Nov 26 1972
From The Space Library
Sign posted by Grumman Aerospace construction personnel on gantry work platform near Apollo 17 spacecraft said, "This may be our last but it will be our best," United Press International reported. Grumman foreman had said sign was to inform Apollo crew that "they don't have to worry about our letting down." Jobs of 600 Grumman workers at Kennedy Space Center would terminate with completion of Apollo 17 mission. (W Post, 11/27/72, E6)
Milton W. Rosen, Senior Scientist in NASA Office of DOD and Interagency Affairs, became Deputy Associate Administrator (Engineering) in Office of Space Science, Rosen had joined NASA in 1958 after 18 yrs with Naval Research Laboratory, where from 1947 to 1955 he was head of Rocket Development Branch. Rosen had proposed and developed Viking Upper-Air-Research Rocket and in 1955 proposed Vanguard Earth Satellite Project. He served as Technical Director during its development. (NASA Ann; NASA Release 72-237)
Trailer in which NASA formerly quarantined astronauts returning from moon was being used by Air Force Military Airlift Command, St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported. Trailer was positioned at McGuire Air Force Base, N.J., and could be airlifted by Air Force C-141 cargo aircraft to transport patients with communicable diseases. Previously aircraft had to be decontaminated after carrying contagious patients. (St. Louis P-D, 11/26/72)
Washington Post published first of series of articles on U.S. energy crisis. Population had doubled in 50 yrs, while energy use had almost quadrupled. Per capita electricity consumption had doubled five times-twice in last 15 yrs. Nationwide environmental movement had halted Government's Plowshare program to release trapped oil and gas by nuclear explosions, delayed Alaska pipeline, and forced near-moratorium on dam building. Ecologists had "forced power companies to abandon scenic river and lake sites in 10 states and have caused more than 20 delays in the construction of nuclear power plants." Disagreement was "rampant" over changes wrought by environmental movement. But ecologists had caused no shortage of energy in U.S. thus far. Many energy experts believed technology would "bail us out by letting us tap new, clean fuels and by cleaning up existing fuels." Mitre Corp. had recently completed exhaustive energy study. Its Senior Vice President Charles Zraket had said, "We believe the physical resources and technical options exist to get us out of this crisis in 10 years." (O'Toole, W Post, 11/26/72, Al)
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