Sep 17 1971
From The Space Library
Age of Apollo 15 "Genesis rock" was approximately 4.15 billion years, Dr. Liaquat Husain and Dr. John F. Sutter, State Univ. of New York at Stony Brook scientists, announced at press conference. Anorthosite sample brought back by Astronauts David R. Scott and James B. Irwin during July 26-Aug. 7 mission was 150 million yrs older than oldest Apollo 12 rock, Husain said. "This is the oldest lunar rock found on any of the missions so far." (Fine grains of soil from earlier missions had been found to be nearly 4.5 billion yrs old and one Apollo 12 rock had contained some fragments that had crystallized 4.5 billion yrs ago but rock itself was thought to have solidified 4 billion yrs ago.)
Although rock's age was not the hoped 4.6 billion yrs-estimated age of solar system-it supported theory that moon was once molten mass. Scientists said precise age of rock could range from 3.95 to 4.35 billion yrs. Further tests had been scheduled to narrow margin. Age had been determined by measuring relationship of radioactive potassium and argon in rock samples using rare-gas mass spectrometer and nuclear reactor. Cal Tech geologist Dr. Leon T. Silver said,
The white anorthosite "Genesis rock" collected on the moon by Apollo 15 astronauts was about 4.15 billion years old, scientists announced. In the photo the sample, oldest lunar rock collected so far, was in the nonsterile processing line of the Lunar Receiving Laboratory, at the Manned Spacecraft Center. "This is unquestionably one of the most important rocks ever returned from any lunar mission. It has a recording in its minerals of many series of events in lunar history-events of high temperature and high pressure." (Auerbach, W Post, 9/18/71, A3; AP, B Sun, 9/18/71, A10; NYT, 9/18/71, 25)
MSC announced start of series of cold weather environment tests on performance of Skylab CM postlanding and recovery systems in Climatic Laboratory at Eglin AFB, Fla. Objectives were to determine performance characteristics and limitations of Skylab CM in cold weather, determine CM test crew response to cold and to interior environmental conditions of CM, and determine extent of ice buildup on CM exterior and effect of ice on systems performance. Tests, conducted in chamber with 274 K (33°F) water temperature and 269 K (25°F) air temperature, were necessary because spacecraft would pass over areas colder than previously experienced and, in event of emergency landing, CM and crew limitations had to be known. (MSC Release 71-70)
Letter by Dr. John M. Logsdon of George Washington Univ., responding to criticism of his book The Decision To Go to the Moon, was published in Science. Book had been reviewed by L. Vaughn Blankenship in Science July 23. Logsdon wrote: "Blankenship reports that I find the Apollo decision `a good one' and `evidence of a political system operating at its best.' I do no such thing. I do suggest ... that `the decision to go to the moon was a representative American action,' and was the product of a process `typical of the way many major decisions are reached.' " (Science, 9/17/71, 1079-80)
New Orleans Times-Picayune editorial commented on failure of Soviet Luna 18 mission: "The Soviet's automated designs and performances are not to be belittled, for they represent research and development toward deep-probe capability. But it is interesting that Western space observers think they have grounds for suspecting that the Soviets are in fact working up a manned lunar program. If so, more than prestige and technological display are involved; it must mean agreement that man operates on the moon with the best cost-benefit ratio." (New Orleans Times Picayune, 9/17/71)
USAF's "fly-before-you-buy" approach to procurement of new equipment via prototypes was described by Gen. George S. Brown, AFSC Commander, in speech before 15th Symposium of Society of Experimental Test Pilots: "We want the confidence of demonstrated performance in our acquisition programs before deciding on production" to provide "a backlog of promising technological approaches from which future requirements can be met as they develop. While this may cost more initially, in the long run we will have more proven technology ... and consequently better performing weapon systems at more reasonable costs." (Text)
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