Apr 22 1972
From The Space Library
Richard Witkin commented on clarity of Apollo 16 TV pictures in New York Times article: "The space agency has a $46,008 contract with a three-month-old California company to process sig- nals from the moon and improve the quality of Apollo television reception. The verdict so far from Apollo 16 scientists, the primary beneficiaries, is that the money is being well spent. And there appears to be no quarrel from the viewing public." at company, Image Transforms, Inc., had been doing to signals from Apollo 16 was being kept confidential-even from NASA-to protect seven existing and two pending patents. Signals were sent from Apollo 16 to Houston and were immediately sent to Image Transform's North Hollywood, Calif., plant and back before being displayed on NASA screens and being sent to networks. Extra delay was only one fifth second. NASA had arranged image processing so geologists could give astronauts better input on which rocks to collect on moon. Better reception for home TV viewers was side benefit. Process had been developed by Canadian John Lowry, coowner of company. (NYT, 4/22/72, 16; LA Times, 4/23/72)
Change in Apollo 16 schedule necessitated by command module problem had at least tripled cost of beaming TV coverage of mission to Europe, Washington Post reported. European Broadcasting Union had planned to record coverage in New York and beam pictures to viewers via satellite. When CM problem developed, TV officials had decided situa- tion warranted immediate "live" coverage. Later network decided to beam moonwalks live, as well. (W Post, 4/22/72, Al0)
Newspaper editorials commented on Apollo 16 mission as astronauts conducted second extravehicular activity (EVA) on lunar surface. New York Times commented on April 20 decision to continue Apollo 16 mission despite technical problems: "Thursday's dilemma and its solution were particularly useful in reminding all concerned that there are two kinds of errors that can be made in situations of this type." There was possibility of mission directors "deciding to continue the journey in the face of a danger that brings disaster. Against that is the alternate risk of being overly cautious and aborting a mission unnecessarily, at huge financial and scientific loss." It was "delicate dilemma" and "tribute to the Project Apollo leadership and organization that to date these voyages have foundered on neither rock." (NYT, 4/22/72, 30)
Cleveland Plain Dealer: "Science has been well served. Mankind has made its giant steps. The pure, fresh enthusiasm of Astronaut Charles M. Duke, Jr., with his 'Yahoo!' and his 'Fantastic!' is infectious, but it cannot waken again the public's wonder over the first moonwalk." Everyone wished Apollo 16 well but "they have seen this show before. at refinements have been added in this latest version are obscurely technical. The Apollo program is aging, and the American public . . . is quite willing to see it come to a close." (Cl PD, 4/22/72)
Montana State Low Income Organization, activist group, had sent box of rocks to President Nixon to protest Apollo 16 mission, UPI reported. Group had said purpose of mission appeared to be merely collection of rocks; Montana rocks were free and represented areas in state where social problems needed Government attention. (NYT, 4/23/72, 60)
Among strongest arguments for funding space shuttle was its great military usefulness, D. J. R. Bruckner said in Washington Post column. Argument might persuade Congress, "but do they really need another weapon?" Shuttle's greatest use would be "as a tool supporting research, including the construction and maintenance . . . of a research station on the moon's surface." But that was insufficient reason for Congress. "If they cannot convince themselves that it will help destroy something, they won't put up the money for it." Apollo program had destroyed nothing. "It only added a cubit to the stature of every American in the eyes of mankind, . benefited the under-standing, the imagination and the spirit of humanity . . . [and] opened up enormously fruitful areas of knowledge about how the world we live in was formed and how it works." (W Post, 4/22/72, A14)
Belgium released annual Postage Day stamp, depicting Apollo 15 Astronaut David R. Scott postmarking U.S. lunar rover stamp on moon Aug. 2, 1971. (AP, P Bull, 4/23/72)
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