Jul 14 1969
From The Space Library
Apollo 11 Astronauts Neil A. Armstrong, Michael Collins, and Edwin E. Aldrin, Jr." appeared in nationally televised press conference. Interview with four newsmen was conducted over closed-circuit TV, with astronauts at KSC and press 15 mi away. TV cameramen allowed in auditorium with crew had undergone thorough medical examinations. Armstrong, mission commander, said that after decade of planning and hard work astronauts were "willing and ready to attempt to achieve our national goal. This is possible because very many Americans across the nation have dedicated themselves to quality craftsmanship and ingenuity." In response to question on astronauts' attitudes toward mission, Armstrong said fear was not unknown, but added: "Fear is characteristic particularly of a knowledge that there may be something that you haven't thought of and feel that you might be unable to cope with. I think our training and all the work that goes into the preparation for a flight does everything it can towards erasing those kinds of possibilities and I would say that as a crew we ... have no fear of launching out on this expedition." (Wilford, NYT, 7/15/69, 1, 20)
Chances of U.S.S.R.'s Luna XV successfully returning to earth with lunar sample were small because of complexity of operations required, NASA Associate Administrator for Manned Space Flight, Dr. George E. Mueller, told KSC Center Directors' Briefing. Landing, deploying equipment, collecting and storing samples, and then lifting off "are not simple things to do . . . and doing it remotely is more difficult than doing it with men in space. I don't think by any means impossible, but . the chances of being able to carry it out on the first mission are relatively low compared to the kind of probability that we would associate with our own landings." If Luna XV were able to successfully retrieve lunar sample, feat would be "significant technological step and one that represents a considerable degree of prestige," he said, but "each country [U.S. and U.S.S.R.] will obtain its proper share of credit. . . . The first sample returned if it were possible to do so and the first man landing on the moon are significant events, each in their own right, and are to be treated as such." (Transcript)
IAF announced official endorsement of absolute world's records for Dec. 21-27, 1968, Apollo 8 mission's 10 lunar orbits: altitude, 234,672.5 mi; greatest mass lifted into earth orbit, 282,197 lbs; total time in space for an astronaut, James A. Lovell, Jr." 572 hrs 10 min 16 secs. Apollo 8 world class records: duration of lunar mission, 146 hrs 59 min 49 secs; duration in lunar orbit, 20 hrs 14 min 13.2 secs. To obtain IAF certification of Apollo 11, crew would be given torn halves of four $1 bills for comparison with other halves on return as proof same men returned as took off. NAA would submit claim for absolute world record for extravehicular activity (EVA) for successful Apollo 11 mission. (AP, NYT, 7/15/69, 20)
New York Post published results of Louis Harris poll which showed American people favored manned lunar landing by 51% to 41%. In February poll public opinion had been opposed by 49% to 39%. Harris attributed change to feeling "if we have gone this far, we ought to finish the job." He said 56% of 1,607 adults polled from June 16 to 22 were opposed to annual $4-billion outlay for space program, while 37% favored it-little change from 55% for to 34% against in February. Reaction to Apollo 10 flight had been generally favorable. (NYT, 7/15/69, 20)
Expectation of one million tourists to witness Apollo 11 launch had led to extraordinary precautions at Cocoa Beach, Fla." Washington Post said. Tank truck would be stationed at City Hall to fuel police cars; airboats would stand by to rush casualties to hospital if ambulances could not penetrate automobile traffic; and officials were concerned about scores of aircraft circling overhead to glimpse spacecraft. (Greider, W Post, 7/14/69, Al)
Washington Evening Star special supplement, "Voyage to the Moon," commented: "Hanging in the sky, attracting man's attention for untold generations, the moon has been the reputed home of gods and goddesses of all religions, primitive and modern. If all these deities lived there at any one time, the reasons for its battle-scarred appearance would be obvious. But assuming that none did . . . that pock-marked face still poses more questions than it answers." (W Star, 7/14/69)
Aerospace Systems Laboratory had been established at Princeton Univ. to investigate U.S. space program and other broad areas of applied research, including transportation systems, New York Times said. Project was assisted by NASA and other Federal agency grants. (NYT, 7/14/69, 23)
NASA announced availability of 16-in-dia globe of moon prepared by USAF Aeronautical Chart and Information Center from NASA photos made by Lunar Orbiter series. Lovell Observatory, Ariz." prepared art work with exaggerated color tones showing lunar landscape bathed in morning sunlight and large Ring Plains, or explosive craters, on far side. One globe had been presented to President Nixon by Apollo 10 astronauts. (NASA Release 69-83G)
Harold W. Adams, Deputy to Vice President-Chief Engineer of Douglas Aircraft Co., received AIAA Aircraft Design Award of citation and $500 honorarium at AIAA Aircraft Design and Operations Meeting in Los Angeles. Citation read: "In recognition of your outstanding contributions to the safety and economic practicality of commercial air transportation during the past 38 years by development of aircraft design principles for high reliability and ease of maintenance." Adams was specialist in electric and hydraulic systems. (AIAA Release, 7/9/69)
Oceanographer Jacques Piccard cast off in 48-ft research submarine from West Palm Beach, Fla." for rehearsal of 1,500-mi Gulf Stream Drift to study ocean depths [see April 7]. If four- to five-day trial run was successful, team would remain submerged for 30 days and drift to Boston. (UPI, W Star, 7/14/69, A10)
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