Dec 29 1968
From The Space Library
Yomiuri of Tokyo said of Apollo 8: "This splendid voyage is hailed around the world as 'mankind's greatest feat' and 'a symbol of hope for the future'. . . . For the U.S. and the Soviet Union, it may be a matter of serious concern as to which puts men on the moon first . . . This aspect is not important for mankind in general. The two superpowers should regard space exploration as a project of the human race and not a narrow issue of national prestige." (Yomiuri, 12/29/68, 2)
International Flat Earth Society said in London that earth was definitely flat despite pictures from Apollo 8. Society Secretary Samuel Shenton said moon was circular but there was no proof it was a globe. (Reuters, B Sun, 12/30/68)
In Washington Sunday Star, William Hines reported results of query of eight eminent scientists on most important single decision related to science and technology which faced President-elect Richard M. Nixon early in his administration. Consensus was: shaping of long-term science policy. Also cited were need for reexamination of priorities and goals, with firm decision on extent to which science and higher education should receive Government support; creation of Dept. of Science in cabinet or stronger science-Government communication lines; reassessment of space funding and other "big science" projects, including proton accelerators; greater emphasis on social goals; vigorous antipollution efforts; and more imaginative use of science and technology as instruments of national policy. None of eight scientists advocated abandonment of space program after culmination of Apollo project. Alvin M. Weinberg, Director of Oak Ridge National Lab., said of space program, "This thing takes so very much money that it's hard to get excited about any other decision in science until this one has been made. What should be its level in the 1970s? We have become accustomed to something like four or five billion dollars a year, but I doubt very much that this is a level the new President is likely to concur in." (W Star, 12/29/68, C3)
Noting what he called "curious conspiracy of silence on Russia's capabilities and intention" for almost eight years, William Hines in Washington Sunday Star said: "One of the many small acts of positive statesmanship which Richard M. Nixon could profitably perform early in his administration would be to tell the American people fully and frankly just what the United States government knows about the Soviet space program. . . It would lend credence to Mr. Nixon's professed policy of openness. It would compromise no significant secrets. And it would enable the American public to make judgments about the future of the U.S. space program at a time when vital decisions along this line would be coming due." (W Star, 12/29/68, C4)
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