Astronautics and Aeronautics, 1967 - NASA's History Office

During April ASTRONAUTICS. AND AERONAUTICS, 1967
New York Times: “It is a new, and rather shocking, NASA image that
is being projected by the current Congressional investigations into the
Apollo tragedy. One would have expected that NASA would make avail-
able every possible bit of relevant information. . . . The Space Adminis-
tration cannot afford even to raise the suspicion that it may be covering
up evidence relevant to the deaths of the three astronauts . . . [and]
certainly does not want to reinforce the view of cynics who insist that
NASA actually stands for ‘Never A Straight Answer.’ ’’ (NYT, 4/19/67,
40)
Washington Post: NASA “has merited the reproach of the investigators
of the Apollo disaster and the searching scrutiny of the congressional
committees reviewing the program. . . . What must not be overlooked
however, are the risks of the space program that cannot be eliminated
altogether without abandoning it. . . . When these catastrophes take place,
the Government and the people must and should react as they reacted
to the Apollo fire, by demanding new and further precautions, even
more careful and complete protection. But there will not be much bold
venturing in a society that visits a sanguinary fury upon those unfortu-
nate enough to preside over calamity. For in that kind of society, more
and more men will discover that the way to avoid getting any reproach
is to avoid taking any risks.” (W Post, 4/19/67)
Rep. Gerald R. Ford (R-Mich.) in joint dialogue with Rep. Carl Albert
(D-Okla.) , appearing in Genera2 Electric Forum, when asked: “What
is the present climate in the 90th Congress for other key legislative pro-
grams such as space?” stated: “Congress is interested in space and will
support a strong space program. Those who are knowledgeable recog-
nize that we have gone past the point of no return in giving full support
to the Apollo lunar landing program. But many Congressmen are con-
cerned about our course in the future exploration of space. When you
relate the financial demand of another big quantum jump in space tech-
nology to our other fiscal burdens, you get the feeling that the 90th
Congress will not be willing to embark on another major manned space
program beyond the moon that will lead to another commitment of five
or ten years or longer.” (GE Forum, 4/6/67,114)
* NASA awarded Univ. of Arizona a $14,970 research contract for a case
history of LaRC from 1917-47. (NASA Release 67-86)
Dept. of Commerce announced it would construct a multimillion dollar
oceanographic laboratory on Florida’s Virginia Key similar to West
Coast Laboratory in Seattle. East Coast Laboratory would operate three
ships and conduct research in geophysics, oceanography, and sea-air
interaction. (UPI, NYT, 4/25/67, 26)
132