Nov 26 1968
From The Space Library
Dr. George E Mueller, NASA. Associate Administrator for Manned Space Flight, told National Space Club in Washington, D.C., unique conditions in space suggested use of orbiting space stations for certain manufacturing processes. "For instance, liquid floating in a weightless environment takes the shape of a perfect sphere. Thus, it is conceivable that metal ball bearings could be manufactured in space to tolerances impossible on earth, yet at a cost, including transportation, less than we can now achieve. Perfect bearings would reduce friction and noise levels to the vanishing point. Free-fall casting techniques could be utilized to cast large flawless optical blanks for telescopes and by proper combinations of spinning and electrostatic forces we should be able to shape the surface as well." Stable foams for mixtures of liquefied materials and gases, impossible to produce satisfactorily on earth, could be produced in weightlessness, resulting in "a steel foam almost as light as balsa wood with many of the properties of solid steel." Composite materials like steel of different densities and properties and glass also could be produced. (Text; Schmeck, NYT, 11/27/68, 48; Sehlstedt, B Sun, 11/27/68, A6)
Dr. Homer E. Newell, NASA Associate Administrator, said in speech before annual convention of National Council for Social Studies at GSFC: ". .. because of the length of time between investment in basic scientific research and important use of the results thereof, support by Congress and the public of basic research is hesitating and often outright skeptical. The development and application of technology to the quick solution of current problems is better understood and more readily supported. Yet the fact is that technology to be used in the solution of a practical problem rests ultimately upon the results of basic research performed years, and often many years, ago." Experience proved, he said, "that the effort to select the basic research to support in terms of predicted usefulness would over and over again preclude support of the research that in time would prove to be the most valuable." (Text)
NASA and Univ. of Texas dedicated world's third largest telescope, 107-in, 150-ton instrument at McDonald Observatory, Mount Locke, Tex. Observatory Director, Dr. Harlan J. Smith, said it had been booked a year in advance. The $5-million observatory would emphasize studies of moon and other planets. Government scientists hoped for information to help them design planetary spacecraft. (UPI, NYT, 11/27/68, 26)
French Prime Minister Maurice Couve de Murville announced France's 1969 atomic test program would be canceled and credits would be reduced for Concorde supersonic aircraft as part of austerity program to save French franc from devaluation. French contribution to Concorde development would be cut by $12 million. It was not known how much move might delay program, with first prototype scheduled to fly in late December. (AP, W Star, 11/26/68, 1; Louchheim, W Post, 11/27/68, Al; Tanner, NYT, 11/27/68, 1)
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