Jan 20 1970
From The Space Library
U.S.S.R. launched Cosmos CCCXXI from Plesetsk into orbit with 473-km (293.9-mi) apogee, 271-km (168.4-mi) perigee, 91.9-min period, and 70.9° inclination. Satellite reentered March 23. (GSFC SSR, 1/31/70; 3/31/70; SF, 7/70, 282)
FAA approved Boeing 747 jumbo jet for commercial service. (W Post, 1/21/70, 139)
Results of study by ARC geologist Dr. William L. Quaide contradicted 4.5-billion-yr age reported for oldest sample at Jan. 5-9 Lunar Science Conference in Houston, ARC announced. Most of thick layer of lunar soil and rocks at Tranquility Base appeared to have been formed from local volcanic bedrock underlying Apollo 11 landing site. Bedrock had been dated by three methods at approximately 3.65 billion yrs old. Same dating methods had shown one sample to be almost l billion yrs older, or 4.5 billion yrs old. Dr. Quaide had found when individual particles of rock were taken from soil and dated they again measured at 3.65-billion-yr age. (ARC Release 70-1)
President Nixon had asked Dr. Lee A. DuBridge, Science Adviser, to explore future use of ERC, Office of Science and Technology announced. (OST P10)
Richard C. McCurdy, immediate past president and chief executive officer of Shell Oil Co., was sworn in as NASA consultant. He would serve on Management Advisory Panel. (NASA Release 70-9)
MSFC announced appointment of Robert E. Lindstrom as Deputy Director of Manufacturing Engineering Laboratory, Science and Engineering Directorate. Lindstrom had worked in aerospace industry since his resignation from NASA in 1963. (MSFC Release 70-10) Astronauts Alan L. Bean, R. Walter Cunningham, and Joseph P. Kerwin, grounded Dec. 23, 1969, for minor infractions of aircraft flight rules, resumed training in T-38 jet aircraft at MSC. (UPI, W Star, 1/21/70, A7)
Many Turkish peasants were convinced that flu that had been ravaging Turkey came from germs brought to earth by Apollo astronauts, San Francisco Chronicle said. Peasants thought astronauts had been imprisoned in room for bringing microbes back from the moon and that wind had carried microbes from space capsule to Europe and Turkey. Charges were appearing in Turkish press. (Arnow, SF Chron, 1/20/70)
Agreement to reduce jet aircraft air pollution by 1972 was reached in Washington, D.C., by Nixon Administration and representatives from 31 scheduled and charter U.S. airlines. Airlines agreed to in stall pollution control devices on 1000 Boeing 727 and 737 and DC-9 aircraft during regular maintenance overhauls. Devices, called burner cans, would eliminate 70%-80% of solid particles spewed into air by jets. (Curry, W Post, 1/21 /70, A2)
Washington Post editorial commented on Boeing 747 jumbo jet debut: "We have a sneaking suspicion that the 747, as the new behemoth of the skies is called, has appeared on the scene three or four years prematurely. It is, or so everyone who has flown in it says, a magnificent airplane that brings a jump in passenger comfort equal to or surpassing that which occurred when the smaller jets went into service. But passenger comfort in the air is only part of the business of air travel and it looks to us as if other parts of that business-the airports and the airlines themselves, to be exact-are not really ready." (W Post, 1/20/70, A14)
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