Aug 13 1970
From The Space Library
House, by vote of 203 to 196, sustained President Nixon's veto of H.R. 17548, FY 1971 Independent Offices and HUD appropriations bill containing $3.269-billion NASA appropriation. (CR, 8/13/70, H8238-55)
NASA launched two Aerobee sounding rockets. Aerobee 350 launched from Wallops Station carried Univ. of Michigan experiment to conduct radiation belt studies. Rocket and instrument functioned satisfactorily. Aerobee 150 launched from WSMR carried NRL experiment to 185.6-km (115.3-mi) altitude to study extreme UV spectra. Experiment, model of solar experiment scheduled to fly on NASA's Apollo Telescope Mount, successfully photographed sun for 300 secs and recorded excellent scientific data. (SR list; MSFC Release 70-213)
In letter to NASA, TRW Inc. asked review of July 15 award of $50-million contract for hardware development of Earth Resources Technology Satellite (ERTS) system to General Electric Co. TRW, losing bidder, said there had been "significant information available to our competitor and not available to TRW during the period of competition." TRW said it had not received Bendix Corp. study of computer and ground components of system until 10 days before preliminary bid was due. (Nossiter, W Post, 8/29/70, A1)
President Nixon submitted to Congress nomination of Dr. Raymond L. Bisplinghoff, Dean of MIT School of Engineering, as NSF Deputy Director. Dr. Bisplinghoff had been NASA Associate Administrator for Advanced Research and Technology, 1963-1965, and Special Assistant to NASA Administrator, 1965-1966. (PD, 8/17/70, 1068)
AEC announced selection of Gulf General Atomic to receive $2 000 000, one-year contract to begin development of technology for thermionic-reactor power system for use in space. Reactor could be used in manned orbiting space station, lunar base, manned or unmanned electric-propulsion probe to explore solar system, and advanced communications satellites. Program was expected to take 8 to 10 yrs. (AEC Release N-155)
President Nixon replied to July 16 letter of ICAO Council President Walter Binaghi that had conveyed ICAO Assembly Declaration on unlawful interference with international civil aviation: "You may be sure that my Government, in its effort to stop hijacking of aircraft and other acts of violence against international air transport, will give serious consideration to both technical and legal measures recommended by the Assembly." (PD, 8/17/70, 1061)
August 13-23: Apollo 11 CM Columbia, lunar samples, and spacesuits worn by Apollo 11 crew were exhibited at Illinois State Fair in Springfield. (C Trib, 8/9/70; NASA PAO)
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