Nov 13 1969
From The Space Library
Click here to listen to the Apollo 12 Prelaunch Press conference Pt 1
Click here to listen to the Apollo 12 Prelaunch Press conference Pt 2
NASA's X-24 A lifting-body vehicle, piloted by Maj. Jerauld R. Gentry (USAF), reached mach 0.65 after air-launch from B-52 aircraft at 45,000-ft altitude over South Rogers Lake Bed, Calif. Purpose of unpowered flight, seventh in series, was to obtain stability and control data at 30° upper-flap setting and various rudder settings. (NASA Proj Off)
President Nixon telephoned Apollo 12 Commander Charles P. Conrad, Jr." to wish crew good luck on eve of launch. (PD, 11/17/69, 1604)
President Nixon sent to Senate nomination of Dr. George M. Low as NASA Deputy Administrator. Manager of Apollo spacecraft at MSC since 1964, Dr. Low had served space program since 1949, when he joined NACA. He was recipient of NASA'S Outstanding Leadership and Distinguished Service Awards and had received Arthur S. Flemming Award in 1963 as one of the 10 outstanding young men in Government. (PD, 11/17/69, 1597)
Apollo 12 prelaunch press conferences were held at KSC and MSC. Operations were proceeding as planned toward launch from KSC at 11:22 am EST Nov. 14. Astronauts were in good health and weather was expected to be within minimums for launch. Liquid-hydrogen tank that had leaked Nov. 12 had been replaced, liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen had been loaded, and conditions were all go. Launch azimuth had been expanded to 160° to provide 120 min additional time for liftoff and greater opportunity for launch on Nov. 14. (Transcript)
In message transmitting to Congress NASA'S Twentieth Semiannual Report, President Nixon said: "During this decade, we have successfully met many challenges and have achieved significant progress in our ability to utilize space for practical applications, scientific exploration, and expansion of man's frontiers. We have subsequently landed astronauts upon the Moon, explored its surface, and returned these men to Earth. This historic event was made possible because of the solid foundation of a broad range of earlier activities, and through the skill and dedication of the many contributors to our space program." (PD, 11/17/69, 1603; CR, 11/13/69, S14274)
U.S. and U.S.S.R. space programs had common problem-what to do next in space exploration, Associated Press quoted Cosmonaut Konstantin P. Feoktistov as saying in Moscow. Both countries understood need for new space exploration technology, "and we, as well as the Americans, are facing the choice of a new direction." (AP, W Post, 11/14/69)
House Appropriations Committee approved full $95.9 million requested by President Nixon for continued SST development. (CR, 11/13/69, D1065; AP, B Sun, 11/14/69)
At 42nd scientific session of American Heart Assn. in Dallas, Tex." Dutch scientist Dr. A. C. Arntzenius described application of jet propulsion principle-for every movement in one direction, there is an equal opposite movement-in experiments to increase blood pumped by animal heart without increasing heart action. With research team from medical faculty of Rotterdam he had strapped piglets and dogs to "frictionless" table that slid in synchronization with animal heartbeat. Movement made it unnecessary for ventricle to expend energy to accelerate blood as it left heart. When blood started toward animal's head, table was moved in direction of its feet, forcing blood in opposite direction without adding to demands on heart. (UPI, W Star, 11/23/69, All; Am Heart Assn PIO)
DOD announced General Dynamics Corp. was awarded $66,850,000 supplement to previously awarded USAF contract for production of F-111 aircraft, bringing total obligations to $2,608,785,766. (DOD Release 982-69)
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