Aug 10 1969
From The Space Library
Apollo 11 Astronauts Neil A. Armstrong, Edwin E. Aldrin, Jr." and Michael Collins and 20 other persons quarantined in Lunar Receiving Laboratory were released Shortly after 9:00 pm CDT-four hours earlier than planned. Dr. Charles A. Berry, Director of Medical Research and Operations, MSC, said astronauts, who had been confined since July 24, showed no signs of any possible infection from exposure to moon. He cautioned that astronauts might become ill after release-not from lunar contamination, but from earth organisms to which they were highly susceptible after long period of isolation. Report on health of persons under quarantine would be presented by NASA Aug. 11 to Interagency Committee on Back Contamination, which had approved early release. (Sehlstedt, B Sun, 8/11/69, Al; AP, W Post, 8/10/69, A7)
NASA had assured Post Office Dept. that master die for 10-cent moon landing commemorative stamp [see July 9] had gone all the way to lunar surface as planned. It had returned to earth in CM and been rushed to Washington, D.C., July 31 after decontamination at MSC. However, moon letter envelope with die proof of moon landing stamp had not been postmarked on lunar surface. Because of tight schedule for lunar EVA, letter had been left with Astronaut Michael Collins in CM Columbia while Astronauts Neil A. Armstrong and Edwin E. Aldrin, Jr." worked on moon. "Moon Landing" postmark had been applied during return voyage. Letter had been decontaminated at MSC and returned to Postmaster General Winton M. Blount Aug. 5. (Fairies, W Star, 8/10/69, H11)
Space program spinoffs of medical benefit to mankind were described by Howard A. Rusk, M.D." in New York Times. NASA's Scientific Information Div. provided stockpile of knowledge indexed in computer tapes and distributed on microfiche. Collection of 250,000 documents increased by approximately 75,000 items annually. NASA Technical Utilization Div. selected inventions, ideas, and new techniques for use in nonaerospace activities, including medicine, and distributed them through eight regional centers. Under interagency agreement, NASA and HEW Social and Rehabilitation Services Administration reported results of aerospace research to solve problems of 4 million physically or mentally disabled Americans of working age. Research had developed technique for sharpening x-rays, micrometeorite sensor to record Parkinsonian tremors, and technique for applying electrodes with spray of conductive material. (NYT, 8/10/69, 55)
William Hines in Washington Sunday Star said time was "ripe" for NASA reorganization, "not merely the firing, promoting and transferring of officials, but the functional restructuring of the agency as well." There was some suspicion that no place existed for Dr. Thomas O. Paine, NASA Administrator, who was "not only a Johnson-administration holdover, but a card-carrying Democrat as well." Some observers believed Apollo 8 Astronaut Frank Borman, "the President's current darling and space confidant," might be next NASA Administrator. "The idea of putting astronauts in charge of the space program may seem incongruous, but it is clearly not beyond the realm of possibility in the image-conscious Nixon regime." Paine's fate would determine that of Associate Administrator for Manned Space Flight, Dr. George E. Mueller. With lunar landing, Apollo had changed from developmental to operational effort. Christopher C. Kraft, Director of Flight Operations at MSC, would likely transfer to Washington as Apollo Program Manager-possibly "controlling all space missions for NASA." Hines saw possibility of Apollo Program Director, George H. Hage's moving into position being vacated by L/G Samuel C. Phillips, Apollo Program Director, who was rejoining USAF. "George M. Low, Apollo chief at Houston, may replace the Houston Center director, Robert R. Gilruth, if Gilruth can be prevailed upon to retire." There was talk about moving MSFC Director Dr. Wernher von Braun to Washington "to do what he does best: charm money out of Congress." Dr. Kurt H. Debus, KSC Director, "may retire to make way for Rocco Petrone. . . ." (W Star, 8/10/69, G4)
History of Jet Propulsion Laboratory from 1936, "when the 'crazy scientists, under . . . Dr. Theodore von Kármán lit off one of their rockets in the dry gulch called the Arroyo Seco," to current time, when "JPL's sights are set a little higher-and farther out," was traced by John Lannan in Washington Sunday Star. JPL controlled NASA Deep Space Network with jurisdiction over space efforts 10,000 mi from earth and beyond, though its Goldstone facility also had participated with GSFC in support of Apollo 11. Its space flight operation facility was "actual directorate" for handling cosmic penetration flights. It was currently gearing for Martian orbiter series in 1971 and for 1973 Viking Landers. Future held possibilities of developing and directing missions leading to Grand Tour of planets. JPL was owned by Federal Government and staffed and operated by Cal Tech. (W Star, 8/10/69, G3)
George Gallup released results of first poll of President Nixon's popularity since Apollo 11 success. Poll showed 65% of U.S. public approved his performance in office. Poll July 11-14, before Apollo 11 mission, had shown 58% approval. (W Post, 8/11/69, A2)
Apollo 11 had opened vast market for medals, tokens, and pins to collectors who specialized in commemorative pieces, New York Times said. Medals issued by several countries after Apollo 8 were "few compared to the meteoric shower of commemoratives for the moon landing." Medal by Ralph J. Menconi portrayed Apollo 11 astronauts on face side; reverse showed Astronauts Neil A. Armstrong and Edwin E. Aldrin, Jr., with LM on lunar surface and earth in background. Medal designed in U.K. by Paul Vincze depicted astronaut on lunar surface with names of Apollo 11 astronauts. Reverse showed figure of Hermes holding winged staff of flight and olive branch with Saturn V in background. (Haney, NYT, 8/10/69)
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