Oct 15 1971
From The Space Library
March 7 discovery of water vapor on moon by two suprathermal ion detectors left on lunar surface by Apollo 12 and 14 astronauts was announced by Rice Univ. scientists Dr. John W. Freeman and Dr. H. Kent Hills. Water bursts had been found 14 min apart at two lunar sites just after seismometers at sites had picked up swarm of moonquakes. Dr. Freeman said in Houston, "I think this proves that the moon is still actively quaking and venting gas and also indicates there is a good possibility of liquid water somewhere on the moon." He said bursts were best described as "geysers," but cautioned against likening them to geysers on earth. Later, Washington Post reported that Apollo engineers had said water could have come from burst tank on descent stage of Apollo 12 LM or from backpacks of Apollo 12 crew. (O'Toole, W Post, 10/16/71, Al; Reuters, B Sun, 10/16/71, A3)
Skylab airlock trainer was flown from McDonnell Douglas Astronautics Co. in St. Louis, Mo., to MSC aboard NASA Super Guppy aircraft. (NASA Release 71-187; MSC No)
Skylab astronauts would begin extravehicular training in pressurized suits in MSFC Neutral Buoyancy Space Simulator later in year. Mockups of Skylab space laboratory modules had been submerged in water tank 12 m (40 ft) deep and 23 m (75 ft) wide, which simulated weightlessness of space environment. (NASA Release 71-205)
Univ. of Florida was using KSC particle measurement computer system to analyze upper-air samples taken by aircraft at various altitudes, NASA Activities reported. System was only one of its kind in Florida. (NASA Activities, 10/15/72, 169)
Grumman Aerospace Corp. demonstrated $500 000 Turbo-Mallard amphibious aircraft in Potomac River for DOT and CAB officials. Ten-seat, 20-m (66-ft) aircraft cruised at 355 km per hr (220 mph) and could land on ground or in water as shallow as 1.5 m (5 ft) and at least 3000 m (1000 ft) long. Grumman had $50 000 contract with City of New York for feasibility study of water landings and takeoffs. (Levey, W Post, 10/16/71, B3)
NSF published Enrollment Increase in Science and Mathematics in Public Secondary Schools, 1948-49 to 1969-70 (NSF 71-30).
Total in 1969-70 was more than 2.5 times larger than total enrolled in 1948-49. Largest relative increases were reported for enrollments in psychology, economics, and biology. (NSF Highlights, 10/15/71)
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