December 13, 1972

orbiting Apollo 17 command module is probing interior of moon with radio sounding system, which scientists believe may be able to penetrate 3/4 mi into lunar interior, in effort to explain existence of dense accumulations of material beneath some of its waterless circular seas; is equipped with infrared scanning radiometer to measure slight temperature variation on lunar surface, S-band transponder which will provide detailed information on mascons and lunar gravitational irregularities and ultraviolet spectrometer to scan surface for ultraviolet emissions; is also equipped with panoramic mapping cameras and laser altimeter to obtain measurements on surface elevations; diagram of lunar lander depicts lunar sounder experiment; instruments illus in rear of command module

leaders of organized labor indicate on Dec 12 that they are generally amenable to Pres Nixon's decision to extend wage and price controls if some changes are made but officials of bldg and construction trades unions, which have their own control bd, say they are satisfied with present controls machinery and policies

NYC files suit in Fed Dist Ct, Washington, DC, on Dec 12 against EPA Admr Ruckelshaus contending that no provision of Cong act setting up antipollution fund 'or any other law affords Admr discretion to reduce allotments, whether by discretion of Pres or otherwise'; seeks restoration of $6-billion cut from water pollution expenditures over next 18 mos by Pres Nixon's order; NYC Corp Counsel N Redlich says suit raises const question of relationship between Exec Branch and Cong, news conf, NYC; says refusal to allot appropriated funds injures NYC because it permanently withdraws availability of large amts of Fed aid and forces city to reduce number of pollution control projects for which it can apply for Fed assistance; estimates cut will reduce aid to city from $1,216,400,000 to $552.9-million; repts Ruckelshaus has 60 days to answer suit; says others are preparing similar suits; predicts US Sup Ct ruling likely; Redlich por; Water Resources Comr M Lang repts 5 sewage-treatment projects have been delayed by Nixon's action; says city is seeking funds for 2 of 5 projects that have 'highest priority'; Mayor Lindsay statement says NYC will lose $265-million unless cuts are restored; holds NYC and other cities need all authorized Fed funds to meet water quality standards, citing Fed suit against NYC for failing to move quickly enough to abate pollution

Apollo 17 astronauts Cernan and Schmitt complete 2d lunar walk, lasting 7 hrs and 12 mins, on Dec 12; set up nuclear scientific station and gather bluish-gray and tan rocks from debris of ancient avalanche in valley of 7,000-ft South Massif, 4 mi southwest of Taurus-Litterow Valley landing site, after repairing fender on lunar rover; discover orange-colored soil, which Schmitt likens to fumarole (vent through which gases escape) and which raises possibility that crew may have landed at 1st known site of lunar vulcanism; describe 'crystalline' rocks with fine grains and light color and 'with reflective elongated crystals'; Schmitt notes there seems to be two dominant colorations of rock: very light tan to white and blue-gray; says rocks around Massif appear to be breccias, coarse-grained conglomerate rock, and that some of whitish rocks may be anorthosites--type of rock that is rare on earth but believed to be very common and ancient on lunar surface; astronauts complain about dust stirred up by wheels of lunar rover; map of areas to be traversed by Cernan and Schmitt during lunar excursions; astronauts illus on lunar surface

NYS Gov Rockefeller on Dec 12 calls multiparty coalition behind '73 mayoral candidate 'virtually impossible,' int; cites legal and pol obstacles; notes likelihood that fusion candidate would have to compete in primaries of parties other than his own; recalls that state election law requires Dem candidate entering Repub primary to have permission of at least 3 of 5 Repub county exec coms; declaring he has no favorites, Rockefeller gives 3 criteria for suitable Mayor: ability to win primary, emerge victorious in gen election and to govern once in office; feels none of 10 Dems reptdly seeking election is suitable; praises but refuses to endorse Dem Repr Carey; discounts Repub State Sen Marchi, recalling Marchi's poor showing in mayoral race in '69; Queens Dem Chmn Troy and Manhattan Repub Chmn V F Albano agree that fusion candidate is impractical; apparent party rift over fusion candidate between Albano and Bronx Repub Chmn J D Calandra noted; Rockefeller admits possibility he will endorse Dem for Mayor, claiming needs of NYC are paramount to party allegiances