Dec 17 1970
From The Space Library
Dept. of Agriculture would start project to determine properties in moon dust that led to growth of plants bigger than those fertilized by potassium, phosphorus, or nitrogen, Washington Post reported. USDA scientist Dr. Charles P. Walkinshaw had said moon dust "does something to plants that nothing else can duplicate." He had observed uninterrupted growth of almost 40 different species in moon dust soil. Liverworts, tobacco plants, and ferns had grown larger and to deeper green in moon dust than in other soil. Corn cells buried in moon dust in 1969 were still alive and had grown tough, stringy roots. Dr. Walkinshaw believed moon dust might act as supercatalyst, causing soil nutrients to be absorbed quickly through walls of plants cells. USDA Forestry Service and Chevron Chemical Co. planned to investigate how moon dust acted. (Brett, W Post, 12/17/70, G2)
President Nixon signed H.R. 19830 as P.L. 91-556, Independent Offices and Dept. of Housing and Urban Development Appropriation Act, 1971, which included NASA appropriation of $3,269 billion. (PD, 12/21/70, 1705)
Sixty-second anniversary of Wright brothers' first successful flight. At ceremonies in Kitty Hawk, N.C.-sponsored by NAA, Air Force Assn., and First Flight Society-portraits of aviation pioneers Igor 1. Sikorsky and Wiley Post were added to Kitty Hawk's First Flight Shrine. Aviation Hall of Fame in Dayton, Ohio, honored Robert E. Gross, founder of Lockheed Aircraft Corp.; L/G Ira C. Eaker, Eighth Air Force Commander during World War 11; Alexander P. de Seversky, military aviation expert; and Juan T. Trippe, founder of Pan American World Airways, At annual Wright Memorial Dinner in Washington, D.C., sponsored by Aero Club of Washington, Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy was presented to C. R. Smith, former President of American Airlines and Secretary of Commerce under President Lyndon B. Johnson. (NAA News, 1/71, 1; Varborough, W Star, 12/16/70, A18; Flatley, W Star; 12/18/70, C5)
Nike-Apache sounding rocket was launched by NASA from WSMR carrying Univ. of Minnesota experiment to study atmospheric composition. Rocket and instruments functioned satisfactorily. (SR list)
NASA had applied for patent on magnetic hammer that synthesized small quantities of clear and yellow diamonds from graphite, MSFC announced. Devised by MSFC engineers John R. Rasquin and Marvin F. Estes, process produced diamond grit of kind used by industry for cutting operations. Hammer, which might be used for making other crystals, had been developed for use in Saturn rocket production. (MSFC Release 70-265)
December 17-20: Apollo 11 Spacecraft Touring Exhibit visited Washington, D.C., during 50-state tour which began April 17. Apollo 11 Astronauts Neil A. Armstrong and Michael Collins attended opening day ceremonies, during which Dr. George M. Low, Acting NASA Administrator, compared Apollo 11 mission with first flight of Wright brothers in aircraft Dec. 17, 1903: Wright brothers' flight had lasted 12 sets; Apollo 11, 156 his. Wright brothers' aircraft weighed 274 kg (605 Ibs); Apollo weighed 3 million kg (61/2 million lbs) at liftoff. Wright brothers' aircraft flew 3 m per sec (l0 fps); Apollo 11, 10 700 m per sec (35 000 fps). Wright brothers flew to 4,6-m (15-ft) altitude; Apollo 11 reached about 389 000 km (242 000 mi). Wright brothers' aircraft used 1.5 kg (51 oz) of gasoline; Apollo 11 burned 2.7 million kg (6 million lbs) of liquid hydrogen, liquid oxygen, and kerosene. Wright brothers' aircraft flew distance of 36.6 m (120 ft); Apollo 11 flew about 1530 000 km (950 000 mi). Five spectators watched Wright brothers' flight, while estimated 500 million persons-one sixth of the world's population-witnessed flight of Apollo 11 July 19-20, 1969. (Program; NASA Hist Off; CR, 12/17/70, H11884-5)
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