Apr 26 1972
From The Space Library
Air Force SR-71 reconnaissance jet aircraft set record for sustained speed at high altitudes in 10%-hr flight from Beale Air Force Base, Calif. Aircraft, piloted by L/c Thomas B. Estes (USAF), flew 24 100 km (15 000 mi) at speeds over mach 3 and altitudes above 24 400 m (80 000 ft). Flight plan included two round trips across northern and central U.S. and complete circle of western states, equivalent to nonstop flight from San Francisco to Paris and return. (Haughland, AP, W Post, 7/17/72, A3)
Lockheed L-1011 TriStar wide-body jet transport flew first passengers on Eastern Airlines flight between Miami and New York, via Atlanta, Ga. (Witkin, NYT, 4/27/72, 85)
Apollo 16 astronauts were "klutzes on the moon," unable to repair damage done to their equipment through "clumsiness," controversial columnist Nicholas von Hoffman said criticizing Apollo program in Washington Post. "As more and more people come down with raging cases of dull skull from watching this repetitious ennui they become converts to the no longer very heretical proposition that this money might be better spent on schools or sewers. An alluring but flawed idea. The dough would be shifted into bomb procurement." (W Post, 4/26/72, Bl)
San Jose [Calif.] Mercury editorial, commenting that Apollo 16 astronauts were safely on their way home "after a hugely successful exploration of the highlands of the moon," said: "Space exploration should continue to command a relatively high place in the nation's list of priorities; five trips to the moon have only served to whet the appetite for more and better knowledge of the earth's nearest neighbor." (San Jose Mercury, 4/26/72)
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