Jul 3 1968
From The Space Library
President Johnson signed H.R. 15856, NASA FY 1969 Authorization Act, which had been designated P.L. 90-373 [see June 18]. (PD, 7/15/68, 1099; NASA LAR VII/71)
Washington Post editorial commented on complaints of scientists about deceleration of Federal funding for R&D. Since Federal expenditures had risen every year, there would not be "much lay sympathy for scientists who complain they are not getting their annual increase of 15 per cent. . .. Rather than crying 'crisis' . . . scientists ought to accept an ongoing obligation to help public officials devise better ways of deciding how to support the level of science that the national welfare requires." (W Post, 7/3/68)
Did it matter in 1968, asked New York Times editorial, that Italian astronomer Galileo after three centuries might be cleared of heresy by commission authorized by the Pope? "His astronomical theories and discoveries have long since been accepted; in a real sense, it is the spirit of scientific inquiry that will be 'retried' by the Vatican Tribunal. ". . . it still matters in 1968 that the intellectuals, the scientists and the students be granted full freedom of inquiry and participation in modern life and government. That is the meaning of Galileo, the individual and heretic, for today." (NYT, 6/3/68)
Senate approved reappointment of Gen. John P. McConnell as Air Force Chief of Staff effective Aug. 1, 1968. (CR, 7/3/68; S8200; W Post, 7/4/68, 4)
Aluminum Co. of America and Ocean Science and Engineering, Inc., announced they would invest more than $5 million in Alcoa Seaprobe project calling for construction of ship permitting search, science, and salvage work at depths to 6,000 ft and able to hoist to surface loads weighing up to 200 tons. Planned for launch by May 1970, vessel would search ocean floor by lowering streamlined sensor, carrying side-looking sonar, at end of long semirigid pipe. (W Star, 7/3/68, A2)
Jet Propulsion Laboratory announced appointment of Dr. Robert V. Meghreblian, Manager of JPL Space Sciences Div., to newly established post of Deputy Assistant Laboratory Director for Technical Divisions. Dr. Donald P. Burcham, Deputy Manager of Space Sciences Div., would succeed him. (JPL Release)
French government announced imminent start of new atomic test series in Pacific amid indications France would attempt her first explosion of hydrogen bomb in late summer or early autumn. Bulletin warned ships to avoid danger zone around Mururoa Atoll, about 750 mi southeast of Tahiti. (NYT, 7/4/68, 1)
French Armed Forces Ministry announced successful testing of two new long-range ballistic missiles during preparation for Pacific nuclear test series. First missile, sea-to-ground, two-stage, remote-controlled rocket, would be used on France's first nuclear submarine, to enter service in early 1970. (Reuters, NYT, 7/5/68, 13; W Post, 7/5/68, A27)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
