Jul 22 1970
From The Space Library
Development of light source 20 times more powerful than largest light source commercially produced was announced by LeRC. Operating at 400 kw, 76-mm (3-in) electric are radiated through 125 lenses and lit 47-sq-m (500-sq-ft) area. It had been installed in Space Power Facility vacuum chamber at Plum Brook Station, Ohio, to simulate deep space environment for testing power-generation systems on communications satellites or manned orbiting laboratories. (LeRC Release 70-36)
National Air and Space Museum was victim of "shocking lack of attention" by Smithsonian Institution management, Sen. Barry M. Goldwater (R-Ariz.) said on Senate floor. He said that museum received "extremely meager share," about 1.7% of $40-million-plus annual Smithsonian appropriation, and was undermanned, with "only 31 people on board." Museum attracted at least one third of visitors to Smithsonian Park. It had no director "even though it has been 24 months since the last Director gave notice of his planned retirement"; museum had been put into arts and humanities wing of Smithsonian for years rather than being considered science and technology component; in 1969, Smithsonian management had threatened to expel museum from Mall. Most museum exhibitions were badly housed and deteriorating rapidly: and program for construction of permanent Air and Space building was "at dead center." In words of "Paul Johnston, the last Director of the museum, the project 'may never get off the ground.' " (CR, 7/22/70, 5119116)
Outline of financing plan to keep Lockheed. Aircraft Corp. in business in "substantially its present form" had been agreed on by 24 of major U.S. banks, New York Times reported. But bulk of funds Lockheed was thought to require-$300 million out of total $430 million-would have to be provided either by Government directly or as Government-guaranteed loan. (Heinemann, NYT, 7/22/70,1)
Anglo-West German agreement to develop combat aircraft for service in late 1970s was announced in House of Lords in London by U.K. Minister of Defence, Lord Carrington. Aircraft would replace U.S. F-104s of West German Air Force and U.S. Phantoms in service with RAF. (Middleton, NYT, 7/23/70,13)
July 22-24: European Space Conference held fourth meeting in Brussels. Conference decided to continue ELDO programs with Europa I and II boosters and preliminary work on Europa IIIB and endorsed ESRO scientific satellite programs and preliminary study of large meteorological satellite. It approved new ESRO programs on applications satellites toward development by 1975 of 200-kg (440-lb) Europa II combat and by 1980 of advanced 500-kg (1100-lb) satellite to be launched by Europa IIIB and agreed to develop, with NASA, satellite for air-traffic control and navaid. Conference also approved merger of ELDO, ESRO, and LETS into new European: Space Organization (ESO) and decided to continue negotiations with NASA on European participation in post-Apollo programs. Conference endorsed ELDO's space tug studies as form of participation in post-Apollo program and approved measures for consolidating European position in negotiations for permanent INTELSAT constitution. (Cleaver, A&A, 10/70,70-2)
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