Jan 2 1973
From The Space Library
Dr. James C. Fletcher, NASA Administrator, expressed gratification in his monthly letter to the staff "with NASA's excellent performance in 1972, and with the successful transition ... from the completed programs of the Sixties to the new programs and new challenges of the Seventies. In 1972, Phase I of the national space effort of the United States was completed and Phase II well begun." NASA's first year with all launches and missions successful underlined that it was NASA's custom "to do the unprecedented and then quickly make it routine." Zero failures could now be the goal year after year. Dr. Fletcher also noted that of 18 space launches in 1972 half had been for other organizations or countries, with 8 being reimbursed.
On another "important front," the NASA-wide payload cost-reduction campaign begun in 1972 had gone well, with valuable suggestions from Centers and contractors. The effort "was not a routine cutback exercise and not a threat to anyone's security. It is, instead, a creative effort to expand our usefulness even though funds are limited. And you can be sure it has a lot to do with NASA's long-range survival as the instrument of the U.S. Government to handle most kinds of space and aeronautical R&D and other related assignments.” (NASA Activities, 1/15/73, 2-3)
Dr. Edward E. David, Jr., Presidential Science Adviser, resigned to return to private industry. The former communications systems scientist at Bell Telephone Laboratories, Inc., had served as Director of White House Office of Science and Technology for 28 mos and had instituted reorganization of the Federal science complex. The New York Times quoted White House sources as saying the resignation was prompted by disappointment that his advice had not been heeded by the Nixon Administration. Federal support for science and technology expressed as percentage of budget outlays for research and development had reached the lowest point since latter years of the Eisenhower Administration. The White House had declined comment on the resignation and had not released the text of Dr. David's letter to the President. (Lyons, NYT, 1/3/73, 1)
Grumman American Aviation]] Corp. was formed by the merger of Grumman Corp.'s general-aviation interests and American Aviation Corp. Grumman's Gulfstream 1 and 2 and Ag-Cat program assets were transferred to American Aviation Corp in exchange for shares in American. Corporate headquarters of the new company would be in Cleveland, Ohio, with Grumman President E. C. Towl as company Chairman and American President and Chief Executive Officer R. W. Meyer as President. (Interavia, 4/73, 301; Grumman Corp Pro)
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