Feb 27 1971
From The Space Library
President Nixon announced intention to nominate Dr. James C. Fletcher to be NASA Administrator succeeding Dr. Thomas O. Paine, whose resignation was effective Sept. 15, 1970. Dr. Fletcher had been President of Univ. of Utah and College of Eastern Utah since 1964. He had organized Space General Corp., subsidiary of Aerojet-General Corp. in 1960 and served as President 1960-1962 and Chairman of Board 1962-1964. From 1960 to 1962 he was President of Space Electronics Corp., which he founded, Dr. Fletcher had been Associate Director of guided missile laboratory at Ramo-Woolridge Corp. He was member of Air Force Science Advisory Board and Naval Warfare Panel. Nomination was submitted to Senate March 1. (PD, 3/1/71, 383- 4; 3/8/71, 437)
Dr. James C. Fletcher, President Nixon's nominee for NASA Administrator, told Salt Lake City press conference he favored grand tour of solar system's larger planets by unmanned spacecraft. "It would be very exciting for man to go beyond the moon, but I suspect that's beyond the country's budget," Dr. Fletcher did not think it would be necessary to curtail space exploration sharply in coming years despite budget cuts. "We'll have to do better for the same amount of money.. . . And we may tend to reduce manned flights in favor of unmanned flights." (AP, W Star, 2/28/71; UPI, LA Times, 2/28/71)
Special Apollo Awards Ceremony was held at MSC to recognize individuals and support groups for their contributions to Apollo 13 and Apollo 14 missions. Dr. George M. Low, Acting NASA Administrator, presented NASA Distinguished Service Medals to Walter J. Kapryan, KSC Launch Operations Director; Eugene F. Kranz, Apollo 14 Flight Director; Glynn S. Lunney, Apollo 13 Flight Director; former astronaut James A. McDivitt, Apollo Spacecraft Program Manager; Dale D. Myers, NASA Associate Administrator for Manned Space Flight; and Sigurd A. Sjoberg, Apollo 13 Flight Operations Director. NASA Distinguished Public Service Medal was presented to James J. Gavin, Jr., of Grumman Aerospace Corp.'s LM team and Public Service Medal to Donald E. Eyles of MIT. NASA Exceptional Service Medals were presented to 23 employees of MSC and KSC. Group Achievement Awards were presented to DOD Recovery Forces and Manned Spaceflight Support Network. (NASA Special Ann, 2/26/71; NASA Release 71- 28)
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