May 7 1969
From The Space Library
NASA announced establishment of task group on manned space station under Dr. George E. Mueller, NASA Associate Administrator for Manned Space Flight, and of task group on space shuttle under Charles W. Mathews, Deputy Associate Administrator for Manned Space Flight. Reporting to Dr. Mueller would be LeRoy E Day, former Director of Apollo Test. His group would develop NASA material for report on space shuttles to President's Space Task Group by June 15. Frank Borman, former Deputy Director of Flight Crew Operations at MSC and Apollo 8 commander, would report to Mathews as Field Director for Space Station effort. (NASA Release 69-70)
Robert J. Collier Trophy for 1968 was presented to Apollo 8 Astronauts Frank Borman, James A. Lovell, Jr." and William A. Anders by Dr. Thomas O. Paine, NASA Administrator, at Statler Hilton Hotel ceremony in Washington, D.C. National Aeronautic Assn. award was made annually for greatest achievement in aeronautics or astronautics in U.S. toward improving performance, efficiency, and safety of air or space vehicles. (NAA News; W Star, 5/8/69, A3)
Nike-Cajun sounding rocket launched by NASA from Wallops Station carried GSFC payload to 80.4-mi (129.4-km) altitude to provide data on wind, temperature, pressure, and density in 21.8- to 59.0-mi (35- to 95-km) range during atmospheric warming. All 19 grenades ejected and exploded as programmed and sound arrivals were recorded on ground. Mission was launched in conjunction with Nike-Cajun launch from Arenosillo, Spain. (NASA Rpt SRL)
MSC announced Astronaut Alan B. Shepard, Jr." had been cleared medically for return to space flight status following correction of inner ear disorder which had grounded him in 1963. (NYT, 5/8/69, 2; W Post, 5/8/69, A7)
George J. Vecchietti, NASA Director of Procurement, would serve as Acting Assistant Administrator for Industry Affairs, replacing Philip N. Whittaker, who had assumed new duties as Assistant Secretary of the Air Force, NASA announced. (NASA Ann)
Associated Press said NATO nations U.K., West Germany, Canada, Italy, Belgium, Holland, and Norway had agreed to participate in tactical satellite communications experiments with U.S. France was interested but would not participate; system was for use of closely integrated forces and she had withdrawn her troops from integrated NATO commands. Satellite for exclusive use of alliance was scheduled for launch by end of year. (W Star, 5/7/69, A9)
Four contract modifications totaling nearly $10 million, for change orders issued in connection with Saturn V 2nd stage, had been awarded to North American Rockwell Corp." MSFC announced. (MSFC Release 69-127)
V/A Hyman G. Rickover (USN) , addressing Convocation on Ecology and the Human Environment at St. Alban's School in Washington, D.C." said that "keeping our small crowded planet inhabitable" was "of utmost importance and great urgency. . . . We have been brought to this critical situation by the scientific-technological revolution, and can extricate ourselves only by a change of direction in thought and action so drastic it would rate the term counterrevolutionary." Science, "pure thought," harmed no one. "But technology is action . . . often potentially dangerous action. Unless it is made to adapt itself to human interests, needs, values, and principles, more harm will be done than good. Never before . . . has man possessed such enormous power to injure himself, his human fellows, and his society. . . . That is why it is important to . . . recognize clearly that . . . technology can have no legitimate purpose but to serve man-man in general, not merely some men. . . ." (Text; W Star, 5/11/69, E2)
Securities and Exchange Commission said it had begun inquiry into all phases of Government's contractual dealing with Lockheed Aircraft Corp. on C-5A procurement. (Nossiter, W Post, 5/8/69, Al; AP, W Star, 5/8/69, A3)
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