Page 4-Friday, July 20, 1979-The Michigan Daily HMichigan Daily Eighty-nine Years of Editorial Freedom 420 Maynard St., Ann Arbor. Mi. 48109 Vol. LXXXIX, No. 48-S News Phone: 764 0552 Edited and managed by students at the University of Michigan Carter's abilities questionable HE SUBSTANTIAL surge in President Car- ter's popularity following his Sunday night energy speech seems likely to be short-lived since the nation was shocked Tuesday by mass offers of resignation from the president's cabinet and senior staff. It has been speculated that the president's motive for the staff shake-up is to unify his un- derlings and give the impression of taking dramatic action to "clean-up" his administration. But the action has instead fueled concern that Mr. Carter is attempting to divert attention from his own ineptitude as a leader. The White House has brushed off the dollar's plunge against most foreign currencies, saying such problems will correct themselves. This at- titude toward further economic downturns in a country in imminent danger of a deep recession seems a bit flippant. The public must ask whether the nation's leader is truly guided by his constituency's best interests or his political self-interests for re-election. Mr. Carter has not given incompetence as the reason for firing any member of his staff thus far. Instead his reasoning has been that there is too much dissension among his subordinates. It seems that Mr. Carter will have difficulty at- tracting outstanding advisors since their job' security apparently rests not on abilities but the capacity to conceal wise judgement for the sake of conciliation. Wednesday's circulation of staff evaluation forms to senior staff members by Hamilton Jor- dan, the newly named chief of staff, reinforced the impression that tighter political control over the executive branch agencies and departments is behind the shake-up rather than a reorientation of administrative policy. While the aim of increasing bureaucratic efficiency is noble and overdue, this drastic action demands clarification. The events of recent days cast doubt on Mr. Carter's ability to lead his country and his staff in a manner befitting the stature of his post. Mr. Carter's dubious skills at uniting his subr- ordinates portends the outcome of his efforts to unify the nation in battling the energy crisis and inflation as well. If the chief executive cannot exert leadership over his cabinet, his ability to exercise it over an entire nation is questionable. SUMMER EDITORIAL STAFF ELIZABETH SLOWIK Edior-to Stief JUDY RAKOWSKYEd....--Ch.....Editorial Director JOSHUA PECK.......Arts Editor SPORTS STAFF GEOFF LAICItM ................... ........... Sports Editor OILY 51d . 51 15 Ai...............'..... Ercutie Sports Editor It., SE. ..... '. ..' lanOo in ports Editor - j'et"I IN . . } tapnGyH aljr - Apollo's success understated T ODAY MARKS the 10th anni- versary of what is probably the greatest technological achievement in recorded history. For it was Sunday, July 20, 1969 that for the first time, man lan- ded and walked on the moon. The historic words of Neil Armstrong were beamed back to earth after the boulder-dodging landing: "Houston, Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has landed." That was only 10 years ago. SIX HOURS later, more than a half-billion people watched those historic first steps on the "chalky" lunar terrain on live world-wide television and millions more heard it on radio. This triumphant moment climaxed a race to the moon bet- ween the Soviets and Americans which never really was a race. For most Americans, it was a subdued moment-and at the same time, one of jubilation-af- ter a turbulent decade. Those four days in July 1969, from laun- ch to landing, Americans were given a chance to forget the volatile Vietnam War and Civil Rights movement to watch their countrymen fulfill a dream few realized was attainable. Americans finally could take pride in their country's actions. SURE, THE Soviets were more prolific than the U.S. in space projects, and had more "firsts" under their belts. But the U.S. achieved what no one else even came close to accomplishing-a stroll on the moon. It is unfortunate that many everyday conveniences made possible by the entire Apollo program are often taken for granted. Today, the earth is ser- ved by satellites which perform a broad range of practical fun- ctions such as weather forecasts, detecting crop diseases, and transmitting phone calls. Yet Neil Armstrong, who ear- ned his pilot's license at age 16 before he got his driver's license, points out the never-ending public apathy toward the space program because people sec no immediate practical benefits, although they are all around us. "I THINK WE are a very adap- ive people," he has said. "We come to accept new ideas very quickly and are ready to discard them. You can suspect and then accept, and then reject all in a year. That's the nature of our society. So I don't find it (apathy) surprising. Whether it's right, I don't know." The one-man Mercury program, which essentially tested man's sub-orbital flight capabilities, was followed by the two-man Gemini program. The ambitious Gemini project's goal was to establish man's ability to deal with near-Earth orbital space flight. Gemini 4, which carried University alumni James Mc- Divitt and Edward White, suc- ce'ssfully completed the first "space-walk" extra vehicular ac- tivity in 1965. Gemini 5 and 6 completed the first rendezvous and docking in pace-crucial maneuvers for getting spacecraft to and from the moon. -EVERYT1LING,.'.N4'n atae: By TIM YAGLE how inconsequential, was leading to Apollo11. The Apollo program, however, ran into trouble at the outset. Like the modern space shuttle, the program and the launch vehicle introduced a brand new kind of technology to NASA technicians. NASA also was coping with dwindling public interest and a penny-pinching Congress, the same obstacles which still plague the space agency a decade later. IN THE, COUNTDOWN re- hearsal for Apollo I in 1967, Virgil (Gus) Grison and Edward White- and Roger Chaffee were engulfed in flames in the spacecraft's cabin-a 100 per cent oxygen en- vironment. Nevertheless, Apollo was given an overhaul and ctric~slo n nllnfmat. ,_1( In the 10 years since Apollo 11, however, the spirit of space ex- ploration has by no means waned. Ambitious unmanned projects such as Viking, Pioneer- Venus and Voyager have brought brilliant never-before-seen close- up pictures of Venus, Mars, and Jupiter into our living rooms with Saturn and Uranus within reach. Most Americans have repeatedly wondered whether the billions swallowed up by the Apollo and other space programs were spent in a meaningful way so all Americans could benefit. Some quickly respond with an emphatic "yes." Despite the seemingly vast amounts of money Congress has spent on NASA in the past 10 years, it cost the average U.S. citizen only 20 cents per year for five years to finance the entire U.S. snace Saturnv were all geared to Apollo 11's success. Apollo 10 then did everything that its famous successor did ex- cept actually land. Then it was Apollo 11's turn for the spotlight. With Col. Michael Collins orbiting the earth's only natural satellite in the command module "Colum- bia," Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin and Armstrong each took their "small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind." The rest, as you know, is history. BUT THE inspiration wears away. Human attention is frail and people go back to worrying about how to make their own grass greener. After Apollo 17, the last manned mission to the moon it became a distant place once again. But for some people, including this writer, the vic- torious feeling is still there; we conquered the moon and returned .:, home safel. ,.. . program. NASA has said repeatedly that the benefits reaped from the $2.6 billion Skylab program alone have paid for the entire U.S. space program. Although Vogager and its suc- cessors are still exploring the solar system, the space program is once again in trouble in the public relations department with both Congress and the American people. This is in part due to the lengthy delay in launching the first space shuttle. With that launch, however, a new, and hopefully even more productive era for space travel and ex- ploration will be resurrected. Such an achievement should con- vince the skeptical U.S. citizenry that the space program is worth the money and effort. Tim Yagle covers science for the' ..Daily.