THE CHEMICAL WORLD THIS WEEK
sun. AEC officials have the "impression" that the Soviet tests are at about the same stage as Rulison. Both nations have conducted cratering experiments as well as experiments in underground salt deposits to create storage voids. Soviet efforts include detonating a 25-kiloton device in salt to form a storage cavity. A market for Plowshare devices moved one step closer on March 5 when the nuclear nonproliferation treaty went into effect. One provision of the treaty calls for nuclear states to provide nonnuclear states with Plowshare-type explosive devices.
SPACE:
Beyond the Moon Plowshare's Kelly No impact on U.S. effort
whatever disclosures a Soviet technical panel made at an International Atomic Energy Agency Plowshare panel meeting in Vienna, Austria. For AEC officials public disclosure of the Soviet program could hardly have come at a more propitious time— AEC commissioner Theos J. Thompson, Plowshare director John Kelly, and Lawrence Radiation Laboratory director Michael May were to testify before JCAE on the Plowshare authorization for fiscal 1971. AEC Plowshare director John Kelly, in an interview with C&EN, however, discounted any impact an ambitious Soviet program might have on funding of the U.S. effort. The Administration has slashed the Plowshare authorization request to $8 million—45% less than fiscal 1970 operating estimates. Perhaps the most grandiose plan in the Soviet program is a scheme to divert runoff of the Pechora River into the Volga River to raise the level of the Caspian Sea. Included in the plan is a deep canal across the Pechora-Kolva watershed. This project, Mr. Kelly said, is comparable to the Atlantic-to-Pacific transisthmian sealevel canal proposed for nuclear excavation by the U.S. Other parts of the Soviet program revealed so far indicate that they have done some experiments not yet conducted by the U.S. For instance, they have conducted an experiment to enhance oil recovery from an oil field. In an experiment in which three lowyield devices were used, oil production was boosted 30 to 50%. AEC officials say that the U.S.S.R. is reported to have conducted experiments aimed at stimulating natural gas production. The U.S. has conducted two such tests—Gasbuggy and Ruli14 C&EN MARCH 16, 1970
While position of moon and sun occupied many on the East Coast during the last total solar eclipse visible from there in this century, President Nixon told of his plans to shift the nation's space program away from a lunar orientation. The U.S. approach to space must continue to be bold, Mr. Nixon said, but it must also be balanced. "We must also recognize that many critical problems here on this planet make high-priority demands on our attention and our resources," but "by no means should we allow our space program to stagnate. . . . [However] we should not try to do everything at once." His choice of space goals for this and to some extent the next decade, however, goes a long way toward laying the groundwork for a multitude of space activities—including "eventually" sending a manned mission to Mars— in spite of austere space budgets. The Administration's $3.3 billion NASA budget request for fiscal 1971
is viewed as a "valley" in NASA funding by NASA Administrator Thomas Paine. At the Key Biscayne White House on March 7 he said that he expects the Nixon program will require a "general range" of $3.5 to $4 or $5 billion per year. The U.S. will continue to explore the moon, Mr. Nixon said, but missions will be spaced "to maximize . . . scientific return." This means two missions per year in 1971 and 1972, none in 1973, and two in 1974. What happens after the Apollo flights "will be based on the results of these missions." In late 1972 an experimental space station will be boosted into earth orbit. Unmanned space programs will get a major boost. Mr. Nixon endorsed "Grand Tour" missions to fly by Jupiter, Uranus, and Neptune, with launch in 1977 and Jupiter, Saturn, and Pluto, with launch in 1979. Other unmanned missions include landing two Viking spacecraft carrying life detection equipment on Mars in 1976. Earth resources satellites and an expanded applications technology satellite program are also called for by Mr. Nixon. To help cut costs, NASA is developing an earth-to-orbit back-to-earth reusable shuttle rocket. First flights are slated for 1976. Meanwhile, a modular space station will be developed for construction in earth orbit. And about 1978 NASA hopes to have the first test launch of a nuclear propulsion rocket. The space shuttle, nuclear rocket, and modular space station are essential precursors to a manned Mars mission, which might come as early as 1983, according to Dr. Paine. A decision on a target date for a Mars mission—certain to prompt furious debate in Congress—might be deferred until 1976, the last year of Mr. Nixon's second term as President, if he is re-elected.
TEXTILES:
Gentlemen from Osaka
President Nixon To maximize scientific return
"Are you making any money?" is the traditional way of saying hello in Osaka, center of Japan's textile industry. When it comes to the question of whether U.S. textile firms are losing theirs because of an influx of garments and fabrics from Japan, the gentlemen from Osaka are sticking strictly to a show-me attitude. Despite Washington's recent optimism about an improved climate in the textile imports dispute (C&EN, March 9, page 29), the Japanese industry's stance has, if anything, stiffened as talks drag on between the two governments over U.S. demands for vol-
