Sep 14 1970
From The Space Library
Dr. Thomas O. Paine addressed Economic Club of Detroit in last public appearance as NASA Administrator. He summarized NASA projections of potential space advances to year 2000 advances U.S., U.S.S.R., Western Europe, and Japan, alone or in concert, would have industrial and economic resources to realize. For both America and other countries, response to challenge would "determine their futures." New space transportation system-with reusable Space Shuttle to make return trips to orbit with passengers and cargo, permanent orbiting space station, and automated and manned space tugs for emplacing and recovering satellites and for transportation between orbits-was "bridge to our future in space." Space Shuttle would be "NASA's major single effort during the next ten years." New approach to large payloads based on shuttle booster stage would offset termination of Saturn V after completion of Apollo lunar landings by 1972. Skylab program scheduled to start during 1973 would provide basis for final design of space station. Integrated lunar exploration in early 1980s could use station in lunar orbit as platform for descent to any portion of moon's surface for up to 14 days. Broad, vigorous, unmanned program to explore planets in 1970s would be start of orderly program to visit every planet in solar system, blazing trail for manned trips to Mars and Venus before end of century. "The space in orbit two hundred miles [320 km] above the earth can be thought of as a vast new continent, equal in area to the surface of the entire globe." Discovered only a dozen years ago, new continent would "become increasingly important as the leading world source of global information and communication services and then, inevitably, as a new home of men from earth." Beyond solar system, automated and manned astronomical probes would "extend our understanding of the universe through more intensive investigations in optical and radio astronomy and space physics." Before century's end, man might find answers to "the overwhelming questions of man's origin, his destiny, and of his uniqueness as the bearer of intelligence in the universe." Man "may indeed be unique but the odds against it approach a thousand billion billion to one.... Every experiment so far has been negative, but the search will continue.... We do not know what may exist, but we are upon the verge of knowing." Of Apollo program Dr. Paine said, "History may record that the substitution of major international technical competition, in place of war, was the great and unprecedented peacekeeping breakthrough of our era." Benefit on international social and technical change was "evident to all." (Text)
Three of nine USAF volunteers began test at MSC to determine man's physiological tolerance to reentry loads expected on Space Shuttle missions. Subjects, whose reactions to shuttle reentry profile had been measured after 24 hrs rest Sept. 9-11 would rest in bed seven days before riding centrifuge in "eye balls down" reentry configurations at 2.5-g to 4.5-g levels for up to 6 min 10 secs to determine what effect prolonged "eye balls down" reentry acceleration would have on Space Shuttle crew members and passengers after long periods of weightlessness. Normal Space Shuttle reentry mode of MSC straight wing shuttle produced downward through-the-head acceleration as opposed to "eye balls in" acceleration through the chest. (MSC Release 70-94)
Dr. Edward E. David, Jr., was sworn in as OST Director and Science Adviser to President Nixon in Washington, D.C., ceremony. President Nixon said, "This nation needs to strengthen its support of basic science so that the practical applications which will benefit us all can be forthcoming." (PD, 7/210, 1213-4)
President Nixon sent formal request to Congress for $28 million to recruit and train 2500 security guards to ride commercial aircraft. Funds also would go to other measures for ensuring "aircraft security on United States flag carriers." President said DOT was transmitting bid for required legislative authority. (AP, NYT, 9/15/70, 28)
International tribune to prosecute aircraft hijackers was advocated by U.N. Secretary General U Thant in New York speech on eve of opening of 25th General Assembly: "The world has no other choice but to surrender some national sovereignty. Nations and people must have the courage to resort to adequate new methods of international law and order." (Sherman, W Star, 9/15/70, Al)
House Committee on Science and Astronautics published For the Benefit of All Mankind: A Survey of the Practical Returns from Space Investment (H. Rpt. 91-1446). Space Research "already has produced an extremely broad range of concrete benefits, not only to the American citizenry but to the people of many nations. The flow of 'hard benefits' has grown from a trickle to a stream, and it is widening to a river, as expanding technology uncovers more and more ways of improving man's mode of existence." Report cited tangible benefits m business, medicine, transportation, construction, new fabrics, and new materials. Future benefits "of even greater impact" included use of satellites for more efficient management of earth's natural resources, use of satellites in crime detection, and possible development of hospitals in space "which would offer gravity-free treatment to patients with heart ailments." Illustrations, based on existing or impending technology, were the "extra dividends which are a fallout of ingenious application of space experience by business, industry,, commerce, Government, the medical profession, and the academic community. Those dividends already paid, coupled with those in sight for the near-term future, affect practically every facet of human convenience and concern. They promise continuing and increasing return on the space investment for the benefit of mankind on earth today." (Text)
House concurred in S.C.R. 49, providing for congressional recognition of Goddard Rocket and Space Museum. Action cleared measure for President's approval. (CR, 9/14/70, H8620)
NASA issued policy announcement directing that "measurement values" used in NASA scientific and technical publications be expressed in International System of Units. (NASA Release 70-157)
Lockheed Aircraft Corp. had announced private financing plan that would provide immediate $30-million loan and $250 million in additional funds, Wall Street Journal reported. Additional financing was contingent on settlement of firm's contractual disputes with DOD. (WSJ, 9/14/70, 5)
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