Dec 26 1971
From The Space Library
NASA was studying method of obtaining samples of comets by sending spacecraft to rendezvous with comet to fly through comet's head or tail, Washington Post reported. ass Planetary Programs Director Robert S. Kraemer, had said that "best shot of all might be going right through the middle of a comet, to find out what's going on inside the comet." Not all comets were reachable by spacecraft, but some would come close enough to earth in next 20 yrs to make rendezvous feasible, Post said. Comet d'Arrest would fly by in 1976 and and 1982, comet Encke in 1983, comet Giacobini-Zinner in 1985. Comet "most astronomers would like to probe" was Halley's, due close to sun in February 1986. (O'Toole, W Post, 12/26/71, C5)
USAF had ordered new flying procedures to reduce structural wear and tear on C-5A cargo aircraft, New York Times reported. "Highly unusual program for extending a plane's useful life" was additional to "more routine work of beefing up the wings in areas that show signs of being the least durable." There were indications that C-5A's structural needs could grow beyond usual level for new aircraft. "If so, huge new outlays could be added to the already massive costs that have made the aircraft a focus of debate." C-5A had already overrun initial total cost estimates by $1.2 billion. Latest figure of $4.6 billion was for diminished fleet of 81 instead of 120 aircraft, which were to have cost $3.4 billion. (Witkin, NYT, 12/26/71, 46)
December 26-31: AAAS held 138th Annual Meeting in Philadelphia. Activists protesting U.S. policy in Vietnam war tossed tomato at former Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey and interrupted speech of William P. Bundy, former State Dept. Assistant Secretary in charge of East Asian affairs. Science reported later that despite "well publicized" incidents, observers agreed level of intensity of disruptions was lower than in recent years. New York Times attributed relative mildness of meeting to fact proceedings were not televised, thus providing "less tempting platform for confrontations." Symposium on "Astronomy from a Space Platform" held Dec. 27- 28 included papers by astronomers, space program planners, electronics specialists, optical designers, and researchers. NASA Skylab Program Director William C. Schneider, presented plans for Skylab solar astronomy experiments. Dr. George H. Ludwig, Chief of GSFC Information Processing Div., analyzed tradeoff between earth-based and space-based data processing in astronomy missions. Dr. William F. Hoffman of NASA Institute for Space Studies discussed next-generation infrared space astronomical instruments and discoveries already made in infra-red region. Panel chaired by Dr. John E. Naugle, NASA Associate Administrator for Space Science, reviewed symposium on Dec. 28. Panel also included Dr. Karl Henize, astronaut-astronomer. (Program; Science, 10/15/71, 11/19/71; 1/7/72; NYT, 1/2/72, 3:9; NASA Hist Off)
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