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of Apollo 12 was, as Sir Bernard
Lovell, Britain's top space scicntist put
it, the "precision and accuracy" of the
landing. The lunar module was guided
by command pilot Charles Conrad to
approximately 600 feet from the target
of the mission - the unmanned Survey–
or 3 craft which landed on the moon
about
2h
years ago. Parts of Surveyor 3
were brought back by Conrad and com–
panion Alan Bean.
The key assignment of Apollo 12 was
to set up a long-term scientific station
on the moon. A nuclear-powered pack–
age of instruments was left behind to
measure the moon's magnetic Jield,
"moonquakes," and the moon's atmo–
sphere and ionosphere. Also deposited
on the lunar surface was a spectrometer
for charting strength, speed and dircc–
tion of solar wind. The "atomic bat–
tery" of the nuclear generator could
keep the experimental complex oper–
ating for as long as five ycars.
Worldwide reaction to this latest
space venture was generally one of
disinterest, despite widespread television
coverage of the mission.
Now the United States is planning
for Apollo 13. Each shot in the Apoi lo
series calls for increasingly more
difficult and complex tasks. Apollo 13 is
tentatively scheduled for a March 12
blastoff and a pinpoint landing attempt
in a shallow crater surrounded by rug–
ged mountains.
Beyond Apollo 13 there are plans for
an eight-day stay in Apollo 16 and use
of a "dune buggy" on Apollo 17 in
1971. This lunar roving vehide will
allow astronauts to travel 20 miles or
more from the lunar module.
* * * * *
Okinawa's Future Decided
Okinawa and other U. S.-held islands
in the Ryukyu chaio are to be returoed
to Japanese control in 1972.
This is the outcome of the history–
making discussions between Prcsident
Nixon and Premier Sato of Japan in
Washington on November 19-21.
Premier Sato hailed the agrecment as
bringing the post-war relationshi p be–
tween victor and vanquished to a dose.
lo a specch before the National Press
Club, Sato promised that Japan wi ll
make a contribution to peacc in Asia as
an equal partner with the U. S.
Sorne key American officials, how–
ever, have expressed grave reservations
over reversion of the geographically
strategic island chaio.
Okinawa is the keystone for the dc–
fense of free Asían nations against
Communist aggression. Sometimes re–
ferred to as a "stationary aircraft car–
rier," thc U. S. air bases on Okioawa
enjoy a strategic central location from
which American aircraft can reach any
Asian nation with which the U. S. has a
security agreement.
U. S. strategists claim they would be
hard pressed to replace the 200 military
installations on Okinawa.
Although the United States is sched–
uled to cootinue operating the Okinawa
bases after rcversion, it wi ll relinquish
the right to store nuclear weapons on
them. Tn addition, Japan will assume
the right to stop the use of Okinawa for
conducting warfare. The bases on Oki–
oawa will operate under the same re–
strictions as U. S. bases on the main
Japanese islands.
The importance of such a "veto" pos–
sibility is undcrlined by the role of Oki–
nawa as a major staging arca for bomb–
ing missions to Vietnam. In order to
allay such fcars, Premier Sato has given
assurances that Japan will not hinder the
U. S. mi!itary effort in Vietnam after re–
version, should the war last that long.
No one, however, can accurately pre–
dict what the attitude of the Japanese
government will be in the future. Even
now the Sato government is under
strong anti-U. S. pressure from left–
wing student demonstrators and work–
ers. The goal of these blocs is thc climi–
nation of all U. S. bases from Japancse
soi l.
Anothcr key factor in revcrsion is
Japan's promise to assmne a larger share
of the responsibi lity for the defense of
Asia. This has the encouragemeot of
Washington. Prcmier Sato has promised
to double the defense budget after
1972. Japan at present has a small but
efficient "Self-Defeose Force."
Leading Japanese industrialists have
beco calling for large buildup in the
military posture, especially in the naval
SDf. They see a need to protect the na–
tion's far-flung trade and shipping
ioterests.
In a recent speech in Matsue, Japan,
Premier Sato referred to eventual com–
plete reversa! of U. S. and Japanese
roles in Asia.
"Regarding the problem of Asían se–
curity," he said, "it is Japan that is
gradually going to play the leading role
while the U. S. will be cooperating
from the sidelines."
The year 1970 will be a crucial ooc in
Japan's Prime
Sato converses
Nixon during
Washington on
AP
Wirophoto
Minister Eisoku
with Presiden!
conference in
Okinowo issue.
U. S.-Japanese relations. The Security
Treaty under which the U. S. guarantees
Japaoese security with nuclear weapons
if neccssary, is up for renewal. Powerful
pressure groups in Japan want thc
treaty scrapped, others want significant
changcs.
A recent public opioion poll showed
four out of five Japanese favored "de–
fending the country by themselves." In
aoother more significant poll, 45 per–
cent of those qucstioned felt that Japan
someday would acquire nuclear weap–
ons. This was an "unthinkable" thought
justa few years ago.