Apr 30 1969
From The Space Library
At KSC briefing on NASA FY 1970 budget for community leaders, KSC Director, Dr. Kurt H. Debus, said: "It is clear that we will continue the present pace of launch operations in the Apollo Program until the first lunar landing has been accomplished. . . . The continuation of space effort, however, must somehow take into account the Same constraints on Government spending which now affect the entire federal budget. . . The total KSC budget is being revised from $455 million for all purposes to $410 million. I am taking action to accomplish this reduction without crippling the essential launch team capability or drastically impacting the local economy." Savings would be effected by: gradual cutback in efforts of contractors supporting design engineering; phasing down of Boeing technical integration effort; deceleration of Apollo/Saturn V launch rate to three manned vehicles annually, reducing employment; and greater use of five-day week and two-shift schedule, permitting stabilization of employment level at 18,500 by June 30, 1970, instead of current 23,500. KSC strength would remain at 80% of current level, with reduction in support and stage contractors. Civil service cadre would drop from 2,920 to 2,880 by June 30, 1970. Employment already had been frozen at current level. Saturn IB Apollo Applications missions would require increased employment at Launch Complexes 34 and 37 in 1971, with estimated increase in contract jobs of 2,600 to handle nearly simultaneous or dual launches. KSC also would participate in earth orbital space station studies. (Transcript)
KSC announced selection of Dr. Kurt H. Debus, KSC Director, to receive 1969 Career Service Award of National Civil Service League at Washington, D.C." banquet June 13. Citation said: "The development of Complex 39, the installation from which the Apollo Program launches take place, is the crowning achievement of Dr. Kurt H. Debus' career. His leadership was pivotal in both the design and construction of the famed Apollo launch complex. Further, he has been responsible for many of the technical advances in launch technology, and for the formation of the government-industry launch team which has carried out more than 150 successful launches, including several notable firsts." Award-consisting of $1,000, inscribed gold watch, and citation-was one of most prestigious for which civil service career employees were eligible. Also among 10 selected was George S. Moore, Associate Administrator for Operations, FAA, for "an extraordinary record in the development of up to date methods of evaluation of aircraft worthiness." (KSC Release 154-69; W Star, 4/30/69, A2)
NASA was engaged in "comprehensive continuing program" to gain "better understanding of the structural loads due to buffeting and the buildup of buffeting intensity for flight conditions above buffet boundary," Acting Associate Administrator for Advanced Research and Technology Bruce T. Lundin testified before Senate Committee on Aeronautical and Space Sciences. FRC program, in which F-111A was being used, also included verification in flight of favorable effects of flaps in alleviating buffeting. Program was supported and complemented by wind-tunnel studies at LaRC and ARC. (Testimony)
Dr. George E. Mueller, NASA Associate Administrator for Manned Space Flight, spoke before student seminar at California Museum of Science and Technology in Los Angeles: "Besides serving as a subject of scientific exploration for its own secrets, the moon may be an important base for outward looking space science programs of the future." It might eventually support large optical telescopes. There was strong evidence "that the most ideal location for large radio telescopes will eventually be the far side of the moon. This may be the only place within our convenient reach where the earth, which will become increasingly noisy as a radio source, may be completely screened out. In addition, the lunar surface presents us with a very large stable base, with only 1/6 gravity, no wind disturbance and no atmosphere absorption at any wave length. . . . Another attractive possibility is to use stations on both the moon and earth as a radio interferometer baseline for highly precise directional radio astronomy." (Text)
NASA announced it would sponsor, in 1970, 90-day test of four-man life-support system with continuous regeneration of water and oxygen without resupply, under $586,885 contract with McDonnell Douglas Corp. Advanced waste management subsystem would be used. Experiment, scheduled to begin in March 1970, would demonstrate crew's ability to function during long period of uninterrupted confinement. (NASA Release 69-60)
Univ. of Miami and Chrysler Corp. Space Div. had conceived $100-million undersea laboratory "Atlantis" to be constructed on ocean floor near Miami, AP said. Laboratory would be testing ground for future USN centers directing submarine warfare and test bed for industrial equipment to mine ores and drill for undersea oil. It would consist of 80-ft-long cylinder-shaped habitat housing 10 to 12 scientists at initial depth of 1,000 ft. Later it could be moved to 6,000- or 12,000-ft depths. (B Sun, 4/30/69, A3)
President Nixon had apparently yielded to "top level economizers" and returned SST and airways and airports programs to DOT for further study, said Associated Press. (AP, W Star, 4/30/69, All)
Secretary of Defense Melvin R. Laird issued statement expressing concern over C-5A contract and procurement actions and announcing that new Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Installations and Logistics) had been nominated [Philip N. Whittaker had been nominated to replace Robert H. Charles] and new Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Financial Management) would be nominated [to replace Thomas H. Neilson]. "I am determined to insure that full and accurate information on C-5A procurement, and on all other procurement matters, is given to the Congress and to the public promptly. I am also determined to insure that past mistakes in the procurement of this transport aircraft will not be repeated." (DOD Release 340-69; AP, W Star, 5/1/69, Al; Nossiter, W Post, 5/1/69, Al)
Rep. William F. Ryan (D-N.Y.) presented to House petition by 729 scientists, engineers, and students in these fields, submitted by Scientists for Social and Political Action, care of Dr. Martin L. Perl of Stanford Univ. It called for open Congressional hearings to review substance and direction of entire military R&D program including ABM System. (CR, 4/30/69, H3220)
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