The Michigan Daily-Friday, July 20, 1979-Page 9, A2, 'U' played major roles in Apollo program (Continued from Page3 active role in the Apollo program's en- deavors. Aerospace Engineering Department Associate Chairman Harm Buning per- sonally trained the Apollo astronauts in celestial navigation and spent several consecutive summers at the Lyndon Johnson Space Center in Houston with the astronauts. University graduate Gen. James McDivitt was commander of the Apollo 9 flight and was the first to test the Lunar Excursion Module (LEM) in flight. McDIVITT ALSO was teamed with University alumnus Edward White in the famous Gemini 4 mission in 1965 when White successfully executed the first "space-walk" while in Earth orbit. University Aerospace Engineering Prof. Joe Eisley taught several astronauts structural mechanics. He reflected on the philosophical impor- tance of the Apollo program and the lessons it taught the participants. "The lesson we learned from Apollo was achieved when people got up there (in Earth orbit) and looked back at the Earth and realized its finiteness and minuteness (compared to the Univer- se). Our attitudes are fundamentally changed "because the Earth is so small compared to the rest of the universe," he said. EISLEY SAID ONE reason why the Apollo program, Apollo 11 in particular, was so successful, is that "Apollo was built on specifics." It was sharply focused, Eisley explained, and didn't give people's attention a chance to wander. "It culminated at one moment and everybody could follow it. And Apollo 11 was done perfectly." The Engineering College's assistant dean went on to comment on the American public's skepticism toward the space program. He said it's as if the country is questioning the foundation of the space program: that progress and technology are good for the country. "It's the whole feeling of whether progress is good," he said. "In the present climate, I don't see a lot that can be done" to change public at- titudes. NASA must "focus on those things which benefit people like the shuttle and the Earth-oriented type things-basic exploration." EISLEY COMMENTED on the prac- ticality of the Earth-oriented satellite programs such as Comsat (com- munications satellites), Seasat, landsat and others that will examine the earth from orbit and facilitate phone calls and observe our crops. They will also play a major role, Eisley said, in the issues that will shape this country's future: Energy, inflation, the environment, and peace "will be overwhelming topics." Eisley con- tinued, "These satellites will provide a broad base of support for scientific work." He said these projects are almost self-supporting because they have a big commercial value. Eisley conjectured that President Carter is so overwhelmed by inflation, that he has not been able to outline a definitive space policy. HE ALSO SAID the space agency also receives unfair treatment from the public because the press "lacks a fun- damental understanding of what they're writing about." The third to last mission to the moon, Apollo 15, also distinguishes the University because its crew, consisting of Col. Alfred Worden (USAF Ret. ), James Irwin, and David Scott, all are University alumni. Seven of the current 56 astronauts are University graduates. Only Purdue University has as many astronauts as this institution does. WORDEN RETURNED to his alma mater last January to dedicate a mural, now in the Aerospace building on North Campus, which depicts the historical highlights of the University's accomplishments in space. In a telephone interview yesterday, Worden said the most important thing the U.S. learned from Apollo was that "we can do something if we set our minds to it. Playing around won't ac- complish anything." He also said the reason NASA and the space program aren't promoted as much as they could be is "they (NASA) were told by President Carter not to promote NASA. The president of this country is a non-leader. He doesn't know what he's doing. I don't believe NASA will try to promote itself," Wor- den commented. WORDEN SAID he sees the role of NASA in America's future as an advan- cer of culture and technology. "The real role of NASA," Worden ex- plained, "is to develop the technology needed by private industry to keep our society advanced, promote the space program and to getting us out there (in- to space)." But with Carter being as hesitant about promoting leadership as he is, Worden said, NASA may not be able to accomplish their mission. OF A NEW COMEDY STARRING BILL MURRAY- FROM THE PRODUCER OF "ANIMAL HOUSE" A New Musical Comedy is coming to Ann Arbor. It will premiere in the Power Center in November,1979. But you can see it now in the making. On July 20, 21 & 22. a special preview of this work in progress will be held in the Michigan Union. So be there. Take our word. You won't be left.. IN THE DkRK A TALE OF FARCE, FEAR & FORTUNE JULY 20 9 00 PM DONATION $1 21 P 000 NATOTHE DOOR 22 900 PENDLETON ARTS CENTER SECOND FLOOR, MICHIGAN UNION info: 763 1107 O 'v o PGyPARENTALGUIDANCESUGGESTE- n1 TRILMAY NOT QE SU TA~.E FOR CILDPE W A MO n ,Lt EstH ) SEEA COMPLETE SHOWING TONgIHT ONL YAT 9:5 ""A a . . (gductlon of, the ° new musket-,,com an3" ti- ' - .- r a,.. .e.. y. . f S