Sep 13 1972
From The Space Library
Office of Management and Budget issued Apportionment-Reapportionment Schedule that placed in reserve $44.9 million of $50.5-million FY 1973 NASA appropriation for aeronautics. OMB impounded $27.5 million for quiet, experimental, short takeoff and landing aircraft (QuESTOL) program, $2 million from STOL experimental engine program, and $15.4 from $21- million engine retrofit program. (OMB Plo; CR, 10/14/74, H10111)
New York Times editorial commented on data returned by Soviet Venus 8 probe, which had landed capsule on Venus July 22: "Since the first Sputnik went into orbit a decade and a half ago, the world has seen so many major accomplishments in space by both the Soviet Union and the United States that the original sense of wonder has been largely lost. Yet even in today's jaded atmosphere, it must be recognized that what the Soviet scientists accomplished with Venus 8 was one of the great technological accomplishments of the age. The scientists and technicians responsible for this great feat deserve the world's congratulations. It is self-evident that this work needs to be continued with respect to other planets . . . and that it can be done by international cooperation." (NYT, 9/13/72, 42)
September 13-15: First national conference on remotely manned systems was held at. Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Dr. Stanley Deutsch of NASA Office of Life Sciences said in keynote address that usefulness of remotely controlled machines was "virtually limitless" both in space and on earth. "Using a remote system to scout Mars in advance of manned missions will enhance the safety of the man when we do send him to Mars." Remotely controlled systems also could be used in future to rescue and return an incapacitated astronaut and provide a method for capturing unstable satellites. Remotely controlled systems technology developed for space was also being applied to nonspace applications such as Navy undersea manipulators, Air Force and Army remotely piloted aircraft, handling material in radiation laboratories, industrial safety, mining, medicine and. hospitals, police work, and fire fighting. Dr. Ewald Heer of JPL'S Advanced Technical Studies Div. said "intelligence" of automated systems would have to be increased greatly to ensure success of future earth orbital and planetary satellites. "Remotely manned systems are man-machine system that augment and extend man's sensory, manipulative and intellectual capabilities to remote places. However while machines may have superior strength and endurance and resistance to hostile environments, they still depend on human intelligence for decision- making in the performance of complicated tasks. Advanced engineering automation is essential in space station and shuttle operations and scientific data gathering must be microminiaturized for sustained interplanetary operations of two or more years." (JPL Releases 625, 626; Swain, Pasadena Star-News, 9/14/72)
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