Apr 9 1970
From The Space Library
Dr. Charles A. Berry, Director of Medical Research and Operations at MSC said chances were high that Astronaut Thomas K. Mattingly II would develop German measles next week and that, in his opinion, Mattingly's lack of immunity would not permit him to fly on Apollo 13 April 11. NASA had not officially ruled out Mattingly for flight, but countdown was proceeding on schedule and backup cm pilot John L. Swigert, Jr., was undergoing intensive training in Apollo simulators at KSC. (O'Toole, W Post, 4/10/70, A2)
Hydrogen cloud 13 million km (8 million mi) in diameter around comet Bennett had been discovered by Lyman-alpha experiment on board OGO V (launched March 4, 1968), NASA announced. Measurements had been made during three-day period while Bennett was about 105 000 000 km (65 000 000 mi) from earth and OGO V was orbiting earth at 23 000- to 108 000-km (14 000- to 67 000-m) altitude, operating in special spin-scan mode. Univ. of Colorado scientists said data from OGO V photometer indicated comet was composed largely of water. (NASA Release 70-56, UPI, W Star, 4/10/70, A2)
MSC announced award of $4.5-million, cost-plus-fixed-fee NASA contract to Fairchild Camera and Instrument Corp. for three-inch-focal length mapping camera, stellar reference camera, and timing device for precision mapping of moon on future Apollo missions. Mapping camera would provide 114-mm-sq (4.5-in-sq) photos with precise geometric controls. Stellar reference camera, used with timing device and laser altimeter-being produced under separate NASA contract with RCA-would provide spacecraft attitude, time, and altitude at which each photo was taken. (MSC Release 70-40)
AEC-NASA Space Nuclear Propulsion Office had awarded Aerojet-General Corp. $50 219 497 contract extension for continued design and development work on NERVA engine, NASA announced. Extension definitized work to be performed from Oct. 1, 1969, through Sept. 30, 1970. (NASA Release 70-54)
President Nixon signed E.O. 11523 establishing National Industrial Pollution Control Council to advise on industry programs on environmental quality. He announced appointments of Bert S. Cross, board chairman of Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co., and Willard F. Rockwell, board chairman of North American Rockwell Corp., as Chairman and Vice Chairman and appointments of 53 members to Council. Council would submit, through Secretary of Commerce, specific recommendations for further action on industrial environmental pollution and consider "role it can play in helping to implement the Nation's environmental protection program." (PD, 4113/70, 502-4)
Senate, by vote of 72 to 6, adopted S.R. 211, which sought agreement with U.S.S.R. on limiting offensive and defensive strategic weapons and suspension of test flights of reentry vehicles. (CR, 4/9/70, 55479-508)
Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.) introduced S. 3700, FY 1971 NSF authorization providing $548 million-$50 million more than President Nixon's recommendation plus additional $2 million annually in foreign currencies to be spent outside U.S. (CR, 4/9/70, 55428-9)
April 9-10: U.S.-U.S.S.R. editorial board to prepare and publish joint review of space biology and medicine met in Moscow to select authors and establish procedures and schedules. Project was established under Oct. 8, 1965, agreement between NASA and Soviet Academy of Sciences. First exchange of reference materials had been made in January. (NASA Release 70-61)
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