Feb 16 1970
From The Space Library
Wild, 227-kg (500-lb) elk on National Elk Refuge near Jackson Hole, Wyo., would be fitted with 10-kg (23-lb) electronic collar to transmit data to orbiting Nimbus III (launched April 14, 1969), NASA announced. Experiment-sponsored by NASA, Dept. of Interior, and Smithsonian Institution-was attempt to learn more about migratory habits of large animals. Collar containing small antenna, transmitter, receiver, batteries, and solar cells would transmit data on atmospheric temperature, elk's skin temperature, altitude above sea level, light intensity, and location daily at noon and midnight for six months. Data would be received by interrogation, recording, and location system (IRLS) onboard Nimbus III and stored in spacecraft's memory system to be matched with another interrogation two or three minutes later. With time and range of two consecutive interrogations, elk's location could be determined to within one mile. Electronic collar had been tested on semitame elk at National Bison Range in Montana with no ill effect on the elk. Scientists would attempt to place electronic collar on one of two wild female elk which had been wearing 10-kg dummy collars. Elk used in experiment would be named "Monique." (NASA Release 70-24)
Vice President Spiro T. Agnew presented National Geographic Society's Hubbard Medal to Apollo 11 Astronauts Neil A. Armstrong, Edwin E. Aldrin, Jr., and Michael Collins at ceremonies in Washington, D.C. Medal honored exceptional research, exploration, and discovery. (Program; UPI, W News, 2/16/70)
Atheist Mrs. Madalyn Murray O'Hair carried her suit to ban broadcast and telecast of prayers by astronauts in space to U.S. Supreme Court. She appealed Dec. 2, 1969, decision of U.S. District Court that prayers were individual decisions of astronauts. (AP, NYT, 2/ 17/70,
INTELSAT international planetary conference convened in Washington, D.C. U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs U. Alexis Johnson welcomed 100 delegates to meeting, which was to work out definitive arrangements for establishment of single global commercial comsat system with control apportioned among members. (UPI, W Post, 2/17/70)
In message transmitting to Congress 19th annual report of National Science Foundation President Nixon said, "As we go forward into the decade of the 70s, the role of science will surely become more and more important in the search for solutions to our problems and in the effort to enhance our environment." (CR, 2/16/70,14812)
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