Feb 10 1971
From The Space Library
Soviet President Nikolay Podgorny sent message to President Nixon: "Please accept . . . our congratulations on the successful conclusion of the flight of the spacecraft Apollo 14 and on the safe return of the American astronauts." Toss said he also asked President Nixon to forward best wishes to "courageous crew." (Reuters, C Trib, 2/11/71)
European interest in U.S. space program had "with notable exceptions" dwindled since Apollo 11's first lunar landing and "trouble-fraught" Apollo 13, New York Times said. Despite extensive press and TV coverage, Europeans had taken Apollo 14 for granted. "In some countries local events overshadowed man's third visit to the moon," but in West Germany opinion poll had shown that 64% favored continuation of manned space flights. Frankfurter Rundschau editorial had said, "What Shepard and Mitchell carried off couldn't have been done by a Lunokhod." Polish newspapers had given equal prominence to Lunokhod I and Apollo 14, but stressed technological feat of unmanned vehicle. Soviet press had highlighted Apollo 14 difficulties to suggest superiority of unmanned vehicles. Soviet man in street "seemed bored with space exploration, although some Russians went out of their way to ask Westerners about the United States moonshot." Komsomolskaya Pravda, Soviet youth daily, had praised astronauts' "indisputable bravery." In U.K. Apollo 14 had been overshadowed by unrest in Northern Ireland and collapse of Rolls-Royce Ltd. Live TV coverage of Apollo 14 had been less than of previous Apollo missions. Earthquake and civil disorders had crowded Apollo 14 from front page of Italian newspapers, and Feb. 7 power blackout in New York had received as much space as launch. Italian radio and TV coverage had been thorough but audiences seemed smaller than for previous Apollos. Pope Paul VI had praised Apollo 14 as advance for all man-kind. In France interest had waned as mission progressed. Newspapers and TV offered comprehensive coverage but "excitement of two years ago" had vanished. Spaniards, too, were losing interest in space exploration and public interest had declined in Hungary and Yugoslavia. Communist student; leader in Zagreb had said, "If the Americans and Russians would cooperate in space instead of carrying their rivalries to the moon, maybe there could be some scientific progress on earth and maybe the. smaller nations could be helped to contribute their knowledge instead of being shut out of science by the expense." (NYT, 2/10/71, 24)
Apollo 14 technical problems were discussed by Dr. George M. Low, Acting NASA Administrator, in interview published by New York Times: "I feel that what we've seen on Apollo 14 is about the number of problems one must expect on any given flight with such a complicated piece of hardware. Yet the spacecraft design is such that it is forgiving of failures. And we hope we'll always be able to work around them and press on with the mission." (Witkin, NYT, 2/10/71)
MSC scientists reported instruments left on moon by Apollo astronauts had apparently survived sudden drop in temperature during lunar eclipse. Instruments registered no unusual seismic events or radiation fluxes during eclipse. Temperature at Apollo 12 site dropped from 348.9 K (168.3°F) to 170.4 K (-153°F), a 178.5 K (321.3°F) change. Temperature at Apollo 14 site dropped from 341 K (154.1°F) to 170.4 K (-153°F). (NYT, 2/11/71, 40)
Dr. Charles A. Berry, Director of Medical Research and Operations, announced at MSC that Apollo 14 Astronaut Alan B. Shepard, Jr., had become first man to gain weight while in space. Other two crew members had lost weight: Edgar D. Mitchell had lost 0.5 kg (1 lb) and Stuart A. Roosa had lost 4.5 kg (10 lbs). Shepard had gained 0.5 kg (1 lb). NASA physicians were making fluid tests on astronauts to determine reason for weight loss during space flight. (Altman, NYT, 2/11/71, 40)
Milwaukee Journal editorial on Apollo 14 commented: "The real return on Apollo lies in the future-beyond the more difficult missions of flights 15, 16 and 17. It is in Skylab, reusable space shuttles and sophisticated space stations to come. It is in the complex monitoring of the earth and its resources from space. It is in the co-operation and internationalization of space programs that appear to be developing-hopefully to replace competition. Here is the payoff. To this Apollo 14 and its crew have made their extraordinary contribution." (MJ, 2/10/71)
NASA announced renaming of five recently reorganized units of Office of Advanced Research and Technology (OART). Aeronautical Research Div. became Aerodynamics and Vehicle Systems Div.; Environmental Systems and Effects Div. became Aeronautical Life Sciences Div.; STOL Program Office became STOL Technology Office; ATET Program Office became Supercritical Technology Office; and Lifting Body Program Office became Entry Technology Office. Dr. Leo Fox, Deputy Director of Biotechnology and Human Re- sources Div., was named Director of Aeronautical Life Sciences Div. (NASA Special Release)
NASA announced appointment of Harry W. Johnson, Vice President for Engineering in Gates Learjet Corp.'s Aircraft Div., as Director of OART's Aeronautical Propulsion Div. (NASA Release 71-19)
Sen. Clinton P. Anderson (D-N. Mex.), Chairman of Senate Committee on Aeronautical and Space Sciences, introduced S. 720, $3.271-billion FY 1972 NASA authorization bill, identical to House bill introduced Feb. 9 (CR, 2/10/71, S1193)
Lockheed Aircraft Corp. President Charles S. Wagner announced that Lockheed would lay off up to 6500 employees as result of financial collapse of Rolls-Royce Ltd. British concern was unable to make scheduled deliveries of engines for Lockheed L-1011 TriStar airbus. Lockheed had orders for 178 TriStars from seven airlines and three holding companies at approximately $16 million each. (Witkin, NYT, 2/11/71, 67)
Long Beach, Calif., Harbor Commission refused to renew Howard Hughes' lease on 3-hectare (7.2-acre) site where eight-engine wooden flying boat Spruce Goose had been in hangar for more than 23 yrs. Lease would be terminated on Sept. 1 expiration because property could be more profitably developed as marine terminal. Hughes had designed and built aircraft at estimated $24-million cost. Aircraft, 67 m (219 ft) long with 97.5-m (320-ft) wingspan, had been flown once, by Hughes Nov. 3, 1947. It had not been seen by public since. (UPI, W Post, 2/12/71, A8)
President Nixon submitted nomination to Senate of Herbert F. DeSimone to be Assistant Secretary of Transportation for Environment and Urban Systems. (PD, 2/15/71, 209, 217)
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