Feb 25 1970
From The Space Library
NASA announced plans to place White Sands, N. Mex., Test Facility on standby status in June 1971 because of reduced FY 1971 budget requests and reduction of Apollo program work. Move could reduce employment from 641 to caretaker force of 50 following completion of 1970-1971 tests of Apollo LM and Skylab program CMs and SMs. Facility would be kept in condition for resumption of work in 60-90 days. In announcing decision Dr. Thomas O. Paine, NASA Administrator, said, "The NASA facilities at White Sands are unique and valuable. We plan to consider them carefully for possible use in future NASA programs, and to undertake a survey of possible uses by other government agencies." (NASA Release 70-31)
Apollo 13 Astronaut Fred W. Haise, Jr., described plans for EVA on lunar surface at KSC news conference. Haise said he and Astronaut James A. Lovell, Jr., would explore hilly region, collect samples, and climb 180-220 m (250-400 ft) up Cone Crater. "We hope to get back to at least the base. . . . From a sampling standpoint there really is a very definite ejecta blanket of rock fragments that's thrown out of the hole at the base of the cone and it would certainly be of interest to get up to the rim. . and even if you just got pictures of that it would be of extreme interest. Another benefit. . high ground would give you a magnificent panorama. You could see a good deal more of the countryside that you can see from. . .walking around. . ." Haise would drill three holes 3 m (10 ft) deep in lunar surface two to hold heat sensors and one for sample collection-using battery-powered, rotary-percussion drill. Depth of 3 m (10 ft) "compared to the center of the moon may not be very deep, but it does give a look-see through the surface structure at least in place that in time represents several million years." (Transcript)
NASA announced selection of 15 investigators and experiments for Atmosphere Explorer (AE) flights C, D, and E scheduled for launch in 1973, 1974, and 1975. Spacecraft would investigate atmosphere at altitudes between 120 and 150 km (75 and 95 mi). Region had not been investigated by satellites because air drag slowed satellites' periods and caused premature reentry. New AE spacecraft would have onboard hydrazine propulsion systems that would overcome air drag and permit automated variable orbits. (NASA Release 70-29)
Oran W. Nicks, NASA Acting Associate Administrator for Advanced Research and Technology, testified before House Committee on Science and Astronautics on OART's FY 1971 program. Primary objective of V/STOL program was "research needed for the development of advanced rotorcraft which will offer hovering capability and low-noise operations for inner-city operations plus the cruise flight efficiency necessary for inner-city to outlying airport service. Experience with conventional helicopters shows that this service is desired but that it falls short of economic success. If the gap can be closed by improved technology, then the way will be clear for rapid development of this type of travel service. To this end, we are working on several advanced rotor concepts." LaRC V/STOL Transition Research Wind Tunnel would be operational in late 1970. Facility would study effect of down flow from rotors on fuselage and tail, high-lift flaps for STOL air transport applications, and effect of jet lift engine exhaust on aerodynamic and propulsion characteristics of VTOL fighter configurations. (Testimony)
Dr. Walton L. Jones, Director of Biotechnology and Human Research Div., DART, testifying on human factors program, told Committee: "No seriously limiting effects have been noted in cardiovascular function during the relatively brief manned space flight to date. However, longer duration exposure to weightlessness and the absence of hydrostatic stresses of earth gravity may cause deterioration in cardiovascular reactivity." (Testimony)
Charles W. Harper, Deputy Associate Administrator for Aeronautics, DART, testified before House Committee on NASA's V/STOL technology: "In the past few years NASA has focused its research increasingly toward the objective of enabling development of several types of V/STOL aircraft, each directed at a single important mission. These include an advanced rotor type with airplane-like cruise capability for those missions where vertical takeoff and landing is mandatory, a small and agile STOL aircraft with modest cruise performance and capable of operating easily out of 1500' [460-m] runways having minimum site preparation and a large STOL aircraft having jet transport type cruise performance while also operating easily out of well prepared 1500 [460-m] STOL ports. In addition to this more focused activity, the V/STOL program contains broader research objectives leading eventually to multimission V/STOL aircraft satisfying this growing transportation mode most effectively." (Testimony)
Dr. Hermann H. Kurzweg, Director of Research, DART; testified on NASA basic research programs: NASA-supported research had developed new approach permitting for first time step-by-step numerical calculation of growth of disturbances in atmospheric shear flows, which should contribute to detection and avoidance of clear air turbulence by jet aircraft. First steps had been taken to apply fluid physics knowledge to atmospheric pollution from airborne and ground sources, testing pollutant action in models of city streets. New research programs would apply knowledge of fluid dynamics to noise abatement studies. Establishment of direct relationship between surface structure and electrical characteristics of germanium surface during oxidation had increased knowledge of oxygen's role in device performance and should increase efficiency in electronic devices. Special attention was being given to evaluation of alloys at the high temperatures of supersonic speeds and to evaluation of rigid polymeric foams as lightweight structural materials for aircraft. (Testimony)
Milton Klein, Manager of Space Nuclear Propulsion Office, DART, testified before House Committee on Science and Astronautics' Subcommittee on Advanced Research and Technology on role of nuclear rockets in future space transportation. Potential for reuse of nuclear stage provided additional prospects for spaceflight economy. Nuclear rocket would be in-space link between earth-to-orbit transportation system and operations at moon and in distant earth orbits. NASA budget request for $38 million for program in FY 1971, however, could be viewed as maintaining progress in only the most important longest-lead-time development activities in NERVA." Progress made in "early, critical years, will permit later development activities. . .to proceed smoothly." Effort was essential to meet major milestones: first ground test of series of NERVA flight reactors in 1973 and first ground test of series of NERVA flight engines in 1974. (Testimony)
Mission Agency Support of Basic Research, report by Research Management Advisory Panel of Subcommittee on Science, Research, and Development was submitted to House Committee on Science and Astronautics: "The scientists who work in fundamental research have always proved to be the best reservoir of manpower for tasks requiring objectivity, innovative ideas, and imaginative approaches. We must not let the source of this reservoir dry up." Report recommended Congressional reaffirmation of policy that mission agencies fund their proportionate share of basic research, Federal funding of research to ensure against U.S. research gap, and Federal support of younger scientists as well as established investigators. (Text)
Executive nomination of Charles D. Baker as Assistant Secretary of Transportation, submitted Jan. 26, was withdrawn from Senate. (CR, 2/25170, 52394)
Harry Mitchell, NASA Deputy Director of Office of Facilities, died at age 47 after heart attack at NASA Hq. (W Star, 2/27/70, 135)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28
