Landing On Mars By 1985

‘TIME CAPSULE’: Mrs. Shata Ling (left center), executive director of the Senior Citizens Guild of Ann Arbor, and Dr. Wilma T. Donahue, a Guild board member, look into a 100-year “time capsule.” Items were deposited in it yesterday in conection with launching of a 142-unit apartment project for persons 62 and over. Architect James H. Livingston (far left), designer of the building, walks toward the capsule. John C. Stegeman (far right), chairman of the Guild's housing committee, which helped plan the building looks on.

Landing On Mars By 1985

That's prediction in ‘time capsule’ as senior citizens’ building is launched

A Bendix System Division scientist predicts that teams of explorers will land on Mars by 1985, on Venus by 1990 and attempt landings on Mercury and Jupiter by the year 2000.

Louis B. Young, Systems Division general manager, makes the predictions in a document sealed in a 100-year "time capsule” yesterday on the site of Lurie Terrace.

It is a 142-unit apartment building for persons 62 and older, which was “dedicated” in advance of construction on the northwest corner of W. Huron and Chapin Sts.

The building was dedicated by local and federal officials, including U. S. Sen. Philip A. Hart and Sidney Woolner, Housing and Home Finance Agency commissioner, through whom a $1.7 million direct loan was processed, making Lurie Terrace possible.

“Everywhere throughout the country there is interest in providing housing for older citizens,” Woolner said. “This kind of vigorous action by the Kennedy Administration has provided as much housing as in the previous administration.”

He called Lurie Terrace a “remarkable, intriguing design” and told some 125 persons at the dedication that planning leading to the building "represents a wonderful partnership between Ann Arbor and the federal government.” The building was designed by Architect James H. Livingston of Ann Arbor.

Hart said the $1.7 million self-liquidating loan on the building is the sort of thing the federal government should do to assist local agencies dedicated to obtaining better housing for the elderly.

Hart paid tribute to Mrs. Shata Ling of Ann Arbor, remarking that Lurie Terrace will be erected largely through her devotion. “She is a woman of extraordinary persistence, a woman with terrific talent,” he said.

Mrs. Ling is founder, executive director and secretary of the Senior Citizens Guild of Ann Arbor, under whom Lurie Terrace was planned. John S. Stegeman of Ann Arbor was chairman of the Guild's housing committee during the planning phase.

Hart also recognized Dr. Wilma T. Donahue, chairman of the University division of gerontology. “This (project) will be related closely to Dr. Donahue and the University of Michigan,” Hart said.

The Bendix Systems Division document is one of a number of contemporary items, including a $200 Argus camera, that were placed in the “time capsule.”

A bronze plaque on the capsule asks Michigan’s governor in 2062 to open the capsule.

By another 100 years it is entirely possible that a manned exploration to the nearest star of our solar system, “Alpha Centuari,” will be attempted, Young predicted in the Bendix document.

“Since this star is approximately 4.3 light years distant a breakthrough in either speed limitations ... or the use of artificially induced human hibernation will be required. These feats, seemingly phenomenal in 1962, will probably be accomplished with relative ease if technology continues to develop at its present rate.”

It is inevitable that man’s curiosity will take him in rapid steps beyond the moon within this decade, Young said.

“By the end of the decade, scientific probes will be made to the vicinity of both Mars and Venus and by 1980 it is estimated that we will have sent instrumented probes to the vicinity of Jupiter and Saturn.

“A team of explorers will land on the surface of Mars by 1985, with Venus being the next target for man-landing attempts by 1990. Shortly after the turn of the century it is expected that manned expeditions to both Jupiter and Mercury will be attempted,” Young adds.

He believes that manned exploration of Jupiter will take place from Ganymede, one of Jupiter's moons, because of that planet’s large size and gravitational field.

“Mercury is expected to be the site of a solar observatory designed to provide technical data and up-to-date warning and information on solar activity to extra terrestrial bases and travelers,” Young said.

He said the Systems Division is working on a “number of advanced programs which will be involved in this dynamic exploration of our solar system.”