Jan 6 1970
From The Space Library
Dr. Gary V. Latham, Columbia Univ. seismologist and principal seismic investigator for Apollo program, during Houston, Tex., press conference withdrew proposal that atomic bomb be detonated on moon. Instead, he said, NASA should find way to hit moon hard enough to create strong internal reverberations. Pressure from scientists and public had led to retraction of original proposal. (W Star, 1/8/70, 134)
Lunar Science Conference Press Conferences on this date:
Dr Frank Press (MIT), Dr John Wood (Smithsonian Astrophysical), Dr Paul Gast (Columbia University), Dr Harrison Schmitt (Scientist Astronaut), Dr Johannes Geiss (University of Bern)
Dr Thomas Gold (Cornell), Dr Larry Haskin (University of Wisconsin), Dr George Morrison (Cornell Univ), Dr William Ehmann (University of Kentucky), Dr Bruce Watson (MIT)
Dr Johannes Geiss (University of Bern), Dr Paul Gast (Columbia University), Dr Harrison Schmitt (Scientist Astronaut), Dr Frank Press (MIT), Dr John A. Wood (Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory)
Cambridge Univ. astronomer Dr. Fred Hoyle was principal speaker at banquet given by National Space Hall of Fame and City of Houston during conference. He said it was significant that in year when men first set foot on another world, desire to save their own planet had suddenly blossomed. "Quite suddenly everyone worldwide has become seriously interested in protecting the environment. Something new as happened to create this feeling of awareness about our planet." He warned that man had to face probability that he could no longer discover important physical laws solely by observation in earth laboratories. "We are in a transition period, and in the future we must rely more on outside laboratories than astronomers did in the past." (Burgess, CSM, 1/8/70)
Listen to Professor Fred Hoyle's speech and Chris Kraft's introduction on this date.
Marvin Hurley (Space Hall of Fame), Dr Chris Kraft (MSC), Prof Fred Hoyle (University of Cambridge)
Former Astronaut Michael Collins was sworn in as Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs in Washington, D.C. He would be responsible for State Dept. relations with U.S. public, particularly youth. (State Dept Release 3)
NASA announced it was publishing new quarterly, Computer Program Abstracts, listing documented computer programs developed by and for NASA and DOD. First issue listed 500 programs available to domestic purchasers for nominal fee. Journal, published by Office of Technology Utilization, was available by subscription or from Superintendent of Documents, GPO. (NASA Release 70-1)
MSC announced contract awards: General Motors Corp. AC Electronics Div. received $3-million letter contract for primary navigation, guidance, and control system support for Apollo CM and LM; Boeing Co. received $3-million letter contract for systems engineering and assessment for Apollo spacecraft program; and Raytheon Co. received $1-million letter contract for 250 fixed-memory modules for cm and LM guidance computers in support of Apollo and Apollo Applications programs. (MSC Releases 70-2, 70-3, 70-4)
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