Archibald
Banned
Now the fantastic Apollo 8 mission was over. Next steps were to be a test of the LM in Earth orbit, and another around the Moon. Apollo 10 would not land however, as Grumman early lunar modules were simply too heavy.
This day, February 2, 1969, the phone rung in George Low office, Houston, Texas.
It was James Webb. "Congrats, George. President Nixon called me an hour ago and annouced me you're my successor at the head of NASA.
By the way, Bob Seamans is leaving, too, so you'll have to find you a deputy to assist you. See you this afternoon."
The two man had met, and reviewed a list of potential deputy administrators. Amid them were George Mueller, Maxime Faget, Bob Gilruth, Gene Krantz, Werner von Braun and other germans from Marshall, and Dale Myers.
Low choice was Myers.
Now Webb and him had another subject of discussion.
"Nixon transition team on space just published its final report. Some people says Tricky Dick don't give a damn about space, but its transition team on space was led by a Nobel Prize, for god sake ! Charles Townes did a reasonable, balanced job. Look at this."
What are the program items and their urgency for the immediatefitum?Various items
needing special consideration are
a. A manned space station. We are against any present commitment to the construction
of a large space station, but believe study of the possible purposes and design of such
a station should be continued.
[5] b. Apollo Applications Program. This program should proceed as a way of testing
man's role in space, of allowing a healthy continuing manned space program, and for the
biomedical and scientific information it will yield.
c. Lunar exploration. Lunar exploration after the first Apollo landing will be exciting
and valuable. But additional work needs to be initiated this year to provide for its full
exploitation by means of an adequate mobility and extended stay on the lunar surface.
d. Planetary exploration. The US. program for planetary exploration by instrumented
probes needs to be strengthened and funds for such probes increased appreciably. However,
the great majority of the task force is not in favor of a commitment at present to a
manned planetary lander or orbiter.
e. Astronomy and other sciences. The space program is important to a number of
sciences, and can be of enormous benefit to astronomy. This potential should be continuously
developed through sound and stable programs.
f. Applications of spacecraft and associated techniques for civil and commercial benefit.
We believe research and development of such applications should be supported strongly
and increased in pace. Furthermore, the new administration should give considerable
attention to their use in promoting international cooperation.
(snip)
Cost reduction , and “low cost”boosters. The unit costs of boosting payloads into space
can be substantially reduced, but this requires an increased number of flights, or such an
increase coupled with an expensive development program. We do not recommend initiation
of such a development, but study of the technical possibilities and rewards. Some cost
reductions in the space program can probably be made simply through experience and
stabilization of the level of effort, and through coordination of future NASA and DOD
programs.
Low was stunned. "Ouch. That won't please Mueller - no space station nor space shuttle. That won't please Von Braun - no Mars mission nor NERVA.
The direction is clear - more lunar exploration or broader use of Apollo hardware. Or both."
Webb grinned at Low.
"That's it. After all we go to the Moon, so why going further - Mars - or retreat to low Earth orbit ? Let's explore the Moon further and better."
"I see. The main problem we face is Apollo transportation system real lack of efficiency. The LM is too small, even on cargo-only variants delivers barely 3000 kg to the lunar surface. We have to dugg through the Apollo Application Program to see if grown-variants of Apollo can allow better lunar exploration" Low concluded.
This day, February 2, 1969, the phone rung in George Low office, Houston, Texas.
It was James Webb. "Congrats, George. President Nixon called me an hour ago and annouced me you're my successor at the head of NASA.
By the way, Bob Seamans is leaving, too, so you'll have to find you a deputy to assist you. See you this afternoon."
The two man had met, and reviewed a list of potential deputy administrators. Amid them were George Mueller, Maxime Faget, Bob Gilruth, Gene Krantz, Werner von Braun and other germans from Marshall, and Dale Myers.
Low choice was Myers.
Now Webb and him had another subject of discussion.
"Nixon transition team on space just published its final report. Some people says Tricky Dick don't give a damn about space, but its transition team on space was led by a Nobel Prize, for god sake ! Charles Townes did a reasonable, balanced job. Look at this."
What are the program items and their urgency for the immediatefitum?Various items
needing special consideration are
a. A manned space station. We are against any present commitment to the construction
of a large space station, but believe study of the possible purposes and design of such
a station should be continued.
[5] b. Apollo Applications Program. This program should proceed as a way of testing
man's role in space, of allowing a healthy continuing manned space program, and for the
biomedical and scientific information it will yield.
c. Lunar exploration. Lunar exploration after the first Apollo landing will be exciting
and valuable. But additional work needs to be initiated this year to provide for its full
exploitation by means of an adequate mobility and extended stay on the lunar surface.
d. Planetary exploration. The US. program for planetary exploration by instrumented
probes needs to be strengthened and funds for such probes increased appreciably. However,
the great majority of the task force is not in favor of a commitment at present to a
manned planetary lander or orbiter.
e. Astronomy and other sciences. The space program is important to a number of
sciences, and can be of enormous benefit to astronomy. This potential should be continuously
developed through sound and stable programs.
f. Applications of spacecraft and associated techniques for civil and commercial benefit.
We believe research and development of such applications should be supported strongly
and increased in pace. Furthermore, the new administration should give considerable
attention to their use in promoting international cooperation.
(snip)
Cost reduction , and “low cost”boosters. The unit costs of boosting payloads into space
can be substantially reduced, but this requires an increased number of flights, or such an
increase coupled with an expensive development program. We do not recommend initiation
of such a development, but study of the technical possibilities and rewards. Some cost
reductions in the space program can probably be made simply through experience and
stabilization of the level of effort, and through coordination of future NASA and DOD
programs.
Low was stunned. "Ouch. That won't please Mueller - no space station nor space shuttle. That won't please Von Braun - no Mars mission nor NERVA.
The direction is clear - more lunar exploration or broader use of Apollo hardware. Or both."
Webb grinned at Low.
"That's it. After all we go to the Moon, so why going further - Mars - or retreat to low Earth orbit ? Let's explore the Moon further and better."
"I see. The main problem we face is Apollo transportation system real lack of efficiency. The LM is too small, even on cargo-only variants delivers barely 3000 kg to the lunar surface. We have to dugg through the Apollo Application Program to see if grown-variants of Apollo can allow better lunar exploration" Low concluded.