Mar 11 1969
From The Space Library
Apollo 10 spacecraft, atop Saturn V launch vehicle, rolled out of Vehicle Assembly Building at KSC to Launch Complex 39, Pad B, for May liftoff to lunar orbit. (AP, NYT, 3/12/69, 14; UPI Huntsville News, 3/12/69)
Dr. George E. Mueller, NASA Associate Administrator for Manned Space Flight, testified on Apollo Program, space flight operations, and advanced manned missions before House Committee on Science and Astronautics' Subcommittee on Manned Space Flight. He explained importance of lunar exploration and outlined plans for new space station. President's Science Advisory Committee had said answers to questions about moon "may profoundly affect our views of the evolution of the solar system and its place, as well as man's in the larger scheme of things." Fact that earth's moon was largest in relation to its planet, Dr. Mueller said, "implies that the two bodies may have been formed in the same manner at the same time. If true, the moon may be a book containing the secret of the earth's first billion years of life. This record is lost on the earth which is subjected to .. erosion by atmosphere and water. . . . By comparing similarities and contrasting differences, man may be able to arrive at a greater understanding of the fundamental processes that affect the earth; for example, the mechanisms that cause earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, and the processes responsible for concentrating ore deposits. The orbits of Apollo 8 and the Lunar Orbiters were disturbed by mass concentrations beneath the circular lunar seas. These may be huge meteors that struck the moon with such force that they melted and Sank into the interior, or they may be iron deposits. "Another objective of lunar exploration is to learn about man as a space explorer-his capabilities and limitations. Some day man will move on to other planets; the moon is a training ground. . . . We don't have the basic information which early lunar landings will furnish and we can only speculate today about the feasibility of the moon as a base for an observatory or a permanent science station-about exploiting its environment of low gravity and high vacuum-about its potential for natural resources. . . . A long-range goal like the lunar base would direct technological advances, stimulate public interest, and attain subsidiary objectives with earth application such as food synthesis, environmental control, and recovery of useful elements from rock," Within new program category, Space Flight Operations, NASA was bypassing intermediate space station, launch vehicles, and logistic craft and proposing to move directly to new, semipermanent space station and low-cost earth-to-orbit transportation system. Space station "should be in being by the mid-1970s." With FY 1969 funds, contractor definition efforts were being initiated. FY 1970 funds would continue definition, preliminary design, and supporting work. Dr. Mueller described space complex 200 to 300 mi above earth planned for 10 yrs' continuous operation and adaptable for crew size, additional laboratory facilities, or other special-purpose equipment through selection, design, and arrangement of component modules. Crew would rotate at three- to six-month intervals, ferried between station and earth by reusable shuttles. Station's electric power would come from solar panels or small nuclear generator. (Testimony; NASA Release 69-49)
Lee R. Scherer, Director of NASA'S Apollo Lunar Exploration Office, testifying on FY 1970 budget request before Subcommittee on Space Science and Applications of House Committee on Science and Astronautics, described extravehicular activity (EVA) planned for first lunar landing. Emerging on lunar surface, astronaut would acquire and seal bagful of surface material and place it in spacesuit pocket, inspect LM, and with geological tools, fill large sample container. Location would be photographed before and after sampling. Passive seismometer would be emplaced to measure "moonquakes" and permit estimates of moon's internal structure for comparison with that of earth. Instrument, operated on solar power, would record and transmit lunar data to earth for about one year. Laser retroreflector would be emplaced to permit measurement of earth-to-moon distance and monitoring of distance variation. Measurements would be repeated several times daily for year or more and precise times determined by atomic clock. From data on relative motion of moon and earth and of each about own center of gravity, scientists could refine "knowledge of size and shape of the Moon, detect small movements that may occur between the Earth's continents, and perhaps even test gravitational theories." If time permitted, second sample return container would be filled more selectively, with greater effort to document and to pack samples individually. (Testimony)
Dr. Thomas O. Paine, NASA Administrator-designate, discussed possibility of integrated European space program alongside that of U.S. and U.S.S.R. in Thomas A. Edison Memorial Lecture at Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, D.C. "The space-age challenge to Europe in my view is to find new ways of organizing and managing the great wealth of that continent to overtake, if you like, major American and Soviet space and other programs. This is the space-age challenge to Europe: not the 'technology gap' but the 'management gap."' Dr. Paine also said, if 1969, 1971, and 1973 space probes should find "very exciting things about Mars, it is possible that we or the Russians might want to move a manned interplanetary expedition to a higher order of national priority. At the present time, the best guess is that this would not take place until the mid 1980's but new priorities might lengthen or shorten this period." In reply to question on man-in-space justification, he said: "For almost any simple specific experiment . . . an automated probe can be developed to do it at lower cost. The basic question here is the difference between short-range research projects to achieve simple specific objectives, and complex research aimed at developing general exploratory capability and broad technological positions which will let you do things in the future which you can't yet fully foresee. For the latter you will need men." Dr. Paine expected U.S.S.R. "very likely" would put space station into orbit before. U.S. In lunar exploration, he expected U.S. to stay ahead a while. In planetary probes, he expected U.S.S.R. to stay ahead. In earth applications, he expected U.S. to stay ahead. (Text)
Dr. Robert C. Seamans, Jr." Secretary of the Air Force and former NASA Associate and Deputy Administrator, delivered 1969 Minta Martin Lecture at MIT as 1968-69 Jerome Hunsaker Professor of Aeronautical Engineering. Describing origins and development of U.S. space program as well as decision-making and implementation in commitment to manned lunar landing, paper would be presented also at Univ. of Maryland March 20 and at LeRC April 24. Citing need for set of national goals, Dr. Seamans defined national agenda for allocation of R&D that might be acceptable to man in street: understanding, forecasting, and controlling environment; supplying basic resources of food, fuel, minerals, and water; improving quality of life; improving transportation; improving communications, encouraging economic growth; and assisting international development and providing national security. Space program contributed to all categories. Studies of sun's transmissions, of Mars and Venus atmospheres, of moon's origin, and of earth itself contributed to understanding of environment for practical use of man. Space R&D might aid search for alternative basic resources; it could establish facilities for detecting available resources and speed communications to meet problems. Biological and medical investigations in space program held greatest promise in study of reactions of biological specimens, animals, and man. Impact on education had been cited by some as greatest value of space exploration. Program had required in-depth investigation of waste management, fire prevention, materials development, and microminiaturization. Space technology influenced new vehicles being tested for transportation-hydrofoil ships, surface-effect and air-cushion vehicles, high-speed trains, electric cars, VTOL and V/STOL aircraft, jumbo subsonic aircraft, and supersonic aircraft. Communications satellites, already in commercial use, ultimately could broadcast directly to home receivers. In international cooperation, NASA was working with 64 nations in space activity. Returns from NASA'S scientific satellites and communications satellites, development of manned space flight capability, and tracking facilities contributed to national defense. (Text)
In Houston, Tex." press interview Astronaut Walter M. Schirra, Jr. (Capt., USN), said he had turned down offers for Naval promotion to admiral and NASA Hq. executive position, to become president of Regency Corp. in Denver, Colo." financial complex leasing industrial equipment worldwide. One of original astronauts and only veteran of Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo missions, Schirra said he did not want to "stick around as a half astronaut." He had rejected aerospace offers because "I might be limiting the contribution of which I feel I'm capable." (AP, W Post, 3/12/69, A8)
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