Jun 5 1970
From The Space Library
Space News for this day. (1MB PDF)
NASA and Astronomical Netherlands Satellite Program Authority agreed on cooperative project to launch first Netherlands scientific satellite, ANS, on four-stage solid-fueled Scout booster from WTR into near sun-synchronous orbit in August 1974. Satellite would carry U.S. and Netherlands experiments to study stellar UV and x-ray sources. Spacecraft would be designed and developed in Holland. NASA would provide one experiment, the booster, launching, tracking, and emergency data acquisition. (NASA Release 70-91)
Team of NASA, Agency for International Development (AID), and university contract personnel left U.S. for 10-day visit to Korea in project to test feasibility of transferring NASA-sponsored industrial technology into developing country. Team-which included Ronald J. Philips, Director of NASA Technology Utilization Div.-would work out guidelines for Korean team to study way U.S. agencies transferred technology to industrial, educational, and medical communities. (NASA Special Release)
Apollo 11 Astronaut Neil A. Armstrong's May 24-June 5 visit to U.S.S.R. was reviewed in Christian Science Monitor: "To those few Russians who saw him, the first man to walk on the moon was unquestionably a big hit. But overall, his 12-day goodwill visit was an unobtrusive affair that stayed very much in the realm of Soviet officialdom." Armstrong had arrived in Leningrad May 24 to attend May 20-29 COSPAR Conference. "Although be was in Leningrad for five days, only one Leningrad newspaper made any mention of him and Russians for a long time were not aware he was even in the country." It was only after his arrival in Leningrad that Armstrong was invited by Soviet government to stay longer in U.S.S.R. He had "no exposure to Soviet public" during Novosibirsk visit. In Moscow, press had given more coverage. Armstrong had told press he had been "most emotionally moved" by meeting with Mrs. Yuri Gagarin and Mrs. Vladimir M. Komarov, widows of Soviet cosmonauts. (Saikowski, CSM, 6/5/70)
Dr. George M. Low, NASA Deputy Administrator, spoke at dedication ceremony for $2.8-million Life Support Technology Laboratory at LaRC. He said decade of space exploration had been characterized by progress in scientific knowledge and practical benefits to man. New laboratory would contribute to future U.S. efforts to learn more about universe. Laboratory was dedicated "to the welfare of man in space and to the solution of the problems that must be overcome before he can stay there." (Langley Researcher, 6/12/70, 1)
Authorization to proceed with B-1 Advanced Strategic Bomber development programs was issued by Deputy Secretary of Defense David M. Packard in memo to Secretary of the Air Force, Dr. Robert C. Seamans, Jr. It would be "several years" before production decision would be made. "Factors to be considered . . . will include the progress and success of the engineering development program, the progress of the SALT talks, and the relationship of the program to these talks." Dr. Seamans announced selection of North American Rockwell Corp. and General Electric Co. as airframe and propulsion contractors for engineering development of bomber. Total estimated cost of airframe contract was $1350 814 739 exclusive of avionics. Total estimated propulsion cost was $406 654 000. (Text; DOD Release 47970)
Discovery that glassy portion of 4.6-billion-yr-old lunar sample 12013 [see May 26] was chemically more like some tektites from Java than like any terrestrial igneous rock was reported in Science by GSFC scientist Dr. John A. O'Keefe. Glassy portion of Apollo 12 moon rock satisfied all chemical criteria for tektite. "Tektites are relatively recent and acid rocks, whereas the moon is chiefly ancient and basaltic; hence, tektites are probably ejected volcanically, rather than by impact, from the moon." (Science, 6/5/70, 1209-10)
Selection of General Electric Co. Space Div. and Link Div. of Singer General Precision, Inc., for competitive negotiations leading to $3.5-million contract for development of crew training simulator for Skylab program at MSC was announced by NASA. Cost-plus-award fee contract would include design, fabrication, installation, checkout, simulation programs, on-site systems engineering, and supporting documentation. (NASA Release 70-93)
MSC announced award of $210 000 fixed-fee contract to Lockheed Aircraft Corp. for study of safety methods and rescue techniques for lunar operations. (MSC Release 70-65)
AP said Tass had reported construction. of meteorological rocket launch complex at Molodezhnaya, Soviet station in Antarctica. Powerful radio was being constructed to speed information to Moscow and other world weather centers. (C Trib, 6/6/70)
Tans said Cosmonaut Valentina Nikolayeva-Tereshkova, wife of Soyuz IX Commander Andrian G. Nikolayev, was candidate for U.S.S.R.'s Supreme Soviet. Mrs. Nikolayeva-Tereshkova, who orbited earth 48 times aboard Vostok VI mission June 16, 1963, had been meeting with electorate in preparation for June 14 election. (Reuters, B Sun, 6/6/70)
Reuters reported Red Star interview during which Soyuz IX's unidentified chief designer said, "The Soyuz series are already working spacecraft. They are not being tested but are a means of exploration. . . ." One of Soyuz's tasks was to work out systems for future orbiting stations. Designer described Soyuz interior: "Convenient sofa stands at one end of the cabin. Opposite is an original 'working office' with a table and sideboard. Finished in mahogany, they are handsome and harmonious. A shelf with books and microfilms, control desks, portholes and scientific instruments complete the interior." (B Sun, 6/6/70)
Exhibit of 23 paintings of space subjects by Chesley Bonestell opened at American Museum-Hayden Planetarium in New York. (Am Museum-Hayden Planetarium Release)
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