Aug 9 1971
From The Space Library
Dr. Charles A. Berry, MSC Director of Medical Research and Operations, told press at MSC that preliminary examination of Apollo 15 crew had revealed astronauts were in good health, but were not returning to normal as rapidly as expected. Examination had also revealed that Astronaut David R. Scott had ruptured blood vessels under four fingernails-apparently during first EVA on moon. Ruptures had resulted from increased pressure on fingers from spacesuit as Scott moved his arms to conduct experiments. Although Scott had mentioned some discomfort to his hands after EVA-1, officials had assumed discomfort was typical hand cramp experienced by previous astronauts. Dr. Berry said Scott's injury was not serious enough to warrant space-suit modifications: "It's just one of those things that you've got to put up ... with, and we keep trying to make suits better Al the time, and I think this current suit is probably as far along the line to being comfortable and providing mobility as any suit we've ever had...." (Transcript)
NASA's M2-F3 lifting body, piloted by NASA test pilot William H. Dana, reached mach 0.93 during eighth flight from FRC in joint NASA-USAF program. Purposes of flight were to evaluate effects of moving center of gravity slightly forward and of decreasing launch mach number by launching at 12 200-m (40 000-ft) altitude instead of 13 700 m (45 000 ft) . (NASA Proj Off)
Areas sounding rocket launched by NASA from Ft. Greely, Alaska, carried GSFC payload to obtain ozone measurements in conjunction with Nimbus 4 satellite overpass. Because of problems with ground tracking equipment, no usable telemetry signal was received from payload until rocket reached 45-km (28-mi) altitude on descent side of apogee. Payload recovery was not successful; telemetry data were late and quality of signal was poor. Experiment was rated partially successful. Launch was second in three-flight series. First had been conducted Aug. 7. (NASA Rpt SRL)
Newspaper editorials praised Apollo 15. Washington Daily News: "The record harvest of rocks and other data brought back by Apollo 15 may turn out to be one of the biggest steps ever toward understanding the solar system, the dominant influence on earthly existence, This has been the most remarkable decade of research and development in history, and the space program has been the core of it." (W News, 8/9/71)
Philadelphia Evening Bulletin: "The pictures taken by Endeavour and the data being supplied by the tiny satellite the astronauts left orbiting the moon are providing the most exact and comprehensive intelligence yet about minerals on the moon." It was "becoming obvious that what we spend in space we are investing in the future of mankind." (P Bull, 8/9/71)
Prague newspaper Rude Pravo commented on Apollo 15: ,,The scientists eagerly anticipate the results of the work of the astronauts and instruments which were sent on such a long trip. People of goodwill throughout the world who follow these flights will always wait long into the night for the two words from Houston, Baikonur, and eventually from other places on earth: `Mission complete.' (FBIS- Czechoslovakia-71-155, 8/11/71, Dl)
President Nixon had sent letter to daughter of Soyuz 11 Cosmonaut Georgy T. Dobrovolsky after seeing photo of girl at cosmonauts' funeral, Time reported. Letter had said: "I know your father would want you to face his loss with a strength and courage to match his own. As your sister Natasha grows older I know you will help her understand how very proud of her father you both should be." (Time, 8/9/71, 31)
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