Jun 22 1970
From The Space Library
NASA launched two sounding rockets. Nike-Cajun launched from Wallops Station carried GSFC payload to 132-km (82-mi) altitude to obtain data on temperature, pressure, and wind between 35 and 95 km (22 and 59 mi) by detonating grenades and recording their sound arrivals on ground. Rocket and instruments functioned satisfactorily; 18 of 19 grenades exploded as planned. Launch was in conjunction with ESSA program to study temperature-sensing methods using balloon sonde, Arcas and Loki-Dart rockets, and Nimbus III and IV satellites. Aerobee 150 launched from WSMR carried Hawaiian experiment to conduct solar studies. (NASA Rpt SRL; SR list)
Laser ranging retroreflector (LRRR) similar to one placed on lunar surface by Apollo I1 crew had been added to ALSEP package for Apollo 14, NASA announced. LRRR would be placed in Fra Mauro region of moon to make laser distance measurements from earth to moon with 15-CM (6-in) accuracy. (MSC Release 70-71)
House and Senate agreed to conference report on H.R. 16516, $3.411billion FY 1971 NASA authorization bill, thereby clearing bill for President. Conference Report total was $190 million less than total passed by House and $94.9 million more than total passed by Senate. (CR, 6/22/70, H5856-9, 59497-8)
Aug. 15 closing of Antigua Tracking Station in Caribbean would reduce Manned Space Flight Network to 13 stations, 4 aircraft, and 1 ship, NASA announced. At peak complement-during July 17-24, 1969, Apollo 11 mission-network had had 15 stations, 8 instrumented aircraft, and 4 tracking ships. (NASA Release 70-101)
President Nixon announced approval of International Air Policy Statement by interagency committee appointed to review U.S. international air transportation policies. Statement would supersede 1963 statement. White House released conclusions, including recommendations that system of exchanging air- transport rights through bilateral agreements should be retained but excessive price should not be paid for rights for which there was little near-term need; attempts to restrict U.S. carrier operations abroad should be opposed; both scheduled and supplemental carriers should be permitted to compete in bulk transportation market; intergovernmental agreements should be sought on charter services; and U.S. should continue to accept IATA as machinery for pricing scheduled services. (PD, 6/29/ 70,804-5)
American Society of Mechanical Engineers announced selection of Dr. Robert R. Gilruth, MSC Director, to receive ASME Medal for "his distinguished service in aeronautics and space research and for his outstanding engineering leadership by which he inspired and directed... manned space flights and successful landings on the moon." Award would be presented during ASME annual meeting Nov. 29Dec. 3. (MSC Roundup, 7/17/70, 1; ASME)
Aviation Week & Space Technology editorial by Robert Hotz commented: "Aerospace technology stands on the' brink of another multifaceted explosion that is already producing revolutionary new developments.... The decade ahead will pose another of those challenges that alter the course of history. The opportunity for military technological surprise has never been greater. The need to build a revolutionary new economy -based on the technology developed in aerospace was never more acute. The U.S. policy makers have a clear choice. They can seize the opportunity offered by the technical revolution of the 1970's and exploit it fully to provide U.S. security and economic and social leadership in this troubled world. Or they can economize to the point where the Soviet Union-as it did in the 1950's-can gain sufficient technological momentum to open another technological gap that will have dire consequences for the western world." (Av Wk , 6/22/70, 21)
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