Jan 15 1969
From The Space Library
President Johnson in message transmitting FY 1970 budget to Congress said major recommended decreases in budget authority from 1969 to 1970 included $235 million for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, which "will provide for a program level equal to 1969 when combined with prior year funds." Major increases included "522 million for airway modernization, highways, and other activities" in DOT. Of estimated $11.6 billion increase in total budget outlays, $0.5 billion was for national defense, "largely for improvements in our strategic forces, modernization of our tactical air forces, and other increased research and development efforts needed to assure sufficient deterrent power in the future. These increases will be substantially offset by reduced outlays for Vietnam resulting from changing combat patterns and revised supply requirements. .. In keeping with national priorities, major social programs account for largest portion" of increase. President said: "The record of achievements of the past 5 years is an impressive one. We have witnessed a period of unprecedented economic growth, with expanded production, rising standards of living, and the lowest rates of unemployment in a decade and a half. Our military forces today are the strongest in the world. . . . Last month saw man's first successful flight to the moon. In domestic matters, the legislative and executive branches, cooperatively, have forged new tools to open wider the doors of opportunity for a better life for all Americans. "This Nation remains firmly committed to a world of peace and human dignity. In seeking these goals, we have achieved great military strength with the sole aim of deterring and resisting aggression. We have continued to assist other nations struggling to provide a better life for their people. We are successfully pushing forward the frontiers of knowledge to outer space and promoting scientific and technological advances of enormous potential for benefit to mankind." (PD, 1/20/69, 70-90; CR, 1/15/69, S195-208)
President Johnson sent $195.3-billion FY 1970 budget request to Congress, including total space budget of $5.946 billion. Of this sum, NASA would receive $3.599 billion (plus $7.89 million for aircraft technology and $117 million in unobligated funds from prior years to be applied to 1970 program) ; DOD would receive $2.219 billion; AEC, $105 million; ESSA, $10 million; NSF, $4 million; Dept. of Interior, $6 million; and Dept. of Agriculture, $4 million. Total NASA FY 1970 budget request of $3.878 billion was below $4 billion for first time since FY 1963 request. Expenditures were budgeted to decline nearly $300 million from FY 1969 level of $4.250 billion, to $3.950 billion. Of budget request, $3.168 billion would go for R&D, $58.2 million for construction of facilities, and $650.9 million for program management. Slightly more than 50% of total FY 1970 authority-$2.008 billion-would be in manned space flight, including Saturn IB Workshop and Apollo Telescope Mount. Space science and applications were allotted $558.8 million; advanced research and technology, $290.4 million. Larger proportion of NASA funds would go to research than to development in FY 1970 as Apollo costs declined. Increases would go to Apollo Applications (total $308.8 million in FY 1970), 1971 Mariner-Mars flight ($45.4 million), Viking project ($40 million), 1973 Mariner-Mercury ($3 million), Planetary Explorers ($8 million), Applications Technology Satellites ($44.2 million), and Earth Resources Survey program ($25.1 million). Aeronautical vehicle technology program, up from $74.9 million to $78.9 million, included $21,78 million for advanced research, $500,000 for general aviation, $11.25 million for V/STOL, $16.19 million for subsonic aircraft, $20.9 million for supersonic aircraft, and $8.28 million for hypersonic aircraft. DOD space funding would include satellite development, certain portions of missile development and operating costs, MOL (increased to $576 million), Titan III booster, and supporting R&D. In addition, aircraft R&D funds of $1.4 billion would include $500 million for new USN F-14A fighter to replace F-111 B, $1 billion for series of advanced jet aircraft, $75 million for long-range bomber to succeed B-52, and funds for USAF F-1 5 fighter and USN VSX antisubmarine aircraft. AEC space funding included amounts for nuclear rocket. propulsion technology and nuclear power sources for space applications, including production of isotopic fuels and aerospace safety. ESSA funds would support Earth Resources Technology Satellite (ERTS) program research. NSF's total request was up from $400 million in FY 1969 to $497 million. Of this amount, its $4-million space funds were for research in astronomy using rockets and satellite-borne observation instruments. Dept. of Interior would conduct experiments with data from ERTS spacecraft. FAA'S R&D budget would increase from $49 million in FY 1969 to $59 million in FY 1970. Principal increases were for research on air traffic control and noise abatement. President Johnson requested no additional funds for SST program. (NASA Release, 1/15/69; BOB Special Analysis Q; Dale, NYT, 1/16/69, 1; Schmeck, NYT, 1/16/69, 24; Lindsey, NYT, 1/16/69, 81; W Post, 1/16/69, Al2)
NASA released transcript of Jan. 14 briefing on NASA FY 1970 budget at which Dr. Thomas O. Paine, NASA Acting Administrator, said $3.878- billion budget approved by President Johnson had been developed "to maintain an austere but balanced NASA aeronautics and space program aimed at major program goals of high national priority." Goals were continuing advances in space applications, including initiation of experimental earth resources technology satellites and slightly decelerated research on space environment; achieving manned lunar landing and additional Apollo moon missions, with limited provision for studies-not for development-of equipment to achieve longer lunar stay-times and mobility for future exploration; proceeding with Saturn I Workshop and Apollo Telescope Mount ; proceeding with Viking Project to land instruments on Mars in 1973; initiating in FY 1970 Mariner flyby in 1973 of Venus and Mercury; producing family of small planetary Explorers for orbiting Mars and Venus; making preliminary observations of Jupiter with previously approved Pioneer spacecraft; continuing work on unmanned orbiting astronomical observatories; continuing advanced aerospace technology work at about current levels; emphasizing noise reduction, with construction of special noise research laboratory; developing full potential of civil and military aeronautics; and undertaking NERVA project for development of flight-weight nuclear engine. Dr. Paine noted FY 1970 budget, as approved by President Johnson, "would halt a four-year downward trend in NASA budget." It was "austere and does not make full use of the aerospace capabilities that the nation has developed. . . ." But it permitted "a balanced program of useful work in critical areas." Budget left "the major new program decisions, especially in the manned flight area, for the next Administration," and was " 'holding budget' that provides for progress, but defers critical program and funding decisions to the new Administration." (Transcript)
Apollo Program Director, L/G Samuel C. Phillips (USAF), addressed National Space Club luncheon in Washington, D.C., on impact of Apollo 8 : "Many, if not most, of the world's newspapers heralded the flight as evidence of the greatness of the United States. I'm told journalists in Germany, England and France speculated on the improved position that the U.S. would enjoy in the diplomatic arenas in which it is engaged in very important discussions. I'm told that a French paper went so far as to say that the lunar flight had vindicated Capitalism as the best system of government, and vindicated our free enterprise system as the most effective way to make progress. I'm aware from personal correspondence and discussions as well as reports in the press that scientists throughout the world have been equally impressed and that they've applauded the progress that this flight indicates for us." Gen. Phillips described Apollo 9 mission as "far less spectacular than Apollo 8, but . . . more complex." It would be "certainly one of the most vital missions that we've had in our mission sequence over the years that leads us to a lunar landing." Risks would be different but "I personally think they're a little greater than the risks which we knowingly accepted in committing the Apollo 8 mission." Apollo 10 would be fifth Saturn V -505--with 106 command and service module and LM -4. Crew would be Astronauts Thomas P. Stafford, John W. Young, and Eugene A. Cernan. Scheduled for May, its objectives were "to demonstrate the performance of the crew, the space vehicle, and the mission support facilities during a manned lunar mission with the Command and Service Module and Lunar Module, and to evaluate the performance of the Lunar Module in a cislunar and lunar environment." (Text)
Astronomers at Univ. of Arizona detected for first time existence of rapidly flashing Star in Crab Nebula with rhythm coinciding with that of pulsar observed by radio telescope at same position. Flashing was confirmed during week by McDonald Observatory of Univ. of Texas and by Kitt Peak National Observatory in Arizona. Presumably star and pulsar were identical. Discovery was first unequivocal observation of pulsar in visible light. (Sullivan, NYT, 1/21/69, 29)
Boeing Co. announced it had made Jan. 15 deadline in submitting to FAA specifications for fixed-wing, 280-ft, titanium SST, weighing 635,000 lbs and having 141%-ft wingspan. General Electric Co. engines would propel aircraft to 1,800 mph. Boeing said 299-passenger aircraft's first flight was scheduled for 1972, with commercial operation possible in 1976. (WSJ, 1/15/69, 7; FAA Release 69-6)
Underwater test program begun at MSFC'S Neutral Buoyancy Simulator several years earlier was providing information essential for design of first U.S. space station, NASA reported. Technicians, design engineers, and professional divers in spacesuits and scuba gear were conducting tasks similar to those necessary to activate space orbiting workshop, in 1.4-million-gal water tank containing mockups of AAP cluster elements (Saturn I Workshop, lunar module ascent stage, Apollo Telescope Mount solar observatory, and airlock and multiple docking adapter), simulating weightlessness of space. Weightlessness was impossible to duplicate on earth for longer than fraction of minute. Conclusions from tests would be reflected in workshop's final design, with decision expected in May 1969. (NASA Release 69-4)
Penn Central Railroad began electric-powered Metroliner service that would cut traveling time of 226-mi New York-Washington trip to 2 hrs 59 min-36 min faster than swiftest previous trains and, according to Penn Central Chairman Stuart T. Saunders, comparable to airplane journey which took 45 min in sky but added airport-access and airway delays. (Aug, W Star, 1/15/69, Al; Eisen, W Post, 1/16/69, B1)
January 15-17: Space Science Education Conference, to inform educational TV directors and teachers of ways NASA could assist in explaining space program to students and educational TV audiences, was held at MSFC and attended by educators and TV representatives from six states. (MSFC Release 69-11)
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