Alternate astronaut tested
CAPE KENNEDY (UPI)—In a last-ditch effort, to avoid a month's delay, backup astronaut John L. Swigert underwent an Apollo 13 cram course Thursday to determine if he can safely replace Thomas L. Mattingly for Saturday's planned launch to the moon.
An eleventh hour decision to substitute Swigert for measles-prone Mattingly—or go with Mattingly May 9—will be based primarily on the recommendation of Apollo 13 commander James A. Lovell, informed sources said.
The final verdict is expected to be made by space agency administrator Thomas O. Paine about noon (EST) today, a spokesman said. A delay, he said, would cost $800,000 and mean "you take a chance that some element might not be ready when we try to go again."
Forecasts of considerable cloudiness and a chance of rain for Saturday increased the threat to an on-time 2:13 p.m. EST start of the $375 million lunar surface expedition.
Lovell, a three-time spaceflight veteran, is expected to base his recommendation on the outcome of moon piloting drills that got underway Thursday morning.
Space agency officials said the exercise served as an examination of the capability of Swigert to work with Lovell and Fred W. Haise in maneuvers requiring "rapid and close coordination." A pilot's error could mean the difference between mission success or failure.
Lovell, lunar module pilot Haise and command module pilot Mattingly have trained together since Aug. 6, 1969. A highly-placed source said some concern has been expressed in the space agency hierarchy about breaking up the team at the last moment.
Swigert drilled in all the critical maneuvers in a spacecraft trainer with Lovell and Haise. One of the most ticklish operations practiced was the descent in lunar orbit down to a 50,000 foot altitude. That operation would be performed by Swigert.
Mattingly has said a one-second over-burn during the firing of the command ship's main engine at that point could send Apollo 13 crashing into the moon.
He said chances were "extremely small" of that happening, but added: "We have a mutual interest in not overburning so it turns into an all hands
The command module pilot also must fly solo for 41 $ \frac{1}{2} $ hours while Lovell and Haise explore a valley on the moon.
operation."
Mattingly had not shown any symptoms of the measles Thursday, but doctors said he would probably break out with the children's disease sometime next week—when he would have been in space. For that reason doctors recommended he not be allowed to fly Saturday.
Tests Thursday confirmed that the man Mattingly was exposed to—backup lunar module pilot Charles Duke—does have the disease. Duke was reported to be suffering from a rash and arthritis in the hands.
Swigert, 38-year-old civilian who has not yet flown in space, is immune to the measles.
Backup astronaut Swigert practiced with two thoroughly rehearsed prime crewmen today to see if he can step in at the last moment to fly the Apollo 13 command ship to the moon Saturday in place of Mattingly.
The U.S. Space Agency is considering substitute Swigert for Mattingly in order to avoid a one-month delay of the
$375 million moon mission, now scheduled for a 2:13 p.m. EST blastoff. Mattingly is grounded because of his susceptibility to German measles.
A decision on the last-resort switch is expected Friday. Adding an additional threat to the launch schedule is the prediction of considerable cloudiness and a chance of rain at flight time.
Project officials said they would give much weight to Swigert's performance of the demanding command module pilot's tasks in rehearsals with James A. Lovell and Fred W. Haise that got underway only two days before launch time.
But the officials also must consider the psychological feasibility of substituting a backup astronaut for a fully trained prime crewman so close to blastoff in order to avoid a delay in the mission until May 9 at a cost of $800,000.
Swigert, a 38-year-old civilian who has never flown in space, was given a briefing by Mattingly on intricate phases of the 10-day mission in a small office of the crew training building at the spaceport. By mid-morning he was inside a spacecraft simulator starting the workout with Lovell and Haise.
UDK News Roundup
By United Press International
Hoffman speaks at Salina
SALINA, Kan.—A crowd estimated at 1,400 filled Pioneer Hall on the Kansas Wesleyan campus to capacity Thursday night to hear militant revolutionary Abbie Hoffman.
Hoffman, who referred to the town as "Saleena," opened his performance by tossing a basketball back and forth with members of the audience and picking his nose with his finger wrapped in a miniature American flag.
Laos considers peace plan
VIENTIANE — The government made public today its reply to a five-point Pathet Lao peace plan, calling for a cease-fire and the withdrawal from Laos of North Vietnamese troops.
Prince Souvanna Phouma wrote the reply to the Pathet Lao leader, Prince Souphanouvong, his half brother, saying "we are ready to discuss the five points" but proposing first the stadium and withdrawal.
Perot fails to deliver mail
PARIS — H. Ross Perot, millionaire founder of a Dallas-based computer firm, arrived Thursday with two batches of letters—more than 200 for U.S. prisoners in North Vietnam, and 50 written by North Vietnamese held prisoners in the South to their relatives in the North.
He failed to get the mail in Nort Vietnamese hands.
Oil shipments opposed
WASHINGTON — The United States Thursday expressed opposition to proposed Canadian legislation to regulate use of the frozen Northwest Passage by ships such as the U.S. oil tanker Manhattan.
Fearing damage to the ecology of Arctic waters, the Canadian Parliament is considering legislation to set conditions for shipping through the northern waters to extend Canadian territorial sea limits to 12 miles, and to extend pollution-control jurisdiction as far as 100 miles.
L.A. teachers strike
LOS ANGELES—A teachers strike which could cripple the nation's second largest school system next week was approved. Thursday night by a 2-1 margin in voting, by members of United Teachers-Los Angeles.
The University of Kansas—Lawrence, Kansas Friday, April 10, 1970
Dole, Pearson comment on Carswell's rejection
Senator Bob Dole, R-Kansas, said Associate Justice Earl O'Connor of the Kansas Supreme Court is a possible candidate for President Richard Nixon's next Supreme Court nomination.
O'Connor's chances were "greatly enhanced," Wednesday after the Senate's 51 to 45 rejection to the nomination of Judge G. Harrold Carswell, Dole said. He added he will urge Nixon to consider the Kansas judge.
For the present, however, Dole said he urges the President to leave the seat vacant so he can "take the issue to the people," and use it to elect a Republican Senate in November that would approve a conservative Supreme Court candidate.
Senator James B. Pearson, R-Kansas, said he had no objection to conservatives on the Supreme Court. "What we need is a person who understands what life is going to be like in the last third of this century," he said.
Speaking of Wednesday's defeat of Carswell, Pearson said "I don't think he was the man of my choice but I saw no reason to vote against him. I don't think he's racist or incompetent, but I think I could find someone else though with better qualifications."
Pearson said O'Connor "is the finest lawyer in the state of Kansas, and one of the most respected judges to serve on the Kansas Supreme Court." Pearson added O'Connor is one of his best friends and an "outstanding man."
Nixon Thursday said he wants his next Supreme Court nominee to be from outside the South because he feels the Senate will not accept a conservative Southerner.
Nixon told reporters he had told Attorney General John N. Mitchell to recommend someone from outside the South for his third nominee for a vacant seat on the court.
"Ive never been embarrassed about exercising my best judgment," Pearson said. His comment came in response to several Senators statements which said they felt embarrassed over Carswell's rejection.
The first two Nixon nominees, Judges Clement F. Haynsworth and G. Harrold Carswell, were beaten in the Senate. Both are Southerners—Haynsworth from South Carolina and Carswell from Florida.
In his first public comment on the Senate's rejection Wednesday of Judge Carswell, Nixon said both Carswell and Haynsworth had been subjected to "vicious and unwarranted" attacks.
Both Haynsworth and Carswell were subjected to "vicious assaults on their honesty and character
and integrity" and had been "falsely charged with being racist". Nixon said.
When all the hypocrisy is stripped away, the President said, "it is their philosophy and the accident of their birth" that caused their rejection by the Senate "as presently constituted."
Nixon said more than 25 per cent of the people in America live in the South but only one member of the Supreme Court is from the South. This was a reference to Justice Hugo L. Black.
(Continued to page 12)
Up, up and...
If the tree doesn't catch the kite, perhaps it will catch the wind. Warmer weather and gusty winds provided many KU students with the elements for a favorite Springtime activity.