May 23 1967
From The Space Library
Science press briefing on SURVEYOR III was held at NASA Headquarters. Dr. Ronald F. Scott, Cal Tech, showed a movie composed of a time lapse sequence of still pictures of the surface sampler digging a small lunar trench. The device also picked up a small rock in left side of scoop and tried unsuccessfully to crush it, exerting between 200-300 psi. Dr. Scott concluded that rock examined was at least harder than sandstone, which would have broken under impact of about 200 lbs. SURVEYOR III also confirmed that moon's surface could support manned lunar landing. Consistency of surface was found to be comparable to wet sand with bearing strength between three and eight psi. Dr. Scott said of an exploring astronaut: "He'll leave a definite footprint, that's all." Dr. Eugene Shoemaker, US. Geological Survey, said a series of 50 color photos taken by SURVEYOR III's cameras using color filters indicated that lunar surface was gray. "The gray varies in shade from a pale to a very dark gray, but it appears to be basically all gray." He said this color probably resulted from lack of moisture and of air on moon. Minerals on earth were brightly colored because of higher state of oxidation possible under earth environment. Dr. Shoemaker noted that some of the lunar material photographed by SURVEYOR III was very dark, suggesting that it had been coated with a darkening substance which he nicknamed "lunar varnish." Among photos displayed were two pictures of the eclipse in which earth was depicted as a dark circle sitting between spacecraft and sun. Earth appeared to have partial halo of deep sunset color in one photo and orange areas connected by a faint purple halo in the other. (O'Toole, w Post, 5/24/67, A12; Clark, NYT, 5/24/67, 50; Hines, W Star, 5/25/67, A13)
NASA Administrator James E. Webb, speaking at colloquium on "Urban Government in the Decade Ahead," at Fels Institute of Local and State Government, Pennsylvania Univ., discussed urban American goals and the urban society: "What can one say about the use of new scientific approaches for governing such a complex [society] ?" Referring to earth-orbiting spacecraft achieving dynamic equilibrium in their mastery of space, he asked if the "ability of the human mind" could translate this concept of dynamic equilibrium into an entirely new way of thinking. Webb stated: "Here I believe we do have something to learn from the perspective the earth satellite gives us [and] if we continue to expose this kind of overview to the largest possible number of able minds, there can be little doubt that new knowledge, new capability, new perception of worthwhile and quite specific goals will emerge." He added: ". . . I believe that what the space frontier opened up in 1957 is the kind of frontier on which pioneers can experiment and learn to use many facets of modern technology here on earth-here in America's cities. In urban America, as elsewhere, men need the constant development of new concepts of reality and the inspiration that comes from a chance. to better know this city and this universe in which we live." (Text)
First SV-5D lifting body vehicle ever recovered from a suborbital space flight was displayed by USAF at Pentagon press briefing. Seven feet long and weighing 860 lbs, it was heat blackened and slightly charred on its outer surface from 3,000° F reentry heat. Col. Curtis L. Scoville, AFSC, said vehicle, launched April 19 by an Atlas booster, had achieved an orbital speed of 17,000 mph and reentered in a maneuvering descent that took it "hundreds of miles" off its straight-line trajectory. A USAF aircraft recovered it in mid-air during final parachute descent. Mission was third successful flight in USAF's Precision Recovery Including Maneuvering Entry (PRIME) program; first two vehicles were not recovered, but program was considered so successful that planned fourth flight had been canceled. (Schmeck, NYT, 5/24/67,50)
Soviet Institute of Oceanology's Marine Electronics Laboratory was developing a television-equipped robot to probe the ocean floor at depths of four-six km (2«-four mi) , Science Service reported. Controlled electronically through a specially made cable, robot would carry a manipulator to pick up objects sighted by TV camera. Engineers hoped to eventually develop a robot that could be controlled entirely by ultrasonic signals transmitted through the water. (SciServ, NYT, 5/23/67, 50)
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