Apr 30 1972
From The Space Library
Apollo 16 discoveries were described in New York Times article. Mission had been "longest, most ambitious and, in many respects, most productive" in Apollo series. Discoveries included fact that Descartes region of lunar highlands contained almost no specimens of unaltered volcanic rock despite region's age, "older than the seas and the more prominent craters." Region had been found to contain breccia rock that had been "fragmented, jumbled, and cemented together again." High magnetism observed at sites visited by Apollo 16 astronauts might provide clue to moon's early history, since analysis of lava rocks on earth had indicated earth's magnetic field flipped over at intervals of thousands or millions of years, with shift requiring centuries. Reverse polarity discovered in rocks near Apollo 16 landing site might mean moon had done magnetic flip at some time in its early history. Among experiments whose outcome was still uncertain was attempt to photograph and analyze ultraviolet light from hydrogen clouds thought by some scientists to exist and to be "missing mass" that would explain gravity assumed to be keeping clusters of galaxies from flying apart. (Sullivan, NYT, 4/30/72, 3)
Marshall Space Flight Center announced it had designed and built compact shower assembly for use on Skylab earth-orbital missions beginning in 1973. Astronauts would step inside ring on floor and raise fireproof beta cloth curtain on hoop and attach it to ceiling. Flexible hose with push-button shower nozzle could spray 2.8 liters (3 quarts) of water from personal hygiene tank during each bath. Used water would be vacuumed from shower enclosure into disposable bag and deposited in waste tank. (MSFC Release 72-38)
Full-scale model of Boeing supersonic transport costing $10 million would be stored at Boeing facility near Seattle, Wash., another year for further "technical evaluation," Washington Evening Star reported. Federal Aviation Administration had said technical benefits to be gained by retaining mockup would outweigh proceeds from its sale. (W Star, 4/30/72, C12)
Apollo 16 astronauts John W. Young, Charles M. Duke, Jr., and Thomas K. Mattingly II underwent detailed medical examination and began technical debriefing at Manned Spacecraft Center. Dr. Willard Hawkins of MSC said astronauts looked good, were "in good physical shape," and had normal responses. (AP, B Sun, 5/1/72, A3)
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