Aug 11 1969
From The Space Library
Lunar scientist Dr. Harold C. Urey discussed moon findings at San Diego, Calif., press conference after return from study of Apollo 11 lunar samples at LRL. There was "no evidence whatever" of life on moon and, "at present, no age of the rocks on the surface of the moon is known." Fine dust on lunar surface consisted of 50% glass-10% in form of Small beads, 40% as broken-up beads-and "something else" containing minerals similar to those in lunar rocks. Dust and rocks evidenced shock as though produced by "rather large collisions somewhere that dug up material considerably deeper in the moon than the few centimeters they have been investigating." There was no evidence of water. Chemical analyses had shown high concentration of titanium in lunar samples characteristic of area where Surveyor V and Apollo 11 had landed. "No such . . . titanium concentration occurs anywhere that we know of on the surface of Earth." No one had "anticipated what we are finding. And I believe that no one has a good explanation of how it got that way." It would take "much more" than nine more Apollo manned landings to solve lunar mysteries. He saw no economic value in future lunar colonization but "an observatory on the moon would be a wonderful way to investigate the heavens, because the difficulties of the atmosphere would disappear." (Space World, 12/69, 35-42)
Rep. George P. Miller (D-Calif.), Chairman of House Committee on Science and Astronautics, told House: ". . . I do not at this time wish to commit ourselves to a specific time period for setting sail for Mars. I believe that there are many tasks that can be accomplished that will ultimately provide that capability, but will be less costly and will be necessary in meeting short term objectives." He urged priority attention to intermediate steps and balanced program "that fully exploits the great potential of unmanned spacecraft, while at the same time maintaining a vigorous manned flight program." He advocated continuation of lunar exploration to obtain "experience of operating a base for science and exploration on another heavenly body"; manned earth-orbital operations leading to long-term space station supported by low-cost shuttle rocket; greater emphasis on applications satellites that "have the greatest potential for economic return in the near term"; larger funding for unmanned planetary exploration, "an area in which the U.S. may soon be overshadowed by the Soviet Union"; continued NERVA development because "improved propulsion is a key to space leadership"; and "special emphasis on ERS satellites, "which promise to yield so much . . . to agriculture and industry." (Text; CR, 8/11/69, H7251-4)
On first day out of quarantine, Apollo 11 crew visited MSC offices, then enjoyed official day off. NASA spokesman said astronauts had requested their activities be kept secret (UPI, W Post, 8/12/69, A3)
Approximately nine hours of satellite time had been booked for TV coverage abroad of Apollo 11 astronaut events during coming week, ComSatCorp said. They included more than two hours live coverage of Aug. 12 MSC news conference, to be relayed via Intelsat-III F-2 to Western and Eastern Europe and, in part, to Tokyo and Sydney via Pacific Intelsat-III F-4. Nearly two hours coverage of New York ticker-tape parade and visit to U.N. would be transmitted to Europe Aug. 13. Ceremonial dinner in Los Angeles, later in day, would be taped for transmission to Europe Aug. 14. (ComSatCorp Release 69-50)
Sen. J. William Fulbright (D-Ark.) told Senate: "It would be a major step forward if we could now negotiate a new space treaty which would go beyond the disavowal of national claim of sovereignty in the existing treaty and explicitly recognize the United Nations as the owner, or sovereign of extraterrestrial bodies and also define the functions and responsibilities of a United Nations space authority, particularly the ways in which it would regulate and coordinate national space exploration programs. The overall objective of such a treaty would be to regulate but not eliminate the competition in space. One benefit of such an arrangement is that it would allow the space powers to reduce their expenditures and so reallocate funds to more pressing domestic and international requirements." (CR, 8/11/69, S9633)
New York Times editorial: "On that eventful day when the first men walk on the surface of Mars, they will find much 'magnificent desolation, akin to that seen by Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin when they strolled on the moon last month. That virtual certainty emerges from the brilliantly successful exploration of the red planet just completed by Mariners 6 and 7. Their expedition lacked the human drama of Apollo 11, but the scientific information they returned may well qualify the two Mariners as the most scientifically productive enterprise men have yet carried out in space." (NYT, 8/11/69)
Subcommittee on NASA Oversight submitted to House Committee on Science and Astronautics report Engineering Management of Design and Construction of Facilities of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Report concluded that closer economic scrutiny of design and construction management at NASA executive level could "yield dividends in more efficient management and lower costs at the field centers." Organization of Office of Facilities was "progressive step." Cost accounting of administrative expenditures needed to be improved and engineering management costs should be clearly identified for all projects at all centers. (Text)
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