive first "at large" award in 17-yr history of $10,000 Rockefeller Public Service Awards for "distinguished service to the government of the United States and to the American people." Other 1969 recipients included Dr. John W. Evans, Director of USAF's Sacramento Peak Observatory, in science, technology, or engineering category. (AF/SD, 1/70, 24-5)
Vice President Spiro T. Agnew, NASC Chairman, discussed future of U.S. space program in Space Age News: "It is my personal belief that a vigorous space effort is essential to the welfare of this country, particularly since it has contributed so much to our international prestige, our national security and our economy. I can assure you that the President shares this view." Through 11 yrs of space activity U.S. had "gained one of its most priceless resources-trained, experienced professionals capable of creating, managing, and operating a complete range of space systems dedicated to bringing the benefits of space within reach of all of us here on Earth." U.S. had "just begun its space program. The success of the first decade indicates an enlarged effort in the decade to come." (Space Age News, 12/69)
Coming age of economy space flight was discussed by J. S. Butz, Jr." in Air Force and Space Digest. Space shuttle was key to opening of space "much as the railroads opened a stream of travel into the American West." It was "complex and expensive system that is within our grasp if the nation's technology and management are willing to meet challenges of herculean proportions." In prospect was day when astronauts would be as numerous as present day airline pilots, space flights would be scheduled almost daily, and "virtually any young man who yearns to voyage into space will be able to do so at some point in his life." (AF/SD, 12/69, 37-44)
Space/Aeronautics described 1969 as U.S.S.R.'s "most active and most frustrating" year in space. "In the fall of 1968 it was possible to believe . . . that the Soviet Union might fly men around the moon before the United States. A year later it was possible to ask: 'Where are the Russians?, " Most failures were in attempts to prepare man's way to moon. "The inglorious performance of Luna XV, just as America was landing men on the lunar surface, could almost be called the least of Russia's lunar problems. By far the worst . . . must be repeated technical troubles with the long-awaited 'super booster,, the rough equivalent of Saturn V. If semi-official rumors are to be accepted as accurate, the Russian vehicle is in a great deal of difficulty. "The . . . launchings of Soyuz 6, 7, and 8 were impressive in many ways-but Western officials still counted the group flight as a disappointment to the Russians.... The most skeptical Western estimates now are that the Russians may have abandoned the big booster, that they will not land men on the moon before 1972 . . . and that no large Soviet station will be assembled in orbit before the last half of the '70s." (Space/Aeronautics, 12/69, 24-6)
"Dethronement" of Dr. Charles S. Draper as head of MIT Instrumentation Lab had resulted from campaign waged by "coterie of self-appointed zealots who insist that defense research is 'war research, and cannot be tolerated," William Leavitt said in Air Force and Space Digest article. On campus these days, "genius is not enough to keep you on the job. Your work has to be politically, morally, and socially acceptable" to these zealots. (AF/SD, 12/69, 46-50)
NSF published American Science Manpower, 1968, report of National Register of Scientific and Technical Personnel: Almost 298,000 scientists-nine percent of whom were women-reported to National Register in 1968. Of these, three-fifths were in physical and mathematical sciences, one-fifth in life sciences, remainder in behavioral and social sciences. Registration was up 23% over 242,800 in 1966. Industry employed 32% of 1968 registrants, down from 34% in 1966. Scientists. employed in educational institutions increased from 36% to 40%. Those in Federal Government remained at 10% both years. Federal Government provided funds for at least some of work of 127,400 scientists, or 43% of total registrants. (Text)
In American Scholar architect R. Buckminster Fuller said: "It seems eminently clear that we not only must put our space programs on highest priority of attention and resource investment but that all humanity must be accredited and financed to enter into a new re-educational system that is geared to develop our most prominent awareness, that we indeed are in space and that all of our concern is with the fact that our space-vehicle Earth and its life-energy-giving Sun, and the tide-pumping Moon can provide ample sustenance and power for all humanity's needs to be derived from our direct energy income without further robbing our fossil fuels energy savings account. In reality, the Sun, the Earth and the Moon are nothing else than a most fantastically well-designed and space-programmed team of vehicles. All of us are, always have been, and so long as we exist, always will be-nothing else but-astronauts. Let's pull our heads out of the brain benumbing, mind frustrating, misinformedly conditioned reflexes. If it is going to be 'All ashore who's going ashore,, once more intent to return to non-space DOWN HERE ON EARTH, humanity is doomed." (American Scholar, Winter 1969-70, 27-47)
- November 1969
- December
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