Feb 11 1972
From The Space Library
Dr. James C. Fletcher, NASA Administrator, refuted economics of space shuttle opponents in speech before Commonwealth Club of San Francisco: "First, they inflate development costs; second, they say that the number of launches per year must be greatly increased before there are savings, which is not true; third, they incorrectly include the cost of payloads as part of the cost of the Shuttle. In this way, they reach the totally false conclusion that the Shuttle program will cost $30 or $40 billion over the next two decades. "Their figures are wrong, and their logic is wrong. It is against common sense to add the operational costs of the Shuttle to the development costs .... The cost of using the Shuttle to carry out a space mission should be added to the cost of the mission. Actually we will be saving money, not spending money, every time we use the Shuttle for a space mission." Shuttle development cost would be "about $6 billion to be spent over the next six or seven years" not $30 or $40 billion "as some Shuttle critics say." (Text)
Mariner Mars '71 primary mission-to explore Mars from Martian orbit for period sufficient to observe planet's surface and view selected areas during dynamic changes, photograph planet, and obtain infrared and ultraviolet data on atmosphere and surface characteristics-was ad- judged successful by NASA. Mariner 8 launch May 8, 1971, was not successful because of malfunction of Atlas-Centaur booster. Mariner 9 was successfully launched May 30, 1971, and reached Mars Nov. 13, 1971. All Mariner 9 instruments operated successfully and were continuing to transmit data. When Mariner 8 was lost, mission plan for Mariner 9 had been altered to meet primary mission objectives in best way. Plan had been altered second time when dust storm on Mars delayed systematic mapping of planet. (NASA proj off)
NASA announced new assignments in Office of Public Affairs. Alfred P. Alibrando, Director of Public Information, was named Deputy Assistant Administrator of Public Affairs. He would be succeeded by Richard T. Mittauer, Public Affairs Officer for Space Science and Applications. Robert J. Shafer, Assistant to Assistant Administrator for Industry Affairs and Technology Utilization, was named Deputy Assistant Administrator for Public Affairs (Television). (NASA Release 72-28)
Dept. of Transportation announced award to Rohr Industries, Inc., of $5-million contract to construct 60-passenger prototype of tracked air-cushion vehicle (TACV). Vehicle was part of $115-million urban transportation research and development program sent to Congress by President Nixon. (DOT Release 12-72)
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